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Back in the USA
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Gorf

Joined: 25 Jun 2011

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 7:53 am Post subject:

A hell of an improvement over the average American, that's for sure.

seala70

Joined: 13 Mar 2011
Location: Incheon

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 10:20 am Post subject: Re: Back in the USA

Sireno wrote:

Any advice from people who have been where I am right now?

I have now been back in the US for about 6 months. I also spent a little over 2 years in Korea and had a great time. I wanted to stay longer but my parents thought it was best that I return home and "get on with it" as they say. Since I don't want to be an English teacher my whole life and I don't want to retire in Korea, it was for the best. I'm a lot older than you and had a 10 year career before I quit my job to go to Korea. I must say, it's been a lot harder than I thought it would be.

For the first month or so, I didn't do any job searching but just took it easy. I had essentially been working for for the last 12 years without a break and had no problem doing nothing. However, like you, I also found things depressing here....and I live in a huge west coast city. But, I started reconnecting with old friends and going to local events to get me back into "American" mode...like going to a few concerts and watching sporting events with friends. Slowly, I started appreciating the great stuff here...especially the grocery stores with all the foods and fresh produce I missed in Korea.

In terms of work, it took me a good 2 months to get my resume and online portfolio up to where it should be. So far, I've applied to over 20 jobs (which is not a lot really but I'm selective) with no results. In the meantime, I've taken a grunt job that I can quit anytime with a friend to make extra money. But, I submitted a couple resumes last week that seem to have some promise.

I've also been lucky enough to have had an old friend rent me his spare room in a good area for a very low price so that has helped until I get back on my feet. I stayed at my parents for the first month back and it was extremely difficult (though I love them very much.) Another thing that has helped is that I saved a ton of money while in Korea and paid off all my debts. I could probably live off this savings for quite a while but am trying to avoid doing so and pretend it doesn't exist until I really need it. My advice to anybody there...save as much as you can if you plan coming back. Maybe at least 10,000,000 won at a minimum. The pension refund was also a nice "bonus".

I've had many thoughts about returning to Korea as well but as tempting as it is, it would be going backwards. So, I have to stick it out here. 6 months is not really a long time and I realize it may take over a year before things start clicking. So, you have a long road ahead of you but you can't give up.

mayorgc

Joined: 19 Oct 2008

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: Back in the USA

Sireno wrote:

So I've come back from a 2 year 1 month stint in Korea some 3 days ago. I'm feeling pretty complicated and unsure of things. Having left a girlfriend of 3 years, attempting to find work here, and dealing with reverse culture shock I already want to go back. Crying or Very sad

I'm not sure what I should do. I woke up this morning and thought it is time to get my FBI background check in case I decide to go back. However I did not find teaching English in the Hagwon setting fulfilling and something I want to make a career out of, perhaps I am already on my way back? I may be able to work at a uniwon through my connections to start in February/March term. In my mind I know I should give it more of a chance and time to readapt and find work and a life though at this stage things are feeling fairly confusing, unhappy, and not at ease whatsoever.

Any advice from people who have been where I am right now?

Give home 1 year or 2 to see if you can make it. Try to land a good job or get training so that you can land a good job. If after 1 or 2 years, you're just spinning your tires, then maybe head back to Korea.

I enjoyed my 2 years in Korea, lots of good people, good co-workers, good kids, good school and good life. I would be pretty depressed too if I had to leave all that behind, but I got married and we decided that life would be better in the west.

As a single, young, healthy male, Korea in a heart beat.

As a family man, trying to raise a kid and support a family, the west is preferable.

isitts

Joined: 25 Dec 2008
Location: Korea

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 11:40 pm Post subject: Re: Back in the USA

Sireno wrote:

Do as you see fit. There's no wrong answer.

No_hite_pls

Joined: 05 Mar 2007
Location: Don't hate me because I'm right

Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: Back in the USA

isitts wrote:

Sireno wrote:

Do as you see fit. There's no wrong answer.

