Words can't always properly define feelings, but I want to try to describe what it feels like to be a teacher here. At the risk of sounding a little hubris, here we go...
A major part of the experience of teaching in Korea is the interest people have in you. You are a valuable resource and you are always in demand. Time to plan lessons and think disoloves into a sea of shuffling slippers and a thousand versions of the same "How are you?" This persistence of interest swings like a pendulum between the countries of my mind, existing somewhere between tastefully tolerable and testingly tiring. Privacy is almost non-existent, emerging from the bathroom stall is often a highly-involved social activity. A walk home consists of snaking around random streets until you've lost sight of all your students so you can climb into your cozy apartment without them knowing where you live.
Quasi-rockstar syndrome is a garment you try on as a minority in this small, old-fashioned Korean neighbourhood. English is very in-style and YOU are the hot, new, most fashionable English-teaching tool. She slices! She dices! SHe has a small face! She speaks English!...and all for only 99.999!!!
One of these things is not like that other...
It is interesting to know that many Koreans confuse the word for “individuality” with “selfishness,” which explains the prevalence of group mentality over individuality in Korean society. Anyone who wants to be unique in this societal structure is immediately misunderstood and condemned as a selfish person. In Korea, there exist a variety of clans, societies and associations therefore, one is always expected to be part of a larger community and belong to a group, a faction, or an organization.
Personally, with all the attention, I found it all-too easy to get caught up in being very image-conscious. Self-grooming has never been a preferred activity of mine, but now it eats up time on my daily TO-DO list. Statistics reveal that the day goes by faster if you can avoid direct eye-contact with any glassy reflective materials.
I reckon most Native English teachers do their best to enjoy the attention for what it's worth. My coping solutions include: Drinking more coffee, putting stickers on your forehead, listening to loud music, yoga, playing with friends & ridiculously long walks into the middle of everything.
