Kory: female seeking ENGL 431 partner- must love dogs and the oxford comma

My name is Kory. I’m 28 years old. I was adopted from Korea when I was 3 months old. I grew up in Paradise, 25 minutes up the hill from Chico. I lived in Ireland my Jr. year of high school. I did my undergrad at Colby College: Government major, Italian minor. I privately tutored English in Italy while I lived there my Jr. year of college. It’s what made me decide to switch from becoming a lawyer (international law) and pursue a career in ESL/EFL. After I graduated, I spent a summer as an English tutor in English summer camps across Italy. Then I got my CELTA certification and taught preschool/elementary school in Korea for 3 years. I’m currently in my last semester at Chico State- MA-TIL, TESOL pattern. I’m hoping to find a job in Dubai at a private English school.

 

I volunteered at an animal shelter in Korea while I was there. I adopted one dog and became a “foster failure” of another. Their names are Cassie and Barkley. They are basically the best ever. Yes, I AM a crazy dog lady. I apologize for nothing. (See photo.)

Honestly, my life is very limited at the moment. Grad school does that to you. I dabble in hiking, painting, drinking new red wines, and working out/yoga to justify eating delicious food; some of which I like to cook myself. I do find time to binge on Netflix often. I usually regret it when my alarm goes off the next morning. This introduction is starting to feel like a online dating profile, so I’ll stop now.

 

As for the article, the part that resonated most with me was about “communities of practice”. Choosing which communities we become a part of and/or want to be a part of is one way in which we define ourselves and create our identities. Sometimes, we’re “core members” and sometimes “we have a more peripheral kind of membership”. I became addicted to travelling and really immersing myself into new cultures and communities when I was 16. I went to school in Ireland and lived with a host family on a dairy farm. After growing up in a small town where most people had known me all my life, I was able to choose my communities. I had to really dig deep and ask myself, “Who am I?” The most beautiful part? I had no idea and I hadn’t realized that until I had already changed to become someone new, someone better.

So many people from my town were/are scared of leaving the comfort of “home”. After living on both coasts, 4 countries, and visiting several others; I realize that “home” is wherever you make it. Cheesy? Very. True? With the right mind set, abso-fucking-lutely. As different as we all are, communities can be made everywhere. In turn, we learn so much about each other, ourselves, and the world we live in. I think it’s something everyone should experience at least once.