3 months in South Korea: expectations vs reality

[@londekazulu2460]

GIRL!! Thank you for sharing this because this is the reality of teacher here when your Korean is limited. Even when you do, the fact that you are a foreigner just never leaves you when you are here. There’s a lot of things that become disheartening but it’s what helps you to grow as a person but growth isn’t easy. Like yes the Instagram filters and YT videos of JeJu Island vlogs are cute, however there is that long week at school and that loneliness that you might face being in a foreign country. Some people even leave early because it gets too much. So I wish that people would show both sides of the coin. There are so many things to be grateful for being here, but when people go through the not so good, it’s easy to start thinking people lied when no they didn’t but just chose to not show it. But yes, living in a foreign country will definitely change you. And Korea has another load of problems that you will have to add to your bucket list of things you need to sort through😂. Also when you have a teaching Degree and teaching here can also be disheartening. All in all, romanticising a country is not good. It’s better to come here with limited expectations.

[@zizojikizinto]

Shuuuu. Thank you so much for this comment sis! I agree with you 100% especially on the romanticism part. It's really not good to romanticise another country and unfortunately Kdramas have given so many people a fairytale view of how things will be like here. The reality is so different 😔

[@londekazulu2460]

@@zizojikizinto that is so true and some content creators here too add to it. my best advice to anyone who plans to come here is to get to know the basic information you need to know about Korea and come experience it yourself. Truly every situation is so different it’s important to just save yourself the heartache and experience it yourself. With that being said, being in Korea is also amazing in that you definitely learn how strong you are as a person and just how capable you are to navigate so many things that you wouldn’t have known you could, had you been at home. It’s life out here. It is what you make it. Like you said, being here doesn’t mean you are no longer adulting.

[@zizojikizinto]

Very well said! I didn't know I was this strong until I faced certain circumstances 😂💔 But it certainly gets better with time ♥️

[@gailmosaka]

firstly i want to say you’re so good at articulation, it’s amazing how you can express yourself and you mentioned a lot that you never processed things and now that you’re spending a lot of your time introspecting and thinking of things that happened in the past maybe that’s why things might feel a-bit overwhelming but i hope you find healing and a very good therapist that side ❤️

[@zizojikizinto]

Awwww sis, thanks so much for watching so attentively. My sensitivity is definitely heightened due to past unprocessed traumas and it's about time I got into therapy because wow 🙈🥺❤️

[@Koki_Maphelela]

I love your story! I don’t know how to say this but the busyness and the expectations in how we think life will start anew, to having to sit and deal with yourself after all the many things while still needing to show up for yourself! Wow! I can relate Zanele ♥️

[@zizojikizinto]

Awwww Koki, thank you so much for this reassuring feedback 🥺❤️ Often, we feel isolated when going through such challenges and realizations. So grateful for the sense of community and being seen that we get here 🫂🙏❤️

[@bonakelekhumalo9539]

I moved to the middle east a month ago and I must say, this has been relatable on so many levels.

[@zizojikizinto]

Hi sis! Awww nkos'yam the adjusting process isn't fun at all hey 😅🥺 Kodwa we keep pushing and finding healthy coping mechanisms. Love and light hun ❤️

[@bonakelekhumalo9539]

@@zizojikizinto mina bengithi masenze ne Masters si abroad sife once. Lol. Side note, we both started at UJ the same year.

[@zizojikizinto]

And vele let's finish the Masters and keep ourselves busy with that. It will make time go much much faster! Haibo which course did you do at UJ?😃

[@bonakelekhumalo9539]

Education. Majoring in English and ICT. Then last year I did my Honours in STEM(ICT major). There's this university I saw this week, online, own pace. Masiye😂

[@zizojikizinto]

Awwww cool stuff! Let's connect on Instagram, please DM me @ruth_madlazi 😍

[@Nokuphila214]

I wish you all the best Ruth😍😍😍❤. Keep pushing and God is with you🙏🙏.

[@zizojikizinto]

Thank you so so much 🥰🙏

[@zanelentuli7953]

Waze wakhuluma kahle weZanele, Siyabonga.

[@zizojikizinto]

Ngiyazibongela Bizo wam 🥰🙏❤️

[@neomasoeu3400]

We love you my friend. So proud of you for taking this daunting and life-changing journey. Love the content!

