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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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saw6436
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon, ROK
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 Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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Working on my 11th year in The ROK. It's not always a bed of roses but I have no problems with my choice to live/work here.
As un-popular is this might sound. I believe that 90% of the problems that people have here in Korea, are due to their own actions, beliefs, or attitudes. |
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waseige1
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject: I agree..... |
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| saw6436 wrote: |
Working on my 11th year in The ROK. It's not always a bed of roses but I have no problems with my choice to live/work here.
As un-popular is this might sound. I believe that 90% of the problems that people have here in Korea, are due to their own actions, beliefs, or attitudes. |
Ditto.... |
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Toon Army
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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seriously do not use Dave ESL as a barometer of how good/bad teaching is here.......there are many many teachers who have had very good experiences here and have had no need to come on here to post. Besides those that do come here and post something positive are usually shot down in flames and accused of trolling. Funny how many of those same people who are always negative still sign new contracts year after year or come back again.  
Many of those who come on here to vent are those who just jumped in feet first, signed crappy hagwon contracts with ridiculous clauses and have no one else to blame but themselves sometimes.
I lhave had good expeirences overall but like to come on here for the amusement
Just do your research before you sign a contract with a school, e-mail former teachers, paste a copy of the contract on here for posters to look over for any pitfalls etc ....you know the drill. |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:28 am Post subject: |
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The ones I know with great jobs are resigning, learn the culture/language, and having a blast making tons of money.
The ones at horrible jobs or have crazy hours(split shifts, 3-10pm shifts) can't wait to go back home.
Others who are living angry live OUTSIDE seoul in the middle of nowhere and feel isolated and lonely. |
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Straphanger
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Chilgok, Korea
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:45 am Post subject: |
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| Ukon wrote: |
| Others who are living angry live OUTSIDE seoul in the middle of nowhere and feel isolated and lonely. |
Another rah-rah for Seoul. How original.
I live out here because it's QUIET. |
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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: Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| Ukon wrote: |
The ones I know with great jobs are resigning, learn the culture/language, and having a blast making tons of money.
Others who are living angry live OUTSIDE seoul in the middle of nowhere and feel isolated and lonely. |
the total opposite
i know several long timers (9, 10, 12, 14 years) who live in small towns, have a limited grasp of the local language, aren't obsessed at making money through privates or w.h.y., nor seem isolated or lonely... instead they have HOBBIES and interests, and/or love and are committed to their jobs teaching, and have a few good fellow expat buddies to get together with once in a while, and are dating the local women |
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rationality
Joined: 05 Jul 2007
Location: Some where in S. Korea
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:01 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by rationality on Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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ESLTeacher09
Joined: 24 May 2009
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:13 am Post subject: |
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| I'd spent four very good years teaching in Korea when I met my now-husband, who was stationed here. Our experiences on the local economy were positive enough that we chose to move back as a family after he got out of the Army. |
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KimchiGarden
Joined: 19 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:54 am Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
If having a good experience was your No. 1 priority, then I'd say there are many other countries that are more-foreign friendly and less frustrating to live in.
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Sure but how many burger flippers are going to get a job in those other countries. Korean hogwons will hire A N Y B O D Y.
Truth hurts, but its got to be said. |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:53 am Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| Ukon wrote: |
The ones I know with great jobs are resigning, learn the culture/language, and having a blast making tons of money.
Others who are living angry live OUTSIDE seoul in the middle of nowhere and feel isolated and lonely. |
the total opposite
i know several long timers (9, 10, 12, 14 years) who live in small towns, have a limited grasp of the local language, aren't obsessed at making money through privates or w.h.y., nor seem isolated or lonely... instead they have HOBBIES and interests, and/or love and are committed to their jobs teaching, and have a few good fellow expat buddies to get together with once in a while, and are dating the local women |
I'm talking about the average young person...Some folks like living in the middle of nowhere...the majority of young folk do now.
Aside from certain outdoor activities, it's alot easier to engage in hobbies and interests in Seoul...small towns usually don't have the facilities or businesses to support as many hobbies...
