Korean Job Discussion Forums

[alice_w]

I agree with some of what's being said, but perhaps not with the clothing aspect. I think you should teach well to gain respect as a good teacher; not dress well so people think you're a good teacher. But perhaps that's because I don't dress up myself! I'm more inclined to dress as my university profs did back home: casual!

I think previously adventurous types came to Korea, but nowadays you come across people here who have never left their home state, let alone their home country before coming here. I feel like the types who came previously were looking for adventure and excitement, beyond the norm. But now many people who come to Korea want the job they can get here, but expect life to be the same as it would have been if they'd stayed at home. I don't get in to Itaewon very often and never get there at night anymore, so this change isn't something that directly affects me, but no doubt I'm indirectly affected by the attitudes of Koreans who have been forced to deal with these people. That said, I live a fairly insular, Korean-free life myself ...

[Unposter]

I like what Patrick said. It isn't the number of non-Koreans, it is who they are. I have made some great friends here and I will probably continue to do so.

There are many places in Korea, even Seoul, where I don't see any other non-Koreans on a given day.

Simply, if you do not like hanging out or working with non-Koreans, then don't go to the places they are most likely to be.

On the other hand, I don't think of teaching English in Korea as some exotic, daring job like I did when I first came here. There seems to be a fairly well-beaten path now. And, with Daves' and the Labor Board, it is not exactly the wild west it once was. And, I must admit to being a little sad about that but oh well life goes on...nothing stays the same forever. You might want to try rural China or Vietnam if you really want to go to the wilderness of English teaching. I guess, maybe, parts of Indonesia, too.

Don't mope around Dave's - go out there and find your life.

[tideout]

I don't know what the numbers are (on military connected people) but it would be interesting to see them. I'm thinking I've seen a lot of folks in Itaewon who are attached to the military. This could mean dependents and relatives of all types, sizes and inclinations that are different from the teaching folks.

I've worked in other countries but in my last 12 months here I've seen a couple of really out there folks who I seriously doubt were involved with teaching at all.

One was a young guy who struck up a conversation with me while I was waiting to meet some friends in Itaewon. After a brief, polite hello I asked him if he taught in Korea (I didn't think he did). He told me no he was looking for "gold". "Ah you're a pirate?" I asked him. He explained he was buying and selling gold or silver yada, yada. In any case he was a real odd ball it seemed.

A few months ago I was with another friend in Itaewon and a woman in her mid-30's gave my buddy a weird look and she came over to chat him up. My friend basically told her to hit the road. I guess she (from the States) had been fairly aggressive in trying to turn a few tricks at another cafe/bar he had been at.

I don't think people would associate these folks with the teaching profession and if you compared them with people "on the edge" in the States, they'd be pretty tame in comparison.

[tran.huongthu]

I wouldn't worry too much. The Koreans don't like us and will never accept us. Therefore we will be systematically phased out sooner or later. My money is on sooner.

[rchristo10]

[Zackback]

[morrisonhotel]

The first thing I've noticed about a lot of teachers here is that so many of them are poorly educated. It's astonishing that university graduates can barely string a cohesive thought together. The second thing is that so many of them have absolutely no drive or ambition to better themselves. Those two things alone means I tend to avoid them now. The sheer number of foreigners doesn't worry me. The 'quality' of the foreigners here does. Mind you, I've only been here two years.

[rchristo10]

[ZIFA]

[morrisonhotel]

[ZIFA]

[Lolimahro]

It's not the number of foreigners or the 'quality' that really bothers me. I have met some foreigners (and yes, some of them have been teachers that I've worked with) that not only have zero respect for Korean law, but also nearly no social skills or professional work habits.

Without getting into the manners and habits of people I have specifically worked with (that's a whole other post right there!), one thing that always amazes me is the lack of manners foreigners have with each other in public. For instance, while I love going to What the Book and patronizing other Itaewon businesses (and go out of my way to do so every month), I always get stuck in a crowd of people who feel it's appropriate to have earshot conversations about me and my family without addressing me directly. They point, stare, and make annoying comments about me and/or my son.

Perhaps Koreans do this, but I can't understand them half of the time, anyway, and also, I recognize that I'm an anomaly where I live and that means I'll surprise some people. But how do you just not assume that the white family strolling down the road can hear you but can't understand your English? It's just so annoyingly rude. If you wouldn't do it back in your home country (I hope you wouldn't, anyway!), please think first and don't do it here.

So, in the past 6 months or so, I've come to really value living in a rural-ish enclave with very few foreigners (and those that do live out here all have families like me). I've been here for a year and people are pretty much used to me. I feel like I'm more a part of the natural landscape in my own neighborhood than I do when I'm in an area with a lot of other foreigners.

[Stan Rogers]

[tideout]

[schwa]

I'm all for connecting with other expats here but feel totally disinclined to join facebook-organized events of dozens. Makes me think of tour groups of Asians abroad in denial of where they are.