On a weekend trip to Seoul, I was chatting with my friend's Korean girlfriend, who was posing the basic get-acquainted questions. Where are you from? How long have you been in Korea? How do you like teaching ESL? Standard, of course, but one stopped me short. "So what are you back home?"

I couldn't think of an answer. She pressed on.

"Are you a student?"

No, I'm finished with school, for now.

"Are you a teacher back home?"

No, I don't have a job in Canada. I have a job here, in Korea. 

"So, um, what are you?"

This is basic small-talk, and of course she wasn't trying to be invasive. But I find the question to be an unnerving one. It's a common query when meeting new people, and we've all heard it on our travels abroad. But anyone who has ever traveled between work contracts or after graduation has likely dodged these questions before. Among other travelers, a simple "I'm just traveling now," or "I used to do this job, now I'm reassessing," will suffice. I've heard many hostel conversations where a simple "I'm not working now," receives a round of understanding laughs. 

But when a person has packed up to live abroad, whether for study, work, freelance pursuits, or plain ol' time off, the question gets slippery. The mention of "back home" is a firm reminder that your adoptive residence is not home. Though I'm working here in Korea, using public transport, following local news, culturally speaking, I'm still just passing through.

The same mindset applies to the job. Most people perceive an overseas teaching stint as a sabbatical from a "real" position. In fairness, the bulk of ESL teachers inhabiting Korea are doing so to pay loans or fund travels. But not everyone is organized enough to live abroad as a stepping stone in a bigger life plan. Some are just trying to make some good cash and have a new experience while figuring out what career path to pursue. Some even like teaching enough to pursue it long-term.

So what am I back home? I've spent the better part of the past three years working abroad, so there's no definitive answer. Daughter? Friend? Occasional consumer? Does it even matter? So to answer the question about what I do, all I can say is that I'm a teacher. And traveler. Here. Now. Everything else is in the works.