Korean Job Discussion Forums

[zabriskie]

...So it looks as though I�m the only English teacher here in Okpo, a small town on Geoje Island. And if by some miracle I�m not, then I might as well be. Since arriving two and a half months ago I have yet met a single non-Korean soul (okay so I�ve met one, but they�re living in the next town). The isolation�s beginning to wear a little thin. Just a little�

If by chance you�re living in the same general vicinity as me, are into music, film, books and art and can hold a conversation PLEASE drop me a line before I go completely kooky. And if you happen to be a musician like me, then look no further!

Things are getting to the point where I�d probably give my first-born child for the chance to go for coffee with another human being. Not looking for anything weird or kinky, just some good, old-fashioned human interaction. Which is apparently way too much to ask in this god-forsaken place.

So like I said, drop me a line if yr interested in chatting or possibly hanging out. There�s got to be other folks like me out there somewhere�right?

-Shaun

[jotgarden]

If you didn't want isolation, why'd you move out there?

[Robot_Teacher]

I hear you OP, but you're probably not going to get any sensible replies, meeting invitations, and new friends off of Daves Korea discussion forum. Like in many professions, we're divided and in it for ourselves; not each other. It's only when you work with or are in local vicinity of other people you can relate with when you have friends. I too wish I had friends in the hermit kingdom.

[digsydinner]

perhaps you may want to consider the following:

1) look to find another teaching position in a bigger city...but then again, i know other esl'ers living in seoul with zero friends...
2) learn korean...you may be surprised how much you may have in common with some koreans
3) use the isolation to your advantage...some of the greatest art/music was created with no interaction with the outside...
4) there's always youtube...

[candyteacher]

OP, i left geoje-do last summer i was teaching in Gohyeon, an unless things have dramatically changed since then, there are swarms of foreigners in Okpo!! there are a large amount of foreign teachers working in Daewoo elementary school and some in hagwons also. there are also a large amount of foreigners in the shipping yards.

there is an expat club in okpo (www.gfra.net) and a foreign store located near the admiral hotel, you will meet foreigners there. If your on facebook there i a group called "geoje teacher group" they meet regularly for dinners nights out etc and a far as i know they have posts about art exhibitions that are on in Okpo regularly. try the western type bars and resturants your sure to meet some.

hope that helps!!

[VanIslander]

[aldershot]

yes. hundreds of 'em. and filipina and russian girls who hopped on their gravy train. avoid the russians who look like men.

[Weetbix Kid]

hey hey, there's a big group of us who live in Geoje. Definitely join the Geoje Teacher's group on facebook, it's very current.

The bars often frequented are Wa bar and Jazz bar in Gohyeon. I don't have the PM function, but maybe tonight peeps are having a few at Wa Bar (opposite Lotte cinema) so cruise over there.

[zabriskie]

Thanks everyone for your (mostly) very helpful and constructive suggestions. I'll be sure to give your tips a shot over the next while. I have been doing the Busan and Seoul art/music runs which have been great. Actually really stunned but the art galleries in both cities. And I very much agree with digsydiner that the isolation can be very conducive for getting the old creative juices flowing. I do realize that there's an exceptional amount of foreigners in Okpo. I see plenty out and about every day. But to be honest its very rare that I come across anyone resembling a young English teacher. Mostly older married couples or giant, scary-looking dudes obviously working at the shipyards. And perhaps its the "invisible wall" that Vanislander mentioned at work, too.

Vanislander: you mentioned something about a music scene in Busan. Could you recommend an area or some clubs I should check out in this regard?

Weetbix kid: any coffee shops in Gohyeon you could recommend?

I really do want to make things work here in Okpo. I didn't post just to rag and complain about life in Korea. Really just trying to reach out and connect. So thanks everyone for your help! Its very much appreciated.

[lille]

Next time you do a Seoul run and feel like gallery hopping or concert-going, lemme know and I'll likely be able to hook you up with some good listings or folks that are going out that weekend. I live in Seoul and I'm trying my best to solidify a little de facto arts community here.

[nicam]

Sheesh, you poor thing. I can't believe you've been in Geoje that long and haven't met any of us! Most of us are in Gohyeon, but I know a few people in Okpo. Join the Geoje Teacher's Group for sure! There's a great group of foreigners here, and although most of us are in Gohyeon we all hang out quite often.

I'm going to Okpo tonight. It's supposed to be a girls only thing for my friend who just got her braces off (she's an adult), but maybe I can tell the girls about your crazy isolation and they will insist you join us.

Also, a bunch of us (guys and girls) are getting together tomorrow night in Gohyeon. It's like a 25 minute bus ride tops, or a 12,000 taxi. Actually, there's a girl coming over from Okpo who may want to share a cab. If we can't work you into the girl's night you should come to tomorrow's thing.

I'll PM you now with more deets!

[Weetbix Kid]

hey hey, sorry for the delay.

To be honest, all the coffee in Geoje is pretty um..... bad. AND also to be honest, I'm not sure that we all tend to hang out in coffee shops, it tends to be bars!

however, when I do drop into coffee shops, it tends to be Angeslinus (near the Wa bar) Starbucks (in Dcube / homeplus building) or Holly's Coffee, opposite Wa Bar.

Let me know if I can help at all, or flick me a message!

Take care

[kiwiduncan]