Adiós, Kaohsiung; Annyeong, Seoul: Señora Paloma’s Next Stop

by Ryan Hsu (Grade 11)

Señora Paloma’s career is best understood geographically, where one might think her goal is to scratch every place off a map instead of staying in one. Her path has carried her through classrooms starting from Spain to Nepal, Goa, Bangalore, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and most recently, Taiwan. And even now, her journey is not stopping here. At the close of this semester, she plans to move to KIS, an international American school in Seoul where she will continue teaching Spanish.

This is not unfamiliar to KAS, where each year students have seen teachers come and go, an ebb and flow that has come to define the school’s faculty. This year, one of the departures happens to belong to Ms. Paloma. 

“I think it has been a very good four years,” she said. “I love the school and my students and colleagues.” 

While reminiscing about her first time here at Kaohsiung, she mentioned how eager she was to experience both a new school and a new city, unaware of how many wonderful connections she would make. “I’m still in contact with my students.” she said, noting that many of her relationships extend beyond the classroom. Back in Abu Dhabi, she often had to move between classrooms alongside her students, but KAS gave her a space to claim and shape. Over time, it became unmistakably hers, bright and filled with colors of all sorts. 

Making it here was not an easy journey. International American Schools have a very competitive market. You would need advanced degrees and years of experience to secure the job. Most schools, she explained, recruit through agencies that act as intermediaries between teachers and administrators, while others, like KAS, accept direct applications on their webpage.

Ms. Paloma will not be moving alone. She will relocate together with her husband, Señor Miguel, currently also teaching Spanish at KAS, and their daughters, who are currently students at KAS.

Over the years, she has taught students with vastly different backgrounds, including Russian and Ukrainian students where they do not share a common language. Despite the challenge, she successfully navigated classrooms where communication can be in many diverse forms. It is a skill set that will likely serve her well at KIS. 

When asked what she will miss most about Kaohsiung, she did not hesitate. “The most my students. I’m going to miss them a lot, because I have a really good relationship with them.” 

Even as a teacher, Ms. Paloma continues to learn. She has just hit a 494 day Chinese Duolingo streak and shows no signs of stopping and language learning will remain a part of her daily routine. Before leaving, she offered a final piece of advice in Spanish: “Pues los cambios pueden asustar pero estáis en buenas manos y todo va a salir muy bien.” Change can be frightening, but you’re in good hands, and everything will turn out just fine.