Korean Job Discussion Forums

[prairiemaker]

Vanislander, I do not want to say what city I am in, or university on Daves, because I posted part of letter I wrote the dean of academics. I have PMed you though and told you where I am located.

[soakitincider]

Thanks grandpa. That also helped with my congestion. You're a genius! It's ALL good now! Yeah boy!

[Forward Observer]

Because there's no place like home.

I've met people that say they're lifers. They'll die in Korea. Good for them I say, that's their choice. Me, I miss wide open spaces and serenity. Korea is great for some things, but there's too many things I miss being able to do. The mountain bike guy hit the nail on the head, too crowded for doing things you like. Not enough space. It's a nice place to visit if you love some things about the country, but live here too long and you pick up some bad habits.

[rgv]

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

The pollution, the superficiality, 'are you married?', 'how old are you?', the banality, the garbage, the filth, the smell, the spitting, the smoking, the food, the melodrama, the egos, the media, the ugliness of every city in Korea, the buildings, the sour faces, the rudeness, the pushing, the horrible old men who look at me as if I've committed some unthinkable crime by just walking down the street, the lack of respect, the fact that every time someone else is in the wrong and you see it they get angry at you, the pushing, the people who never for a second question all the nationalistic BS they've been fed-- and expect you to swallow and go along with it as well, the constant quiet racism, the racism that isn't so quiet, the way that Koreans always add a belittling slant to their interpretations of anything not Korean, the fact that Koreans keep telling themselves they're the best of everything when they're not (the least they could do is adopt a 'we're as good as...' attitude-- but it's never about equality, it's ALWAYS we're the best and you're NOT), the fact that some of the Korean teachers at my school are totally lazy but would never admit it because they're incapable of accurately assessing any situation and prefer to rely on stereotypes and what they have already heard as truth, the fact that everything in Korea that is hyped as beautiful or wonderful isn't... and everything that everyone else has already said. I'm sure there's more, but this is all that I can think of right now.

I'll never understand anyone who wants to commit to this place... no, no place is perfect, but I can't imagine not thinking that other places could do much, much, much better.

[Bog Roll]

I think if we all got together and discussed about our time in Korea - just five random strangers from Daves - we would have all the same things to say as in regards our interactions with Koreans. The 'herrrrrrrrrros' from passing kids, the 'Is the food not too spicy', the 'four seasons' crap, the high IQ of Korea and how it is the worlds highest, they all support Manchester United - no kid supports Wolves or Portsmouth for example.
Fan death - they all believe in it, kimchi cures cancer and is a wonderful health food - you can just nudge a Korean in the ribs and give them a wink and have a laugh 'fan death ya silly get' because they don't have a sense of humour - Koreans are easily offended. Try and criticize their food - you can tell me British and Irish food is a bag of crap and more often than not it is. You can't do that with a Korean without them getting all heated and silly about it.

They all have the same opinion on Dokdo and the Japanese - any other country - even Argentina where the Malvinas is a sore point - not every Argentinian is manic about it, some don't care and some actually think it is British by right. This sentiment of differing opinion - however small - does not exist in Korea.

The reason I like Korea has nothing to do with interactions with the ordinary Korean - and for me thats a shame - but this is what they seem to want.

[drkalbi]

I live in Korea but want nothing to do with anything Korean.

[Tundra_Creature]

[Teddycakes21]

[curiousaboutkorea]

[Bloopity Bloop]

[freethought]

[quote="blackjack"]

[ashland]

[Ice Tea]

I moved back to Canada two months ago. I struggle to pay the rent, work two jobs, and make just about $2000 a month. There's no jobs and my life is difficult, but strangely, I'm almost happier.

Here I feel comfortable. I have my friends and family. I don't worry about NK, not getting paid, crazy drivers, or yellow dust. Canadians are definitely white trash, with no style or brains, but at least people don't hide who they really are.

My life is hard right now, but I feel hopeful for the future that eventually I'll get a good job and climb that ladder. If I just give up and go back to Korea, I'll never be able to make a life for myself here.

[Wiltern]