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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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 Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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Very interesting and informative thread for the long-termers here.......I've been weighing up all the pros and cons for a couple of years now....for me, my family and our situation, Korea makes much more sense than my home country (N. Ireland).
As long as our daughter gets the schooling in a few years that we're all happy with, then we'll stay in Korea. |
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Chokse
Joined: 22 May 2009
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| Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 1:55 am Post subject: |
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Madoka:
Again, I don't recommend getting a new car in Canada or the US simply because you can save so much by getting a one or two year old car that still has the majority of its warranty left.
Also, BMW may have changed its OSD system, but for the longest time they offered 9%-12% discounts (Varied by car) and free airfare to Germany.
That being said, some manufactures still offer pretty good OSD deals. Volvo still gives two free airline tickets and a night at a 5-star hotel, as well as free shipping of the car to the US and the payment of all import duties:
http://www.volvocars.com/us/sales-services/sales/volvo_overseas_delivery/pages/default.aspx
They also offer decent discounts (varies by model) like almost 10% off the S80. This, paired with free tickets to Sweden, a car to drive while you're there, and no destination charge on the car amounts to a fairly substantial discount:
http://www.flyvolvo.com/S80MY12.pdf
Again, I think it is insane to buy a new car. A $40,000 car will be close to $30,000 after 18-24 months, as will the taxes and insurance, and it will still be under warranty.
Here in Korea you pay the sticker price for a car. There is so much demand (often a waiting list of 2 months for new cars) that you can't get any sort of discount when buying new, and many used cars here are overpriced, especially when considering the quality of some of the older Korean cars.
This ties into what I have been saying about costs in the US. With big ticket purchases (car, house, major appliances, high-end electronics, quality furniture, etc.) you have the ability to get fairly big discounts, or will find the "sticker" prices to already be far less than what the same item would sell for in Korea.
Some things are going to cost more in the US (usually labor and health related), while other things will cost more in Korea (most of the items listed in the paragraph above.
If you live in the US and have a house and car paid for, and have a job that provides health care for your family, the cost of living a very comfortable life begins to drop a great deal.
Finally, if you had read through that forum you posted to about utility prices in Dallas, you would have seen that the guy with the $800 electric bill had a faulty meter, and this caused the high bill. Once he had the meter replaced, his bill dropped back down to the low $100 level. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 3:51 am Post subject: |
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| Feloria wrote: |
WOW!
I've read through this thread quite thoroughly, and I think I am the only woman to chime in--if I'm wrong, I stand corrected.
The past few pages have been all about taxes, possible earnings, the school systems and job possibilities in the US.
There are a couple of important points which haven't been addressed, which definitely should be.
To the OP--has your wife lived her entire life in Korea, or has she studied abroad for a year or two and experienced cultural adjustment before?
If it's the former, finding a job or getting a good deal on a house in the U.S. are the least of your worries.
You say you've been in Korea for 10 years--but she has spent her entire life there.
I don't know if this is the case with you, but bear with me.
Perhaps when you were first married, you were still enjoying Korea and everything it has to offer--maybe it still felt new and living in a different culture still felt exciting(for lack of a better word).
Well time has passed; things are getting old, boring. You have a child now to think about. You want to change your life again--you've done it before; no big deal.
The thing is-- it takes a certain type of person to WANT to move to another country and adjust well. You are that type of person, but she very well may not be.
If she HAS lived outside of Korea before, maybe chances are better that she would be willing to move.
To be honest though, it sounds like she has no intention of moving and she's just "blowing smoke"--giving you a list of things you need to do first, that she probably doesn't expect you to do.
I could be wrong, and I really hope I am. You did mention having serious arguments about this issue, so it's pretty obvious you both need to be on the same page.
I wish you(and your wife) all the best!! |
Good points!
To chime in...my wife had never left Korea before we moved to Canada except on visits and for tourism. She had never studied or worked abroad.
Feloria is right in that this usually makes for a pretty steep adjudtment period!
A lot of people confuse how their spouse reacts to VISITING the US-Canada with how they would do LIVING there. Sadly these are two very different things and assuming can lead to problems.
Swamp, perhaps your wife is not all that interested in moving abroad? From what you write that seems to be a possibility. Still, it honestly seems like there are deeper issues than the move at play here. I could be way off of course and I do not mean to pry. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:17 am Post subject: |
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Many people who leave end up coming back, usually people who lived in Korea for five years or more. Many who cannot (because of their children's education or some other matter) wish they could.
That said, the OP should realize that his wife's complaints could remain or worse, get amplified when they move to the U.S. I certainly hope you are ready for that. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 6:42 am Post subject: Re: Hints on an exit strategy |
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| Swampfox10mm wrote: |
| Not sure if there are any lurkers here who made it home successfully, but would like some advice on planning an exit. |
I agree with Captain Corea. She may feel some fear about venturing into a new country, where she may not be able to speak fluently. She will also be away from her family and friends. If she accepts returning to your home country, then try to set her up in a Korean community. There are several of these ethnic enclave societies around the US. They can help her adjust.
Line up a job before you leave S. Korea if you can. That way you can have a smooth transition without the stress of potentially being homeless while looking for a job. Make sure you have enough money to do all this. It could take months to find a job in this economy. You don't want to have to starve. That would only make your wife regret going.
Sending your things back home will probably be expensive. An American friend of mine recently sent back a what I would consider a small box (don't have the dimensions) and it cost him nearly 100,000 KRW. Plan it all out and save enough to take care of it before you leave.
Most schools try not to pay airfare, so make sure you include this in the money that you save. Health insurance is not cheap either and will be needed. It will take a few months before your severance is sent to you. Make sure that you have your banking information and provide it to your local branch office before leaving the country.
There are many websites that provide specific information and the forms required for getting your spouse back home legally. I suggest searching for these.
Good luck. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| A lot of people confuse how their spouse reacts to VISITING the US-Canada with how they would do LIVING there. Sadly these are two very different things and assuming can lead to problems. |
I think this is important as well. One poster suggested that, if possible, you take your family for extended stays in the US. After a couple of months there, they may have a more solid impression of the place.
If I do move to Canada, part of my strategy is bringing my family in the early summer... that way, they have some decent weather before the slow cold death of the Canadian winter sets in. lol |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| A lot of people confuse how their spouse reacts to VISITING the US-Canada with how they would do LIVING there. Sadly these are two very different things and assuming can lead to problems. |
I think this is important as well. One poster suggested that, if possible, you take your family for extended stays in the US. After a couple of months there, they may have a more solid impression of the place.
If I do move to Canada, part of my strategy is bringing my family in the early summer... that way, they have some decent weather before the slow cold death of the Canadian winter sets in. lol |
I remember a prof in university that would complain during lectures that Canadian winters were the source of his marriage problems. Funny thing was that they were from Russia. I wonder if he did ever go back to Russia to please his wife... |
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Swampfox10mm
Joined: 24 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| A lot of people confuse how their spouse reacts to VISITING the US-Canada with how they would do LIVING there. Sadly these are two very different things and assuming can lead to problems. |
I think this is important as well. One poster suggested that, if possible, you take your family for extended stays in the US. After a couple of months there, they may have a more solid impression of the place. |
This is the way that I am leaning. Was talking to dad, and later another poster from this thread, and it sounds like I and my daughter could do an extended stay without hurting my tax status a great deal.
A side note....I am paying about the same for car insurance here than in the USA. And my car is ten years old.
Also, captain, the healthcare thing might not be a huge issue depending on Obamacare. Sounds like I might get off cheap being "poor" and earning little or nothing, at least until landing a job.. Some things are still up in the political air, though. |
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