Korean Job Discussion Forums

[blaseblasphemener]

joining this thread late, but interesting stuff.

I have a baby son, and I will probably stay in Korea for 5 years, as long as the money keeps rolling in.

One thing that was mentioned was the lack of sports here. Personally, I find that refreshing. Doesn't it seem like we put far too much emphasis on sports in North America? I can't speak for Europe, but I'm guessing it's similar.

I think a lot of kids who play sports in middle school and high school end up having their studies suffer. I know mine did. My son will have school first, music second, sports third.

[lucas_p]

[Hanson]

[lucas_p]

[Hanson]

[GreenlightmeansGO]

I find it interesting that nobody mentioned the suicide rate in this country. Someone said kids grow up to be happy. Did a quick search and this article reinforces my thinking that I wouldn't want to raise a kid here. Not now, anyway.

http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?at_code=390145

[Homer]

I said many kids grow up happy greenlight...not all...but where on this world do all kids grow up happy?

Ying,

I do not wear such glasses. I am however a realist and can evaluate my childs welfare better than say...you. I am sorry buddy but you really have no idea what you are talking about.

My son is happy here. He is starting to make friends (very temporary friens because he is just 2 but still). He will also learn about half his heritage and this is extremely important. We might move when he reaches middle school age. We will decide then.

Korea is just not the dark cave you describe ying and you are judging it from the perspective of an adult with memories of what it was like to be a kid in your home country. Thats the key right there, our kids are not you. They come from a mixed heritage and that is important.

As parents you determine how your child grows up. You foster and happy learning environment.

I have many friends here with mixed kids in Korean schools. Overwhelmingly they are having a positive experience of it. Their kids enjoy school and have tons of friends. They play sports, go to parks, have sleep overs and are learning very well in capable elementary schools. They are also learning about their Korean heritage.

Some have problems of course but what place on this planet is perfect?

Also, education and life back home is not all roses ying. It is just that too many people put it up as such from memories that often become rosier as time passes. I personally see value in both places (Korea and Canada) and hope to see my child value both. I think he is lucky to get this chance to broaden his horizons....

The flip side of that coin is that my kid also has to learn about the other half of his heritage (Canada) and this might mean we will move there when he reaches middle school or high school.

[blaseblasphemener]

[lucas_p]

[anae]

It is very true that the parents have control of how much pressure and how many hogwans, but it can get hard when social life revolves around hogwons. My husband's friend is against the idea of hogwans, but ended up putting her kids in them when she found all the playgrounds empty. Her kids were just lonely.

[skconqueror]

[kotakji]

[Cheonmunka]

There's a thread elsewhere which asks, "If your spouse suddenly dies, would you stay here or go?"
I think that is a more pertinent question that actually asks you to make a decision, rather than to willy nilly about the weather and air.

From this thread I have learned on thing: That everyone has markedly different relationships with their family here, and family there. Some have close relationships so say that Korea attaches importance to family values, others' relationships prove to them that the expression of 'Korean family values' is all water and no meat.

[vox]

[Hanson]