A
lot of people have asked us, Why Korea?
Our
answer is complicated.
I
could tell you that we chose South Korea for its location. Its proximity to
Japan, China and Southeast Asia certainly makes it a great hub for traveling.
I
could also tell you that we have met countless people who have taught in this
country and rave about the culture, the people, the food and the land.
This
would also be true.
There
are many aspects that factored into our decision to move to South Korea.
One
of the biggest reasons, though, is money.
If
we were super concerned about adding to our retirement fund, investing in the
right places, and building our wealth, frankly, we wouldn’t have quit our
steady jobs.
But
at this point in our lives we want adventure.
That might not be the most responsible priority, but that’s where we’re at
right now. We want to make new memories and explore the world.
So
here we are, moving across the globe.
Money
is a concern of ours though because we have student loans to pay.
Lots of them.
After
doing some extensive research, we discovered that without a license, teaching
English in most countries is a difficult way to earn money. In fact, you may
have a hard time just breaking even.
Once
we narrowed down our list to countries in which we’d be actually be able to
make money, we were left with China, Japan and you guessed it, South Korea.
One
of the biggest perks of teaching English in South Korea is free housing –
that’s right, we will be provided with a fully furnished apartment, free of
charge!
(It
probably won’t be the biggest place,
but remember, we lived in hostels for three months, so I think we will be just
fine.)
Additionally,
we will be reimbursed for our flight to Korea, as well as our return flight
home. It may not sound like much, but when you consider it can be upward of
$2,000 for a round trip flight, it is definitely a nice perk.
So,
factoring in the free housing and flights, we will be making a salary
comparable to teachers in the United States.
We
will by no means be getting rich, but we will make enough to live comfortably,
travel, pay our loans, and save a little!
And
that’s just what we need right now.
