Korean Job Discussion Forums

magnolia · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Location: Gangnam

Its been 3 1/2 months now in Korea. Its not exactly what I had expected. I'm feeling so isolated, and maybe some of you found some things that worked for you or would have suggestions?

I work very long hours and they go from the afternoon till evening. I'm out in Gunpo, which is a smaller city (a metro ride to Anyang), and I just feel like I'm not really connecting to anything. I have joined a church in Anyang, I'm even teaching an ESL class on Sunday mornings to do some servitidude. I also feel like I've hardly seen anything of Korea.

I had a boyfriend for a couple of months, but this ended and the loss of the companionship is quite hard for me. In response, I've been trying to phone up friends this week and visit them.

So, I guess its a combination of a number of things. Maybe this is culture shock. I just don't really feel at home here in Korea, but I'd like to.

(Please no trolls, if possible. I'm looking for some practical ideas so that I can make this year work out a bit better).

nzerinkorea · Joined: 16 Jan 2007 Location: Yongin

maybe you could find a hobby? There are many clubs here, not the same as home but it could help ya time here! Last year I joined a gym, I think that helped me alot!

Cheers
Marty

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

Find another boyfriend. Not trying to be rude, but that obviously would cut down on the isolation.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

I'm in the same boat, small town, not many english people. Trying to work more but finding it hard to find people to hang out with. On occasion I meet some good people.

I've tried reading, I'm learning guitar.

Thinking of home, just makes it worse.

magnolia · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Location: Gangnam

Darkness, where do you live? I'd love to come out and visit a person in another city. I live out in Gunpo, which is one number 1 line. By the way, I'm learning guitar, too

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 5:24 pm Post subject:

Forget about the servitude.

Go travel, see the country, and join/create a social travel network. If you can't travel in Korea, with the low cost, small size, and english everywhere now, you have no excuse.

shake it up!

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Visit Seoul or Busan for your foreigner fix.

Or stand on the street with a "Free Hugs" sign?

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Gunpo is extremely close to Seoul. There are plenty of places to go sightseeing.

mole · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Act III

Maybe no consolation, but I recall my fourth month in Korea being similar.
Other friends said the same at the time. I started going for an occasional swim. Gyms with pools are easy to find.
Hang in there. I bet it will pass.

shrews68 · Joined: 01 Aug 2006

Yeah, I�m in a similar position to you, small town and not many foreigners to talk to. If you are only planning a year remember you have completed nearly a third of your contract already. I know that my sound a bit defeatist but it is worth mentioning

I came hear principally for the money (in debt at home), so I see it as a purely functional exercise. Having fun and meeting new people are a bonus.

However, this is not very useful in terms of your question. I think as another person said, ride it out for a while, I am sure things will look brighter after a while. Maybe join a gym or even undertake a distance learning course online - maybe learn a language, TESOL or anything that may be relevant to your line of work back home. Remember it's summer soon and going for walks or just leaving the apartment will seem a lot more attractive. It�s cold at the moment and people tend to stay in their homes after work.
Keep up the reading, this is both enjoyable and educational - win/win. Take up a new sport or learn Korean. Incidentally I can only speak about 10 Korean words so I don�t profess to practice what I preach.

One last thing and this might sound hypocritical, try not to spend too much time on this forum - their are a lot of as____les on here � very negative. It doesn�t' take a long g time to realise that. However there are many people who give some good sincere advice. Trouble is you have to wade through all the b_____t to find it.

tomr76 · Joined: 30 Oct 2005

I would recommend signing up for a trip with Adventure Korea. That's how I made most of my friends here, and I have seen lots of Korea. There's also a ski trip this upcoming weekend with GonSee- you can check it out at this website: www.gonseekorea.com. Doing these trip definitely helped me with the isolation! Take care of yourself =)

Cerebroden · Joined: 27 Dec 2006

agreed. 4 months is when real culture shock sets in. Get to Seoul. Experience some nightlife. If you really crave it go to itaewon and have a conversation with someone else that speaks english. (You might even get laid too!)

Demonicat · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Location: Suwon

All you loners: what do you like doing? Suggest that on the board. People will join you in exploits. That said, who's up for meeting in Itaewon on Saturday night? Anybody/everybody is welcome. We meet at wolfhounds at 9:30 and go from there. If you're isolated, get out here, meet some people.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Isolation is probably the biggest problem we have here. It can suck big time. On top of that, the 3-month wall is upon you. You have settled into a routine and the newness has worn off. It's time for the big confrontation with culture shock. It's a problem separate from isolation and having a million friends won't solve it. Be careful of it.

But to meet friends...

Ask someone at work or at your church to help you locate:

a) classes...classes for Korean, classes for cooking, classes for painting, for flower arranging, for pottery, taekwondo, hapkido, yoga...

b) as someone mentioned, join a gym and get healthy.

c) join a club...photography club, hiking club, bike riding club

d) make a list of all the classics you always wanted to read but never got around to and read one a month. Then write a book report and send it to a former English teacher.

e) take up cooking as a hobby and plan one big meal a month and invite people you know for a special feed. Take finding the ingredients and solving the problem of no oven as a challenge to be overcome.

Just staying home and moping won't solve your loneliness. No one is going to wander into your apartment and become your friend. You have to take action yourself.

Good luck.

blynch · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Location: UCLA

hello magnolia-----the girl i don't know anything about. how are u stranger. long time no see.....i hope i get to know you one day. ya know? u lie beside me n whisper to me that...

go to downtown seoul this weekend... jsut walk around, shop around, talk around... you will feel much better.

but never go to itaewon... it's a sh!thole.