Awesome Things about Korea #12: Meeting New People

One of the best things to do as a new teacher in Korea is to make a good network of friends, both foreign and Korean.  These people help bring a sense of stability to your life, just as much as having a comforting routine will do for combating homesickness and culture shock.  The majority of the time, people you meet in Korea are there for the same reasons you are:  to teach, to travel, and to experience Korea.  Having these interests and goals in common go a long way in forging fast but lasting friendships.  

What I really enjoy about living in Korea is being able to meet new people through a wide variety of venues, and from that, gain new friendships.  You can meet other foreigners through your school, through the local foreigner hangouts, or even through an International Center.  Once you make a few friends, you'd be surprised to find the other connections that exist.  The people you meet know other people, and they know other people, and from there, you can stand to gain a good-sized network.

So don't be shy--you just might be surprised how much you have in common with fellow ex-pats in your area!