Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daveeslcafe888]

Hi Everyone,

For some reason, I'm anxious as ever about going to Korea in about two weeks. I guess I'm just afraid of all the changes.

Would you guys mind telling me if you had the exact same feelings, and if all went well?

Thanks,

[Sympathy for Mr Vengeance]

Well you'll probably be fine. It sounds like it's your first time? Most people meet people and have a good time and there's probably more English around than you expect. There are some problems like bad hagwon owners or substandard apartments. What are you anxious about exactly? Living in another country is fun. What are your reasons for going? You'll probably be fine. You can PM me or write a followup message if you want some more details or in depth stuff.

[isitts]

[Steelrails]

Don't think about what can go wrong. Focus on what can go right and what you are going to do to bring that on.

At the same time, prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

Try taking your mind off of things by lesson planning or preparing some files you can use once you are over here. Start the job before you've started. Go visit a Korean Restaurant/Church or something. Start reading up on Hangul. Keep busy.

[tjinh200]

If it is your first time out of your country, or first time teaching, or first time doing whatever, having that kind of anxiety is very expected and natural. Good even, because it means you're still human. Once you actually arrive, though, you might find that you wasted a lot of time worrying, when you could have better spent that time learning about the area in which you'll be living, or reading up on Korea language/culture.

Likely, you'll experience a period of time when you first arrive that is something like an "oh, that's okay" time. What I mean is, people might try and screw you over, or something might happen that you'd never let happen normally, but because you want things to go "right", you'll say "oh, that's okay". I've heard stories about it lots of times, but try and fight that urge because even though you might not know "is this culturally acceptable to say yes/no?" it's better to find out earlier than later.

If it is your first time out of country, I'll remind you that you'll also have down periods where you might just want to go home. Accept that it's a feeling you have, but you can deter this kind of feeling by meeting people. Complaining and being upset together is sometimes a lot better than alone - a reason why many people visit this very site.

As long as you keep your wits about you, don't sacrifice what you want, and keep moving, you should be okay.

[geldedgoat]

Xantax. Get your doc to write you a small scrip for the plane ride and first couple weeks. After that it's smooth sailing.

[swinewho]

[geldedgoat]

[Castaway]

[GoldMember]

Dude don't be anxious yet, wait until you get here!. Once you've settled into your crappy apartment, suffered the worst food poisoning you've ever had, discovered your work colleagues secretly hate you, and then find yourself with no cash because you havn't been paid. Only then should you start being anxious. Until then, just chill out. Finally don't waste your money on drugs, do what everyone else does, drink lots of cheap and nasty alcohol.
Oh, and remember to get your hepatitis injections.

[Murakano]

alot of scare mongering goes on here ...the less you read of Dave`s the better perhaps

But in all seriousness, a lot of people feel the same way as you especially if it`s your first foreign adventure working abroad. Try learning the hangul alphabet (very easy) which will help you lots when it comes to reading menu/bus schedules etc. Join Adventure Korea or sign upto Meetup.com to meet other people....

[Castaway]

[Died By Bear]

You forgot to talk about the construction that starts at 6am every single day of the week. You also didn't tell him about the other thing either. The thing about drinking too much in Itaewon and getting your coat stolen, or your purse.

[decolyon]

Ok man, you've been on this forum for about a month and have made 40 posts since then, most of which you have started. And, you're not even here yet.

I suggest you get off dave's. You read one thing and it build up in your head and you over think it to an extreme degree. Then you make a post about it only to read another thing and get that brewing in your brain until you figure out some other way to ask questions about obscure stuff and it's like damn..... chill out.

Stop reading dave's. You'll find you're much less concerned over the small things and might just enjoy it here. Heck, half the fun is not knowing excatly what's going to happen every step of the way.

Plus, you're other posts are all about finding gyms and study books and going to grad school and you don't even know if you're going to like it here. 1 in 4 people that come over, end up leaving in a matter of weeks or a few months. You're worrying so much and trying to plan out every little detail that one of two inevitable things is going to happen: 1 - You get here, nothing is like you thought/expected you freak out and pull a runner and kick yourself the whole flight home for having such a stupid idea to live in Korea. 2. - You get here, nothing is like you thought/expected and you adapt to it. You enjoy the randomness and quirks about Korea and get caught up in just enjoying your time and your life and you look back at all those plans you made and don't remember why you made them in the first place.

So, stop reading dave's. And just buy a lonely planet or other guide book for Korea. All the framing and tried and true methods for adjusting are in there. It will put your mind at ease. The way you try to reach out for an instant answer on here convinces your mind that you need that answer instantly, when you don't.

[derbot]

Yea, this site is probably the worst place for you. Don't take anything anyone says here seriously or at least don't think that it applies to everyone. Some people love to moan and love drama.

When I came here I was expecting my jaw to drop and for everything to be completely different and it wasn't. Sure there is some adjusting to do but unless you mother is still ironing your socks you'll be fine. Plus Seoul isn't really Korea.