Job Discussion Forums

[djg2323]

Hello, I am currently teaching in SK and have been for the last three years. I have seen the country and I have become extremely bored here. I have also noticed that the prices of most goods are rising, while salaries are stagnant. My question is for people who have worked in SK, but now work in China:

Which country do you like working in more? Why?

[Javelin of Radiance]

[kev7161]

[twilothunder]

[darkcity]

Worked in Seoul for 1.5 years. Worked in Shanghai for 1.5 years. Here's my two cents.

China is a giant zoo. It is absolute chaos here. I can't really reduce it to a short paragraph without it sounding like a bitch-fest against China. Actually, I'm really bored here. The culture isn't as exciting as Korea because they don't even know what their culture is. BUT...after a year of teaching, I got into a really sweet job at corporate. I create material that is being used worldwide. It is an extremely satisfying job. This is something that anyone in China with the right talent and ambition can do. There are so many job opportunities, it's ridiculous. I actually have a career path now. My friends in Korea have been there for 5 years or more and are still doing *beep*-all, even considering a marriage visa just to get out of the teaching thing.

MOD EDIT - http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=85563

So I guess it depends what you want. If you're looking for something on your resume, China would be a good start, but you'll need to pay your dues first. Korea has the more exciting culture, but you seem to be bored. Or maybe you just need to take a break from it to appreciate it again.

In the end though, no one can tell you exactly what will happen or how you'll perceive the experience. I can just say that from my perspective, the ideal situation would be living in Japan with my current job and the Korean salary. It's not a perfect world though, so for now, I'll stick with the job and see where that takes me. But I am not staying here for the culture.

[chinadad]

Also echo that Chinese culture is the pits -if anyone disagrees, please describe the kind of culture that you're enjoying

[twilothunder]

Beijing has culture. You'd have to spend a year not venturing further than Sanlitun if you can't see that.

Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Great Wall, Shichahai, Forbidden City, the Hutongs (what's left of them), Dongyue Temple, Fragrant Hills - all worth seeing and all places I've been back to more than once.

798, and now of course things have moved on to Caochangdi.

Good local band scene - Carsick Cars, Hang on the Box, Pet Conspiracy.

All sorts of great stuff on regularly at the NCPA.

Is food not culture? Imperial Cuisine (I mean a PROPER Imperial Banquet) is probably the best food I've ever tasted (and I have been to Italy and Spain numerous times, also lived in London; admittedly only been to France once). It is also recognised by many WESTERN chefs as one of the most, if not THE most, difficult and intricate style of cooking to master.

I'm just scratching the surface here as well.

Shanghai IS kind of boring compared to Beijing IMO.

[wonderingjoesmith]