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billietea
Joined: 03 May 2009
Location: South Korea
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 Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:42 pm Post subject: Leaving Korea and won't miss it |
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| I managed to stay for my entire contract in this rural and non-foreign friendly town. There were two people that I met who were friendly enough but that doesn't make up for the local office of education or my school. Perhaps I am too worldly and liberal for this place. It seemed as if the teachers were jealous of the benefits and wage which attracted me here in the first place. Also, as we couldn't have a conversation in English there were many misunderstandings. By the first week I knew more Hanguel words then they did in English and this might have embarrased them. All I know is that not only was it not fun, it made me bitter towards them. So, now it is time for me to move on and stop complaining. There is a place where the weather is good, people are kind, and the food is tasty. I hope that those staying here can make the best of the situation. I am moving on to somewhere that won't be such a struggle. |
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oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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Good luck billietea. [MOD EDIT] sure isn't a cup of tea, for anyone.
Are you perhaps an Aussie?????? (Billy tea???) |
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billietea
Joined: 03 May 2009
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the nice sendoff! I have been to 20 different countries and Australia captured my heart on both visits! Now, I am heading to Chiang Mai, Thailand for a month long CELTA...your name makes me think you know a little about Thailand! Then I plan to return to Korea so that I can collect my flight back to the States and make sure the school pays me out correctly...gotta always watch them...before heading to South America for a university ESL job. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: Leaving Korea and won't miss it |
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| billietea wrote: |
| There is a place where the weather is good, people are kind, and the food is tasty. |
| billietea wrote: |
| ...heading to South America for a university ESL job. |
Enjoy the weather (too hot!), food (too spicy!) and people (too hot blooded) over there.
Variety is the spice of life but I'm sure your time in Thailand and South America will show you what real spicy food is like, what joy a people can be, and how beautiful a climate can be.
Good luck whatever. |
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MissLady717
Joined: 04 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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aw... im sorry your experience wasnt so great... i hope it wont be so bad for me...
but im happy that youre looking forward to a brighter future! good luck! |
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Theo
Joined: 04 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| While I haven't been in as many countries billietea, I was so glad to get out of Korea! My worst foreign work experience EVER. |
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Goku
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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Click first
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En-cHBv7UpA
People always told me, be careful what you do,
And don't go around breaking KoooREan hearts.
*yyeeeaa*
She came and stood right by me
with the smell of kimchi fumes
She learned hangul in a boom
The co-teachers thought it was much too soon!
*snap*
*yeah yeah*
*MOONWALK ENGAGED*
Oh Billie Tea's not Korea's lover.
She's just a girl who, thinks that, Korea's no fun!
It's just that KoooREa's not the one!
*oh no*
She says this country's no fun,
*Oh nooo baby!!!*
So she's leaving for Anootha one.
Editied for you. You will be missed.
Hope everything works out for you.
Last edited by Goku on Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:48 pm; edited 5 times in total |
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billietea
Joined: 03 May 2009
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: Leaving Korea and won't miss it |
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I found Cuenca, Ecuador to have perfect weather "eternal spring" because of the elevation. People learn there for the sake of bettering themselves (not to pass some darn test, like in Korea)...they are known as the culture capitol of Ecuador with the focus on university learning, art and music. The food is fresh and can be spicy, or not. The people do not look down on foreigners. This may have to do with their kind nature or the fact that their government doesn't sponsor "bad blood" in their national laws against foreigners...uh hum.
| VanIslander wrote: |
| billietea wrote: |
| There is a place where the weather is good, people are kind, and the food is tasty. |
| billietea wrote: |
| ...heading to South America for a university ESL job. |
Enjoy the weather (too hot!), food (too spicy!) and people (too hot blooded) over there.
Variety is the spice of life but I'm sure your time in Thailand and South America will show you what real spicy food is like, what joy a people can be, and how beautiful a climate can be.
Good luck whatever. |
Last edited by billietea on Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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billietea
Joined: 03 May 2009
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, Goku. I have enjoyed your posts...read many of them. Does it matter that I am a gal and not a guy? Naw, the sentiment is the same. Thank you for your words.
| Goku wrote: |
People always told me, be careful what you do,
And don't go around breaking Korean hearts.
She came and stood right by me
with the smell of kimchi fumes
He learned hangul in a boom
The co-teachers thought it was much too soon!
*snap*
yeah yeah
*engage moonwalk*
Oh Billie Tea is not a Korean lover.
He's just a guy who, thinks that, Korea isn't the one!
*Oh nooo baby!!!*
So he's going for a run...
