Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kimiki]

sometimes i do feel battered by this job. i would like to hear your personal techniques for bouncing back? my spirit has not been so resilient from the typical wears and tears of living and working here lately. particularly working here, that's why i placed it in this category. the miscommunication, the feeling misunderstood, being watched all the time, the weird and unabashed aggression students direct towards me as the authority figure.... overall i have a pretty solid and good situation, decent people, reliable pay etc, and i count my blessings. but i have a couple students now who are awful enough to make me consider leaving this profession for good, and an activity i put a lot of effort into as an experiment ended up sputtering instead of soaring last week, and you would think i tried to kill a baby for how much flack i caught just for that, and i swear if i have a bad hair day it's like the whole school has a press conference about it.

okay vent done. bouncing back and resiliency-improving techniques anyone? thank you happy mudfest weekend

[austinmc86]

Listen to music
talk with my boss and co-teachers for positive feedback
Go to Busan
take a walk/hike
think of the good classes with the good students
think of the money i am saving
remembering to be thankful for such a great opportunity living in Korea
watch Seinfeld

[Skippy]

Just thinking about my position in life. True I am teaching little brats but my life will be some much better then most of them.

Just think for the children that most will have to suffer for more years of school. And High school is a time of sleeplessness. The girls will likely end up just another house wife at the age 0f 30. Me I will be rocking it in Australia or Thailand or wherever.

The adults. They have their Korean rat race which I believe is worse then the western. Save face, kowtow to boss and stay at work till 11. Me as foreigner I can circumnavigate some of those hassles. Most of those will be gone when I go.

Simple put "My life sucks now... Yours will suck the rest of your life" Ha

[questionmark]

[fugitive chicken]

I'm sorry, I have to say it, welcome to teaching...I spent a year subbing before I came here and it was no different...other than the disrespect of a wider variety of students who spoke english.

But what keeps me going is that you ARE making a difference. You are teaching them; and they are learning. Sure, still going kinda sucks, but quitting sucks more. A good question I ask myself is what am I learning in this situation? What skills am I getting out of this that I can use in the future?

[eljuero]

Great post and a topic that probably ought to be discussed more often.

It did come up most recently at a SMOE training by one of the speakers. A good talk - he suggested among other things trying to find some activity or interest really rooted in Korean culture. Honestly, I haven't been motivated in that direction but who knows - I've only been here half a year.

Another person in education here told me he and his partner vacation outside of Seoul at least every 6 months for good mental health. I thought it was a bit over the top when I first (again, just 6 months ago) started but now have my ticket booked for a week in another country. I think getting time out of Korea is really important whenever possible.

I also started playing guitar again after decades of of not playing. I think doing something serious - not related to school or English etc is super important.

A lot of people will advocate "staying positive" or something chipper sounding without really detailing it out. I don't agree with it at all and feel strangely better accepting that I'm not crazy about living in Korea or even Korean culture. I'm happier accepting that while I'm here, it's probably for making money and I'll probably lead a parallel life of an immigrant. My conversations with Indians, Pakistani's, Russians and South Africans etc.. in Seoul have been far more interesting than with my co-teachers.

I think pretending things are different than you really feel is a complicated way of being in denial. Some people snoff at places like Itawaen which (w/out getting into a pro vs anti Itawaen thread!) offers diversity, some English text that's actually based on meaning something and the opportunity to have casual, social conversation just for the sake of doing that.

Some people seem to like Meetup as well - but I've never gotten hooked into it.....

Good luck and hang in there.

[Oliver]

[eljuero]

RE Oliver & ?mark You also need to keep in mind that mental illness is a pervasive problem across Korea (suicide, dementia, general unhappiness), so you will have to deal with students who are irrational, management that is irrational, etc. Don't take advice from people with problems; it will cause you problems.

I overlooked this point when I read through the thread quickly. (Thanks to the second poster making note of it).

It's a point well worth taking into consideration. SK has, if I read a recent article correctly, the highest suicide rate of all developed countries. As I recall there was an impressive gap between it and the 2nd place Japan - known for a high rate already. I understand alcoholism and domestic violence rates are much higher than are reported in the news.

This means not only students but co-workers, administrators, spouses etc...may be dealing with a lot that's not really on the table.

There are professional jealousies, unhappy marriages and manipulative behaviors throughout the office I work in. Some of it gets passed off as "korean way" etc.. by individuals who may not be doing all that well themselves. It's bound to effect you from time to time and something to be aware of......

[Senior]

Drinking or meditation.

Drinking, mostly.

[hamie]

After ten years teaching I find writing about my day helps, taking photos and of course a quiet drink or two helps. Find something that isn't school related to take your mind off it. Maybe you need a hobby?
I try not to dwell on the past (easier said than done). Looking at the big picture and what lies ahead also helps.
That being said I still have days where I wonder why the heck I do this.

[naturegirl321]

Remind myself that life is a heck of a lot better here than back home.
Read books
Sleep
Listen to music

[highdials5]

Great thread, already with some excellent advice.

The thing that keeps me going is weekend travel. Not every weekend, but at least once a month. Choose a destination and then you can spend your 'downtime' researching the place, looking for accommodation, etc - it makes me feel like all the work and/or stress is worth it, and I have something to look forward to.

[caribmon]

I look the mirror and see perfection dripping from my abs.

[eljuero]

[Hawkeye Pierce]