Giving lectures and grading students are not the only jobs of our professors. As foreigners to a new country, professors have to settle down and overcome hardships. In response to the “Corona Blues”, it can be assumed that many professors are suffering even more due to restrictions regarding confinement and quarantine. Acknowledging the seriousness of such struggles, stress-induced psychosis is the most frequently seen illness of the working-class in Korea. Depression and stress-related illnesses exceed other physical diseases; they appear in 18.9 percent of individuals in Korea. However, an anonymous professor of George Mason Korea has successfully overcome such struggles. They have lived in Korea far away from their home country for 16 years, experiencing various aspects of being a foreigner.
Q: Did living with your family help you while you were living in a foreign nation?
A: Certainly. A number of other foreign professors I recognize are separated from their families. On the contrary, I had my most important family members with me for the entire time. It is highly encouraging to stay here in Korea even during the spread of COVID-19 since I am with them. I may not speak fluent Korean; however, my immediate family is with me. Although I feel more distance between individuals during the pandemic, I feel a more strong bond with my family.
Q: What is the first word that comes to your mind to describe how you perceive Korea?
A: I do not want to portray Korea with negative expressions; however, regardless of being negative, I could say that I feel a sense of hierarchy within the Korean community. This aspect of culture has always been difficult for me, knowing that conversations between strangers in Korea usually begin with asking each others’ age. This segment of culture created distance from where I did not want or expect.
Q: Could you describe situations that made you or others feel isolated, separated from your home country?
A: Last semester, I recognized numerous foreign professors from the Fairfax campus. Because they arrived for the first time at the beginning of the pandemic, it was a highly stressful situation for them than those of us who were already here. Some even left immediately. There were also times that I felt disconnected. I cannot recall clearly since it was long ago. However, I remember that at the beginning of COVID-19, masks were not even available to get for foreigners even in pharmacies. I also identified signs that write “no foreigners allowed”. Even when reading the news, it is common that we get old or unclear information regarding the Korean government. It is difficult that I cannot read or understand Korean entirely.
Such isolation creates a distance between “us” and “them”. However, this professor was able to overcome such difficulties of cultural and linguistic differences. They believe that their situation is much better than others in the sense that they had a job to continue with while many others lost theirs’. Most importantly, they live with their family here in Korea. Although this professor experiences struggles, they remind themself of the most important aspect, that they are with their family and take part in a job. Taking a look at this professor’s case, it is inevitable that any sense of belonging is crucial when becoming a foreigner, especially during a pandemic. It does not take a lot of work to build a bridge between us and them. A single conversation is all it can take to make someone feel a little more comfortable during these trying times.
Written by Yeonseo Shim | Staff writer
Comments