Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rock]

Mainly, living like you used to back home is non-existent. Eating the diet you thought healthy, exercising regularly; sleeping eight hours a night, relaxing after work; and living up to your ideals of wholeness and individual pursuits pretty much go by the wayside.

I don't know about you, but I feel somewhat deflated when it comes to individual pursuits and a healthy ego. You stand out too much. Even walking my three dogs makes me feel as if I'm a kook.

So my theory is that Westerners are far more idealistic, which could be a plus, and one that makes our countries the attractive and alluring image for the world at large. Korea and some parts of Asia are just too pragmatic, too much after a quest for knowledge. Ideals other than what you are take supremacy over who you are.

But for example: I used to believe in a strong, somewhat muscular body. Do you see many Koreans or Asians like this? I think it's rare. Besides, you're often looked upon as a sort of goon, or blue-collar worker if you are strong-looking. I even had one Korean girl say rather negatively "I see a lot of foreigners at the gym. . .all they do is lift weights. . ." as if lifting weights is too macho or something.

What's more, knowledge, or technical savviness, seem to be the signs of being intelligent. Yet most Americans believe that knowledge isn't everything, just as long as you work hard, even to the point of working with your hands.

It just appears I'm in a kind of cerebreal embryo of sorts, making me want to waste away and forget the more physio-practical sides of life predicated upon the ideals of who I am.

It just feels as if you can't be yourself here.

[igotthisguitar]

What exactly is this "self" of which you speak?

More like an onion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatman

[Rock]

[Rock]

[endofthewor1d]

[igotthisguitar]

[Snowmeow]

On the contrary, Rock, one thing I am thankful for in Korea is having plenty of opportunity to do things just for myself. There are no obstacles here to eating healthily, exercising, and certainly there's no obstacle to sleeping unless you're working a split shift plus going out a lot at night.

As for walking three dogs at once, that's pretty unsual no matter where you go.

The gyms are full of Koreans, and the guys like lifting weights just as they do at home.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I didn't get the OP either.

[crusher_of_heads]

Being inner directed since I graduated uni has made a world of difference-I teach students, I don't think like them.

[reactionary]

i'd say i feel liberated here sometimes. everyone thinks i'm a weird foreigner here, but that's just it...i couldn't care less about the opinion of koreans around me. back home, i'd say i'm more self conscious.

what i mean to say is, i wouldn't be drunk on the subway back home.

[Draz]

[djsmnc]

[twg]

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

I think this guy's upset because he can't get a girlfriend, because the Korean girls think he's weird. That's usually the problem, I think.

Anyway, it's never a good idea to not be yourself. If some Koreans don't like who you are, then too bad... that doesn't mean all of them will feel the same way... for if you pay attention, you will notice subtle degrees of variation among them. Most of them are asexual clones, but every now and then you will stumble upon a member of the reproductive nobility.

[endofthewor1d]