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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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 Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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| teretere wrote: |
| I especially like the Americans who are obsessed with eating burgers, tacos, and other Western comfort foods while in S. Korea -- then complain about how unhealthy Korean food is. |
Korean food is extremely unhealthy. Unless you eat brown rice bibimbap all the time, you're going to get salt-laden soups and greasy meats. I love a nice dwenjang, kimchi, or sundubu jjigae, but can't have it more than once or twice a week.
Tacos can be very healthy. You just have to have the soft, vegetarian kind.
There ARE healthy comfort foods, if one's willing to cook them at home. |
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pavement burns
Joined: 24 Sep 2006
Location: Pocheon, Kyonggido Korea
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| I might add that quite a few expats in the English-teaching field consider Korea a working vacation and act accordingly. |
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Sody
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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Lots of snotty people on this forum, you gotta admit.
Korea is many things to many expats and the list is a good beginning but everyone has a different list.
From my personal experience, here are my top five characteristics:
1. Running away from something back home. Examples are: a boring life, debt, a bad relationship, work, family, friends, school, etc.
2. Professional teachers who are tired of the 9-5 grind in the US or Canada.
3. Backpackers looking for a new experience.
4. People in debt who are trying to save money.
5. People who are interested in Asian culture.
Most ESL teachers in Korea are good I think.
But you see so many bitter and angry people on the Korea forums because everyone has such high aspirations and expections before they come to Korea. This might be because Koreans are always bragging about how wonderful they are and how awesome their country is. Either there is some ESL video or it's some recruiter who is a liar.
In any case, I found one commonality amoung all expats who lived in Korea and it's that they enjoyed the first few months but not the 2nd half of their stay. If contracts are restricted to six month terms then I guarantee you there would be a lot less complaining than you see on the forums. It's always the same for everyone, the first three or four months you are on a high, loving the culture shock and enjoying your adventure. The last 8-9 months or whatever are usually not quite as enjoyable for most people. Perhaps they could create contracts where airfare is paid to Korea and then after six months you get a small bonus, but have to pay your airfare home. May not be as financially viable for all parties involved but at least you will get less complaining. Maybe even better teaching too. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 5:24 am Post subject: |
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| I see lots of westerners clinging to their ways out here, almost in a sort of obstinent way, I don't do that. |
That people who live emigrate to a different country do this is baffling to me. We all have our comforts of home and we don't have to accept everything in the new land, but if you want things to be like home, why aren't you at home?
Perhaps certain life choices in the past are the reason you are 'forced' to live here. Yes, as we learned when we were kids, actions have consequences.
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| What I often find hilarious (and somewhat depressing) are the expats who isolate themselves from their peers in some sort of convoluted attempt to become fully integrated/assimilated into Korean society/culture only to realize that even if they walk the walk and talk the talk 100% they'll still never gain a deep level of satisfactory acceptance. After which, of course, they feebly attempt to reestablish themselves socially among the people they cast aside as a hindrance to their original aim and are shunned/rejected yet again. |
I don't get why people are so desirous to fit in. Or view not totally being accepted as a bad thing. Who cares? I don't totally want to fit in and I'm fine with not being 100% accepted. It means that I can sometimes hang out with K-Friends and have a good time maybe 1-3 of them will become real friends and then on other days I can be myself or hang out with non-Koreans.
Oh and as for crowds and kinds of people, I find the most difficult people to hang out with are not based on race or nationality but on age. People under 30 are generally imbeciles these days. Computers and Cable TV made us dumb. I've been like this most of my life though, thanks to living next to nobody growing up (despite living close to a world-class city) some of my closest friends were my parents friends. Through high school and college I would spend probably 50% of my hangout time with people older than myself. Some much older. They actually know how to have real fun and can hold a real conversation and actually have some real ideas and insight. I think their amount of patience is one of their great gifts. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 5:33 am Post subject: |
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| Sody wrote: |
Lots of snotty people on this forum, you gotta admit.
Korea is many things to many expats and the list is a good beginning but everyone has a different list.
From my personal experience, here are my top five characteristics:
1. Running away from something back home. Examples are: a boring life, debt, a bad relationship, work, family, friends, school, etc.
2. Professional teachers who are tired of the 9-5 grind in the US or Canada.
3. Backpackers looking for a new experience.
4. People in debt who are trying to save money.
5. People who are interested in Asian culture.
Most ESL teachers in Korea are good I think.
But you see so many bitter and angry people on the Korea forums because everyone has such high aspirations and expections before they come to Korea. This might be because Koreans are always bragging about how wonderful they are and how awesome their country is. Either there is some ESL video or it's some recruiter who is a liar.
In any case, I found one commonality amoung all expats who lived in Korea and it's that they enjoyed the first few months but not the 2nd half of their stay. If contracts are restricted to six month terms then I guarantee you there would be a lot less complaining than you see on the forums. It's always the same for everyone, the first three or four months you are on a high, loving the culture shock and enjoying your adventure. The last 8-9 months or whatever are usually not quite as enjoyable for most people. Perhaps they could create contracts where airfare is paid to Korea and then after six months you get a small bonus, but have to pay your airfare home. May not be as financially viable for all parties involved but at least you will get less complaining. Maybe even better teaching too. |
Although I am not an English teacher, your list does seem fairly applicable to me... I guess that 1, 2 (sort of but not exactly), 4, and 5 describe me. |
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RyanInKorea
Joined: 17 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Sody wrote: |
| 1. Running away from something back home. Examples are: a boring life, debt, a bad relationship, work, family, friends, school, etc. |
Wouldn't this apply to everyone? Can anyone escape your definition of 'running away'?
