Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rock]

Longing for the waiting period to end, the morning I wake up from Korea and find it plain as day, now many years passed. Is it all it's put out to be? Was there purpose here? Did Korea deserve it., ie., the critical remarks I've made(and others,) the resentments I've retained? Was I wrong?

These thoughts all go through a person's mind here, I think, which makes me wonder. Is it Korea or me, us or them?

I've broken away from it all for a long while, felt at peace again, had good experiences with other Asian countries, ie., Taiwan. My conclusion is this: Korea's not worth remembering.

Honestly, it's too ambivalent of a place, has too many disparities and defects, such as overwhelming kindness verses overwhelming rudeness; overwhelming hospitality verses overwhelming inhospitable social acceptance; great paying salaries verses extreme isolation to enjoy your life with it here. I could go on.

I live right next door now, could hop on a plane to Korea anytime. Thought about it, but honestly think, Why?

That's what you get after living here for six years, and I guess which is my final conclusion. The disparities between my inner peace and this country's etiquette are just to wide of a rift for me to bother to bridge anymore.

Moreover, I've learned that other Asians have much more decent societies, believe it or not.

[mercury]

I think korea is like having a crazy uncle who is always changing. One minute he is giving you a bunch of money and some booze, next minute he is drunk and yelling at you and pissing on the garage floor.

I find Japan the best place in the world. I love the language, the people, the food, the history, the hot women, the politeness, the clean streets, the money. Walk outside, peace, everywhere. I am glad I left, but I also enjoy looking back here and watching the reactions as teachers live with that crazy uncle, it is entertainment!

[jaganath69]

I hear you all. We are out of here in eight months, and counting.

[kimchi_pizza]

[VanIslander]

[rocklee]

[jajdude]

Quote: Moreover, I've learned that other Asians have much more decent societies, believe it or not.

Oh, I believe it, though I thought VN was a mess.

[Dev]

Excellent thread. Very sincere and balanced.

I agree with most of what's been said here. As for myself, I came to Korea wanting to love this country and its people. Been to Japan and found that many of the people there were so reserved to the point where they almost didn't have personalities of their own. Koreans looked so much freer emotionally.

But after living here a while, I feel that their attitudes towards foreigners to be extreme. One on one, many Koreans will be nice to foreigners, but when they're in groups they come off very condescending hardly friendly at all.

Like recently when I was entering my apartment building, a group of men drinking beer & soju outside the MiniStop convenience store shouted at me to come over to them. Since they did it in Korean, I was pretty sure that I was going to be ridiculed for being a foreigner. If I had been Korean-American, I am sure this wouldn't have happened. I just kept walking.

I am really fed up with the ignorance of some of the people in this country. I think Korea is for Koreans only.

[ChuckECheese]

Yeah, if it wasn't for my gf and nice job, I'd be outta here as well.

The rudeness and anti-Americanism thrives every corner of this country.

[blaseblasphemener]

[europe2seoul]

[gdnchg]

I liked you posting OP.....


Chuck, glad to hear that you have a 'nice job' in Korea that's holding you back from going home....Why can't you just go back and find another job in the US, there's plenty of them in the richest country in the world.

[Satori]

I feel you dog. Five years in Korea, two years in Japan, and I'm STILL not sure which place is ultimately for me! No doubt Japan is a smoother place to live, easier, cleaner, more peaceful, more convenient, less xenophobic, etc. But Korea just gets in your bones. It's gritty, vivid, vibrant, more exciting, more of an adventure, more exotic and "foreign" and strange and interesting, it's got more flavor. That's how I see it. Korea is a tougher place to be, but it imprints you for life. The more I think about it, the more I know Im coming back some day, to settle for a long time.

[Dev]

[quote="europe2seoul"]

All in all, Korea is much more Mediterranian with its more vibrant lifestyle and pushy attitudes.
quote]

Italy & Korea also share another thing, Intollerance of racial minorities. Just saw a story on CNN or BBC on how the Itallians are harassing the growing Chinese populations in their cities. They're complaining the the Chinese are changing the face of Italy.

Geez! Get over it! Things change.

In Korea, foreign guys who walk around holding their Korean girlfriend's hand get harassed.

[Letiz7]

Excellent posts people.

Yes, the crazy drunk uncle indeed. You keep that money coming unc', and try not to piss on my floor too often...