Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Returning to Korea after a long absence

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Adventurer



Joined: 28 Jan 2006

PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 1:43 am    Post subject: Returning to Korea after a long absence Reply with quote

What was your experience after returning to Korea after an absence of say at least one year?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Rutherford



Joined: 31 Jul 2007

PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Angel-in-us and Cafe Bene shops everywhere.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
PigeonFart



Joined: 27 Apr 2006

PostPosted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's like riding a bike. After a few days, it feels like you never left in the first place.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
DaHu



Joined: 09 Feb 2011

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 10:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wondered why I came back when I was able to get away once. Damn economy.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida



Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Location: Not Korea

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 2:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, I returned for a holiday as teaching for 2 years was enough.

Anyway, there were more coffee shops and restaurants. CD shops were almost non existent. Which was a shame as I loved browsing. Also, being non Korean mattered little. No one blinked twice at seeing me walk down the street or ask my nationality.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Koreadays



Joined: 20 May 2008

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1 year? LOL
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
thunderbird



Joined: 18 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i wasnt away that long but it was a breeze, few more flatscrens, few less tubes, thats about it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
alfr



Joined: 27 Aug 2011

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:59 pm    Post subject: Re: Returning to Korea after a long absence Reply with quote

Adventurer wrote:
What was your experience after returning to Korea after an absence of say at least one year?

hi adventurer, are you coming back to seoul? if so, pm me. i know you personally but lost your email address...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Yaya



Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Koreadays wrote:
1 year? LOL


I know, I was rolling my eyes, too.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Adventurer



Joined: 28 Jan 2006

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:45 am    Post subject: Re: Returning to Korea after a long absence Reply with quote

alfr wrote:
Adventurer wrote:
What was your experience after returning to Korea after an absence of say at least one year?

hi adventurer, are you coming back to seoul? if so, pm me. i know you personally but lost your email address...


No, I live in Gwangju. It's down south in jella-namdo. I like the city because it looks rather beautiful. Somehow the natural views in the south are nicer in general. I do like Seoul, but I am relatively far from it. I'll probably go to Seoul in a few weeks to check up on old friends who are still in Korea. I am glad they didn't all leave. By the way, the food is decent in Gwangju. I am more into eating Korean food over here. Something about the way they prepared it up north bothered me. I can't put my finger on it. Even the kimchee is better here.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Adventurer



Joined: 28 Jan 2006

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida wrote:
Well, I returned for a holiday as teaching for 2 years was enough.

Anyway, there were more coffee shops and restaurants. CD shops were almost non existent. Which was a shame as I loved browsing. Also, being non Korean mattered little. No one blinked twice at seeing me walk down the street or ask my nationality.


I have had people come up to me a bit over here in the South. I did notice before leaving the Seoul area that people seemed to notice foreigners less.

I feel that in some ways coming back here is like riding a bicycle again. However, it's different for me in that my attitude is different. I am less frustrated by things that can normally frustrate a foreigner over here and to laugh things off. I would also say it's quite different coming back where you know far more Korean than when you first arrived some years ago and seem to be picking it up faster after returning. I can read a lot faster, but I am still struggling here-and-there. I am more willing to learn Korean. I am grateful to be working at a public job rather than a hagwon. Not all the hagwons were bad, but one was very bad, and I had to go the labor/labour board for my first job.

I am still dealing with jet lag, but I am using it to my advantage to sleep earlier.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
metalhead



Joined: 18 May 2010
Location: Toilet

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 6:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was away/gone for over three years, the biggest change I noticed was more foreigners and more foreign foods in places like E-Mart and Lotte Mart. Tortillas, feta cheese, canned goods, microwaveable pizzas from Italy, better olives, better yogurt, better wine and beer selection, stuff like that.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Yaya



Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I took two years off from Korea in 2003-05 and when I returned, I noticed that the women had grown taller but that overall, there were more disgustingly fat people than before.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International