He says Korean's not the one,
He's going to land of the rising sun... |
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calicoe
Joined: 23 Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| billietea wrote: |
| Thanks for the nice sendoff! I have been to 20 different countries and Australia captured my heart on both visits! Now, I am heading to Chiang Mai, Thailand for a month long CELTA...your name makes me think you know a little about Thailand! Then I plan to return to Korea so that I can collect my flight back to the States and make sure the school pays me out correctly...gotta always watch them...before heading to South America for a university ESL job. |
Now that sounds like a plan! I envy the future path that you have cut out for yourself, but I may be heading in the same direction in several months. I like your idea of getting a Celta and then coming back to collect your pay - I may use that one.
I can definitely empathize with you, but just a word of warning: Thailand is not really a teaching paradise, either. I lived there for 4 years, and worked the gamut from public schools to elite, private schools, and university. There is a lot of similar nonsense from the management, and the kids are definitely not angels.
However, I will say that I recently started to miss Thai kids after teaching here in Korea for several months. Granted, I teach middle school which is always tough, but it is sometimes demoralizing for me to organize a great lesson on music (always at their request), and then have them sit there like zombies. Thai kids would jump right in, and have a brilliant time singing along and performing. I definitely appreciate those loud, rambunctious little urchins a lot more now. 
Good luck to you! |
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calicoe
Joined: 23 Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Goku wrote: |
People always told me, be careful what you do,
And don't go around breaking Korean hearts.
She came and stood right by me
with the smell of kimchi fumes
He learned hangul in a boom
The co-teachers thought it was much too soon!
*snap*
yeah yeah
*engage moonwalk*
Oh Billie Tea is not a Korean lover.
He's just a guy who, thinks that, Korea isn't the one!
*Oh nooo baby!!!*
So he's going for a run...
He says Korean's not the one,
He's going to land of the rising sun... |
Woo .... hee! |
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D.D.
Joined: 29 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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| calicoe wrote: |
| billietea wrote: |
| Thanks for the nice sendoff! I have been to 20 different countries and Australia captured my heart on both visits! Now, I am heading to Chiang Mai, Thailand for a month long CELTA...your name makes me think you know a little about Thailand! Then I plan to return to Korea so that I can collect my flight back to the States and make sure the school pays me out correctly...gotta always watch them...before heading to South America for a university ESL job. |
Now that sounds like a plan! I envy the future path that you have cut out for yourself, but I may be heading in the same direction in several months. I like your idea of getting a Celta and then coming back to collect your pay - I may use that one.
I can definitely empathize with you, but just a word of warning: Thailand is not really a teaching paradise, either. I lived there for 4 years, and worked the gamut from public schools to elite, private schools, and university. There is a lot of similar nonsense from the management, and the kids are definitely not angels.
However, I will say that I recently started to miss Thai kids after teaching here in Korea for several months. Granted, I teach middle school which is always tough, but it is sometimes demoralizing for me to organize a great lesson on music (always at their request), and then have them sit there like zombies. Thai kids would jump right in, and have a brilliant time singing along and performing. I definitely appreciate those loud, rambunctious little urchins a lot more now.
Good luck to you! |
Is there anything about teaching in Thailand in the O.P."s topic? |
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calicoe
Joined: 23 Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: Leaving Korea and won't miss it |
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The OP is doing a CELTA in Chiang Mai, and made a vague comment about "where the weather is good, people are kind, and the food is tasty" etc., which is also often stated about Thailand, but the OP's comment was probably stated about Ecuador.
So sue me. |
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ducati
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Leaving Korea and won't miss it |
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| billietea wrote: |
| Also, as we couldn't have a conversation in English there were many misunderstandings. By the first week I knew more Hanguel words then they did in English and this might have embarrased them. All I know is that not only was it not fun, it made me bitter towards them. So, now it is time for me to move on and stop complaining. There is a place where the weather is good, people are kind, and the food is tasty. I hope that those staying here can make the best of the situation. I am moving on to somewhere that won't be such a struggle. |
How about a conversation in Korean? You are in Korea. Oh okay... 
Thanks for stopping by. See ya. |
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bobbybigfoot
Joined: 05 May 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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Good luck Billietea.
Korea drives a lot of people to feel the way you do. There is a reason the turnover rate is so high and the wages/benefits are higher here in than other countries. The Korean ESL industry is arguably the worst in the world. Although there are exceptions, the majority of us have to deal with poor communication, a "nothing really matters attitude", xenophobia, and other frustrating aspects of life in Korea.
The key to a happy stay in K-land is disconnecting yourself from your work. Finding meaning elsewhere.
Plus, like it or not, you need some luck.
Enjoy Thailand. I don't think there is a poster on this board who wouldn't say that Thailand, aside from money, beats Korea hands down. |
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