Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IncognitoHFX]

My school decided to give me a month's vacation in Canada under the agreement that I renew my contract in the summer. I agreed wholeheartedly because I like my school (more ups than downs) and planned on staying another year anyway. My school is paying for %100 of the plane tickets, too, which solidified the deal.

I haven't been to Canada in more than a year and a half. They're booking the tickets for around the 23rd of December and I'll be coming back to Korea on the 23rd of January, '09. I'll be able to spend Christmas and New Years with my family.

I miss my family and friends, and I miss Canada. Yet I'm very anxious about this.

Maybe it's because I'm not the kind of person who hates Korea. I really like it here. I didn't want to go home between contracts after my first year and I originally didn't want to go home until after my second contract was complete. I'm more or less going home to see my parents because I miss them and out of obligation. But I know after a week or two of being back I'm going to go batshit stir-crazy like you wouldn't believe.

To put it in perspective: I'm from a small town of less than 10,000 people. I completely disconnected with those people. I haven't spent a month at home since High School and everyone I've ever known there has either gone off to other parts of Canada/the world and those whom have stayed are "past the point of no return" and not worth seeing. Apples and oranges.

That, and with the snowfalls they've been getting... My plan is simply to stay at home and learn as much Korean as humanly possible for my return. I think that will keep my mind off of things. I'm also going to see a friend in Toronto for three or four days (never been to Toronto).

But aside from all that, I'm simply terrified of the "reverse culture shock". I simply don't think I'll be able to re-adjust for many reasons, some of which might be entirely idiosyncratic. I'm afraid that I'm going to feel alien and distant the whole time I'm there and I'm afraid of becoming a hermit who barracades themselves in a bedroom for the duration. After I've spent some time with my parents, my sister, my dog (dogs, they got a puppy in my abscence), my relatives and what few friends I can find, I'm going to feel so isolated and I'm worried about getting a little weird.

Has anyone else felt like this about going back for their first time? I'm probably going to be in Korea (or Asia proper) for five-ten years, so I assume this gets easier with time. I'm wondering if it is a common experience? Going from a place where snapping your fingers gets you everything to a place where you're stranded in the middle of nowhere, not being able to see anyone or do anything without making a huge plan out of it (weather depending)?

I don't know. Maybe I'm just weird. I'm glad I'm going later as opposed to sooner, I would've found this a lot more difficult had I gone home after a year.

[VanIslander]

[ciccone_youth]

It might not be as bad as you think- once you get there I'm sure you'll be happy to see family and some friends, and eat the foods you missed. If it gets too difficult maybe spend more time in Toronto with your friend.

But yes, make the most of it, see new places and just do things you enjoy!

[afsjesse]

I felt the same way when I was coming back from Argentina afer being there for 10 months. I was different coming back and overall readjusting wasn't that bad. My friends were still there and Michigan was just the same!

Think of the times in your future when you'll wish you would be home..... make the most of it!

[the_beaver]

Been there.

Hanging out with my sister isn't too bad so I stay at her place most of the time. I have one friend who, despite being married with children, is still cool. My parents are my parents so I spend time with them (although we really have nothing in common but DNA).

Restaurants are expensive and tipping is rampant so except for some meals of wings I avoid those. The grocery stores and bookstores are great and I generally buy a lot of books and a lot of snacks and read and eat.

[ernie]

i find the only thing that sucks about going home is having to answer the same damn questions from everyone you meet. also not being able to ignore people talking.

[VanIslander]

[English Matt]

I think you'll probably find that you don't suffer from reverse culture shock too much. I have lived overseas a number of times, and going back to visit is quite different to going back to settle and reintegrate into society.

There will undoubtedly be things that you miss from back home and this may actually contribute to a bit of a honeymoon period for you (this will unlikely wear off in a few short weeks).

I'm a Brit, but I lived in Toronto for 2 years and it's a great city. Not exactly a picture postcard city with tons of things to do as a tourist, but a fun place to live. And as you have a friend living there, they'll be able to take you out to all the places that you'd pass by if you were visiting on your own. If you have the time, and/or the money, you could always do a trip down to NYC as well (it'd certainly break up your month at home).

I actually envy you your situation; you'll have a great time.

[IncognitoHFX]

[SeoulShakin]

Can I assume by the HFX in your name, that you'll be returning to around Halifax? If so... the reverse culture shock is much worse than the initial culture shock.

I didn't experience any culture shock when going to Korea, but it felt really weird coming home. I felt like I had experienced so much, and changed as a person, while everyone here hadn't changed at all and didn't seem genuinely interested in what I had seen or done. Still feel that way, and I've been home for more than 6 months now. Honestly the only thing holding me back from returning to Seoul is the exchange rate and the payments I still have to make back home. If it weren't for that, I'd be on a plane tomorrow.

I remember thinking that the lady at the airport was a b*tch for just chucking my change on the counter and not handing it to me with two hands. I caught myself starting to bow to people. I found it overwhelming going to a mall and understanding and overhearing every single conversation around me. I actually was even overwhelmed by the choices of food in the grocery store (got over that one quickly though).

I realized one one-tracked and closed-minded a lot of my friends were. I began to realize that some of them even thought I was crazy for going away and not settling down to get married. (Though Koreans never understood why I wasn't married either haha). I'm now home, the only single person out of all my friends, and missing life in Asia every day.

It's not weird to feel odd coming home. I think it's quite normal. The month will probably be enough to comfort your family, but show you that you've made a good decision.

[Harpeau]

Everyone is bang on! Understanding what everyone says around me was very weird, at first. Needing to plan in advance before going out and going somewhere was difficult as well. Shoveling it, etc. Everything was hard to get to. It felt very demobilizing.

Going back, I had a different view of the healthy young beggars on the streets. (Dan Bern's "It's the Fascist in Me"~ describes it well! )
Young people giving attitude was difficult to adjust to.
I really enjoyed sitting around the library and book stores reading lots of cool books.
It was a very weird feeling.

I really enjoy being in Vancouver. That feels like home when we're back in Canada. It's one of my favorite cities!

[DrOctagon]

I can think of a million things I would do if I went home for an entire month in the middle of my contract. But, I live in Chicago, boo-foo Canada is a different story.

I'm going back for two weeks in February. I can't wait to see my family, especially my little nephew. I miss the kid so much. Yes, it will be cold and snowy, but I actually love cold weather and snow. And there's nothing like hanging out in a warm pub with your friends, skiing the slopes, hittin' the green, and doing other things that I just can't do in Korea that I miss so much about home.

[livinginkunsan]

I have no idea what half of you are talking about. I guess if you were running from something back home then it would be difficult to go back. I was home for 2 months last year and loved it. If it wasn't for my wife and a promise of 1 more year I wouldn't have come back.

[D.D.]

Canada is really boring for me and I just catch up with family when I am there. I guess I have always been broke when I get back there and don't have a car there so that's why it is boring.

All my friends have moved away from Vancouver because it is too expensive. I have been away from there for almost 17 years and never really feel excited about moving back.

[Dude Ranch]