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superacidjax
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject: How to love Korea and let's be happy! |
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http://roboseyo.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-love-heck-out-of-korea.html
This might have been posted here before, but after reading various threads for the past hour, I think that a few folks ought to read Roboseyo's great blog posting about how to love Korea.
I enjoy a bit of Dave's time each day, but wow (!) can this site ever be poisonous to the spirit. I'm very, very guilty of contributing to negativity, but the events of the recent weeks have upgraded my outlook, despite many reasons to the contrary.
Anyway, I hope everyone has a fine day today! Remember, Korea ISN'T that bad of a place. Most of us get paid to be here, most of us have a decent place to sleep and of course there is no shortage of excitement in K-Land. When we get to thinking that K-Land sucks, just remember, they don't have a monopoly on irritants. Go hang out in the Prospect area of Kansas City, or in the Wards of Houston or hang out at the water cooler at GM (if they still have one) and quickly one will remember that life is good or bad wherever you happen to live.
Some of us have painful ex-gf/bf/spouse memories, some have been laid of from their jobs, some people are handicapped, some people are starving, still others live in refugee camps. Some are in prison for silly crap, some have incurable diseases.
Good grief.. we all have a lot for which to be thankful, regardless of the degree of suck we might be facing on any given day.
I know that we all need our time to vent and sometimes we need a good lawyer or a well-oiled M4.. but let's also not forget those days when the temperature hovers around 23C and it's CAVA (ceiling and visibility unlimited.)
Historical note: CAVA is a plaque that the first Geo Bush had hanging in his office, an expression left-over from his WWII fighter pilot days when CAVA was the gold-standard for a good day.
I'm off to have some gogi mandu, some Starbucks and head to work..
-
bd |
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kiknkorea
Joined: 16 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Good post. And very timely. |
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ekul
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Location: [Mod Edit]
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Nice post, I can really relate to a lot of that. The hardest thing I find is getting my sorry arse out of my apartment after school, yet every time I do I really enjoy myself just walking around. I can't figure out my aversion to just leaving the house after I relax from work. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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I have been kind of saying that for quite some time and other posters have been saying that. Many posters on Dave's see the good in Korea, myself included. It's difficult to adjust to a new country, and every country like every person has good in it, and Korea has more pros than cons in general. Could we use some more pros? You bet! We're lucky to have jobs, and if you don't have a good job, then bide your time and try to go to another one in Korea or if you have a better lined up somewhere else, then do that. We've also had good jobs and bad jobs at home.
It's us as posters that make Dave's a somewhat decent place or kind of poisonous. I enjoy many posts I read here like from Yu Bum Suk and a few others. |
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superacidjax
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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| ekul wrote: |
| The hardest thing I find is getting my sorry arse out of my apartment after school, yet every time I do I really enjoy myself just walking around. I can't figure out my aversion to just leaving the house after I relax from work. |
I just had the KT guy install my new 100/mbs internet connection here in my apartment, so I can understand the aversion to staying a la casa.
But, there's always WiBro and Dunkin Donuts right? lol..
How about today.. we ALL make a commitment to go outside after work and perhaps sit at the Ministop, enjoy a beverage and smile a bit. After all, the Hellfires of August will soon be upon us.. (One of the "distinct" (tm) of Koreas four seasons: Hellfires of August, Fall, Winter and Spring.
I'll be leaving the apartment after work today.. how about you all? |
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harlowethrombey
Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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I think people just complain no matter where they are.
Bali is a gorgeous island. Had a great time with the G/F there on vacation. But if I lived there all year round I'm sure I'd be complaining about food/people/driving/whatever sometimes.
We all made fun of our small, hick high school back in the day, but now that our 10 year anniversary is coming up we have very fond memories. Ditto for living in different places in America and Japan.
The grass is always greener. . . |
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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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Roboseyo is the least critical blogger I've ever read, as he says about himself "The Diet Pepsi of the Korean Blogosphere". Lots of polyanna fluff.
He seems like a nice guy though. |
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DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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| The sentiments are all well and good. A little less navel gazing would be better. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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It's a little unconvincing when you have to think and try so hard to be out and out positive about a place so as to like it.
Should Korea be such hard work to like? |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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| eamo wrote: |
It's a little unconvincing when you have to think and try so hard to be out and out positive about a place so as to like it.
Should Korea be such hard work to like? |
You do have a point there. That means there is more that can be done to make things better for foreigners who come to this country. That's something only the government can change. Many countries in which one may become an EFL teacher has some risks. We have to make the best of it.
You have to make some kind of adjustment in any country you live in. Naturally, you will have to make more of an adjustment in a place like Seoul, South Korea versus Santiago, Chile, but you can find something very positive about each place, and each place has something unique that the other place won't have. It may challenge you more, no doubt.
We have to be up to such a challenge. |
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roboseyo
Joined: 11 May 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:07 am Post subject: |
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thanks, superacidjax.
Jkelly: it was Brian Deutsch that called me "the diet pepsi of the Korean Blogosphere," not me (see the comments on this page). http://dokdoisours.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-your-korea-blog-sidebar-links-say.html
As for being a pollyanna fluff-box, I like this old parable that I once heard. It might be part of the talmudic tradition, but I've been wrong before:
| Quote: |
An old man sat by the gate of a city, greeting travelers as they came and went. Often, before entering the city, travelers would ask him, "Old man, what are the people like in this city?"
