Korean Job Discussion Forums

[juchangok]

I have never been out of the states my entire life. I been to Korea ONCE and that was when I was one years old (I'm korean american). I'll be going there in a few months for teaching English but I'm a little scared of the change. Like I said I've never been out of the states so I have no idea what it is like to live in another country. If someone could describe for me what it is like living there I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks

Jason

Edit: I'm not worried about the food. My mother cooks plenty of Korean food at home so I'm ready for that change haha.

[Gibberish]

Be prepared for rampant nationalism, people being angry at you for trivial reasons, mass negativity to anything even the slightest outside of the status quo, spitting, public drunkenness, and general insanity.

Good luck!

[juchangok]

That's definitely not what I was expecting to read haha, but thanks for your response, anyone else?

[peppermint]

How's your Korean? From what gyoppo friends have told me, a lot of Korean people will expect you to behave like a Korean, not an American because of your appearance. That can be either a blessing or a curse, and sometimes both, I'd think.

[benji1422]

If you can speak Korean above a 3rd grade level and deal with the cultural peculiaries... you will be gettin' mad tail and having a blast. If you were raised white (or think you're black), prepare for a lot weirdness/annoyances. The physical landscape and lifestyle of Seoul or Busan is similar to New York/San Francisco, but the cultural differences are... well... you could probably guess.

[D.D.]

[redaxe]

Because you look Korean, a lot of Koreans are going to think that you couldn't possibly speak English as well as a white person, and therefore don't deserve to be paid as much to teach English as one. It's bizarre, but unfortunately it's a fact of life in Korea and you kinda have to get used to it. The fact is, the recruiters and schools care most about giving the parents the appearance that their kids are learning English, regardless of how much they're actually learning. Appearance definitely trumps substance in this country.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=168319

[juchangok]

I can speak it fluently, I read it somewhat slowly, and I can't spell worth crap when it comes to writing in Korean.

[Pwillig]

Imagine 1950s Alabama with more spitting.

[Jane]

[Old Gil]

Korean culture is whatever the Korean speaking wants it to be to further their own interests. Whatever it is, you must understand it.

[Steelrails]

Koreans that are very open minded, friendly, and respectful along with Koreans that are racist, rude, and crude along with Koreans who are friendly and rude. Some people will be nice to you because you are Korean looking, some will expect more from you because you are Korean looking.

Other Kyopos/YoohakSangs here will be nice, some cliquish, some wannabe gangsta, some serious professionals, some churchy.

Other foreign teachers here will be really nice, others will be loners, others are walking around angry with chips on their shoulders and will try your patience with the constant griping about the place (or be a sympathetic ear if you end up not liking the place/are just having a bad day) others are great drinking buddies, others are friends for life.

Be prepared for the good and the bad. I will say that if you come here expecting the best (or being treated like a rock star), this place will not live up to your expectations, if you come here prepared to be alone for a year, outcast, bored, lonely, hating the food, sick, etc. Then it will probably end up better. Just be realistic.

[DrugstoreCowgirl]

I often feel like I'm living in a freakshow. Not that it's all bad, but I was not at all prepared for what it would be like living here, and I have traveled A LOT.

[youtuber]

Here's Korean culture in a nutshell: They want to be American while being Korean at the same time.

If you can remember that, you are on your way to understanding them.

[The Gipkik]

My 8 months experience in Korea has been mostly positive. The only rudeness I've had to deal with that is uniquely Korean is the pushing and jostling in crowded places--nothing too dramatic though, I just go with the flow. I've found a lot of incredibly kind people in Korea, from people at my school to total strangers in restaurants, shops, all over the place. I've lived in China, Japan, several countries in South East Asia, so I'm not some wide-eyed newb. Carry yourself with confidence and self-assurance, an easy smile, compassion and a sense of fun and you'll do fine. I've found adjusting here to be very, very easy in comparison to China, Japan, and Vietnam. The quality of life is better in Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia, but that's a tropical thing.