Bianca was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is no stranger to the ever-changing life of being part of the military community. Although she was not a military child, her mother was a General Schedule (GS) employee, and they moved many times during her childhood. She has lived in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arizona. This experience allowed her to learn to adapt to her surroundings from a very young age. 

While she was shifting her life around the US with her mother, her father’s career took him worldwide. Her father first moved to South Korea when Bianca was 10 years old. She would visit him every summer, where she began learning the Korean language with a private tutor. Although she did not absorb much of the language at this time, she feels that this was the strong foundation needed to eventually gain a better grasp on becoming fluent later in life. 

After Korea, her father moved to China, where the summer visits continued. And just like in Korea, Bianca began studying Mandarin. Even though she was a worldly traveler, her parents were adamant that she remembered her Mexican heritage, therefore, Spanish was spoken often at home. As an adult she now speaks four languages fluently- English, Spanish, Korean, and Mandarin. 

Bianca graduated from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University with a major in Business Marketing. Like most new college graduates, she was unsure of what to do with her life and where she should go next. She made contact with a close friend of her father, whom she met during her summer visits to Korea. This friend had lived in Korea for well over 15 years as an English teacher and he was able to help her begin the process so that she too could come to South Korea to teach. 

Bianca began teaching English at hagwons around Daejeon, where she continued to work for 6 years. Soon after arriving in Daejeon, she joined a local swing dance group to make new friends in this new country. Not only did this help her solidify her conversational Korean, but it also brought her to the city where she would meet her husband, Hyeong Jin. After spending a few weekends traveling back and forth to see her new friends in Daegu, she decided that this amazing city was a better fit for her. 

Bianca made the move to Daegu in 2017. Then, in October 2018, she walked into a Spanish-inspired restaurant near her home called Bueno Spain. The owner, who would soon become her husband, began speaking to her in Spanish. This caught her completely by surprise, as Spanish was not often spoken in Korea. Shortly after this, the pair became inseparable. Together, they transformed Bueno Spain into Casa Bianca. For several years, this was a popular place among military families in Area IV, as it gave many a little taste of home, especially during COVID-19. Bianca had originally planned to stay in Korea for only one or two years, but now 12 years later, she is happily married with 3 beautiful children, a daughter Ellie, and twin boys Andy and Luca. After learning that she was pregnant with precious twin boys, she and her husband knew that balancing the restaurant business with three young children would not be feasible, so Casa Bianca officially closed their doors in October of 2023. 

After closing the restaurant, her passion for teaching was reignited and Boram Language Institute was created, Bianca’s online teaching program.  What is Boram? Boram is a very special word to Bianca because it was the Korean name given to her by friends when she was younger. The word Boram (보람) in Korean means a sense of reward, fulfillment, or satisfaction that comes from achieving something meaningful and is often used to describe the feeling of accomplishment after hard work. Learning a new language can be challenging, but it can also greatly enhance your experience while living in your host country. For instance, knowing a few key phrases here in Korea can help you find a bathroom, bus, department store, and even emergency care. It can also help you receive a better course of care at off-base clinics or even coffee shops.  Language and culture are very closely linked, and by learning Korean you will gain a better understanding of the Korean people, which will in turn strengthen social connections and relationships. Most importantly, it shows an effort to understand and engage with the local community, which is always greatly appreciated. Bianca hopes that she can use her passion and linguistic talents to help bridge any gaps in our cultures and continue to strengthen the alliance between the RoK and USFK.

Boram Language Institute offers lessons in English, Korean, and Mandarin to students online, intending to begin in-person group classes early in 2025. Bianca’s teaching style helps you truly understand the language you are learning, as well as the nuances behind it, which is crucial to success. She has developed an interactive program that caters to each student’s method of learning. The Korean language can seem daunting when trying to learn it alone, but Bianca thoroughly explains the differences in grammar, particle/object makers, and sentence structure, which drastically differs from English. Some sounds only exist in the Korean language. Along with a tailored approach to teaching, empathy also guides her. As someone who also experienced a continually shifting childhood, she understands the challenges that come with being a military family. This helps her relate to and appreciate the struggles that being in a new environment, especially a new country, brings. Seeing firsthand how our countries worked together during COVID-19 opened her eyes to the force of togetherness and cooperation. Therefore, her main goal is to help foreigners feel more confident about getting out into the community to enjoy the incredible wonders that South Korea has to offer. Along with Boram Language Institute, Bianca also created the “Boram Community”. This community is a great way for expats in South Korea to come together to make connections, build relationships, and share resources with other foreigners, military, and civilians. 

At Boram, their vision is to create a vibrant and inclusive community where families across Korea can come together to share resources, knowledge, and support on a wide range of topics. From Korean culture, language, and cooking to pregnancy, newborn care, toddler development, and parenting, they cover every aspect of family life. Their platform also embraces homeschooling, raising twins, potty training, making affordable family meals, decluttering, donations, and everyday life admin. Boram aims to provide a space where members can connect through shared interests such as book clubs, small business ventures, reality TV discussions, and mental health support. 

“No matter what stage of life you are in, there is always an opportunity for growth and learning. Embrace each moment with courage and curiosity, and you will be amazed at the heights you can reach” -Bianca Del Carmen, Founder of Boram Language Institute

By bridging the gap between English and Korean resources, Bianca is sharing valuable information accessible to all, empowering families to build meaningful relationships and to support one another. Consider joining her collaborative environment that enhances the quality of life for families across Korea, creating a stronger, more connected community.

If you are looking for a personal and interactive way to learn a new language and to gain a sense of “Boram/보람”, contact Bianca and join the Boram Community. 

Website: www.boramlanguageinstitute.com

Facebook group: Korean Language Support for the RoK Military Community & Friends

IG: Boram_in_Korea

YouTube: Boram_Korean

About the Author

Ashley Courts is the Area IV Coordinator for United on the RoK as well as an author for the publication. As an Army spouse, Ashley is very involved in her community. She believes that a strong community increases the quality of life in overseas military installations. For fun Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and hiking with friends, and making new experiences to last a lifetime.