Sunway International School Iskandar

2018 was an incredible year for me as I embarked on my first adventure teaching my very own homeroom class. Sunway International School Iskandar is a Canadian International School which follows the Ontario curriculum while hosting a wide range of students in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. I was lucky enough to have the privilege of teaching an incredible group of young, ambitious and energetic grade 6 students who taught me much more than I ever taught them.

The entire year was a learning experience and created some wonderful memories. Even now 2 years later, I can vividly recall the excitement, fun and growth we accomplished together as a group. I am incredibly proud of all the students in our class, how much they developed, and more importantly, the bond and community we created. We had over 12 different mother tongues spoken in a class of only 24 and students coming from Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom and China. We all worked together, developed friendships, challenged each other, and learned to support one another. I hope each and every one of you is doing well, continuing to build on the skills and mindset you’ve been nurturing, and are thriving in a challenging new environment.

Teaching in South Korea

The beginning of my love for living abroad

Teaching in Korea was something I had always wanted to do. My mother is Korean and our heritage and background, although celebrated in our house, was always a bit of a mystery. She grew up in a time right after the Korean War, where all the upheaval, damage and personal tragedies left my mother and uncle growing up in an orphanage. Although she rarely talked about her youth, my mother would sometimes share stories, giving us a glimpse into what life was like back then. She remembered growing up as a tough tomboy who often fought other boys for food, remembered staying up at night, freezing when the fuel ran out for the furnaces, and picking lice and other bugs out of her rice porridge. These stories and memories became important milestones in my own development, grounding me in a reality I didn't know firsthand, but had such a big impact on my family and who we were. My mother knew her mother and perhaps more family might still be alive, so years later, when I was 7, we returned to Korea to try and find them. Sadly we didn't make any connections and to this day, my only real family on her side is my uncle, his wife, and my two cousins. 

While the hardships and experiences of my Italian grandparents are in many ways similar, growing up during the Second World War, being denied education and struggling to survive as peasants in a remote village, there was a distinct difference in that I could visit them here in Canada, feel their love and acceptance, and know my culture through them. My Italian identity is rooted in images and memories I cherish and hold dear, while my Korean identity was based on stories and half glimpsed feelings that I always wanted to explore further.

Teaching in Japan

Living in Tokyo

After doing pottery full time for a year and a half, I decided to live and teach in Tokyo while figuring my life out. Just like Korea, Japan was a whole new cultural experience, filled with adventures, surprises, new friends and fond memories. Japan holds a special place in my heart now and I miss living there. The combination of an incredibly advanced society which is so ordered and organized, with the beautiful history and culture of one of the worlds most unique and interesting people's made Japan a constant source of awe, beauty and inspiration. Daily life in Tokyo, though hectic, busy and fast paced, retained a certain order and calm which is hard to explain. The politeness of Japanese people, the efficiency of their cities and planning, and the understated appreciation for life allowed me to enjoy even the busiest moments.

Another wonderful aspect of my time in Japan was being able to travel to different areas. Kyoto and Aomori are two that stand out the most, as they were incredible in completely unique ways. Kyoto as a city feels like you've been transported back in time to the feudal capital of Japan before Edo. The classic buildings, architecture, amazing temples and quiet streets; all make the atmosphere in Kyoto truly unique. It's also picturesque as it's built along the banks of rivers which allow you to sit in an incredible restaurant at night, illuminated only by the light of the lamps, and enjoy a peaceful evening of amazing food with the moon shinning softly on the river nearby. If you ever visit Japan, Kyoto is the one place I recommend you have to see and experience.

  Aomori is quite different, situated at the northern most point of the main island, it is a more secluded experience and definitely brings you in touch with the beauty, nature and coastal lifestyle of the typical Japanese person. Having the most amazing seafood, beautiful locally grown vegetables, and some amazing meat which rivals that of the more famous Kobe and Sapporo areas, Aomori is a culinary gem! It also has picturesque scenery, even with wild horses which live around the lighthouse close to Mutsu (probably my favourite place in all of Japan is wandering and hanging out with these beautiful animals). Life here is quiet, slowed down and incredibly serene. It's not a common experience for people to see this side of Japan, but in many ways, it is even more breathtaking than the big cities and modern lifestyle.