Working Hollyday

To put together a documentary on the different people and jobs in Jeju, MBC Korea followed around our team today to show off the different things that we do here at our camp and affiliate businesses. Some were filmed working at a farmers' market, others at our restaurant, and I was filmed teaching an English class. Filming will continue for the rest of today and will carry through tomorrow and (I believe part of) Friday. Very exciting! I will be sure to share more in other posts, including viewing information. *Fun fact: this is actually the fourth time I've been filmed for television in Korea. Haha.

 One of the most popular "recovery" foods for young Koreans after a long night of drinking?  RAMYUN!!! Not only does it give a nice kick with spicy broth, but the noodles are great for absorbing any excess "indulgences" from the night before. Hahaha. But really, Korean ramyun is incredibly delicious with a depth and range of flavors. DELICIOUS!!!

 I can never stress enough how important food is to forming close bonds with people of different cultural backgrounds. Food is the most basic of human needs and desires and really helps us to understand the lifestyles of our friends around the world.  Today, during English class, my students said they were hungry. So, being the considerate teacher that I am (hahah), I took them on a "field trip" to the kitchen for a late lunch. A simple veggie omelette but a powerful tool of connection: food is always the best way to learn and share. My best advice for going abroad? Try new food but share yours too!

Samgyeopsal, or grilled pork belly, is a popular Korean dish to share with friends. It's incredibly delicious without being too oily or heavy and is often wrapped in lettuce or sesame leaves along with rice and chili and/or soybean paste. Koreans enjoy samgyeopsal with soju - traditional Korean alcohol - and love to share this dish with foreign friends.

 Food is always a great way to spend time with friends and form new personal and cultural bonds! Korean tteokbokki ( 떡볶이 ) is a popular and delicious dish comprised of rice cake, chili sauce, meat, egg, vegetables - whatever you want! It is certainly a must-try if you ever go to Korea!

Sports are some of the most easily shared cultural elements. They can often be enjoyed with little to no worry about language barriers or unfamiliar environments. Getting to play a pick-up game of basketball with friends is one way in which I have been able to bond with my Korean coworkers and team members. I highly recommend playing or watching sports as a way to get close with people when travelling or living abroad, whether for the short- or long-term.

 Travelling with my students and team members is a great way for us to build our friendship.  Just going to the beach together and sharing some ice cream forms happy memories for us.  Jeju has plenty of beautiful sites, so there are many options for how we can travel together.  Taking time to just enjoy where you are in life is the best way to help you grow as a person. And then sharing your growth with others is what builds long-lasting relationships and happiness!

The main job I have here in Jeju is to be an English instructor and tutor to people here on working holiday. However, language is only a small portion of what I teach. Culture has a huge impact on the way that we talk, especially in terms of gesticulation, mannerism, tone and inflection, and facial expression. More than anything, though, my goal is to help my students to feel comfortable around foreigners and to be more confident when speaking English. If they feel good about themselves when speaking English, then they will have a much better time when making foreign friends!

One of the best feelings in the world is when you see your classwork in the "real world". I graduated with a Bachelor's in Global and International Studies, so maps are always of special interest to me. Restaurants are just as important because they tell a lot about local - or globalized - culture. While going out to lunch today with my Korean coworkers, they chose to go to Popeye's - an American chain. While that in it of itself is evidence of glocalization and globalization, this map I saw on the wall says just as much. In the US, almost every map will show Europe and Africa in the middle with the Americas to the West and Asia to the East. However, this map at a Popeye's in Jeju had the Pacific Ocean in the middle with Asia to the West and the Americas to the East. Perhaps one of the best parts of travelling and being abroad is that it opens your eyes to something we often overlook and undervalue: perspective.

When I first arrived in Jeju (2017.6.16), I got to visit the local farmer's market, owned and operated by my fellow team members at the Global Jeju Culture Co-op. All locally grown and made food, all beautifully representing the best of what Jeju has to offer!

Hello! Welcome to Working Hollyday, a blog about working and living in Jeju, South Korea. I'm Holly - a recent college graduate - and I'm now in Jeju to develop working holiday programs to help form global ties and international friendships. I will be sharing my work and travel stories, as well as giving advice for foreigners who wish to travel to or live in Jeju. It's sure to be an amazing adventure, and I hope you will join me along the way!