Korean Job Discussion Forums

[carrotpatchkid]

This weekend I'll be moving in with my girlfriend to work together as the only foreign teachers at a hagwon in a small town. The owner of our school is worried about having a couple as employees (though she failed to express any such notion back in November). We've heard that even so much as holding hands outside of our apartment is anathema in a small town. While we don't plan on any public displays of affection, we would like not to have to hide the fact that we're a couple.

I know many expat couples who live and work together in Seoul but none who live in a small town. Is there anyone out there who knows about this small town stuff? I think it's absurd but then again, I think men with purses and dogs with dyed ears are absurd too.

[twg]

There are only a couple of things you have to worry about outside of someone clucking their tongue at your hand-holding:

1- Some drunk local decides that your girl is a Russian hooker and/or easy because she's foreign, and starts harassing her for sex. But that happens in Seoul as well.

2- It's more likely that boredom, routine, work stress, and limited options will have you at each other's throats. I highly recommend finding a way to have "Me Time" for the both of you.

But the most likely thing that's going to happen is that your boss is going to screw one or both of you over at some point. She sounds a bit untrustworthy already. And small town hagwons are even more fly-by-night and shady than the ones in big cities.

I would suggest being sure you have enough "Get outta Dodge" money in your pocket before you get on the plane.

And good luck.

[NightSky]

[JongnoGuru]

What does a "small town" in Korea run these days? About a quarter of a million peeps?

[NightSky]

[VanIslander]

[smurfetta]

My husband and I live in a very, very, very small town. We are the only two foreigners in our area. We both teach in public schools and we have lived there for almost two years. Some of the locals are very kind and some are very xenophobic towards us. In our town, there are a lot of bars, hofs, Noraebangs and drunken Ajoshis. Due to this, I don't go out at night in our town alone. Plus, I don't make eye contact with Korean men that I haven't been formally introduced to.

Also, we get stared at a lot and get the usual hellos followed by giggles.

One thing I have to say is that our buying a car greatly improved our lifestyle out here in the boonies. It allows us to go to the nearest city if we want to go shopping or eat at a restaurant. (You meet a lot of interesting people on the country buses.)

[loose_ends]

[Kimchieluver]

[Mi Yum mi]

If you are so worried and you want to play by stupid Korean rules...buy some rings. Get a couple of big gold bands and stick them on your wedding finger (you could even call them a promise ring or something gay like that). More people will see them and assume you are married.

[tomato]

One of my jobs was in a small town in a school where the directors were an American guy and a Korean woman who were shacking up together.

[air76]

If you are seriously going to live where there are no other foreigners then I think you'll regret it....I lived in a medium sized town and there were maybe 100 foreigners in town. That was small enough. I'd say that you need to have at least 10 western foreigners in town or you really go insane...I'd hate to live in Seoul but I honestly think you'll regret working in a village. Shoot for 100,000 people or more.

[smurfetta]

[loose_ends]

[smurfetta]

I'd like to add some advice for your girlfriend about living in a small town as a western woman.

1. Don't drink alcohol with your Korean colleagues. They may find it shocking if you do.

2. Don't smoke in pubic if you are a smoker. Find a rooftop or a bathroom stall to smoke in.

3. Do dress very conservatively. Don't wear tops that show off even a little bit of cleavage. Your students will tell you to cover up. All my female colleagues wear "little house on the prairie" style dresses and tops.