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baasbabelaas
Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 142
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 Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:20 am Post subject: |
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Well, Jeff, I'm in the same boat as you.
I've done my time in Quanzhou, and whilst the town is growing on me, the nutjob foreigners have pushed me away.
Anyway, after Quanzhou I think I have a better idea of what I can expect out of another Chinese city.
I think Xiamen and Hangzhou are good bets. I've heard Zhuhai is good. Kunming has the weather.
Then again you could got to Korea, or even Taiwan. I had very little adult work in Taiwan, and way too much of the clown-entertainer stuff (although I really liked my students).
Consider Taiwan - I saved and lived well there.. |
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mondrian
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Posts: 658
Location: "was that beautiful coastal city in the NE of China"
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| Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:06 am Post subject: |
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| sojourner wrote: |
Jeff,
I have been to Sth Korea, but haven't worked there. However, I can assure you that it's a pretty boring place ! ..................................
Peter |
I have worked for many years in both countries. In Korea I have worked in both Seoul and Busan. In China I've worked at several places in the NE (as far south as Shanghai)
I agree with most of "sojourner's" comprehensive thread.
wrt. the rock's comments:
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If you go to Korea, remember you won't have your pretty little Chinese girlfriend there. Think about that.
Seriously if money is a concern go to Korea, if not stay in China. |
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You will save more money in Korea if you are careful than in any other foreign country teaching EFL, but a lot of this is illegally obtained (so be careful!). My friend nets about 5,000,000 won a month.
In my humble opinion, most Chinese "pretty" girls look like countryside peasants compared to your urban Korean miss. BUT the latter is all surface "gloss" due to a very extensive application of cosmetics. Also "all that glitters is not gold" on the chest-front either. Wysiwyg does NOT apply. Many married women are very friendly as their husbands are too busy making money and mother-in-law is such a harridan. They all want a bit of sympathy and a dry handkerchief. But they will NEVER leave their Korean relatives for a "wayguk". |
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Hendahu
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
Posts: 69
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| Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Having work both places let me offer this advice....only go to South Korea is you can get a Uni job. Then the money is good and the job is pretty stable. There are many hogwon jobs, private academy, that are just horrible to work at and a constant struggle to get paid and create a decent work environment. The cost of living is not that much cheaper than the west in ROK...The women are about the same, but I do prefer Chinese women actually. Both cultures lack ethics and are subject to bribes and screwing foreigners. But without a job at a good university, China is definately the better deal...just my humble opinion. |
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Mister Al
Joined: 28 Jun 2004
Posts: 840
Location: In there
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| Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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Jeff
What's your problem? Are you ten years old or something? (Sorry don't mean to have a pop, but it is a bit of a stupid question. Whose life is it anyway? Go to the Korea forum if you really can't make up your mind and ask there. Korea? China? Japan? The Moon? For feks sake it aint about other posters experience, it's about what you fancy doing with your life. Leave the bird and go, or don't. Do you like China? If so, find somewhere that you think might be cool and look for some work. I mean Quanzhou is kinda okay but China is a rather big place you know. Ningbo? Some like it- some don't. If you wanna move and can't make your mind up where to go, stick a pin in a map and get working. Don't expect other posters to live or plan your life for you.
Merry Xmas and good luck. |
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baasbabelaas
Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 142
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| Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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Strong word Mister Al.
The man's asking for advice, that's all. |
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jeffinflorida
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 2024
Location: "I'm too proud to beg and too lazy to work" Uncle Fester, The Addams Family season two
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| Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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| baasbabelaas wrote: |
Strong word Mister Al.
The man's asking for advice, that's all.
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Pretty much the purpose of this topic was to do a compare and contrast of life in China vs. life in Korea.
Since I have never been to Korea I can only obtain a one dimensional view of Korea through the research I have been doing.
By asking others who may have more experience than I in teaching or visiting both counties I can gain valuable unknown input that will have more depth than I can obtain through simple cold hard data.
