Malaysia

We finished our year in Korea and then spent the last week packing up and sorting out our belongings - safe to say that it was not the most fun part of the year!!

After completing our contracts, we headed to Malaysia for a short visit en route to England.

Under Pressure

Last year my house was tucked away in a small suburb of town, and with the exception of the odd car alarm, it was extremely peaceful in the evening.  My girlfriend wasn't quite so lucky however as her apartment was located directly above a noraebang (a korean karaoke shop) which seemed to operate around the clock peaking from about 9pm through to 4am most days.  Whilst I am sure it was fun to be lulled asleep by various pop artists, she assures me that she is happier living in a more quieter and less lively area of town.  This year we find our apartments located in Musan which is on the outskirts of town and one of the first neighbourhoods you would pass on the way into Yeosu.
  However, we do not find ourselves in perfect silence as our neighbours seem to be the only Koreans who have decided to keep a rooster for a pet.  Not only that, but this particular rooster must have been shipped from abroad as he isn't running on normal time and cock-a-doodle-do's when ever he pleases. 
  This morning it was neither Korean popstar wannabees or the rooster that woke me up but instead a chanting with enough aggression to make me think there was a protest, perhaps even a riot.  It also seemed to be right outside and grew louder and louder until I decided it was time to inspect what all the commotion was about. 
  Reaching the street corner on which the apartment is located, it became apparent that there actually was a rally as an ever-growing group of people continued to shout and chant, and it was still only 7am.  It is precisely times like this that make me wish my Korean was better so I could understand what was going on. By now Cassandra was even more interested than I was and already had made a beeline for two korean women who were standing a little way back from the main crowd.    My mind is in another place and I am staring up at the rooster, the usual culprit of my morning wake-ups.  As I am doing a mental countdown to Christmas and working out my feathered friend's fate, Cassandra informs me that the crowd are actually cheering on their sons and daughters as today they will sit exams.  In fact it is a huge day for both students and their parents as years of hard work from elementary to high school hinge upon this one day of exams.  Today is the day that 3rd grade high school students take an exam to qualify for a university place. 
  I have since spoken with a teacher in my school to ask more about these tests and she begins by explaining how much pressure there is on Korean students nowadays, something which I am only too aware of.  As if to reitterate her point, she continues by telling me that every year there are suicides as a result of dissapointed students who feel they have disgraced their parents and underachieved, by not gaining a place in university.  Education in South Korea is of the utmost importance as many Korean families see their children as the people responsible for elevating the family name.  Therefore a student who gets good grades and goes to university has a far better chance of gaining a good job afterwards which will result in the family progressing or so it is thought.  It is not uncommon for parents to spend up to 30% of their income on their children's education.  This is why Hagwons (private schools for advanced learning) exist in Korea so that students can partake in further study after school and at weekends as well as many students also having private tutoring on top.
  A story which perfectly reflects this point is from last year when I was teaching an elementary third grade class about routines.  I asked one of my brightest students "what time do you go to bed?" to which she replied, without hesitating "12.30".  I smiled and repeated the question a little slower than the first time, thinking that she had misheard or misunderstood me.  She gave me the same answer, so I looked across to my co-teacher who smiled and told me that this was quite normal.  After asking the whole class I later realised that many of my students didn't go to bed before 12pm and quite often get up around 5.30am or 6am.  There is a saying in Korea that translates roughly as you only need 5 hours sleep if you want to make it to university. 
  This outlines quite clearly the intense work ethic as well as the pressures students face from such an early age and explains why many classes in the morning, are filled with students who can barely stay awake.
  It's now 10.30am which means it's break time at school and immediately the television is turned on at lightening speed.  Teachers start filtering into the classroom and congregating, staring in a hypnotic manner at the screen.  Whatever they are watching is clearly important, particularly as the Asian games are on right now and the Koreans are doing very well in the swimming.  One teacher spots my quizzical look and shuffles closer, his gaze still firmly set on the broadcast that everyone is watching.  He starts translating telling me that there are 700,000 students throughout South Korea who are sitting exams today.  His english is very good, so I take the oppportunity to ask him more.  He continues by telling me that today planes will not take off during the exams and cars and taxis are under strict ordes not to use their horns.  Basically anything which could distract the students is strictly prohibited, showing that in Asia, they leave nothing to chance.
 

Swimming to South Korea

Two years ago, I was midway through the application process to join the R.A.F as a physical training instructor, when I suddenly wondered what exactly I was doing.  At the time, I was working to earn enough money to travel and my first trip took me to Australia, New Zealand and Thailand.  Every second of that trip inspired and excited me, although the month that I spent in Thailand is probably the reason that I am now living and teaching in Asia.

Bangkok Streets


As it was Asia that set my pulse racing and my head spinning, I returned and found work knowing that as soon as I had saved enough money, I would be on a plane back, so that I could begin to explore more of this fascinating continent.  My next trip started back in Thailand which was the platform to travel further south, head out to the islands and then on to Malaysia before exploring Indonesia. 

Bangok City

Koh Phi Phi

Koh Toa


Travelling in Asia is almost impossible to describe in words or display in pictures simply because there is an energy and vibrance that cannot be captured - but it absolutely has to be experienced.
  On returning home, I realised that the energy I had experienced in Asia was nowhere to be found and so in hindsight, my application to join the forces was like accepting a sense of security - in essence the very antithesis of what makes travelling so spontaneous and wonderful.
I remember returning home one day from one of the final interviews, knowing that I was close to accepting a job and a life that I actually didn't even want. I went to bed that evening my mind juggling different ideas and trying on prospective jobs for size.  I was staying with my Grandparents at that time so dreaded trying to initiate a conversation which basically would amount to "Actually I don't think I want to join the R.A.F but what I really want to do is travel and teach around the world".  Both my grandparents have always been there for me without question or judgement, so it wasn't really a surprise that they were so supportive and encouraging and so this journey really began at their breakfast table, 63 Well Street, Torrington.


Finding a job was relatively straight forward even though I could find barely more than a sentence on the city - Yeosu, where I would be living. Still it mentioned 'stunning coastal scenery' and the picture they sent me looked breathtaking....

 ..so I went for it!!  To this day, I can't tell you why I chose South Korea ahead of China, Japan or Taiwan but for the first time in months something felt right. 
  What was to follow can only really be described as a frantic barricade of paperwork,documents, certificates and visas.  Even after numerous setbacks, I still somehow looked like I would be on schedule to arrive in Korea (the deadline they gave me was the end of February 2009) until that is, my passport went missing at the South Korean embassy in London.  After ringing them several times a day consecutively they must have got pissed off because they confirmed that they actually did have my passport, that it had been stamped with the necessary visa and that it would be sent in the post that day. It arrived on the friday morning as promised and as soon as it did, I booked a flight for Saturday afternoon.
  At the airport I can honestly say that my emotions consisted of excitement and enthusiasm rather than nerves and apprehension.  It was at that point that I remembered something which my father had told me in the weeks leading up to my departure.  In basic terms he told me that there are three types of people in the world - those who are drowning, those who tread water and those who swim.  It was a basic sentiment although at the airport, I couldn't help thinking that only a few months before, I was so close to treading water but now I had chosen to Swim - to South Korea, then I remembered I had a plane ticket so I headed to gate 42.  The Journey had begun....