For instance, how many small towns how dance classes, rock walls, yoga, cooking classes, language learning resources, etc. |
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Fat-Elvis
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Location: Boston
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:02 am Post subject: |
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| Never been to Korea (yet), but I imagine the "city life vs rurual life" debate isn't any different than it is in any other country. I always think to myself when I see people complain about the crowds and the noise and the dirtiness of Seoul, "What would these people think of living in a city like New York"? |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:15 am Post subject: |
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| Fat-Elvis wrote: |
| Never been to Korea (yet), but I imagine the "city life vs rurual life" debate isn't any different than it is in any other country. I always think to myself when I see people complain about the crowds and the noise and the dirtiness of Seoul, "What would these people think of living in a city like New York"? |
Many tiny towns have a problem with young women and men heading off to the big city as soon as possible....also there is less variety in food choice in small towns compared to back home. Not to mention more conservative both in dating and views.....Japan and Korea have declining birthrates so some towns are becoming ghost towns filled with aging old folks and no kids...I've been to those places....if you get stuck there, I hope you like getting drunk with granpa and having a very limited dating pool. Not every town is like this, but some are.
Some of the most horrible Asia esl experiences I've heard, read, or talked about are folks stuck in a town in the middle of bumf***.
As fo Seoul being dirty....nice areas= awesome, clean, plenty of trees...little noise
Where most foreigners live?
Itaewon= Slum, dirty, decrepit(aside from newly gentrified areas). |
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pie eater
Joined: 07 Jul 2009
Location: The Bando
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:41 am Post subject: |
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| Fat-Elvis wrote: |
| Never been to Korea (yet), but I imagine the "city life vs rurual life" debate isn't any different than it is in any other country. I always think to myself when I see people complain about the crowds and the noise and the dirtiness of Seoul, "What would these people think of living in a city like New York"? |
Before mouthing off about what you think Korea is like and comparing Seoul to New York - just get your arse here and then comment eh? There is a fantastic reason why the Korea forum is by far the biggest forum on Daves!
Living in the Korean countryside must be one of the crappiest and most soul destroying experiences outside joining the army and being posted off to the Falklands for two years.
My advice to living well in Korea is you need to seperate your job from your free time. I realized that my wekends and evenings was MY time and that was it! I have also worked proper jobs in factories and warehouses and remembered how crap they were.
I disliked my school, I disliked 85% of the teachers who worked there as two faced, racist, ignorant, socially retarded imbeciles who wouldn't last a week working in a school in any English speaking country but I really enjoyed living in Korea, I loved my students, I liked my friends a great deal and I met a lot of decent Koreans who overshadowed the ignorant jerks I would sometimes would bump into. Saying that - there were a lot of ignorant jerkoff waygooks knocking about as well. |
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Fat-Elvis
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Location: Boston
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:08 am Post subject: |
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| pie eater wrote: |
| Before mouthing off about what you think Korea is like and comparing Seoul to New York - just get your arse here and then comment eh? There is a fantastic reason why the Korea forum is by far the biggest forum on Daves! |
Way to completely miss my point, but what do I care.
But to clarify, what I was saying is there are people who seem to have complaints with Seoul itself, but they come off as people who would have the same complaints living in any metropolis. That's what I take away from posts like "you won't like Seoul, it's really crowded". Such advice has little weight for someone who enjoys living in crowded cities in the first place. |
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hugekebab
Joined: 05 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:36 am Post subject: Re: Has ANYONE had a decent experience in Korea? |
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| Chiseal wrote: |
Yes, I know, do my research, talk to teachers. However, it seems I am only hearing nightmare stories about Korea, so now I have this impression that I should not go not matter what because, seemingly, the situation has gotten horrible. I would honestly like to hear some good news about this possible trip -- if anyone has any.
It's true about the economy and that many are going because there are not jobs, but I was on my way to Korea two years ago when I decided I could not in good conscience take my dog with me. He is now in pup heaven.
If the schools generally pay the same, why would people not be driven to medium to smaller cities to counter the high cost of living in the larger cities?
I'm staying away from Busan and Seoul anyway (too much competition and I am "older") and looking for a nice city elsewhere. I am an American Buddhist, former hippie turned journalist. Any thoughts? Really, is China just a better choice?
Cheers ... Colleen |
Whilst I am glad I came, the work/management situation has been pretty dire beyond belief, although other aspects were really good (lots of time off, decent money savings.)
The complaining you hear is because a lot of jobs in Korea are awful and a lot of bosses are shocking. Don't kid yourself; you will have a decent chance of landing one of those bad jobs.
Before I came here I assumed it was just negativity and general whining, but honestly, Korea can be every bit as bad as the impression this forums give out. Living here is easy, maybe a bit boring and limited. It's the jobs and managers that are often really bad.
That's not to say it's not worth doing, because it is. Sometimes the most rewarding things are the ones that almost did you in. |
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