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		Cohiba
 
  
  Joined: 01 Feb 2005
 
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:32 am    Post subject: Korea - No Country for Old Men | 
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				Yeah, I'm a lifer here.  I admit it.  It used to make me somewhat ashamed
 
at how long I have spent here. (over 12 years) But, not anymore.  I have
 
seen many people march out of Korea swearing profusely they would
 
never return, only to be back 6 months later with tales of crap jobs, no
 
jobs, high taxes, paying tips etc., etc.
 
 
Korea has a lot going for it.  Good money, low taxes, largely non-violent
 
if somewhat hot-headed and impulsive population.  However it is
 
definitely NOT someplace I want to retire in.  The absence of cultural
 
diversity, high prices, winter, a lack of sensitivity to foreigners and
 
their needs.  It is unfortunate for Korea because I'll be taking a sizable
 
chunk of cash with me when my family and I leave.
 
 
Korea is like the purgatory of foreign countries.  You put in your time
 
here and then when you reach a certain age and savings level you
 
split.
 
 
I don't know who to blame for the bad taste Korea leaves in a lot of
 
people's mouths.  Is it the population density?  Is it the fact Korea was
 
one of the poorest countries in Asia only 50 years ago and now they
 
have a culture vacuum that is filled with corporate manufactured crap?
 
Is it the political left?
 
 
I REALLY don't know, but Thailand, here I come!   -   Eventually | 
			 
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		blaseblasphemener
 
 
  Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Location: There's a voice, keeps on calling me, down the road, that's where I'll always be
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:35 am    Post subject:  | 
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				| you'd rather raise your children in thailand than Korea? | 
			 
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		skconqueror
 
  
  Joined: 31 Jul 2005
 
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:42 am    Post subject:  | 
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	  | blaseblasphemener wrote: | 
	 
	
	  | you'd rather raise your children in thailand than Korea? | 
	 
 
 
 
who said that is where he is moving?    | 
			 
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		Cohiba
 
  
  Joined: 01 Feb 2005
 
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:43 am    Post subject:  | 
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				Thailand actually IS a business hub.  There are a LOT of services
 
for foreigners including international schools where my kids will
 
not be singled out in class for having a white devil's blood coursing
 
through their veins.  However, I think the study mentality drilled into
 
Korean kids at an early age is a beneficial thing.  When these kids leave
 
Korea and study abroad it is relatively easy for them to excel.  But
 
I don't want my kids going through a Korean high school experience.
 
I think that experience breaks their spirit, crushes their creativity
 
and burns them out in their teens. | 
			 
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		billybrobby
 
  
  Joined: 09 Dec 2004
 
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:44 am    Post subject:  | 
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	  | I REALLY don't know, but Thailand, here I come! - Eventually | 
	 
 
 
 
yeah, what made you think he'd move to thailand?? | 
			 
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		eamo
 
  
  Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:45 am    Post subject:  | 
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	  now they 
 
have a culture vacuum that is filled with corporate manufactured crap?  | 
	 
 
 
 
Very true. 
 
The chaebol have fashioned Korea into just what they want. A merciless consumerist merry-go-round. 
 
 
I'll probably stay until my wife and I have enough money to move somewhere where life is seen as something to enjoy. Not just endure. 
 
 
I'm looking forward to living somewhere with lots of golf courses, international cuisine and spending my days in socks, sandals and shorts!
 
 
Me and buddies in 15 years......
 
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		thematrixiam
 
  
  Joined: 31 Oct 2007
 
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:13 am    Post subject:  | 
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				| I like Korea and could live there a long time. But my old dream of being an old dude on the corner in a lawn chair bugging catholic school girls will be a hard dream to see to fruition in Korea. | 
			 
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		thematrixiam
 
  
  Joined: 31 Oct 2007
 
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:16 am    Post subject:  | 
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				| hopefully by the time I am that old I'll be a cyborg and have nano-technology keeping my brain from turning into a useless pile of goo. | 
			 
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		blaseblasphemener
 
 
  Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Location: There's a voice, keeps on calling me, down the road, that's where I'll always be
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:23 am    Post subject:  | 
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	  | Cohiba wrote: | 
	 
	
	  Thailand actually IS a business hub.  There are a LOT of services
 
for foreigners including international schools where my kids will
 
not be singled out in class for having a white devil's blood coursing
 
through their veins.  However, I think the study mentality drilled into
 
Korean kids at an early age is a beneficial thing.  When these kids leave
 
Korea and study abroad it is relatively easy for them to excel.  But
 
I don't want my kids going through a Korean high school experience.
 
