At an elementary school in North Gyeongsang Province, an English class is underway.
Jonalyn L. Jandoc is the only native English teacher at the school.
Since marrying her husband, she has been living out her dreams in Korea.
[Interview : Jonalyn L. Jandoc] "I'm so happy. It's always been my dream to teach English to kids at a school."
Her classes are always packed with activity and fun, making it a class that the students look forward to.
[Interview : Lee Jeong-eun, Student] "My English has really improved under Jonalyn's tutelage."
[Interview : Jeon Ji-young, Assistant English Teacher] "Jonalyn leads the class very well and she understands Korea very well, so it's a pleasure to teach with her."
43-year old farmer Jung Tae-gyo, is a devoted husband, who drives her to and from work. He is proud of his wife.
[Interview : Jung Tae-gyo, Jonalyn's Husband] "I'm proud of her being a teacher at a school. It's a job where she receives better treatment than most."
When they arrive at home in the evening, the couple is greeted by their 8-month old baby, Da-un, and his grandmother.
Jonalyn is both apologetic and grateful to her mother-in-law for taking care of her children. But her mother-in-law considers Jonalyn a loving daughter and the mother of her three grandsons.
Jonalyn shows her appreciation to her mother-in-law by cooking a Filipino specialty. This is 'adobo', a dish made of vegetables and pork.
[Interview : Jonalyn L. Jandoc] "In the Philippines, we eat this 'adobo' when it is someone's birthday or when we have guests."
There's a reason why Jonalyn chose this dish, and it has everything to do with the pork.
[Interview : Jung Tae-gyo, Jonalyn's Husband] "My mother is partial to vegetables, so she doesn't eat meat or fish very often. But since Jonalyn and I got married, she has been eating meat and fish more."
The two met through mutual friends at a church. That was 11 years ago. The then-23 year-old Jonalyn married Tae-gyo, who was 10 years her senior.
[Interview : Jonalyn L. Jandoc] "When I had problems, my husband taught me what I needed to know and we talked about it. After repeated conversations, I understood what the problem was, and it got resolved."
The love letters that her husband sent to her have become their private treasures.
"My cousin speaks English well. I asked for a letter and he printed it out for me."
"This is the lyrics to a song. It is a little different as it was written by hand. "
Amongst his letters, you can find the lyrics to a popular song that he wanted his wife to have.
"Didn't Jonalyn know it was the lyric to a song[Interview : Jung Tae-gyo, Jonalyn's Husband] "Since Jonalyn teaches at the school she doesn't help out too much at the farm. I drive her to the school."
Jonalyn is always appreciative towards her husband for helping her pursue her dreams.
[Interview : Jonalyn L. Jandoc] "I am grateful to my husband. I love teaching at the school and he helps me do what I love doing."
Jonalyn and her mother-in-law make kimchi from home-grown cabbage. At first, household work was a foreign and daunting task. But her mother-in-law helped her through it. Jonalyn still feels like she is learning, 11 years into the marriage.
" I am bad at making kimchi, red pepper paste and everything. "
" How is it[Interview : Kim Soon-ja, Jonalyn's Mother-in-law] "I need to teach her everything, from how to make rice cakes to managing the household, and even how to ask the neighbors for help if she needs it. I need to teach her everything while I am alive."
As her mother-in-law enters her seventies, she relies more and more on Jonalyn.
[Interview : Jonalyn L. Jandoc] "My mother-in-law always tells me that she will teach me everything while she is alive. Managing the household is something I can only learn from her. I am learning how a parent thinks."
Jonalyn dyes her mother-in-law's hair in hopes of making her look younger. She is ever-grateful to her mother-in-law for taking care of her youngest child. While the two of them are at it, they share a moment that isn't just about the hair.
[Interview : Kim Soon-ja, Jonalyn's Mother-in-law] "I'm glad to be getting my hair dyed. Even if you are out working in the fields, it is always good not to see signs of greying hair."
" Is this better[Interview : Jonalyn L. Jandoc]
"I hope that we have a happy family, with my mother-in-law. I hope that, for a long, long time, that I will teach in the school, until my children finish their studies. "
Jonalyn, a devoted wife, mother, and daughter-in-law from the Philippines. May the days ahead be filled with happiness.
DEC 02, 2009
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in National News |
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Friday, SEP 03, 2010, (KST) 
