View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
tfunk

Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland
|
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject: Irish in Korea - why? |
|
|
The Irish minimum wage is over $13 dollars per hour.
Education is cheap compared to America/Canada university fees.
Why do the Irish come to Korea? Maybe it's the art degree/ lack of employability thing. Am I the only Irish person with a BSc. to come to Korea? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Chicoloco

Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Location: In the ring.
|
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I came for the money - I stay for the kimchi. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
eamo

Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
|
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: Irish in Korea - why? |
|
|
tfunk wrote: |
The Irish minimum wage is over $13 dollars per hour.
Education is cheap compared to America/Canada university fees.
Why do the Irish come to Korea? Maybe it's the art degree/ lack of employability thing. Am I the only Irish person with a BSc. to come to Korea? |
Well, I'm Northern Irish. I came for the experience, stayed because I was having fun and making money, then got married to a local......so now I'm a lifer!!
13 dollars per hour aint much. Wouldn't like to be living and renting in Dublin on that money! But I do wish the Korean schools and hospitals was a little closer to the Irish standard.
I seem to remember that there were 300-something Irish nationals with E-2 visas in Korea last year. So you're not the only one!!
I watched a documentary recently which basically surmised by saying that it's not worth living in Ireland unless you already own property or are a high-flyer in your profession. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Dome Vans Guest
|
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Quote: |
I watched a documentary recently which basically surmised by saying that it's not worth living in Ireland unless you already own property or are a high-flyer in your profession. |
So similar to England then.
From when I used to holiday near Cork 10 years ago, a massive amount of holiday homes were being bought by Germans. Seems that trend has continued. The same has happened to my beloved Cornwall, all the Duchy birds are being priced out of everything. Partly thanks to Rick Stein and Jamie '*****' Oliver and their fancy seaside restaurants. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
djsmnc

Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
|
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:59 pm Post subject: Re: Irish in Korea - why? |
|
|
tfunk wrote: |
The Irish minimum wage is over $13 dollars per hour.
Education is cheap compared to America/Canada university fees.
Why do the Irish come to Korea? Maybe it's the art degree/ lack of employability thing. Am I the only Irish person with a BSc. to come to Korea? |
Why don't you like the Irish presence in Korea? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Dome Vans Guest
|
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:05 pm Post subject: Re: Irish in Korea - why? |
|
|
djsmnc wrote: |
tfunk wrote: |
The Irish minimum wage is over $13 dollars per hour.
Education is cheap compared to America/Canada university fees.
Why do the Irish come to Korea? Maybe it's the art degree/ lack of employability thing. Am I the only Irish person with a BSc. to come to Korea? |
Why don't you like the Irish presence in Korea? |
Can you be racist about your own race? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
catycat
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
|
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
I'm Irish, and I've got as B.Sc too! I even have a H.Dip.!!
Came here 5 years ago with a load of friends, and am the only one still here!!! I've got an F2 visa, so will be here for a while. Home is just too expensive for us at the mo. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
tfunk

Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland
|
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
Eamo is spot on; the salary on its own doesn't make sense financially; it's the apartment and lower cost of living.
There are Polish brick layers over here taking home twice what I was earning in Korea and that's after paying for accommodation (okay, their accommodation is probably pokey but the saving potential is there especially if you can still live with your Mom).
Korea gets under your skin but for me I'm going to fight my Gimchi addiction. It's a pity 6 month contracts aren't more common, I'd love to come back but just not for a year.
13 dollars an hour ain't much? That's minimum wage, McDonalds pays that, with a BSc (in a relevant field for your job) you should be looking for at least twice that pay.
The good times are definitely rolling in Ireland at the moment, and with the dollar so low you aren't making as much Euro's as you might think in Korea (well, I always thought in dollars for some reason). |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
[email protected]

Joined: 25 Feb 2008
|
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
meh, im just finished college and didnt want to go into 'the straight world' quite yet so I decided coming here was a great way of travelling, seeing a different culture and getting good teaching experience at the same time.
I'd guesstimate there's more than 300 Irish here on E2's |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
djsmnc

Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
|
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:08 am Post subject: Re: Irish in Korea - why? |
|
|
Dome Vans wrote: |
djsmnc wrote: |
tfunk wrote: |
The Irish minimum wage is over $13 dollars per hour.
Education is cheap compared to America/Canada university fees.
Why do the Irish come to Korea? Maybe it's the art degree/ lack of employability thing. Am I the only Irish person with a BSc. to come to Korea? |
Why don't you like the Irish presence in Korea? |
Can you be racist about your own race? |
I dunno. Ask THIS guy and THIS guy. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
SOOHWA101
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Location: Makin moves...trying to find 24pyung
|
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
I have met many Irish here. And to be quite honest, I ask the same question about why are you here. They all fit the same bill; unhappy and full of complaints.
To be fair..I am Irish-American 2nd generation....and can see a stark difference. I always prided myself on having Irish heritage (as we ALL do in America), but now I am second guessing it...and desperately want to be proven wrong.
In the same ignorant assessment, as I see many people do about Americans, I have met a minute fraction of the Irish that are out there�..as well as the British (which I have a similar distaste with). �.no longer do you get to say arrogant American around me.
Not trolling�just being honest. And don�t be mistaken, I truly don�t want this to be my impression�..but Jesus!! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
beepbeep
Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Location: Shiwa, Siheung
|
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
I'm from belfast, a new teacher from ireland arrived last week and theres another on the way apparently! While part of me came here to save some money for a masters degree (WAY cheaper to live here than back home) there are other reasons people have for doing this.
I'm not ready to settle into a career yet, wanted a change from the humdrum of life in ireland and a chance to see the world and experience new things. I was working in a data entry job earning over $20 an hour, however much of this was spent on living costs and drowning my sorrows over this job i despised. So I quit and got a job in a bar. When I finally do settle into a career I want it to be something I at least like doing. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
tfunk

Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland
|
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
SOOHWA101,
There are three fashionable 'opinions' to give the impression that you are intelligent without having to inform yourself:
McDonalds, Hollywood, Americans.
Just say they're 'superficial' and you'll never be questioned about it. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Dome Vans Guest
|
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
Quote: |
unhappy and full of complaints. |
Britain is developing the first moaning powered light bulb.
"That moaning powered light bulb's on the blink again.......ah no there we go"
soohwa, very bad small section of people you've met then. I'd say that Brits and the Irish are slightly more philosophical about life than other nations. If you check out the Brits and Irish on this forum there isn't that much barracking between us. The Yanks and Canucks are always at each others throats. You however fall into the Yank category. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
|
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: Irish in Korea - why? |
|
|
tfunk wrote: |
The Irish minimum wage is over $13 dollars per hour.
Education is cheap compared to America/Canada university fees.
Why do the Irish come to Korea? Maybe it's the art degree/ lack of employability thing. Am I the only Irish person with a BSc. to come to Korea? |
They don't know? Hell, when I tell people I'm going to Korea they think japan or go "WOW!.....WTF is Korea!".
In states, many people think you need to know the language or have some grasp of it for overseas work...hell I did too until I found they couldn't give a rat's ass.
Tell as many red headed lasses as you can! I love red head girls. I'm going to miss them when I go to Korea.  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|