Korean Job Discussion Forums

[decolyon]

Long story short, I've been in Korea for 4 years. I don't speak Korean (well, not as good as I probably should). I have no gf/wife prospects on the horizon, and all day I get yelled at by snotty little kids that can't tie their own shoe. I'm 27, I have minimal in savings, live in a tiny hole in the wall apartment, and have no idea how to make something of myself before the big 30.

I love Asia, but want out of Korea. I have zero desire to live in America again for at least 5 or 6 years. Even with it's faults, I'd choose to live here versus teaching/working/living in a poorer Southeast Asian country. Thailand is for visiting, not living.

While I don't consider the last 4 years a waste. Not at all. But I feel they haven't been as productive as they probably should have. Yes I've done tons of traveling and have some great stories to tell. But what else do I have to show for it? I just want to be something of significance to someone and I feel like I'm nothing to no one.

[redaxe]

Where are you from in America? Maybe you should try living in a different part of America. It's a big country, I don't see how you can write it off completely unless you've lived in many different parts of it.

Do you think that it will be easier or harder for you to make a living and "make something of yourself" in America if you move back 5 or 6 years in the future instead of now?

[Globutron]

So... you want a girlfriend?

[AsiaESLbound]

Like me, you are so lonesome and may rarely even have the opportunity to talk face to face with another adult you can squarely relate with. Sure you are around millions of people, but none are actual friends or anyone you can relate with, because you are not a member of the majority who have this belief they are too far superior to see you equally as a fellow human being, but only an inferior class of man who happens to speak the global language.

To live good, you need to fit in and actually be wanted and personally accepted by the locals; not an import product the government is pushing on their kids in the name of progress. They may say they want to learn English and American culture by employing you as an English teacher and then telling you teach American culture, but it's just a sham. This country's cannon fodder of a people would had gone with communism if told to do so by their leadership with no questions asked. Nothing is sincere and genuine about them on a local level. They are not friends of the West, but only interested in transferring the West's wealth to Asia to rule the world and nothing more. Korea is only a small version, China is the big bad boy. It's already become apparent China, Korea, and Japan let the USA know they are not just going to continue to bow and submit to them. Especially when it comes to currency valuations, international trade, and military superiority. I disagree with their racist beliefs, economic protectionism, and insincerity of embracing Westernization and Westerners. They only adopt anything Western in the name of advancement and gaining economic opportunity as to gain superiority. I suppose the Americans did exactly the same thing in the 20th century and so Asia is only copy catting them now. You wouldn't notice and learn Korea and China to be like this if Asian American nor would you get all the fake hellos. This is why I'm getting out of here and not looking back. It's a lesson well learned one should be careful what they wish for what you might learn and realize can be quite unsettling. I do believe it's history repeating itself as this is the very process of how religion, technology, money, and ideas were always moved around the world; not through cultural exchanges on the basis of people of different nationalities actually personally liking each other.

It's not a lot of money you make teaching so I can easily believe it doesn't go far after you do some traveling around the world and you wouldn't have much after 4 years unless just hanging low at your job and apartment with little or no travel. It's kind of a modest lifestyle extending the student scholar ambition a step further to the classroom without walls to realize what other cultures and international relations are all about. Try to save what you can so you can buy a car, get a place to stay, and get back on your feet. It's good gas and food are still super cheap in America compared to Korea.

I like Redaxe's advice. Relocate if you didn't like the where you come from. Like if it was too small of a town with little to do or simply the wrong city for you. To me Gary, Indiana would be the wrong city, but rural Nebraska offers no prospects while maybe Portland would make a nice relocation.

[comm]

I guess step 1 is to start figuring out what you want. If you have no clue, then start ticking off exactly what you do and don't like about your current situation. Ex.

Do you plan on teaching English for the next 5 years? More?
Do you want to teach children, college students or adults?
Do you have/need the education to follow through with what you want?
Are you sure you're done with Korea, or could a different locale fit you better? I'm all for you going where you like, but if you have no savings, Korea is a good place to teach...
Do you need to be around more native speakers than you are now?

Maybe the most important thing is defining what you mean by "make something of yourself" by age 30. Then make a plan to satisfy that.

[youtuber]

OP

There really is no where else for you to go if you want to make the same amount of money and be able to secure a job relatively easy. Now is probably the worst time to go back home ie no jobs.

So what do you do??? Beats me...most of us are wondering the same thing.

[decolyon]

[Died By Bear]

[Globutron]

[Poker]

Since you are "only" 27, my advice would be...

1) Start by changing your mindset and giving yourself more confidence. The "30" mark is just a number, no one cares whether you achieve something at 30 or 35. If you keep counting the years then you will stay depressed. Are you overweight, bald, bad skin, teeth, etc etc? Appearance is superficial but it is the quickest way to boost one's confidence. If you look good, you feel good. Change your wardrobe (if it needs changing) to smart casual. Doesn't have to be expensive, look online for styles that you like. Attraction from woman always starts from appearance.

2) Now that you look and feel good (not saying you look ugly btw), focus on being healthy. Eat healthy local food and exercise. I'd suggest hiking and going to the gym. (also not saying you are unhealthy, just bear with me, lol) These two things will also help you save money.

3) Enroll in Korean classes, even if it's just every Saturday. Never too late to start. You also said that even though you hate it here you would rather stay than go to another Asian country. So learn Korean.

4) In Korean classes you get to meet many people and can socialize. This is the easiest way of meeting people, learning things together. So since you have confidence in your appearance and look fit, unless you have no social skills, it's pretty easy to become friends with your female classmates. Go out with these new people and you never know, a gf could be on the horizon. Most of the time, a gf that one meets in some class is better than a gf that one meets in a club.

5) What are your qualifications? Do you have an MA?(your teaching kids, I presume not) Teaching posts in Korean universities generally require an MA, this forum can help you on which place in Korea is the best to get an MA TESOL. Find out the cost of it, then look at the number of years it will need to take to save enough for the MA. Start saving. Since the snotty kids get to you, teach adults. Since you don't want to return to the US, a MA TESOL from Korea is good enough. You are 27, if you budget accordingly, you can have an MA at 30. (Some places even give you scholarships I think) You also may find a potential gf working at a Uni.

6) So now that you are at the magical "30" mark, you are looking great, healthy, well paying job, it all adds up to woman wanting you. Life is good, no? Obviously I don't know your exact situation, some or all may not apply to you, just showing you a guideline. In 3 years one can change everything around with a plan.

Start with your attitude, by being postive that things can change, you will want to do something about it, immediately after reading this. Whip out your notepad and start planning.
All the best.

[Draz]

[Louis VI]

[recessiontime]

[decolyon]

[jacksthirty]

I used to have problems saving money. My paycheck would vanish at the end of the month and I'd have no idea where it went! Just cut down on beer in the week, and buy basic food items (nothing fancy). Have a big weekend every two weeks (maybe 150,000 including motel if you don't live in Seoul) and you'll probably spend 800 -1 million a month.

Are you lonely? Ain't no shame to admit it. I am! I found that I would get depressed and just piss my money away. Is my life any better? Kinda. Well, I save money now. Still lonely, but I'm getting more confident in life.

I think that you've written down all of your problems (which is a good thing), but you want to solve them all with one big wave of a magic wand. It doesn't work like that! Learn to save. Do that first, and solve the other problems later.