Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MigukCowboy]

Here's my story. I will spill my heart out right now. The story of a crazy Waygookin Korea veteran who endlessly wanders the Earth to survive.

I graduated college and decided to teach in Busan. I didn't have any other jobs lined up and wanted to pay off debts, so I just quickly got the papers together and went to work at a hagwon just after graduation.

It was VERY interesting there. A roller coaster ride. My job was crazy, my neighborhood was a non-stop party (Kyungsung). It was stressful, difficult, amazing, thrilling, insane, all at once. I experienced unbelievable culture-shock there as it was my first time overseas. It forced me to evolve as a person. I was thrust into a war zone and I had to adapt. For a Korean teaching experience, it was very wild and full of action and drama, it would make a great action movie.

I left that job early, pulled a runner. It was partly my fault, partly theirs. It was a bad hagwon, but also I must admit, I was a bad teacher at the time. I didn't know what I was doing in the classroom, I just kinda dove head first into the whole thing unprepared. The boss tried to screw me, but I can't blame him, I was a very sub-par teacher at that time and my attitude was not the best, I was young and dumb and full of testosterone. I can admit my mistakes now, and I can see theirs. It was just a circle of bad karma unfortunately.

I moved back to the US. It felt boring, tedious, stagnant. I felt that there were less opportunities in the US for me than in Korea. Difficult to make good money. I felt like I was on the bottom rung of the socio-economic ladder. Broke, working hard just to pay the bills. Stuck in the rat race. Felt like a slave.

I started to miss Asia. I had only seen Korea and Japan during my teaching run. And I left on bad terms. I felt like I had unfinished business there. I didn't do it the right way. So I decided to go back.

I went up near Seoul this time. This time my experience was much more mellow and civilized. I just felt at home there and things were more chilled out. My neighborhood was more family-oriented with nearby nature, the job was much more mellow without all the drama. The kids were much more respectful and easy to teach. I didn't feel the intense culture shock that I felt the first time. It was a bit more materialistic than Busan, but I liked it. Life was good.

I stayed for a couple years. Made a ton of cash. Paid off all debts. Traveled to many different countries on vacation. Made amazing friends and had a couple great girlfriends. My apartment was huge and luxurious. I made friends with lots of parents of my students. Many Korean families took me into their homes and treated me like a brother. Parents of the students were inviting me over for BBQ and drinks. Genuine bonding, genuine love.

I was living the good life. I fell in love with Korea. The downsides to it became much more bearable and seemed like no big deal. I felt like I had found my niche in this strange land. I felt deeply at home in this place that once seemed so bizarre.

I finished a couple years in Korea, contract was over and I decided to travel. I traveled around the world. Went to 18 different countries. Spent 9 months travelling with a backpack. All with the money I made in Korea. I saw Southeast Asia, India, Europe, The Caribbean, a real around the world trip. It was absolutely amazing. Words can't even describe it. I found freedom on that trip. I found my true self. I broke the shackles and achieved self-realization. I faced my inner demons and I came to peace with everything.

Then I went back to America again, and here I am. Once again, money is not easy to make here. Housing is expensive and I gotta live with roommates to get decent rent. I am driving a shit car that keeps breaking down, I keep pouring money into it. I don't own land. Don't have a girlfriend. My job is tedious and the pay is not too good at all. Basically, life in the USA is a big uphill battle. You gotta fight hard to get anything here it seems. It's a grind. At least that's how it's always been for me.

Life in the USA just isn't too fun when you are in the workforce, unless you are RICH. That's what I have learned. USA is good if you have enough money to invest and play with, maybe buy land, maybe start a business, maybe play with real estate or stocks. But if you are just a blue collar worker with no nestegg in the USA. You will never get anywhere. You will be stuck in paycheck to paycheck life, with no glory and no excitement. You just become "comfortable" in the crappy wage slave existence.

So here I am about to go back to Korea again. And you know what. I feel good about it. I feel like a damn pirate about to go takeover and loot the booty. I am excited about it.

I also feel like I am returning to my second home. I love Korea and I love Korean people. It's a strange place. My destiny has led me there. And I have learned to groove with it on a deep level.

I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. I know Korean culture, I know how to operate in it, I know the game. I know all of Asia, been to all the places. I'm playing with a full deck this time.

This time I am NOT messing around. I am gonna go in there like a man with nothing to lose. Because I have been around the block a few times already, and I feel like a bull about to be released from the cage.

Cheers my brothers and sisters. Here is to Korea. Here is to Asia. Here is to the new land of opportunity. I will be back there soon.

Yeah, I am drinking beer right now. So this is a real toast. CHEERS.

[The Cosmic Hum]

Cheers!

[Zackback]

Ok great. Get back here, set things up, start pulling in the cash, get yourself a fine woman and stay here where you belong.

[peregrinejones]

I feel what you're saying man. I'm on the way back myself, though I must admit the in between time isn't quite as interesting as yours. Perhaps we can muse over a glass of Cass back in the ROK if you are so inclined someday, and we wind up in the same region!

[MigukCowboy]

[MigukCowboy]

[ArgentineDreams]

wow good story!


건배!

[kingplaya4]

Attaining self-realization doesn't pay as much as it used to....

[cheezsteakwit]

Welcome back

You'll probably have to 'jump thru some hoops' to get the visa this time around , but it's worth it, as you know. (apostilled this ... apostilled that)

I've been here 7 months & i like it.

Your story brought back bad memories of my last few years in the states. ( car on its last legs , living paycheck to paycheck , no healthcare despite working 3 jobs)

Korea just feels right, at the moment. I feel like I can 'catch my breath' here & knock some countries on this side of the planet off my 'bucket list'.

I'm a certified teacher back home ,but I don't see myself returning to the states for many years.

My states conservative admin. has made budget cuts & living the life of a substitute teacher in Philly just ' aint cuttin' it.' It wasn't living ... it was subsisting. IF I go home again, I'll probably head out West. It's a big planet & I want to see as much as possible while I can.

Anyways, cheers to you! konbae ! wihayo !

[PatrickGHBusan]

Interesting post. I wish you well OP and hope you enjoy your return to K-land!

Good luck.

[Zulethe]

Yeah nice post OP. The only thing that I disagree with is that I have plenty of money, a decent car, soon to have a decent career and I still can't wait to get out of here.

There's a pattern that I see among world travelors. Once you've experienced the world and come back to America, you realize just how lame this place is. I'm not here to justify the reasons why. I simply hate living here.

The best way I can describe it is this place is like a soul sucker. The longer I stay here the less soul I have left.

I'm starting to realize that this country is simply pathological - sickness is everywhere and I'm not talking about bodily diseases.

[JustinC]

Nice post, but you're on Dave's and you didn't mention the racist, drunk old guys or the the lame co-teachers, or the sad long-timers.

[MigukCowboy]

[MigukCowboy]

[Evanzinho]

I agree with everything the OP said. Life in the U.S. is dull, boring, expensive, everyone here is angry and in debt. But, the problem I see is, we have to come back here at some point. If we just keep running back to Korea, isn't that just putting off the inevitable?

I got laid off in 2008 when the economy here went *beep* up and so I decided to run off and teach English in Korea. Over three years in Seoul and I'm back in the States. I'd love to go back to Korea because my life (like the OPs ) was much better over there; a full bank account, health insurance, no need for a car, I liked my job. But I've decided to stay here and stick it out. If I left again I'd just be putting my life on hold for another year; I'm already in my early 30s.

Do you guys think about your future in ten to fifteen years? OP, what are your plans? Are you just going to live in Korea forever?