[@zizojikizinto]

My friend kere it's a film 🤣🤣 Healing isn't linear, kodwa forward we go 😁♥️

[@leosamusic6491]

I pray and wish you all the successes Ruthie my dear! Continue flying higher!❤‍🔥

[@zizojikizinto]

I really appreciate the love and support Leo! All the best with your musical endeavors as well, God bless ♥️😁

[@leosamusic6491]

@@zizojikizinto We've got this right!! Stay blessed too🥰

[@kgomotsohlaka7755]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and traumas. You are so well-spoken hle... I wish you nothing but a prosperous healing journey.

[@zizojikizinto]

I feel myself healing and becoming stronger day by day sis! 💪🏾 Ke ea leboha hle ka compliment 😁❤️

[@samuhkhumalo2526]

Awusemhle😍....so proud of you Ruth, keep pushing you got this💪🥰😘

[@zizojikizinto]

Uyayibona le Korean glow iyangifica 🙈😁😍 Thanks sthandwa! I appreciate you 📺♥️🙏🏾

[@thandekangwenya4407]

All the best Ruth and be strong ❤️💕Love and Light.

[@zizojikizinto]

Much Appreciated sis! I feel myself getting stronger every day hey ♥️💪🏾

[@SheronMacanza]

looking very beautiful Sis Ruth🥰,thank you for sharing.

[@zizojikizinto]

Awww thank you so much for watching sis 🥰❤️🤍

[@Tsholofelo_]

Hey Sis you speak their language with so much ease did you learn those 'Good Morning' etc prior to getting there ? Or you learnt when you get there ?

[@zizojikizinto]

Thanks so much! The super basic phrases like greeting I learned while I was still at home, I continue to take Korean lessons online and in person whenever I can😁

[@zandilemadlazi3308]

I'm just here to say awusemuhle!😍🔥🔥❤️

[@zizojikizinto]

Ngiyabonga Mamaz ❤️😍

[@easyictwithzekhaya3875]

"In 2015"😅 love and light❤

[@zizojikizinto]

Ama anger issues ayavuka 😂😂💔

[@Sannahhh]

since you mentioned you’ve done your honors do you think it is worth it as i am contemplating on doing them or just going abroad, but i’m really not interested in studying further but i fear i might miss out some benefits mhlambi? 😭😭😭

[@zizojikizinto]

My plan is to get into academia, so I am now in a Masters journey so I can go to PhD afterwards. If you don't have plans for getting into lecturing or anything like that, ndizaw'thi akho need to stress yourself shame.😄

[@Sannahhh]

@@zizojikizinto , lecturing in korea or ???

[@zizojikizinto]

Lecturing anywhere in the world. I am hoping to do my PhD at Oxford or another prestigious international university

[@Sannahhh]

@@zizojikizinto, thank you so much for clarifying with me. i hope you well in everything as well as your future plans. ❤️❤️❤️ God bless you.😇❤️

[@liferesetwithboni]

Here from Tik Tok ❤️

[@zizojikizinto]

Sis Boni! Thanks for migrating 😁❤️

[@kgomotsohlaka7755]

Can i ask, since you mentioned you are from UJ, when you were requesting for your transcripts, did you ask for the academic record or the transcript supplement?

[@zizojikizinto]

Hey sis! So I went to the Faculty with 2 white envelopes and asked for my academic record. I asked them to print and stamp 2 copies and to also stamp the envelope seal 🙈 So I essentially didn't pay for the transcripts 😁

[@zizojikizinto]

But if you are ordering via QVF take the transcript coz it's cheaper 😊

[@kgomotsohlaka7755]

@@zizojikizinto so it doesn't matter which as long as they see that you passed? Phelan R400 x2....

[@zizojikizinto]

Yup! Just make sure the envelope seals are stamped and keep your envelopes clean. We are trying to save hey, let's economize where we can 😁

[@kgomotsohlaka7755]

@@zizojikizinto thank you for the hack!

[@englishwithnolly.4340]

Are there any churches nearby?

[@zizojikizinto]

Yes there are, but English-speaking churches are a bit hard to find

[@liferesetwithboni]

But shouldn't they have better English vocabulary in high school?

[@zizojikizinto]

I thought so too kodwa ke... 🥺😬