The old man would ask in return, "What were people like in the last city you visited?"
If the traveler answered, "In my last city, people were selfish and petty; they wouldn't hesitate to cheat you, they were clannish and rude, and thoroughly unpleasant," the old man would answer, "Well keep on walking, traveler. You will be disappointed to find that they are the same here."
and if the traveler answered, "In my last city, people were kind and helpful, generous and welcoming. The hospitality was warm and the smiles were sincere there. Honestly, I'll miss the friends I made there," the old man would reply, "Well come on in, friend: you will be happy to find that people are the same here." |
I'm personally convinced that people get out of a place exactly what they put into it, and they will always find what they look for, be it good or bad, wherever they are: my blog is positive because I choose to be a positive person, and blogging that way helps me focus my energy in a positive way. I also don't think it's dishonest or unconvincing to put in a little work in order to carpe the hell out of the diem. Back in Canada it'd be the same: staying home and never reaching out to people or engaging in the place I live would be the path to discontent, and trying to connect and engage would help me love my life. That's not a Korea/Canada thing; that's a human thing.
sez me.
[putting away the soapbox.]
have a good one, all. |
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samd
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| roboseyo wrote: |
thanks, superacidjax.
Jkelly: it was Brian Deutsch that called me "the diet pepsi of the Korean Blogosphere," not me (see the comments on this page). http://dokdoisours.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-your-korea-blog-sidebar-links-say.html
As for being a pollyanna fluff-box, I like this old parable that I once heard. It might be part of the talmudic tradition, but I've been wrong before:
| Quote: |
An old man sat by the gate of a city, greeting travelers as they came and went. Often, before entering the city, travelers would ask him, "Old man, what are the people like in this city?"
The old man would ask in return, "What were people like in the last city you visited?"
If the traveler answered, "In my last city, people were selfish and petty; they wouldn't hesitate to cheat you, they were clannish and rude, and thoroughly unpleasant," the old man would answer, "Well keep on walking, traveler. You will be disappointed to find that they are the same here."
and if the traveler answered, "In my last city, people were kind and helpful, generous and welcoming. The hospitality was warm and the smiles were sincere there. Honestly, I'll miss the friends I made there," the old man would reply, "Well come on in, friend: you will be happy to find that people are the same here." |
I'm personally convinced that people get out of a place exactly what they put into it, and they will always find what they look for, be it good or bad, wherever they are: my blog is positive because I choose to be a positive person, and blogging that way helps me focus my energy in a positive way. I also don't think it's dishonest or unconvincing to put in a little work in order to carpe the hell out of the diem. Back in Canada it'd be the same: staying home and never reaching out to people or engaging in the place I live would be the path to discontent, and trying to connect and engage would help me love my life. That's not a Korea/Canada thing; that's a human thing.
sez me.
[putting away the soapbox.]
have a good one, all. |
Good parable, good post. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:46 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
[quote="roboseyo"]
I'm personally convinced that people get out of a place exactly what they put into it, and they will always find what they look for, be it good or bad, wherever they are: my blog is positive because I choose to be a positive person, and blogging that way helps me focus my energy in a positive way. I also don't think it's dishonest or unconvincing to put in a little work in order to carpe the hell out of the diem. Back in Canada it'd be the same: staying home and never reaching out to people or engaging in the place I live would be the path to discontent, and trying to connect and engage would help me love my life. That's not a Korea/Canada thing; that's a human thing.
quote] |
I agree with (1) you get out of a place exactly what you put into it i.e. if you really try to learn Korean, go out of your way to be positive, you will have more positive experiences.
2)They will always find what they were looking for. I think that depends on what that means. When I first came to Korea, I was not looking for a boss that would exploit me, though I definitely was looking for great students that I did have at that job. Unless, you're saying I somehow attracted that job in some New Age fashion.
I would agree that if you want to see the positive in a society, you will see the positive things you take for granted such as the ajossis who smile out you, the kind neighborhood pharmacist, your wonderful students, the lady who smiles and makes your coffee at Panamie Bakery in Ilsan.
3)I agree with the idea of one must engage the people in a positive way and be the positive you want to see in them. Every country has its pros and cons, and you can get more of the pros if you truly will it.
Of course, though, if one of our countrymen lands in a horrible job what do we say then? There is not much they can do to make their experience stellar, then. Of course, you can have such a position back home, but the odds are stronger here. How do we jive that reality with the pros of the place? I guess people need to do their homework, but it's easier said then done when back home a contract is a contract, basically.
I agree a place is what you make of it, and Korea is a good place, and it can be better. I also say people should be cautious, not just come in with rose colored glasses, it is a high risk place for an EFL teacher. Make sure, you know what you're doing to get more of the pros of the place, rather than the cons.
I wish all the best in their every day experience in South Korea...
J'ai la tete haute[/color]
I have my head held high. |
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digsydinner
Joined: 24 May 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:09 am Post subject: |
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| very nice post. thanks for sharing. |
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GoldMember
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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Like any place Korea has its pros and cons.
Unfortunately the pros are declining (minimal pay rises, high prices, lousy exchange rate) and the cons are increasing (more hate and racism from the press). On a bright note, a bit more variety in supermarkets. |
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