You were bored back home and you ran away. You're a coward. 
Ryan |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm just amazed that some people believe that the main reason people, anywhere in the world, move to another place is "to take in the culture". You think Mexicans go to the US for Brittany Spears? Muslims to Europe for the wine? Japanese to Australia for kangaroos? No, there's another reason: MONEY. Sure, you shouldn't live somewhere you hate just for money if you can help it, but you shouldn't leave money just because you don't walk around with wide-jawed awe every minute because nowhere on Earth offers that sort of engagement. Korea offers many things to many people, but just because the things it offers to some people isn't the same as the things it offers you doesn't make you better. There are a lot of people on this board and this thread who like to brag about all the Korean friends they have and how often they eat kimbap. Good for you. But I don't see why the guy who decides to eat a burger or spend his Saturday night in Itaewon should go back home any more than I think my friend who had Chinese in Toronto last week should move to China. It is obvious many of you depend on judging others as a way to validate yourselves. Bragging about how many Korean friends you have is like a junior in high school bragging about going to a senior kegger. And we all know at the end of the night you'll be the but of the joke and alone when the seniors leave. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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I came to experience the culture but a year's vacation would have been expensive, so I teach. I enjoy teaching, though, and do take my job fairly seriously, but not so seriously that I devote all of my waking hours to thinking about it.
Sure I've got Korean friends, but I've got many more Western ones. Why? Because we share a certain cultural background and language. The Korean friends that I have made tend to be younger, speak pretty good English (and help me with my Korean!), and of a more worldly mindset.
There's nothing wrong with coming here to experience culture. Not everyone has debts to pay off. My beau is transferring to Asia pretty soon, as well, though not to teach. We planned this. |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 1:42 am Post subject: |
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| NYC_Gal wrote: |
I came to experience the culture but a year's vacation would have been expensive, so I teach. I enjoy teaching, though, and do take my job fairly seriously, but not so seriously that I devote all of my waking hours to thinking about it.
Sure I've got Korean friends, but I've got many more Western ones. Why? Because we share a certain cultural background and language. The Korean friends that I have made tend to be younger, speak pretty good English (and help me with my Korean!), and of a more worldly mindset.
There's nothing wrong with coming here to experience culture. Not everyone has debts to pay off. My beau is transferring to Asia pretty soon, as well, though not to teach. We planned this. |
You're absolutely right, there is nothing wrong with coming here for the culutre. I went to Europe mainly for the culture. But there's nothing wrong with not having culture as your number one reason, nor is it an excuse to look down on people (not that you were, I mean others here). I also don't think you have to completely abandon your culture, or at least your background, to experience Korean culture. I can visit a museum and Itaewon, eat kimbap and pizza, meet with Koreans and foreigners, all in one day. Anyway, I don't think it's so black and white. Again, not that you were saying that.
You're also right to point out that many foreigners have mainly foreigner friends because we share the same interests. Though many posters here would like to deny it, many of us here share the same goals and interests. We often have similar jobs, went to Uni, enjoy travelling, are generally extroverted, etc. I like a higher percentage of foreigners here compared to home because by definition similar people would be drawn to teaching in Korea. I have friends and family who work overseas all over the place and while doing so sure does attract some weirdos, the majority are like-minded adventurers and you're never going to have an opportunity to meet such compatible people again. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 2:11 am Post subject: |
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I came here because I wanted to experience the culture.
I also came here because I was making $9.00 an hour, worried about getting robbed on the job, and trapped(not really, more like being lazy) in that minimum-wage 'lifestyle' and couldn't get around to improving myself. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 3:46 am Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
I came here because I wanted to experience the culture.
I also came here because I was making $9.00 an hour, worried about getting robbed on the job, and trapped(not really, more like being lazy) in that minimum-wage 'lifestyle' and couldn't get around to improving myself. |
I respect that. It's an easier lifestyle here. I worked my tail off at my job, and, even though I made more money, this is a nice break. My fiance also got transferred to Asia, so it made sense to move a mere 3 hour flight away, rather than 20! |
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allovertheplace
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 5:49 am Post subject: |
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Number 1 reason I came was because I heard Kimchi would turn my diabetes into livebetes  |
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Wishmaster
Joined: 06 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 8:29 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks Mr. Black Cat, you hit the nail on the head. Money. That is why people tolerate things that they wouldn't normally be inclined to put up with. And your analogy of Mexicans in the US is very true. They go to the US for the money, not because they like the culture. Same goes for Korea. Now, if they start reducing salaries and taking away the apartment and airfare, see how many people stay. And you can bet a boatload of the apologists would be the first to go. |
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noraebang
Joined: 05 May 2010
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 11:03 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
| I'm just amazed that some people believe that the main reason people, anywhere in the world, move to another place is "to take in the culture". You think Mexicans go to the US for Brittany Spears? Muslims to Europe for the wine? |
Mexicans and Arabs are dirt poor. Americans, Brits, and Canadians come from the richest countries in the world, and many have the luxury of trying out a new experience before settling down into a career. The differences are obvious. Mexican immigrants often say "I came to provide a better life for my family." Very few English teachers who come to Korea have that same motivation, at least not to the same degree. There are also droves of English teachers going to places like Thailand, China, and Vietnam where they are paid even less. They want to experience the world.
My grandma moved to Canada to be free from a caste system, escape a poor socialist dump, to leave behind tonnes of mysticism and religious fanaticism, sexism, and what have you. Wealth is ultimately an outcome of leaving any of that crap behind, since freer countries allow you to create, produce, and improve upon your position. Although people make more money when they move to the US or Europe, freedom from tyranny and religion might often be their strongest motivation. |
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