There's much more to this decision making process than simply saying that the cost of a loaf of bread and a dozen eggs is higher or lower in one country or another.
So, many of the posters on this thread have worked both countries and can give me a multidimensional view of these two countries.
This data is invaluable to me because the posters can cite real world situations - not just textbook "facts".
Have you never stopped and asked for directions even when you have a roadmap lying in your lap unfolded? Right, it�s not all black and white�
Not all point A to point B...
So thank you Mr. Al for you input. |
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adamsmith
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Posts: 259
Location: wuhan
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| Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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having worked in both countries I have noticed many similiarities and many differences. I had more time to travel around Korea as transportation was much easier, and there are many places to go and see.
In China, it is much more dificult to travel from one city to another in the limited time available to us as FTs on weekends. Yes, we can travel, but it is virtually impossible to get return tickets so there is no guarantee you will be able to get back from your destination on time.
I have been able to save more money here in China than I ever could in Korea, even though the pay is much higher. This is mainly because I found much more to do there and I was not one of those teachers whose life revolved around working - I did not teach privates. I did find it much easier to have friends in Korea with whom I spent much time traveling around and visiting different places.
The work situation is definately much different - If you are working in a Hagwon you will find yourself teaching a wide variety of students - and anyone who thinks the mills here are bad have never taught at some of these korean hagwons.
If you are lucky you can get a good job with the Korean military (very rewarding) in terms of students, job satisfaction, and living/working conditions. Many of the University jobs in Korea are not like in China anymore. Unless you hold an MA you will be teaching just like at a Hagwon - you could have a wide range of age groups to teach as the uni's english programs are usually open to the community and are run the same way as the hagwon although they usuallly provide decent accomodations.
As to finding a prettly little Korean gf there, it can be quite easy, but many of the Korean men will not react well - it is generally not accepted by most people over there as they are a very nationalistic people.
it was also nice bcause I ha a car over there and could drive around - but this is not recommended if you live in Seoul or Pusan as you will pay a fortune for parking and driving is just as bad if not worse than any Chinese city.
I enjoyed my time there immensely and made a lot of friends, but life in Korea is definately not for everyone. |
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prof
Joined: 25 Jun 2004
Posts: 741
Location: Boston/China
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:51 am Post subject: |
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Jeff,
Hit Korea for 6 months. Go see for yourself. It's only 1 hour away. |
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vikdk
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1676
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 4:07 am Post subject: |
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| it was also nice bcause I ha a car over there and could drive around |
Don't dismiss car driving in China - I've been driving here three years now - it looks bad but is not that difficult since all those crappy drivers mean that the average speed on city roads is way bellow that found at home. Its also cheap here - with hire cars at low prices (if you price shop) - second hand prices falling rapidly - and hour rates at the mechanics not much more than a bike fixers (at least in normal lao wai terms of comprehension over relative money values) - and in many provinces it isn't too difficult to get a licence. Public transport - because of its speed and inconvenience is a real spare-time killer in China - and never gives you that chance to suddenly stop and explore - get a motor!!!!!! |
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jeffinflorida
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Posts: 2024
Location: "I'm too proud to beg and too lazy to work" Uncle Fester, The Addams Family season two
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| Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 3:03 am Post subject: |
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| baasbabelaas wrote: |
Well, Jeff, I'm in the same boat as you.
the nutjob foreigners have pushed me away.
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Wait a second, I haven't been in Quanzhou in a few months... |
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baasbabelaas
Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 142
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| Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 2:00 am Post subject: |
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Jeff, we're waiting for you.
Wait, I'm leaving. |
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Henry_Cowell
Joined: 27 May 2005
Posts: 3352
Location: Berkeley
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| Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 2:44 am Post subject: |
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| jeffinflorida wrote: |
| I grew up in New York City....It's a lot like SE Asian except for the Spanish... |
Although we cannot know for sure what jeff means by this, it's a pretty remarkable statement. 
And has Jeff ever lived in "SE Asian"? Where? |
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