Allow me to sum up everything Twitter style (in 140 characters or less). SoKoDiaries reveals my experience as a Black-American female teacher living in South Korea. I hope it's an inspiration and a good read.
In 2012, three percent of the population in South Korea (SoKo) were foreigners; an even smaller percentage (of the foreigners) were Black-Americans. As a Black-American woman living in SoKo during that time, culture shock was not the only thing Nailah had to overcome. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Nailah's temporary stay in an urban-rural Korean city was an unique experience. But that was not the only unique experience. Nailah's SoKo journey was filled with many contrastingly pleasant memories. From being pushed in line by older Korean women to being known in her city as "Reggae Hair" because of her dreadlocks, it's all written in here.
Professional Reviews
Jeffrey Miller
Having been a teacher and educator in South Korea since 1990 (with nineteen of those years teaching English) I am always curious to know what other teachers go through when they come to Korea and especially those who write about their experiences. No matter if one writes about their experiences in the classroom or out, what ultimately connects us all together is how the experience of teaching in Korea defines us and changes us. It takes a special kind of person to say good bye to loved ones and friends and travel halfway around the world to teach. Not everyone can do it. Those who do, will always look back on their time overseas as a major life defining moment.
You get a lot of this and more in the short, but endearing memoir of Korea, SoKoDiaries: An American Living in South Korea by Nailah Harvey. Her story and experiences in Korea are not unlike other teachers who have come here, whether for the short term or the long term. However, what makes her memoir so endearing is how humble and honest she is writing about her experiences. That's what I liked best about her book and the things she covered. And for someone who has been here as long as I have, it was refreshing to see the newness of Korea through her eyes the way I saw Korea when I came here in 1990. There is a certain amount of naivete on her part that made this old Korean hand smile and remember what it was like for me when I first came here.
Wes Weston
A friend lent me this book because several years back I taught in South Korea. The author does a great job of illustrating the life of an English teacher, and I could relate to many of her experiences inside the classroom. The author also takes you on the emotional roller coaster of living abroad and demonstrates her fortitude to overcome such challenges with conviction and faith. SoKoDiaries is a true testament to the author's intrepid sense of adventure, and I would recommend it to anyone who is getting ready to teach in South Korea.
EPIK Teacher in South Korea
As an EPIK teacher in South Korea, I recommend this book to all people who are thinking about going overseas to teach in a foreign country, especially if that country is South Korea. The book is an open and honest account of the American author's experience in South Korea.
Although it is a personal account, the book includes a struggle with lonely emotions that I believe all expats, in varying degrees, will encounter during their first couple of months living alone in a foreign country. The author also provides an excellent description of the school setting and some of the cultural things you will encounter as a foreign teacher in South Korea. Without a doubt I believe this book will better prepare you for a teaching experience overseas. This book can help you better understand what you are getting yourself into before you board that plan.
Take a teachers advice, teaching overseas can be an amazing and rewarding experience, but read this book before you sign your contract. "Know before you go."
Personal journals are full of potential, waiting for you to add the color! Pages for you to fill in the blanks with tidbits and trivia about the state of Washington.
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