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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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 Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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| jkelly80 wrote: |
| If I were getting into the game, I agree with Marlow. I'd do China. Marginally less money, but a more useful language, a better culture and a lower cost of living. |
agreed, definitely re language, culture and cost of living, but the money difference is great (and I don't expect the won to stay this low forever, I have the luxury of waiting)
I also don't think I'd be getting the vacation time in China that I get here (which I can use to go to..... drumroll... CHINA)
also from resume standpoint, I like having a public HS on there rather than some private institute.l
Uni gigs in China could be interesting though. Something I intend on looking at down the road. |
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xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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| JongnoGuru wrote: |
| "Back Home" = The Beautiful West |
I take it you've never visited Kansas.
| JongnoGuru wrote: |
"Here" = emerging Asian backwater at US$9/hour
And you're all picking Here? |
Well, companies are dumping payrolls by hundreds back in the US right now. I'd say the chances of getting a great gig so as to "keep up with the Joneses are pretty slim.
| JongnoGuru wrote: |
| Since when and why did Back Home ever get to be this bad? |
I was one of the working poor before I came here. And I have a Master's in hard science. Also an honors graduate. It's been bad for quite some time in my neck of the woods. |
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RyanInKorea
Joined: 17 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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| JongnoGuru wrote: |
| Oh, and these "I'm here for the lifestyle" responses are darn cute. |
Ellaboration please.
"Back Home" = Boring and dull life struggling to save anything so you can fulfill your dream of travelling.
"Here" = unlimited freedom to do whatever you want.
And you're all picking Back Home?
See what I did there?
Ryan |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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| MUOhio82 wrote: |
My biggest qualm with the "lifestyle" here has got to be the plain disgusting and dirty state of things. I'm not sure about where everyone else lives, but in my city, it's like everyone throws their trash in the street instead of in the trash.
I've been sick going on 5 weeks now, and my favorite part of the morning is opening the morning and seeing the yellowish haze in the sky.
I grew up in Europe and in the States, so I could just be really spoiled by nice clean surroundings. I've never lived something so dirty and disgusting, EVER.
To each his own opinion, to some people this is heaven, some days I think it's the pit of hell.... but whatever.
OP if you don't have bills, some on over, it's not bad unless you're sending money home each month (that would be me). PM me and I'll buy you a shite Korean beer 
Bogey, we should start an Amazonian club for Korea. It could be fun! |
This is why everyone says don't live outside Seoul among many other reasons. |
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ppcg4
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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| nosmallplans wrote: |
this question is moot as anyone who is a 'newbie' would've arrived back in august/september when the exchange rate was still ~ 1150:1. the next wave of new teachers won't be arriving till winter break and presumably they would already know about the crappy rates.
/thread. |
Agreed. I came here in August. Just my luck, right when the won was taking a nosedive. I have to send the bulk of my money back to Canada too, so I'm getting reamed every month.
I sent back 1,000,000 won, which by today's rates is $830. Minus 18,000 to send the money, minus a $10 service fee from my bank.
Today I had a small urge to consider leaving. If I didn't like my kids so much I probably would. |
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sojourner1
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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It's not $9/hour.
If I was working for $9/hour at 40 hours a week, I'd be grossing a paltry $360 a week. Take out taxes, social security, and other fees, you take home about $282 as I've seen when making only $9/hour.
Being tax free in PS in Korea, I'm making, after health insurance, $400 per week plus figure $200 a week for rent for a total of $600. That ends up being $15 per hour.
Not exactly white collar income nor as high as I should be with my credentials, skills, and abiltiies, but it's a whole lot better than what most folks in both America and Korea have going on. These are tough times in the hi
Today is the day to be thankful that you're not broke, homeless, living paycheck to paycheck, a place to park your hat at night, and a $15/hour job. Cheers.  |
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ppcg4
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:19 pm Post subject: Re: Newcomers: why do you want to work in Korea for $9 / hou |
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| xingyiman wrote: |
| sarbonn wrote: |
| Mr-Dokdo wrote: |
| To that add good food, a booze-friendly culture, and plenty of p**sy. |
I haven't seen ANY of that last part of what you said. I keep asking the girls, and they keep saying no. Or actually, they're saying "Ne", which I'm interpreting to mean no. I still haven't figured out why they look at me so strangely when I walk away, disappointed. |
It's not you sarbonn. It's a normal reaction that one has to get used to here and a guy's looks have nothing to do with it. When I first came to Korea it was during one of those avalanches of newbies who think because Korean gals tell them they're handsome that they really mean it (see some of my past threads on the Asian "public" and "private" opinions).
