The Kimchi Experiment

by Beth Ann Knowles

In early 2006, Beth Ann and her husband Dale quit their jobs in Canada and headed east, or may- be it was west, to teach English as a second language in South Korea. Their destination, Hwagae, was a place they couldn’t even locate on a map. Soon they would find themselves in a charming village dotted with tea plantations and rice paddies, nestled in Korea’s mountainous Jirisan National Park. With no other foreign teachers for miles and no knowledge of Korean customs or culture, Beth Ann and Dale began a year of miscommunication, adventure, frustration, and growth.
The Kimchi Experiment is Beth Ann’s creatively written non-fictional tale of the two newlywed Canadians as they test their bond and their fortitude in the South Korean rural farming community. From the principal who claims not to be a drunkard, to awkward naked encounters in the local bath house, The Kimchi Experiment will leave you laughing out loud.
A story from this book won the H.R. (Bill) Percy Short Creative Non-Fiction prize in 2020, and was described by the jury as “a warm, well-paced, and beautifully crafted reflection on cultural risk and reward. The piece takes readers on a memorable journey.”

260 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2022

Reviews

[Amy Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Beth Ann’s book and would recommend it to anybody. It was an easy read that had so many “laugh out loud” moments, but also a few wonderful stories that brought tears to my eyes. Having never been to that part of the world it was so interesting to hear her take on the cultural differences. Her down-to-Earth anecdotes and perspective were so fun to read! Two thumbs up for sure!

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read - the book was hilarious and I made my husband listen to me read a few of the stories aloud.

[Jocelyn Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful local author. I really felt I was part of Beth Ann and Dale's adventure in Korea. I loved all their funny stories. A great read!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give it 4 stars because I did enjoy it and read it quickly. That being said the quality of the actual writing is probably closer to 3 and if you are trying to learn about the culture I think it also needs to all be taken with a grain of salt. A lot is written as very all encompassing of Korean culture but is written from a rural town 16 years ago.

[Sue Slade · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kimchi Experiment by Beth Ann Knowles was an entertaining travel memoir of the experiences she and her husband Dale had teaching ESL for a year in the charming and picturesque village of Hwagae in South Korea. Their adventures, misadventures, and misunderstandings often highlighted the differences between the cultures, customs, values, and even the weather of Canada and Korea.

[Stephanie Sirois]

Review pending

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ for me! Loved the humour in this book, learning so much about the South Korean culture and the author’s adventures. I normally cannot get into autobiographies but really enjoyed this one!