Category: English Teaching Assistant

    Letter from the Editor

    Dear Infusion Readers, As Editor-in-Chief, I had hoped that my first letter to you, our readership, would be to introduce this year’s final print issue. When the 2019-2020 Infusion team assembled last fall, we set out to bring you a year of exclusive online content — creative and informative writing, photography, experiments in design and curation — all culminating in one print magazine to serve as record of all we, Fulbright grantees and alumni, had learned and experienced this year. However, as the world shifts to adapt to a global crisis such as COVID-19, I find it necessary to write you a different letter. Allow me to summarize, briefly, the circumstances that have been governing Fulbright Korea grantees over the past few months. Beginning in February, grantees were given regular opportunities to voluntarily depart South Korea as concern surrounding COVID-19 continued to rise. On March 19th, the U.S. Department of State issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory (Do Not Travel) to South Korea — the highest level possible. Subsequently, the following conclusions were reached: Fulbright Korea would end all programming for the grant year by April 12th, recommending departure for all remaining grantees. Those who choose to stay in the country do so as private citizens. Come April 12th, we will all officially be Fulbright Program alumni. It is in accordance with these decisions that we must announce that Infusion will suspend all publication activities for the remainder of the originally-planned grant year.  However, this isn’t quite the end of us yet. During these tumultuous past weeks, Infusion’s staff remained enthusiastic and dedicated, even through all the delays and personal upheaval. I’m thankful for their commitment, through which it is possible that we still have great content, submitted by our last deadline, ready to publish on our website over the next few weeks, after which we will officially wrap up the publication year. I must make it abundantly clear that by continuing operation past April 12th, we are switching from Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) management to Fulbright alumni management. As of next week, we will see all of our grant statuses changing, and therefore temporarily be renamed The Fulbright Korea Alumni Infusion Literary Magazine. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the tireless work that has been done on behalf of all Fulbright grantees in South Korea. Korean American Education Commission (KAEC) Chair Mitchell Moss, Executive Director Byungok Kwon, Executive Assistant Heidi Little, ETA Program Coordinator Isabel Moua, and ETA Program Assistant Young Sook Lee, and more KAEC personnel who have worked behind-the-scenes have been fully committed to their mission to support ETAs through these unprecedented times. Infusion is always appreciative of KAEC’s support, and as an ETA myself, I am grateful for the commission’s appropriate and compassionate response. Lastly, I want to thank the 2019-2020 Infusion team. They’ve been understanding of endless schedule changes, present during virtual meetings that bridged time zones, and willing to adapt to keep Infusion going through all of this uncertainty. I’m so thankful for their trust, and I am relieved that they may now be more able to direct time and energy towards taking care of themselves and their communities, which I believe to be the most important right now. Thank you, and take care, Sarah Berg

    City Guide Review: Npub

    Review by Tim DiFazio, ETA 2019-2020 City: Iksan (익산) Type of Business: Bar Address: 763-17 Sin-dong, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do (전라북도 익산시 신동 763-17) Cost: 4000 to 6000 won for beer; 8000 to 10,000 for cocktails The first few months as an ETA run the risk of feeling deeply lonely, especially in a smaller city like Iksan where one might not encounter a single English speaker on a night out. Many ETAs start the year speaking little Korean and knowing almost nobody in their placements. This is why Iksan ETAs need to make at least one stop at Npub. Npub is tucked away in the area surrounding Wonkwang University, and people mainly learn about it through word of mouth. Its entrance is marked by a modest red and white sign, and the bar itself sits on the basement floor of the building. The decor inside is charmingly random, with dressed-up mannequins sitting next to sports memorabilia and Christmas lights. A large projector screen lights up the back of the bar with customer-requested music videos, and a small curtained room with traditional Korean-style floor cushions provides a nice change in atmosphere for those who want it. While the decor is charming, what truly makes Npub special is the people. Even on a slow night, it’s a blast. Koreans and foreigners alike gather to play darts and pool while they chat with strangers and sip on reasonably-priced cocktails. The owner, Yohan, is both incredibly friendly and a fluent English speaker. He makes the bar a comfortable place to go alone, as shown by the vibrant community has formed around him. The bar has parties on Halloween, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s, which go a long way towards staving off the homesickness that comes with spending the holidays abroad. Thanks to the comforting atmosphere, great drinks, and lovely people, Npub has become a home away from home for expats all over Iksan and even Jeonju. Thanks to Npub, no Iksan ETA needs to worry about spending the weekends alone. Just pull up to the bar, grab a cocktail, and watch the hours melt away.   [FinalTilesGallery id=’7′]