Thank you, Asia "KIS Family" (46 days until Wisconsin)

 Thank God we ended up at Korea International School!  Brent and I had no idea what we were doing when we suddenly got the urge to try international teaching somewhere.  Anywhere.  

We really may have ended up anywhere.  But we landed in Korea.  At KIS we honed our teaching, gained the friendship of teachers from all over the world, worked with amazing and intelligent students in a healthy, nurturing academic setting, all while living in a safe country.

The KIS community was unique and special in that the faculty socialized quite a lot.  Without having our families near at hand, somehow the school culture grew into a place where we became family for one another.  We celebrated Thanksgiving together, had Easter Egg hunts together, invited Santa to our staff parties so the children could make requests and sit on Santa's lap for pictures at Christmas time.  We even created a weird sort of Trick-or-Treating tradition in our apartment complex to celebrate that American tradition unheard of in Korea.

On the Goodmorninghill Playground

Our group of expat friends went to the public baths together, dined together, travelled together, and even sang Karaoke together!  

Karaoke with families (2014)

Because our children were young at the time, we developed lovely ways for the children to play while the adults talked: playground crawls.  

The Goodmorninghill kid crew

We would choose a day, a time, and a neighborhood playground to start our Saturday morning.  Then as the kids played, we would snack and chat and maybe drink a beer.  

Playground crawl

As the kids got a bit older and as a trampoline park emerged in our neighborhood, the kids would pay a small amount to jump for an hour while we parents would walk down the hill to a coffee shop and chat.

Trampoline park near GMH

The friendships made with these people are still near and dear to my heart.  We even have had occasion to meet up with some of these dear friends since we left Korea.  For example, we vacationed in Thailand with Fellers (world citizens) and Fitzgeralds (Texans) 

Huahin, Thailand with Fellers and Fitzgeralds (2013)

and we vacationed in Vietnam with Cabalunas (Americans).  

Cabalunas at GMH

A few years ago we visited the Jenkins (Aussis) at their home after they had moved from Korea to Shenzhen, China.  

In Shenzhen with Lisa and Barry Jenkens (2019)

And we also took a Spring Break vacation in Singapore to see Summertons (Aussis) and Martins (Iowans).  

In Singapore with all the KISers in Singapore! (2017)

Upon more than one occasion I have reunited with my friends Helen (Kiwi) and Samoa (Aussi).  Helen and I met up in Thailand for a Fall Break to celebrate our September birthdays, 

With Helen in Chiang Mai, Thailand at cooking school (2016)

while I traveled to Mumbai, India to see Samoa.  

With Samoa in Mumbai (2014)

A few years later the three of us met again in Shanghai when Helen was living in Beijing and Samoa in Shanghai.

With Helen and Samoa in Shanghai (girls' sleepover) (2018)

The thing about teaching and living internationally is that you begin to realize how small the world is.  You really MIGHT see someone again in another country several years later, by chance or by choice. 

Thank you, KIS for all the amazing people you brought into my life.  Thank you, Korea for your hospitality.  And thank you, Asia, for all the reunions.  

All photos by ©Brenda Brayko. All rights reserved.