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Punxsy grad explores the world while beginning a career in education |
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Front Page -
Front Page Story
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Written by Mike Ishman
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Monday, 04 January 2010 |
One of the perks of living in South Korea is the easy access to travel to countries close to South Korea. Phil Limerick is seen in this photo at The Golden Pavilion at the Rokuon-Ji temple complex in Kyoto, Japan. (Photo submitted)
ANYANG — For college graduates, job searches usually begin the same way, beginning close to home and radiating out to neighboring towns, cities and states. It is not very often that a fresh graduate ends up out of the country, much less in a completely foreign land.
For one Punxsutawney resident, that is exactly what happened.
With only limited time left in his college career, Phil Limerick, like many other pending college graduates, wasn’t sure what he was going to be doing after walking across the stage for his diploma. Limerick, a 2005 PAHS graduate, graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in May with a degree in Spanish.
Knowing that he eventually wanted to continue his education with graduate studies, Limerick didn’t know what to do in the interim. After experiencing life in Spain during his junior year, and studying at the University of Valladolid for a semester, Limerick knew that he wanted to travel abroad once more.
“Living and studying in Spain was such a great experience because I was able to really be a part of another culture and learn a lot,” Limerick said. “So I was looking for a job where I could travel and experience a new culture while at the same time save money for future graduate studies.”
While considering his options, he spoke to a former roommate with whom he had lived in Spain. The roommate mentioned that teaching English in Asia included many benefits, including free airfare and housing, low cost health insurance and a reasonable salary.
“I didn’t give it much thought at first, but a few months later, when I was really serious about finding a job, I decided to do an internet search on teaching in Asia,” Limerick said.
What he found surprised him. Not only were the benefits available, but Korean schools were always looking for new teachers.
“I thought it was too good to be true,” he said.
Although a stipulation which stated that a one-year contract must be signed originally made him hesitant, he decided that the chance was too good to pass up.
“I knew it would be good for me and that I may not have the chance to do something like this later in life,” he said.
Limerick’s mother, Linda Mumau, says that she never would have expected Limerick to end up in Korea while he was growing up.
“I never would have thought he would have done something like this,” Mumau said. “He was a quiet kid growing up, staying close to home.”
But after spending time in Spain, she says he caught the travel bug.
“Once he got a taste of traveling, he really grew to love it,” she said. “He loves learning about different cultures and for him to learn a culture, he goes and lives it.”
Mamau says that while initially she was nervous about him going to South Korea, spending a year away from family, she soon realized that it was something he couldn’t pass on.
“I knew it would be a great opportunity for him,” she said.
Once he decided that he wanted to pursue teaching abroad, he contacted several different agencies, which quickly responded and found him a position. After several phone interviews with the school directors, Limerick decided to take a position at a private English academy, teaching kindergarten and elementary students.
“The academy is in the city of Anyang, which is about 12.4 miles south of Seoul,” Limerick explained.
Seoul is the capital of South Korea, as well as its largest city, with a population of over 10 million people. Anyang, in the Gyenoggi provence, has a population of over 620,000 people and is one of the most populous cities in the country.
After taking the position, he had several steps to take, such as obtaining a work visa and preparing documents for Korean immigration.
“The next thing I knew, there was a flight reservation e-mailed to me. The process was rather simple,” Limerick said.
Arriving in South Korea, Limerick said he did not immediately experience culture shock. It wasn’t until he went to a supermarket that the differences really set in. That first supermarket experience was, as he described it, “hundreds of Koreans at their respective food sections constantly marketing their products loudly in a language that was extremely foreign to me.”
Although the language was foreign to him, getting around the city and adapting to the culture was not, due to help that Limerick found primarily from his coworker who has lived in South Korea for a while.
“Getting accustomed to living there did not take much time,” he said.
Mumau said that Limerick told her the people in South Korea are very nice and helpful.
“When he asks for directions, and the place isn’t too far away, some people have walked with him and shown him where the places are.” she said.
Limerick said that prior to moving, he did not study a lot of Korean, just “a minimal amount,” as many people speak English in South Korea.
“Even though I have experienced minor difficulties at times with the language barrier, most of the time people are able to communicate to me in English,” he said.
When he has time, he studies Korean, which he describes as “interesting.” He is learning the language from Korean friends, and although he does not know much of the language, “It is still fun to practice in daily life.”
After an initial rough spot, Limerick said he is enjoying teaching the Korean children.
“They are very friendly, enthusiastic and outgoing,” he noted.
Having little prior teaching experience, especially with children, Limerick found the process very difficult at first.
“It took some time to learn how to manage and teach them effectively, especially the six-year-olds,” he said.
But after some time with the children, teaching became much less difficult.
“I learned a lot on the job, and they are very fun to be around. It is very rewarding to see their improvement as time goes on,” he said.
Although he may be teaching the children a second language, most of the children have already had exposure to the English language, keeping the barrier to a minimum, Limerick said.
“The classes are small, which makes teaching them more personal which is important to me,” he said.
Life in Anyang is very different from the United States, according to Limerick. Most things are cheaper, including food, transportation and health care, with exceptions being dairy products and a few other items. At many of the restaurants, as opposed to tables and booths for individual parties, there are very low tables where patrons sit on the floor.
The matter of preparation is different as well. As well as built in table grills, portable grills are also commonly used to cook one’s own food right at their own table. The meals, which usually cost the U.S. equivalent of $4, are described by Limerick as “satisfying, healthy and flavorful,” consisting primarily of rice, noodles, vegetables and meats.
Mumau said that Limerick often talks about the population of Anyang, with its very crowded conditions and large amount of buildings.
In his spare time in Anyang, Limerick enjoys playing music, sightseeing and studying Korean. After coming home for the holidays for several days, Limerick is once again in South Korea. Once he moves back in May, he plans to take several months off before going to graduate school in the fall.Mumau said that he plans on going to either Pitt, Penn State or Ohio State. But, according to his mother, it is what he is doing in the present that makes her very proud.
“For him to go to Spain was one thing — he went with students and one of his professors,” she said. “That would be hard enough. But going somewhere without knowing anyone is very different.
“I’m very proud of him,” she said.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 05 January 2010 )
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