Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bafw26]

I am curious to know about the experiences of people over 30 here in Korea. What led up to you coming here? What are you future plans? What did you do before this?

I started teaching here awhile back and am in my mid 30's. Basically I was tired of the corporate grind and the ever escalating cost of living in the states. I am not married and pretty much unattached so I figured why not. A lot of people on this board say that teaching abroad is something you do right after college for a year then return to the real world. For the first time in my life I actually have a job I don't dread going to everyday. The only nagging thing is the whole "what next" question.

I am really interested in hearing your stories. Only thoughtful responses only, no trolls please. There seems to be plenty of negativity on here already. Take care.

[mnhnhyouh]

44 here, Korean age

I was a bum, a laborer and a marine biologist. I got a teaching degree in 2004 and taught math, science and workshop in an Australian secondary school for the last two years. Now the wanderlust has taken over. My plan is to teach in a different country every year for the next 8 or so years.

This is the first year, and all is going well so far, a bit over 3 months in.

h

[VanIslander]

[Mashimaro]

[Privateer]

Gosh I know an unemployed marine biologist back home too! Really brainy chap but not much call for his line of work.

[Pateach]

As a single woman teaching in the States, I didn't have a job that could keep pace with the wild East Coast rents.
What I did have was freedom. So I thought I'd take advantage of it and maybe save some cash...

[vox]

[Harpeau]

I think the secret is to try to enjoy your work and then take some of your free time to begin making a hobby or interest into a money making business that you enjoy doing. That I believe is the key.

[mnhnhyouh]

[twg]

Sorry, I don't have anything romantic to say about it: Korea offered me a roof over my head and food on the table.

Pretty basic stuff, really.

[poet13]

43 Korean age.
Second career. I think. I 'retired' in about 2003 after a work thing went bad. I had a new girl in my life and someone to come home to, so I didn't go back to it.
I have done a number of different jobs in my life, but I realized the one constant in all of them, was that part of each job was educating people in some way. Further, I realized that that was the part of my job that I enjoyed the most.

After more than two years of retirement in the Philippines, I was going nuts, and pointing myself to a very early grave. Drinking and shooting pool from 4pm to 3 am 5 nights a week, riding my scoot drunk off my ass, poking every darling who glanced my way (yes, even with a girl at home ) and generally bored out of my skull.

Teaching in Korea (I worked here before) was a natural step for me.
Now that I am teaching here, part of me wishes I had chosen the teaching profession from the beginning. I also realize though, that I would not be the teacher I am (not saying good, not saying bad) without my lifes experiences.

I love teaching, I love my students (in a good way), and i can't imagine anything I would rather be doing.

[i_teach_esl]

[wylies99]

Since you're only as old as you feel, I'm 104.

I needed a chnge of scenery. Korean schools made the best NET money offers.

[BS.Dos.]

37 although I'm not actually in Korea yet (Aug 07).

Once I'd decided to take my TESOL, teaching abroad seemed to be the one thing I thought I might actually enjoy. I've no wife, kids or mortgage and so I'm in the rather fortunate position of being able to do as I please. I don't have a trade and have not really used my degree in any capacity since I graduated. With any luck, teaching in Korea will hopefully be the start of a career that will take me through to retirement. My plan is to try and gain a Masters at some point over the next few years and enjoy the fruits that that may come with it.

I've not considered the possibility of not being able to adjust to living abroad and I'm not sure how being away from my family will feel. If things don't work out for me over there then I really don't know what I'll do, although in all likelyhood, I'll probably do a PGCE in the UK. The main thing is that I want to be able to look back and regret something I had done rather than something I hadn't.

Either way, I'm at an age now where I'm really conscious of the fact that the clock is ticking. For the first time in my life I feel genuinely optomistic about my future and I'm confident that I'm wise enough to make something like this become a positive experience.

[Paddycakes]