Job Discussion Forums

[YujiKaido]

I have read threads on the Korean forums about not being able to make in your home country but wondering If anybody here had an experience.

I left HK without a plan, first mistake. I thought I would teach next in Korea or Japan, but didn't line up anything before I left and just wanted to spend a month or so in states before next teaching job.

So now I am back in the states living with my parents, I have no car, and I live out in the countryside. So boring, its almost more than I can take, as its been a little over a week and I've been homesick for HK since day 2 of being back. I have realized US is more of a foreign country to me and can't wait till I leave, not that it is so bad being home, I was born here and its good to see family but that's about it and they don't understand.

I had a few gripes about HK that really bothered me but they seem like small potatoes now. Wondering If I should start the process all over again and move back to HK or move on to Japan, Korea or Taiwan.

I miss my friends, students, co workers and HK life in general. Yeah its had it bad points but also really good points as well.

Just wondering if anyone has had any similar experiences.

[Perilla]

Reverse culture shock (or whatever you want to call it) is pretty common. But it sounds like your problem is more related to the fact that here in HK you had a life - a job, flat, friends etc, whereas back home in the US you don't. So after the initial joy of seeing family etc. it gets pretty dull pretty quick. Yes, I've been through that.

What to do next? I think that's got to be up to you. Are you in the mood for new adventures - in which case yes, head for Korea or Japan or wherever. Or do you want to return to familiar territory - HK? However, bear in mind there's always a risk in returning. HK might not seem the same second time around. But if you're sure it's the place for you and you really want another stint here, then why not come back?

[Honky Nick]

I moved back to Australia and ended up moving back to HK within a year. My wife and I were quite lucky and got the jobs, etc, that we wanted, but we just weren't loving life there and wanted to move back, so we did. I'm glad we did and hopefully next time we move back to Oz, we'll be ready!

Good luck making up your mind.

[sistercream]

Yeah, being stuck in the middle of nowhere and without a job sucks, big time. Reverse culture shock isn't any fun either.

But it sounds as if you're still a young 'un: in your place I'd try some more places before you decide where you want to settle long-term. For me, different jobs around the greater China area (and a couple of stints in Europe) convinced me that yes, Hong Kong is where I belong.

But I could never have been as comfortable with this decision if I hadn't seen as much of the rest of the world (and probably wouldn't have stuck out the cr@p job I took to get my foot back in the door here!).

[YujiKaido]

Yeah I am 33 lots of teachers I meet are in there 20's I spent 10 years living around East Asia mostly studying in Japan, but HK was the place I lived the longest as I did only 6 months in Korea and off and on studying in Japan.

Yeah I am in the process of deciding if I should try Korea again or work in Japan or Taiwan for a year. I guess once it warms up here it snowed over night and do somethings I wanted to do back in States I'll have easier time making a plan.

HK isn't going anywhere and it was hard enough getting there with a job and a decent place, now I left and have to do it all over again if I wanted to go back. Lots to think about but thanks all for the input.

[theoriginalprankster]

I left Taiwan after three years, got back to the ol' country and resumed my previous job (editing), but found I was eating (expensive) Chinese take-out every day, confusing the restaurant staff with my crap Chinese, and pining for Taiwan.

So, I upped and returned, but settled in Xiamen. This is my eighth year here, and I twaddle on about leaving, but finally I've met a great lady (from my hometown), and things are looking rosy (I am fairly jaded after a decade here).

So, I'll resign with my uni, where I teach four classes/week, five minute bike ride from home, door to door, and settle in for another year.

As it turns out, the lady friend has the same plan to return to our country in a couple of years.

Awesome when things turn out this way, as I've had some tumultuous times in the Middle Kingdom.

[saroq]

Even if you do go back to HK you're unlikely to find it the same as you're remembering it through your rose colored glasses. People move on, the jobs not the same etc. You can never really go back so keep moving forward. That doesn't mean you shouldn't return to HK but just make a list of what it is you miss about the place and put them into two columns, one of things that will be the same and the other of things that could be different. Finally ask yourself what's important to you, to relive the lifestyle you've left behind or to have new experiences.

[Nonomi]

[YujiKaido]

Thanks for the input mates; Yeah no danger of seeing Hong Kong with any other eyes but the truth. First time I came to HK I hated it honestly, kept comparing things to Japan, only to go back after a change of heart and it really grew on me. So I have seen the best and worst of Hong Kong.

Thinking about Taiwan, hoping its similar to HK but cheaper rent, but still think of returning to Hong Kong, can't seem to forget about it.

[sistercream]

Taiwan depends very much on where on the island you end up ... Taipei is one of the dreariest cities of its size I've seen, but there seems to be quite a bit going on in the expat social scene these days. The weather north of Hsinchu can be incredibly dreary (a friend counted 58 consecutive days with no sunshine when he first moved to Taipei).

East Coast (and south west) are spectacularly beautiful, but very isolated.

By Hong Kong standards, Taiwan's building & driving standards, safety generally, and government efficiency/ transparency fail miserably.

Then there are the earthquakes and typhoons - the latters' effects exacerbated by aforementioned lousy building standards.

I personally loathed the place, but have friends who love it. Like HK, it's very much a "love or loathe" place.

[Albert Cribbins]

Look, you are in a position right now where you can't pick and choose.

Believe me I was there last year and it sucked, until I decided even teaching in China was better until I got the job where I wanted. I am not qualified enough to teach in Taiwan, but I suspect you are. I know have an easy job and good students that I like in China, that I can use as a springboard. My point is the more you stagnate at your parents house, and a man in his 30s should not be living with mum and dad, the more asia leaves YOU behind. Get back in the saddle, even if you have to tough a year out in China. I know this sounds like a bitter pill to swallow, but unless you fancy teaching and renting in the USA or working some crappy job there, I'd get a flight back to HK asap. I had an american friend who went back to NYC worked some crappy job while living with parents for a while, and went back to China rather than live a life he could not face.

Ultimately it is your decision and you must do what is right for you
Good luck whatever you choose

[YujiKaido]

Thank you all for your advice, I tried to go for a public school job in Korea but couldn't forget about HK. So I got a job offer and I am moving back to HK in September. I did put a lot of work into preparing for Korea, but I have been applying for a temp English camp position for a month there and looking into that until I move to HK.

Hong Kong has its problem but i suppose the positives one me over. :)Friends, Church, international food availability and I like how convenient it is and others. I am sure it won't always be peachy but looking forward to coming back.