Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Cerebroden]

so My wife found out today that this will be our last year in Korea.
I see all these threads about what you hate about Korea and what you miss from your home country.
Yeah, she's going to Iraq after here. So for those of you who miss taco seasoning and reese's imagine missing out on a bed with a matresse and running water.

This will be my second year here and it isn't any worse than any city in the states. It has its ups and downs. Once you get used to the driving you'll find that if you act like a korean you get places much easier. Once I figured out the unspoken language of the subway I hardly even notice getting pushed anymore. You think you get ignored? Imagine who its easier to help first? The guy who you can talk to or the random waygook who you're going to have to play sharaids with to actually figure out what they want.

Yeah culture shock happens, usually about the 2-4 month mark. Quit yer cryin and man the hell up. Once you do you'll have a much better time.
(I'm not sure if I'll miss all of korea but it does have its perks.)

Rant over.

[The Hierophant]

Good luck to both of you.

[Cerebroden]

Thanx for the support, we've still got the year to prepare but the more I hear of people complaining about Seoul the more upset I get about not only her future situation but those of people in places like the Sudan and Isreal.

This place is cake.

[Qinella]

Well, complaints are often justified. I do not believe in the "well, it's better than Iraq" theory. That's an unnecessary comparison for, well, 99% of us, I'd reckon.

I wholeheartedly agree with you about needing to figure out the unspoken language. A lot of the pushing and general space complaints people make can be avoided by just turning your mind off and going with the flow. Same with the traffic here. Koreans got their own way, like we all do. Just need to figure it out.


About your wife, was she recently called to Iraq due to Bush's 20,000 more troops announcement, or was it always in the works? I have a friend in the military here who is somewhat safe in his cushy ATC position, but he worries about being called to Iraq, though.


Edit: And I would just like to say, well..

[Dev]

Except for the insurgents obviously, I'll bet the Iraqis are friendlier.

The difference between Iraqis and Koreans is that Iraqis will run away from you because you're holding a gun. Koreans will run away from you because you're holding an English book.

[blaseblasphemener]

In general, Korea is a frikkin walk in the park (well, a very gray park with a lot of spit on the ground)

[Cerebroden]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Wow, after four years of Bush Iraq must be quite some place. Lucky you.

[blynch]

[blaseblasphemener]

Michael Ware, the cool CNN reporter, was on Anderson Cooper last week in the studio, and was absolutely disputing all the rhetoric put out by the Iraqi gov't and by Bush et al. It was hilarious. Cooper would ask him a question about a proposed plan and the so-called effect it might have on stabilizing the situation, or about something Cheney said, and Ware would just shake his head and shoot it down, one after the other. Basically, it left the impression that the people on the ground, like Ware, former cmmdr. Abizaid (sic), etc. that don't have a stake in this thing politcally, just say it is an absolute lost cause, and the only solution is a diplomatic, multi-national one, not a military one. As they say, the ship has sailed on a military solution.

[crazylemongirl]

I hope your wife stays safe and returns home to you quickly and safely.

[blynch]

[blaseblasphemener]

The idea is to get on to a diplomatic solution immediately, without pulling troops out immediately. The problem is that as long as America is the central focus, and is refusing to talk to Iran, than you will have an insurgency supported by Iran, Syria and others. Lee Hamilton spoke on it today, and said that not talking to Iran has done absolutely nothing to stop Iran from developing a nuclear program, while assisting the insurgency.

To believe that America can do anything profoundly different militarily that will fix Iraq is a pipe-dream. So now start looking at other solutions, and the Iranians have shown time and time again they want to talk, so what's the harm in talking? America's already caved with the North Koreans, and it's in their interests to talk, before they bankrupt themselves fighting this stupid war that they can't win.

[blynch]

[Pyongshin Sangja]