Korean Job Discussion Forums

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

After four years of living in Korea, I've been back in New Zealand about 6 months. I've got the job, the flat and money in the bank. But the thing is, I'm not really enjoying being home. These days I feel like I have very little in common with my friends who have stayed behind. They seem so boring and narrow-minded. Also being judged on things I've said or done before I left New Zealand is hard to deal with as I've change a great deal since then but most of my friends haven't. However meeting new people just isn't as easy as it was back in Korea where there were lots of comings and goings.

Despite living in central auckland, I feel like I'm in the middle of nowhere. I hope this passes but I'm feeling the urge to bugger off again.

just another day · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject:

^ i felt the same even with my korean american friends who never left the states. i just felt like they were stuck in some mind trap. im not sure if they are aware they are stuck in a mind trap or not...

i usually hang around others who lived in korea when i am living in the states... thats what seems to vibe the best with me.

but yeah, i get the feeling i will eventually die inside. or will i? muahahaha~ Twisted Evil

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

The ladies lunches just haven't had the same zing without you. Come back to Korea. Very Happy

browneyedgirl · Joined: 17 Jul 2007

The evil penguin

peppermint · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject:

I hear ya, some days it's just pure bloodymindedness keeping me here

snowy32 · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Location: NZ

I hear ya! I got so bored on Saturday night that I went to a gay bar (I'm straight) just to liven things up and even that wasn't as much fun as the nights out in Korea.
I've been home in NZ for about 2 months and I'm bored out of my skull. I never know what to do to fill in my days and on the weekends I completely run out of things to do. I am having major reverse culture shock. I've even been looking into heading back to Korea even though I'm meant to be starting my nursing degree next February.
I've moved to a city where I only know 2 or 3 people and it's so hard to meet new people here, not like in Korea where I made a ton of great friends.
I guess taking little holidays away might help you out, kind of ease the travel bug.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Ha ha - I'm surprised it took this long for you to make this post.

I felt sort of the same way after being home for two weeks this summer. I can't imagine how much worse it would be if all my friends were Kiwis.

ceesgetdegrees · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

Bahhh...give me the rugged nz coastline, thousands of cheap golf courses, excellent food and wine, good drugs, great bars/clubs, friendly people, beautiful and easily accesible beaches, hiking trails any day over korea.

Summer Wine · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Location: Next to a River

I lasted 10 months at home once before just needing to get out of there. The last time, I was bored silly after 2 weeks and couldn't wait for my holiday to end.

I think that being here does change you and now that I am considering returning home, I am not sure what I will do or how long I would last before leaving again for somewhere else.

Just have to get back into a groove LG and find something that you like doing that will become a lifestyle for you.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

I've had the same experiences when I've went back to my home country.

I ended up hanging out with almost ALL non-born Americans. People who either emigrated there or people who had traveled and lived somewhere else for awhile - the stranger the place, the better.

Your standard 'back home' kind of person just isn't interesting. Expats have some real interesting conversation topics, stories, and lives.

People back home do not.

Damulgun · Joined: 11 Mar 2007

Become a Korean citizen and join Korean military. Very Happy

we would love to have you.

periwinkle · Joined: 08 Feb 2003

Maybe you need a new goal to work toward since you're all set with the sweet job, apt., etc. Or you could save up some money and start planning a trip somewhere exotic!

The Hierophant · Joined: 13 Sep 2005

I hear you loud and clear, CLG. I've been back in New Zealand for about 2 months now and have started studying for my Graduate Teaching Diploma at Victoria University in Wellington. I'm not enjoying being back, and the only thing keeping me here is the knowledge that I will graduate next July and can then jet off to a teaching job somewhere overseas (maybe Korea again?)

I'm currently on placement at a Wellington High School and to me the only folks in the staffroom that have anything half-interesting to say are the immigrant teachers and catering staff who can tell me about their home countries, traveling experiences and the things they've been through as migrant workers. The native New Zealander staff just don't discuss anything other than typical water-cooler small talk. Whenever I express my desire to travel to the native New Zealander staff most of them are either totally uninterested or act somewhat insulted (as if I'm stiffing them personally by not wanting to stick around) so I've just stopped mentioning it.

You just can't go back to the way you were before you left. My sister is a nurse in London and she feels the same way: NZ just doesn't truly feel like home anymore.

CLG: Are you well and truly done with teaching? You could always get your Dip Ed and head off overseas again. The teaching cert will open up many doors, you needn't teach in Korea only.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

How much does the certificate cost in NZ to do?