I think that experience breaks their spirit, crushes their creativity
 
and burns them out in their teens. | 
	 
 
 
 
I actually think it's us parents that learn the studying mentality from koreans, not the kids. I never looked at school the way I do now that I've been in Korea for 5 years. You can see how easy it would be to get your kid way ahead of most Canadian kids, who are too busy watching TV, playing video games, playing sports, and jerking around. It's not difficult to get an 80+ average, with P.E., English, and Social Studies as core classes. Get a tutor to make sure your kid is doing well in math and science, and your kid is a lock for gov't scholarships. Just focus on math and french and your kid is guaranteed of a job in the federal govt in Canada or in the private sector. | 
			 
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		toddswift
 
  
  Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Location: Seoul
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:26 am    Post subject: Re: Korea - No Country for Old Men | 
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	  | Cohiba wrote: | 
	 
	
	  Yeah, I'm a lifer here.  I admit it.  It used to make me somewhat ashamed
 
at how long I have spent here. (over 12 years) But, not anymore.  I have
 
seen many people march out of Korea swearing profusely they would
 
never return, only to be back 6 months later with tales of crap jobs, no
 
jobs, high taxes, paying tips etc., etc.
 
 
Korea has a lot going for it.  Good money, low taxes, largely non-violent
 
if somewhat hot-headed and impulsive population.  However it is
 
definitely NOT someplace I want to retire in.  The absence of cultural
 
diversity, high prices, winter, a lack of sensitivity to foreigners and
 
their needs.  It is unfortunate for Korea because I'll be taking a sizable
 
chunk of cash with me when my family and I leave.
 
 
Korea is like the purgatory of foreign countries.  You put in your time
 
here and then when you reach a certain age and savings level you
 
split.
 
 
I don't know who to blame for the bad taste Korea leaves in a lot of
 
people's mouths.  Is it the population density?  Is it the fact Korea was
 
one of the poorest countries in Asia only 50 years ago and now they
 
have a culture vacuum that is filled with corporate manufactured crap?
 
Is it the political left?
 
 
I REALLY don't know, but Thailand, here I come!   -   Eventually | 
	 
 
 
 
 
 
 
your lucky!
 
 
 
great beer, great food, great people. I will always love the Thai culture.
 
 
good luck! | 
			 
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		Paddycakes
 
 
  Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:30 am    Post subject:  | 
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	  | Just focus on math and french and your kid is guaranteed of a job in the federal govt in Canada | 
	 
 
 
 
DARE TO DREAM!!! | 
			 
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		blaseblasphemener
 
 
  Joined: 01 Jun 2006 Location: There's a voice, keeps on calling me, down the road, that's where I'll always be
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:11 am    Post subject:  | 
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	  | Paddycakes wrote: | 
	 
	
	  
 
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	  | Just focus on math and french and your kid is guaranteed of a job in the federal govt in Canada | 
	 
 
 
 
DARE TO DREAM!!! | 
	 
 
 
 
Nothing wrong with having guaranteed job prospects that pay well and come with lots of vacation time. I want my child to have as many opportunities as he can. Bilingual/Trilingual ability opens many doors in Canada. | 
			 
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		bogey666
 
  
  Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:12 am    Post subject: Re: Korea - No Country for Old Men | 
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				if I ever look like those fatsos on the golf course and you catch me dressed like that at ANY age.. please shoot me.
 
 
please.
 
 
re Korea and moving on.
 
 
I'm beginning to think of Korea as a replenishing oasis of sorts..
 
meaning you can for e.g. spend a couple of years teaching here. then go teach somewhere you'd really like to live for a year.. then come back when you need to make some money again.
 
 
etc
 
etc | 
			 
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		thematrixiam
 
  
  Joined: 31 Oct 2007
 
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:26 am    Post subject:  | 
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	  | blaseblasphemener wrote: | 
	 
	
	  
 
	  | Paddycakes wrote: | 
	 
	
	  
 
	  | Quote: | 
	 
	
	  | Just focus on math and french and your kid is guaranteed of a job in the federal govt in Canada | 
	 
 
 
 
DARE TO DREAM!!! | 
	 
 
 
 
Nothing wrong with having guaranteed job prospects that pay well and come with lots of vacation time. I want my child to have as many opportunities as he can. Bilingual/Trilingual ability opens many doors in Canada. | 
	 
 
 
 
remember why peter pan left his parents! | 
			 
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		Paddycakes
 
 
  Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul
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				 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:55 am    Post subject:  | 
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	  | remember why peter pan left his parents! | 
	 
 
 
 
He wanted to go work for Canada Post? | 
			 
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