Korean Job Discussion Forums

[carriepaulsmith]

I did not expect such generous responses. Thanks to EVERYONE who responded; Dodge7, Paddycake, Urbanmyth, tthompatz, r122925, ontheway, carbon, dazedandconfused, northway, andrewchon, iggby, zyzyfer, skippy... ALL.

Admittedly, I am not forum / posting savvy, nor at much free-time leisure, so here is one giant response.

Most of you were able to confirm my most-feared worries (some motivation or lack of, fear is..) Call them realities, then. I'm not sure what we're going to do. I hope you all realize what a dull ache USA life can be, especially when tethered to a headset, listening to people complain about their broken phones. Four years of that. I've seen better. That is not LIFE. I recognize that moves in desperation can lead one from bad to worse, I also suggest that some of you consider the adaptability of human nature. I had fear when I moved to Belize pregnant to a beautiful village of crackheads and citrus orchards. I wouldn't trade the tough times of that transition for anything. Years later, I booked a flight for my (then) 7 year old daughter, (on a Friday the 13th none the less- got a good deal) to fly internationally from BZ to USA and meet me in the USA once I had started the migration back up here. Cliche as it sounds, I wouldn't have had or shared the experiences I've had if fear stopped me.

I suggest the notion that all 13 year olds are not alike. Ours, (daughter) is already cross-cultural, albeit English speaking, and is not addicted to her few friends, X-Box, nor anything else. She's a fencer and has a martial arts background, like her brother, both of which could be sought out in Korea- if we can afford. I'm open to whatever type of learning takes place during her year; off-grid if needed. I haven't seen schools in Korea, but I have never believed that western education is superior to life experience in another country. The idea is, if schooling didn't work out, we would support her academically however we needed to.

I don't think I was very clear; our goal isn't to make money anymore. Breaking even would be ok. I figured we'd be using some savings to cover airfares. I understand the risks of not even breaking even and thank you guys for your prudent caution. Another correction. It's wrong to say I'm "bringing" my husband. It's even more his idea than mine.

I've researched videos of Korean apartments and understand the tight accommodations.

We aren't sure about it all. Just trying to make changes and experience life. I'm sure we'd survive a year and have great stories to tell. It's harder to get back to Belize and springboard across the world from there. My husband is very much up for the exploration. I'm 40. He's almost 50.
This might be the only chance (being in states) that we could create an opportunity like this.

I see people wasting away up here, getting more and more complacent, obese, media-dumbstruck and cattle-minded. What's really mean to the kids is to just stay and comply and keep up with the Joneses. As it is, we live an alternative lifestyle an still I hate the effect on us and on the kids. They also get the joyless lesson of knowing Mom and Dad hate their work. What better motivation can you have to squeeze in a year or two of ANYTHING else?

Thanks again, people. Everyone take care.

[Dodge7]

Oh dear.
OP.....
eh, forget it. It seems you have your mind made up already.
It just seems you aren't really thinking this one through and have preconceived notions about the ease the transition is going to be.
Good luck to ya either way!
I will mention this though. Those things you mentioned: complacent, obese, media-dumbstruck and cattle-minded and especially keeping up with the jones...All of that is in spades here, too.
Breaking even? You seriously want to just break even? You said America living and your job isn't LIFE. Breaking even is LIFE to you? Because I gaurantee you won't be making any surplus. I don't even think breaking even will happen on your salary and you may even leave your family scraping by to survive! Food is outrageously expensive in this country at the supermarkets.
You think you hate your job answering calls about broken cell phones now, but you may even hate your job even more so teaching these kids that have no care about English and disrespect you. They aren't the "Asian" kids I thought they were going to be. I thought they were going to be respectful and sat in their seats and followed every one of my commands--they are the polar opposite and very spoiled at home and bratty.
As I said, though, I think your mind is made up and you are an adult.
I hope it works out well for you and your family.
Good luck, you may need it...

[northway]

Your kid might not be your average thirteen year old, but I'm assuming you want her to go to college. If so: again, bad idea.

Aside from that (and I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet), I'm guessing your kids are mixed and on the dark side, skin tone wise. This is something that won't make the transition any easier in a country that leans a bit racist in general and has no protection available for minority students.

[iggyb]

If money isn't a factor, why not Mexico? Costa Rica? Somewhere in South or Central America? Some place both can work?

You might think you know enough about what housing is going to be like, but you're wrong. Similar to other thoughts on what life is likely to be like.

You don't believe you can find a job and location within a nation as big as the US that makes life worthwhile, but you are going to relocate your family to Korea with the resources you have.................bad bad bad idea.....

Hakwon life vs call center life?

Kids being mixed non-Korean with no Korean language skills in Korean school?

Tiny provided housing fit for 1 person?

And on and on...

[ThingsComeAround]

[iggyb]

"There is a reason why Koreans send their children abroad and children abroad don't come here in droves to study" -- good point.

I also wanted to say, I'm not defending American society in my last comment. I'm just saying -- in a country as big and diverse as the US, if you can't find a place and way of living worthwhile, Korea for a family like this is not a good idea. If they were Korean or even Asian, maybe but even then not for just 1 or 2 years.

Yanking your kids out of their lives, plopping them down in a foreign country for a couple of years, then yanking them to yet another country --- might work for the rich and famous --- but not for the vast majority of families.

[randall020105]

..after careful deliberation... i may just add that you could well be on your way to a really exciting time in Korea.

It all depends how you look at it, how open you are to new experiences. Some have been here longer than 10 years... home-school your kids, your Husband could do private jobs under the radar..that's not unheard of here...do some research & networking first.
There is lots of work to be done here and if you have some folk who can help with resources and ideas you can extend your stay for an indefinite time.

Be sure to have something to fall back on should you decide this isn't your cup of tea though... cover all your bases. PM some of us when you get here and we'll be more than happy to help - that's how many of us got started... and we're still here against all the negative vibes we got from other "prophets-of-doom"...

Keep us posted.

R.

[iggyb]

Yeah, dismiss everybody as naysayers...

I can think of several long-timers who have been raising a family in Korea.

All of them were single when they came.

I can't think of anyone in the TESOLer industry who relocated their whole family here - much less for just a year...

You can raise a family in Korea and have an OK life, but it is highly unlikely to happen the way the OP is planning it...

[ewlandon]

[ttompatz]

[iggyb]

Come to think of it, I can't think of any long-timer raising a family here who isn't married to a Korean. Well, 1, and he's married to a Mongolian.

I'm sure there are some middle class and higher level people in business who are raising a family here who aren't married to Koreans and had the family before they arrived.

I can't think of any examples I've heard about from the TESOL industry, and certainly nothing that comes close to matching the situation as the OP has described it.

[northway]

[iggyb]

ttompatz,

Was yours a university position when you came?

I can imagine a professor at a university doing it without too much trouble, but they would likely be more catered to in terms of housing than a typical ESOLer.

[Paddycakes]

[randall020105]

There will be posters like the ones above... you get them all over - people afraid and frail . . . they can't handle competition... you should come OP... even just to prove it to yourself(firstly)... and secondly to these other negative thinkers... you can read it in their responses... negativity negativity...and some more negativity... these are the ones to avoid when you get here - surround yourself with people who matter and separate the unimportant from the important.... prioritize and you should be fine...
No wonder some Koreans don't like foreigners...because they meet people like these oxygen thieves... spreading their bad karma and rotting other apples.

let us know when you get here OP, there'll be people willing to help - only and e-mail/PM away...

regards,

R.