Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PatrickGHBusan]

Here is a hopeful thread....

When you read threads on these boards you will see a lot of complaining about living and working in Korea. Leaving aside the more rabid racist complaining (koreans are...) and the trolls some of the complaining is valid while some of it is disputable.

Now, I am wondering about something. What do you do to adapt to living in Korea? What efforts do you make to learn about the local culture (and language) in order to adapt and better understand how things work around you?

I think, and that is just my theory, that trying to adapt and learn about local customs and culture will usually defuse many of the complaints or gripes because once you "get" why something is the way it is you usually see it differently.

If on the flip side you do nothing to adapt then complaining tends to become a tad hypocritical and stands a good chance of being only unfounded whining no?

So as far as living in your part of Korea, what are typical efforts you have made to adapt and learn?

[charliebrown84]

Maybe I'm just a nutjob, but I was actually excited about coming to Korea and learning about a whole new-ish culture that I had only heard about through Margaret Cho specials. Ten months later and I'm still enjoying the experiences.

As for what things I've done. Well, I've had language exchanges, befriended several of my Korean co-teachers, and tried to read up on historical figures or modern trends in my free time.

I could sit at home and whine about how things here are nothing like they are back home, but then I would be wasting my time on trivial matters. You're here for at least 6 months (when the threat of paying back airfare had ended) so you might as well make the best of it.

[EddieH]

This forum definitely seems really negative - it was enough to almost turn me off coming here, but I'm glad I stuck with it.

Don't get me wrong, I get frustrated with life here at times, but overall, I'm really happy. I think it's one of the situations where we just see and hear the vocal minority, while the majority of people that are content with their work don't bother to post here.

In terms of adapting/language learning, I just made a bunch of Korean friends when I got here. Admittedly, it's almost a necessity where I am (middle of nowhere village in the mountains) because there's only maybe ten or so foreigners in the whole country. I'm also lucky in that I work a good job, I like my coworkers, and my boss is fantastic.

[eamo]

[hoolio]

[coralreefer_1]

Well to answer the question, I have spent 5 years here, a full year of language study at a university followed by my own personal study of the language, and more focused studies relating to the history of the country and the driving industries of the nation. As a student in a university here that is not a GSIS program, I take ALL of my classes conducted in Korean, associate with the Korean students, travel to many festivals that don't have a darn thing to do with mud or rock music. In short..i make it a point to get out there and experience KOREA

Many might say that I'm trying to be Korean..that is not the case but in reality this IS Korea and although I know I will never be fully accepted by the society, turning ones nose up to the culture language and writing it off as not worth their time or of no value to them is a very simplistic and well..immature view. When I say this I do not mean learning the language or understanding the holidays, but more so accepting that yes, older Korean men like to drink soju..understanding that old Korean women like to push their way through the line..understanding that not every business has English speaking employees to deal with foreigners, understanding that while the kids and women may treat you as a star, the rest of the society could not care less about how handsome/beautiful you are.

Those that can adapt..those who can bend with the wind will have a much better experience than those who cannot adapt and are too rigid/stubborn to even attempt to accept cultural differences. Sure..there are things that I may dislike about living in Korea, but then again there were things back home that bothered me also.

While I do feel the OP comes off as rather harsh with his words in many postsd, I find that I agree with the vast majority of what he says. At some point in our lives (I assume all are adults here) there comes a point where it is time to put the complaining aside and just deal with it.

That being said..this is a "general discussion" group, and the place that many come to vent their frustration (whether founded on a real gripe or just crying) and hence I do believe that they should be able to vent their frustrations and not be called a complainer in the same way that I may come here and speak about this or that and not be labeled an apologist...

but then again...sticks and stones....and the beat goes on

[ttompatz]

I have lots of complaints although they are not publicly voiced.

Does that mean that I haven't tried to adapt?

