Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MANDRL]

My fiancee and I have been in Korea since January 6th of this year. This is our first year in Korea. At the six month mark we were feeling really burnt out and the year could not end fast enough for us to get home. However, we had a nice little vacation from work and feel somewhat rejuvenated.

Before our vacation the prospect of coming back to Korea seemed impossible. Now, we are feeling that we could do another stint in Korea after returning home for a month or two in January. Our question is, how many of you have flip-flopped with the idea of doing another year in Korea throughout your contractual year and when did you make your decision? Was it before leaving Korea, or when you got home and didn't want to dive back into 'real' life? Thanks for any insight and advice.

[laogaiguk]

Well, if you are going to stay, you should try to decide before leaving. You can always get a better job in country than from back home...

[MANDRL]

If we talked to other schools before we left, in your opinion, would they hire us for say an end of February start date if our current contract was over in January? We would like to be home for at least a month or two.

[laogaiguk]

Only if it really suited their time schedule (which it might). Otherwise, there isn't too much difference between you and someone else because they still have to pay for the ticket. It would still be better than nothing, as the school would at least know you and that you have some experience, but it might not work at some schools since many schools always leave hiring until the last minute and they need someone asap...

[Thunndarr]

Being home for a while will really give you time to sort out your feelings and figure out how much of your anti-Korea feelings stem from hating your working environment and how much you just genuinely loathe Koea as a whole. After my first year, I was about 99% certain that I wouldn't be back, but I also knew that I was going to re-evaluate my feelings after leaving an unpleasant work situation behind me. That was 4 years ago, and I'm still here. Give yourself some time and rethink your feelings after a few weeks at home.

[Mr Crowley]

Try for a public school, the school year starts in March.

[nautilus]

Whats the real reason you don't want to re-sign?

If its just a feeling of exhaustion driving you out of korea, then a month or two of rest will be enough to rejuvenate you.

if you didn't enjoy your year for reasons outside your control...then its hardly likely you'll enjoy more of the same.

[MANDRL]

[Dev]

If you're flip-flopping that means you're probably not completely happy about living here.

[oneofthesarahs]

[crusher_of_heads]

Funny-I like teaching here in Ontario, but I was indecisive for months about giving it up-inertia just sucks.

[nautilus]

[Oreovictim]

I haven't gotten burnt out yet. It's nice here because it's such a change-of-pace from my old boring city. Plus, I have no debt, so it's nice having money for once in my life. If I work here for 5-6 years, I can buy a house back home. Sometimes it gets lonely though. It doesn't help that I don't get along with about 75% of the foreigners I've met. (Yes, I'm one of "those" kinds of people.) My main thing that I'm wishy-washy on is my school. Do I want to do a second year here or take a chance and look for something better?

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[MANDRL]