It has been roughly two years since Newtown High School 2008 graduate Shannon Seaman first landed in South Korea, and now she is looking forward to her third year as a teacher.

Ms Seaman graduated from Roger Williams University with a bachelor of arts degree in creative writing, and went on to learn about English Programming In Korea (EPIK) while looking into options for what she could do post-graduation. She earned a certificate and now, after applying through EPIK, works for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education at Maebong Elementary School teaching English to third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students.

In 2013, Ms Seaman told The Bee she was looking forward to immersing herself South Korean culture, and on Monday, February 16, she said she feels she has done that.

“Overall I’ve learned some Korean,” said Ms Seaman, adding that she has also gained a sense of Korean culture and a love for its cuisine.

With her third teaching year approaching — school starts in March in South Korea — Ms Seaman said she is also thinking of taking classes in Korean this year. Even without classes she said she has learned enough of the language to “get by.”

While Ms Seaman said she has felt like she has been living in a bubble by not being Korean in a culture where many in the population do not travel abroad or interact with people from other countries, she also said she has felt welcomed, especially at Maebong Elementary School.

When Ms Seaman was planning to make the trip home for a two-week stay before the next school year begins next month, she said she had to figure out what to do with the cat she has adopted there. The cat, which she has named “Kublai Cat,” cries and has “emotional issues” when Ms Seaman leaves the pet alone. So, Ms Seaman decided to bring Kublai Cat along for her trip home to Newtown.

She purchased a traveling crate, but needed wire mesh to adhere to the front of the crate to prevent the cat from reaching through the bars, which she said the airport would not allow. One of her fellow teachers and a janitor at her school came to her rescue, by both helping to get the wire mesh and by fixing it to the crate. Instances like that, according to Ms Seaman, are not uncommon.

Maebong Elementary School, Ms Seaman said, is “named after the tiny mountain that it is next to.” She said one of the most surprising things from her teaching experiences has been how much physical contact South Korean students have with one another. Students grab arms and ears, but if it crosses into being too severe adults do step in, according to Ms Seaman. The line between playing and fighting is different, Ms Seaman said, and even adults share more physical interaction than she is used to. She said it is common for girls to hold hands while walking down the street.

Ms Seaman said her students have been “great.” Many work late into the night studying, Ms Seaman said, which she also noted as a difference between South Korea and the United States.

“There’s definitely a huge focus on education,” said Ms Seaman.

She said one of her teaching highlights was helping with a camp both in the winter and summer. Some of the lessons taught at the camp included singing songs in English, “Harry Potter lessons,” and playing board games.

This past year, Ms Seaman said she was able to put her 15 years of dancing at Dance Etc here in Newtown to use. After doing a special class with the students about tap dancing, Ms Seaman said she was asked to offer an after school program on tap dancing.

“And that was really fun,” said Ms Seaman. “It was really nice to do something different with the kids.”

One of her tap students told Ms Seaman she would always remember her tap dancing lessons. Ms Seaman said she plans to teach the tap dancing program again this upcoming school year.

“It’s definitely been a rewarding experience” overall said Ms Seaman.

When Ms Seaman first ventured abroad to teach, she said she thought it would be for one year, but that one year quickly turned into what will be three school years.