Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kid65]

Basically, I thought I was working in Incheon. I was really looking forward to living in a large city, where there would be a good foreigner community and plenty of bars

After a rather confusing 2 and a half hour jouney I end up in rural, very small, I-cheon. If I wanted rural i'd have stayed at home.

I realise it's been my mistake all along, but I guess i thought I-cheon was just a typo for Incheon.

So I was really looking foward to living in a city, and i'm in the sticks. I don't know what to do. I'm their first foreign teacher so all the staff and students have been super excited to meet me, and my flat is full of new furniture and equipment.

Basically, i'm not happy with the situation at all, but everyone is so nice and i've just arrived, and feel I can't leave (never mind the contract!). I just don't know what to do...

EDIT:

Well I think a lot of people have commented and not read my updated comments so figured it would be best to write a quick note here.

The above was composed after 48 hours of non-stop moving, lots of stress, saying goodbye to my family, girlfriend, and all that jazz. About an hour after I posted this I chilled out a little, took a step back, and realised that I was completely happy with the situation.

I've had the weekend to catch up on sleep (still lagged though) and i've unpacked and met the neighbours and what-not, and it's honestly brilliant here. The kids are great, the teachers took me out for a meal and all are very friendly. It's amazing what a difference it makes to the atmosphere once you shoot out a Korean phrase or two.

So i'm making an effort to learn the language (I hate not being able to communicate well in a foreign country) and i'm joining in with my first lesson in a few hours. Thanks to all those that responded positively and actually read my other posts. I've been a little silly but with different languages and countries it's easy to make mistakes, mine was fairly large, but i'm over it.

Oh, and i'm not actually in Inchon city either, but a small village about twenty minutes out...

Peace guys and gals...

[RedRob]

Have you done yr visa yet?
If no- split
If yes, you are in for some interesting negotiations.

I'm sorry mate, but yr post made me laugh out loud! As you will be soon telling the kids....DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!

[xCustomx]

I don't think there is anything that you can do since it was your mistake.

You could offer to find your boss/school a replacement, though you may have to pay back the airfare and/or recruiter fee.

[ChciPivo]

I can't believe how little research some people put into their future lives, especially when considering moving to a foreign country. I spent months, sometimes 18 hours a day reading and researching and talking to people before making a decision.

It's the first sentence on Wiki - Icheon is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It should not be confused with the much larger Incheon Metropolitan City.

[Smee]

You'd be an asshole if you split, and you're kind of an asshole for thinking about leaving because you didn't research your job.

Icheon isn't some one-horse town in the middle of nowhere. It's hardly "rural," either. It's in the corner of the province, true, but there's still plenty to do. More information on living in Icheon here: http://wiki.galbijim.com/Icheon

Do a search on this site---if you're not too busy, or anything---for Icheon, and I'm sure you'll find others in town.

edit: YOu asked a question about the job, and you were told Icheon is an hour south of Seoul, and you were told it was "small but friendly." Not sure why you ignored that: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1274636&highlight=#1274636

[Draz]

[yingwenlaoshi]

Maybe it'll turn out to be good.

[Optimus Prime]

At your last job, would you often make a McMuffin when the customer ordered a McGriddle?

[MarionG]

Icheon is not a bad place...not as "exciting" as Seoul, but you'd better focus on what you have and shoot for Seoul next year.

[SeoulShakin]

Haha don't feel bad for you at all.

Especially after another poster pointed out that you asked about Icheon. They replied it is 50 minutes south of Seoul. Anyone who had done ANY kind of research would realize that isn't where Incheon is.

You asked, received a reply, said it sounded good, and you took the job.

As far as I'm concerned, you made your bed, now lie in it.

It's not your schools fault that you aren't so bright. They are being kind and have provided for you well. They shouldn't have to suffer cause you messed up.

Stay there for the year, and fulfill your contract. Take it as a life lesson. From now on, when something concerns your life, research it a bit.

You're not far from Seoul anyway, so it's easy for you to escape on the weekends. Suck it up and deal with it.

[Matilda]

If your apartment is nice and the kids are keen... stick it out... save your weekend visits for Seoul!

Having a cozy apartment and good working conditions are not always a given in every town.

[Kid65]

I deserved all that.

Yeah it's my bad. To be honest my emotions are flip-flopping everyhwere at the moment. An hour after that post and i'm feeling far better about everything. I'm also sure i'll feel better after some decent sleep (it's been nearly 48 hours). I was prepared for city but I can deal with rural, it's just thrown me off a little is all.

As for those that research massively before moving anywhere. Woah. My last month was spent drinking and partying, too little time researching maybe...

[normalcyispasse]

[icicle]

[quote="Kid65"]I deserved all that.

Yeah it's my bad. To be honest my emotions are flip-flopping everyhwere at the moment. An hour after that post and i'm feeling far better about everything. I'm also sure i'll feel better after some decent sleep (it's been nearly 48 hours). I was prepared for city but I can deal with rural, it's just thrown me off a little is all.

quote]

I can understand that ... but as someone who is not too far away from where you are ... in Gwangju (Gyeonggi) the poster who said that you are not really too far from Seoul is right ... You will find that it is not hard to get a bus into Seoul ... or to a point which conncects with the subway ... and then it is very easy to get around ... If I were you I would first find out where the essential to know places are where you live ... like supermarkets and banks ... and then find out the easiest ways to get to Seoul ... where you will easily be able to find anything that isn't in the town that you are in ... There is definitely an initial culture shock .. but that would apply whether you were in Inchon or in Seoul ... and I think it will get easier once you know where the things you need are ... and how easy it is to get around ...

Icicle

[Woden]