I was really depressed because I kept reading on Dave's about all these English teachers who were getting laid left and right every night and my experience was far from that.
After the months go by and lots of these "studs" discover that the K-gals have no intention of leting them get off first base then the tone of cock strutting on the forums change and the threads seeking advice from those much hated "veterans" appear.
I knew lots of guys who were claiming to have gone the limit but actually later admitted that they had come up empty handed like most people. I had a friend who actually had a VERY attractive Korean GF and he told me she really wasn't worth all the effort. Yes you can achieve success with a Korean gal but it's not going to be a cakewalk and it's not going to happen overnight. |
Honestly, if you are halfway good looking, you can get really, really laid here. I've only been here for a little over 3 months and I've laid 4 girls. It's not that I am trying hard either. You just have to remember that 'no' doesn't mean 'no' until she says it 3 times. My current GF said no to me 3 times until she finally gave in. This was a bit uncomfortable for me, since I would never think of that in Canada.
My girlfriend is also VERY attractive, and she's proving to be a bit of a chore indeed. If she wasn't so damn hot, I probably would have kicked her out the door long ago. My complaint is lack of communication. Her English is perfect, since she majored in it at university. She just doesn't speak her mind until she absolutely has to. She also breaks plans at the last minute, and I think it's a ploy for her to try to get me to show her how much I want to see her...
I guess I got a little off topic, but man she's driving me crazy. |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
I was one of the working poor before I came here. And I have a Master's in hard science. Also an honors graduate. It's been bad for quite some time in my neck of the woods. |
once again, with all due respect.
if you were an honors gradudate with a degree in "hard" science, you should have had zero problems finding at least something decent back "home".
perhaps you were overly wedded to your geographical area.
Probably nothing decent in the Mississippi backwoods, for e.g.
Companies have had to hire foreign engineers (for e.g.) and IT people for years and years now.
oh and the sarbonn "neh" comment is obviously a joke for those of you who know zero Korean... since neh means "yes". |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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The OP's math is wrong, sorry.
You must add in the value of housing in terms of your home country to assess the value of it.
This is because you are depreciating the value of the local currency based on exchange rates. It goes both ways.
Let's take your 2,000,000 base salary ($1300 converted at 1500:1) and add in the median rent in the U.S. according to the 2000 census of $600. We now have a net salary of $1900 / month. However to achieve the same net in the U.S. after taxes you would have to earn $2400.
This averages to $15 / an hour, based off a 40 hour work week.
This is just base salary and does not include huge savings in health insurance and transportation costs.
Just adding a conservative $2,000 for transportation and $1,500 for health insurance savings your looking at a comparative base salary of $32-33K. |
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| ummm becuase macdonalds and circuit city are only paying 8 bucks an hour |
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Gimpokid
Joined: 09 Nov 2008
Location: Best Gimpo
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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T-J is nailing it. How is Korea expensive? No taxes, no healthcare costs, no car insurance (and other bills associated with the need to have a car).
I don't know where you guys are from, but rent in any major city on the west coast of the US is criminal and yes I would rather live in Korea than Wyoming when it comes to saving money on rent.
Yes technically most of us could get more than 10 bucks an hour in the west, but we spend more too. If you're smart, research it and play it smart this is not bad "work."
I'll say it again: I like living in Korea more than in the states at the moment. That's why I stay here. |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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marlow
Joined: 06 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Gimpokid wrote: |
If you're smart, research it and play it smart this is not bad "work."
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Not bad, but not the same deal as a year ago. If the exchange corrects, and I pray it does, things will be back to normal. |
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Gimpokid
Joined: 09 Nov 2008
Location: Best Gimpo
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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| marlow wrote: |
| Gimpokid wrote: |
If you're smart, research it and play it smart this is not bad "work."
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Not bad, but not the same deal as a year ago. If the exchange corrects, and I pray it does, things will be back to normal. |
True, but you think we're the only people taking a bath because of the global economic crisis? |
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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GimpoKid
then you are not really here for the money are you... |
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