Job Discussion Forums

[Tiger Beer]

And congrats on uberscheisse, who I'm familiar with on the Korean Boards for making it as well! Hope to hear how it's going.

I'll be in Japan myself in about three weeks from now.

Gypsy Rose has a history of dabbling into Korea for awhile from Japan.

Anyone else with both countries in their history?

[Sadebugo]

I worked in Korea from '95-'98 and from '02-'03. I worked in a public high school with EPIK and a university during that time. I worked for six months in Japan last year via the US government. IMHO, you cannot compare Korea and Japan. Japan is so much better in so many ways. First of all, there is actually a lot to do in Japan whether you are interested in exploring Japanese culture or just doing activities you did back home. Also, the Japanese people are incredibly polite and helpful. There are those who say they're racist but only hide it inside. I don't agree with this, but whatever the truth may be, I prefer dealing with someone who hides his disdain from me rather than shouts it out on the street or becomes physical. Finally, although the Japanese EFL market has suffered recently, it is still better organized than Korea's and you can find redress if you have a legitimate complaint against your boss. Really, I do believe you will rue all those years you wasted in Korea once you see Japan.

Of course, there are those who will disagree with what I said and they are certainly entitled to their opinions.

Sadebugo
Djibouti, Horn of Africa
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

[ssphinx]

I have just made the jump, with a year and a half hiatus in Australia in between. I think in Korea you are a big fish in a small pond and in Japan you are a small fish in a big pond.

Like everywhere there are pluses and minuses.

The pluses I have found in Japan thus far are:

I can be more anonymous in Japan. Japanese are used to seeing foreigners and have tact.

There is more of an international feel in Japan compared to Korea.

There is a great and lively art and music scene.

People are quite orderly, more polite and relaxed compared to Korea.

Most importantly, I have control over my visa. It is mine, not my place of employment's.

The minuses I have found are:

The price of food is higher, especially produce and meat.

Getting an apartment in Japan is a bit more difficult with the two months thank you money up front that you will never get back. (I prefer the Korean system of either a huge deposit that you get back when you move out or a small deposit and monthly rent.)

The apartments are much smaller in Japan.

The pharmacy or chemist seems overpriced here compared to Korea.

The pension scheme here in Japan is not that good at all compared to Korea. (I prefer the Korean system of what you put in you get back when you leave.)

So, I guess what I am saying for lifestyle I prefer Japan, but economically I prefer Korea.