Korean Job Discussion Forums

[micechasekittens]

I recently arrived to Korea and am extremely excited about my new position. I don't really know anyone here, but I noticed that the acquarium and the beach were a 15 minute walk away without too many turns. So instead of just sitting inside, I thought that I should go experience something even if by myself.

Well, day turns to night and I had a nightmare of a time trying to get back. The way seemed so easy in the daytime, but now at night everything looked different and all the same also. I had a post it note with the address in Korean, but somehow a fellow teacher had it but forgeot to give it back cause he was looking at it. So there I was trying to explain to taxi drivers who only spoke Korean. After a few hours of wandering, dripping sweat from the humidity and feet sore from walking all over the place in my maryjanes, I finally found the place. I had to go back to the acquarium and try to trace my steps back.

At my apt, I still havent been given the card to enter the building as I was just moved in today. Also my passcode wasn't working on my apt door. An ajumma living next door came out and started speaking only Korean... I didnt know if she was mad at me or what. She ended up helping me by taking me to the building engineer/ on call person or whatever and he also only spoke Korean. So they were trying to explain things to me and I had no clue. I think by then I had been crying for a couple hours. It turned out that the code was right but the lock needed new batteries.

I am typing this now from inside my apt and I just want to curl up and forget today. Before everyone says "oh she must be fresh out of college and never lived away from home", I have been on my own for past 8 years. Also when I was in Japan, I got around without issue because I had studied the language for a few years. If I knew Korean, tonight may not have been as terrible.

Am I the only one who has had a rough time due to linguistic barriers/ things just not going right? I know some people might just laugh at me and be like 'oh stupid newbie' but I'm just having one of those days where it is one disaster after another and just hoping im not the only one who has those.

[diver]

Everyone has one of those days every now and then. You might be going through a little bit of homesickness (it can happen even after being overseas for a long time, especially in a new environment).

Relax. Put your feet up. Have a drink (if you drink). Get a good night's sleep. Fresh start tomorrow. Good luck.

BTW, the language barrier will obviously be an issue at times. However, in my experience, you'll be better off in Korea not speaking Korean than you would be in Japan not speaking Japanese.

[candyteacher]

Sorry to hear about your bad day OP. What happened to you is very common among newly arrived teachers. I blame it on a mixture of tiredness, shock of being in a new place and just the fact that your new somewhere.

It will get better when you get to know your surroundings and get more comfortable with things. It sounds like your in Busan, which is a great city.

I can almost guarantee you that someday in the near future, you'll be having a laugh about it. Things will get better. The best thing you can do now is just relax, get a good nights sleep and you'll feel better tomorrow.

[Summer Wine]

Yeah, I had a night like that once.

Moved in to a new place, decided to go out for a meal.

After the meal I took a right instead of a left and got completely lost, it was snowing - I was freaked out, I mean how do you sleep on the street in those conditions.

Met a group of koreans, one who spoke great english and told me to follow him, they vanished at the end of the street - I thought I was fffd, but it turns out they vanished outside my house.

So it all ended well for me. It happens - take a hot shower or cold in these days and a deep breath.

[NYC_Gal]

Ha! I got lost my second day at my apartment when I went for a wander, went into a shop on a street corner, and, when I got out, turned down the wrong block. I wandered around for well over an hour (closer to 2, likely), carrying a giant umbrella, electric fan, some fruit, and pajamas. I hadn't even thought to get my address written down (I'd only ever stayed in countries with romanesque alphabets, so was always able to remember street names), nor had my handler thought to provide me with such important information.

We've all had those days. Sleep well, and tomorrow, take a picture of your street, the front of your building, and make sure to get another copy (or 5) of your written address for your wallet.

Welcome, by the way. Tomorrow should be much better.

[ChilgokBlackHole]

[NYC_Gal]

[micechasekittens]

[diver]

[oldtactics]

OP, it's definitely not just you - I've never gotten lost but I was definitely reduced to near-tears the first time that I tried to see a doctor about something and couldn't articulate what I needed. Just takes practice and time.

I'm sure you've explored some already, but I found it really helpful when I first got to Korea to go for a few long walks in each direction from my apartment. Helps you learn where the major landmarks are, and it's also a great way to find smaller places that you'd miss if you were in a taxi.

[Junior]

[iwillteachyouenglish]

Yep best to have the address in more than one place until you've memorized it.

[madoka]

[ChilgokBlackHole]

[Louis VI]

1. You had an adventure! It's over but the story will be yours to re-tell here and again. Like water off of a duck's back such things must be. A dozen such incidents must have happened to me my first year here.

2. The linguistic barrier is your incapacity to speak Korean. It's your responsibility. Bear the costs of whatever problems arise from not being able to speak the local language. I say this as someone who has lived in this country for eight years without learning to read hangeul and without speaking Korean beyond functional words and expressions learned along the way. I have also travelled several other countries within which I knew squat about the local language. Attitude is everything. "Linguistic barrier" is often code for a deep-seeded desire to blame the other for not being able to speak English. I've heard people have the gall to blame them for not speaking our language in their country. You yourself said: "So there I was trying to explain to taxi drivers who only spoke Korean"/"An ajumma living next door came out and started speaking only Korean" (what else did you expect?). Losing your way and wasting hours with delays, deadends and confusing directions is part of travelling the world. If you can't bear the cost with any sense of dignity then your next stop had better be back home. I mean to say this bluntly not harshly. But words should not be minced. Be prepared for more such run arounds. If you had ever gone on vacation to a country whose language you didn't speak and did so cold turkey, so to speak, immersing yourself in a land where you didn't speak their language and they didn't speak yours (a Mexican resort town doesn't count), then you'd have the sort of attitude of grace under pressure, of fortitute and humour, to handle the experience as part of, well, the experience of such travel.