There are lots of things right about Korea.
There are LOTS of things wrong here too (as there are in most countries).

my biggest picks about Korea are:

-mistreatment of new migrants (including teachers) by unscrupulous employers and the unwillingness of various government agencies (labor, NHIC, NPS) to get involved unless pushed.
-inconstant policy decisions by various government agencies (immigration is a big one).
-policies treating registered foreigners as 2nd class people (like trying to get a phone or banking as 2 MAJOR, glaring examples).

.

[balzor]

I told myself when I got here that no matter what happened I wouldn't let myself quit or be beaten. So 17 months later, I am happy were I'm at and loving living here. Yea, sometimes it can be hard, I had a cheating hagwon owner last year and I am kinda lonely in my area now, but ultimately I'm happy and content with how things have turned out. If you can have a open mind and ability to adapt and change where needed, life here can be enjoyable and interesting

[misher]

Going on my 11th month now and although I've complained a few times on Dave's about this and that my experience so far has been about 97% positive. I think learning some of the language and having Korean friends has helped with that.

THere are however days where I get a bit frustrated with certain things BUT my remedy for it is to just to move on and KEEP BUSY. I'm currently teaching about 45 contact hours a week and in my spare moments I am trying to continue studying Korean. Probably not a healthy or smart way to live but it keeps my mind focused and I'm making good bank. It is funny, because the few people I've met in real life that tend to have a love/hate relationship with Korea tend to have a TON of free time. Other than their 4 hours of teaching a day, they are desk warming or partying during the evenings or weekends. That is great I guess but it leaves a lot of time to sit and dwell on issues that shouldn't really be a big deal.

[Forward Observer]

What?! That's never happened to me, and I've been here 48 years! Every Korean I've ever met or interacted with in some way has gone out of their way to be super-polite. And it has nothing at all to do with my being a medical doctor either. You guys must all be living in la-la land. Here's a clue, you're not in Canada anymore, learn to accept things as they are and your place in Korea, adapt to new cultures if you want to be an expat

[Janny]

[Lunar Groove Gardener]

Canada must really be boring.

[Savant]

[AsiaESLbound]

There is some truth to the complaints. I can't get over how difficult it really is to meet Koreans outside of work and how they choose to distances themselves. And when I'm walking around town every day, so many filthy men lacking any hygiene look perpetually angry with a negative attitude while just intentionally walking into my path to intimidate me in a passive manner. Not all of Korea is like this, only more downtrodden areas where social problems are rampant. This is an every day thing around here with the drunks which does get extremely annoying and proves to be a huge inconvenience to living here. It's very visible most men in my area are drunkards who think they are better than anyone not like them. I would say this very issue is what makes so many hate on Korea, because it's not too uncommon though there are many affluent more civilized areas where the experience is more fair and far different. It really is an odd awkward situation in some parts and others it's rarely a problem, but where I live, it's bad to the point every day and night men yelling and and acting belligerent on the street isn't uncommon. Needless to say, I'm tired of it and didn't choose a downtrodden alcoholic lifestyle so I don't deserve to be expected to live in such a poo hole. I usually look away, walk the other way, or walk around them to get past them as they often walk in a confrontational manner where they intentionally put themselves in my way. It behooves me to be extra careful when out stomping around where I live and work as to stay out of trouble, but I notice it's not this bad in most other areas as well as most of Seoul. I'm living in a poor area full of disgruntled under accomplished drunks with negative attitudes that can easily flare up. Some are probably hoping for an altercation that will make them my money. To say the least, this places me under great stress living among so many closed minded drunkards who will never accept me being there. I was hoping for something more than this that actually makes sense, but not everywhere is what we would like it to be. There's nothing I can do, but be careful, mindful of my surroundings, avoid confrontations and keep my head down until it's time to go. I really do have valid complaint, but no sense in ranting, I just want people to be aware and acknowledge the situation for nothing can change until they locally agree the situation with the drunks is making conditions deplorable locally.

[spyro25]