When in Rome…
There is the old saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Seems simple enough, but I’m questioning that these days. Culture runs deep, and tennessee (the soil, the air, the water, and the particular angle of the sun) reared me, and when I came to Korea, so did Tennessee, in a way; Tennessee is that much a part of me.
When you leave your home, you take it with you, at least in part. I think that is much of what it means to be an expat. You’re not just a person living in a foreign country; you are a foreign element in that country. There is no complete assimilation.
This brings me to what it is to be a foreign teacher in Korea. Much of my time, I have tried to assimilate; for some reason, I thought it important to relate to my students from their point-of-view. Should I try to teach as the Koreans, or is that a futile thing to be attempting, in-the-first-place?
In my classes, my studnets only have to deal with me for a meximum of 55 minuets, but I have to t deal with Korea 24/7. Thus, the greater amount of energy adjusting is bieng spent by me. I’m having to give a great deal of myslef; so much that, often, I feel nearly spent.
The “spent” feeling is pouring into my well-being, and that is affecting my attitude. I find that if I have to fight in class, I’m in a fighting mood at home, as well. How I hate this reality; it is, indeed, my reality, none-the-less.
My wife deserves a husband that isn’t always moody. So, I have to look at all possible sources of moodiness. Being a good, kind husband is more important than anything else. Because of that, other things fall on the chopping block first. For example:
If school is driving crazy, I must focus on molding my classes to suit me, rather than the other way around. As bad as it may sound, it is more important to be of sound mind than it is to be a good teacher. So, if it takes quiet classes to tnot be moody, then quiet classses is what we shall have.