So true. If you are happier in Asia go to Asia if you are happier in the west go west. It's your life not your parents, and sometimes parents give the worst advice. Their advice was good for their time but sometimes not good for yours. My father advised me to turn down a job as a cop 9 years ago and go into the business world . Other things he advised me to do; buy citi-bank stock and to be a good republican.

My biggest regret for myself is not having the b--ls to join the military, or being a cop, retirement after 20 years would have been a wonderful thing.

creeper1

Joined: 30 Jan 2007

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 12:01 am Post subject: tight

It is a very tight job market in the west right now. I am pretty sure most TEFLers AREN'T going to make it at home. Not now and not ever. Here is a typical experience of a returning TEFLer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK4L7Gh406U&feature=BFa&list=UUKNRzuHIvzo_D1PyPCBtBWQ

creeper1

Joined: 30 Jan 2007

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 12:16 am Post subject: good point

Zackback wrote:

I'd get back here just for that girlfriend of yours (or is it ex?). You're not going to find cool girls like that back home. It's better here.
You know it's true.

Come back.

+1

Once you have seen the fantastic quality of Asian women it makes going back to the west so much harder.

Sad

Moondoggy

Joined: 07 Jun 2011

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 1:20 am Post subject:

Sireno wrote:

I am young being fresh out of University prior Korea. I need time to adjust and get in a swing of things here. My gf also doesn't want me to come back as a teacher and neither do I. I'm interested in studying more in the future but as far as I can tell there aren't many dual degrees with the US/Korea. I think it's time to work to try out different things before studying. ahhh 생명 그렇다.

finding work in a tough job market is painful but you should find one before she joins you in the states or you will hate to see her(korean, i assume) work at h-mart. i feel sorry for you.
can she or her father help you land a corporate position in korea?

good luck.

I'm With You

Joined: 01 Sep 2011

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:11 am Post subject: Re: Back in the USA

No_hite_pls wrote:

My father advised me to turn down a job as a cop 9 years ago and go into the business world .

My biggest regret for myself is not having the b--ls to join the military, or being a cop, retirement after 20 years would have been a wonderful thing.

It's not too late to go back and do those jobs.

I quit teaching English after about 12 years and went back to be a cop. I quit after the first year. It was interesting and kind of fun but make no mistake about it, you work hard. I worked more hours in a single shift than I did in a week teaching English. Add to that the 2 weeks of annual paid leave vs. the roughly 4 months of paid vacation as a TEFL teacher and it was a major lifestyle change.

Teaching English at the university level has spoiled me. I get long holidays, low work hours and the job is clean and my clients generally respect me. I save a couple thousand dollars a month, too.

I'm afraid I might not be able to go back to a regular Mon - Fri 40+ hour work week again. I've been spoiled by the TEFL lifestyle!

Last edited by I'm With You on Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:54 am; edited 1 time in total

northway

Joined: 05 Jul 2010

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:41 am Post subject: Re: tight

creeper1 wrote:

It is a very tight job market in the west right now. I am pretty sure most TEFLers AREN'T going to make it at home. Not now and not ever.

Here is a typical experience of a returning TEFLer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK4L7Gh406U&feature=BFa&list=UUKNRzuHIvzo_D1PyPCBtBWQ

That guy is a horrible example of a typical TEFLer returning from Korea. Problems:

1) No degree: obviously it's going to be really difficult to get a job with no degree. All the TEFLers in Korea have degrees, so that alone makes for a huge difference.

2) Appearance: the typical TEFLer doesn't have a ponytail and a scraggly beard. The dude could really help himself by cleaning up a bit.

3) Money: how did he save so little over four years in China? I realize the salaries are lower, but I spent like a drunken sailor during my time in Korea, yet still left with more than enough money to live off of for a year, if need be, and that was after only two and a half years. How bad must his spending habits have been that he only had enough to last him a month upon his return home?

Dodge7

Joined: 21 Oct 2011

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:43 am Post subject: Re: tight

creeper1 wrote:

Well after they are the ripe old age of 40 they can't keep doing ESL and need to think of a long term solution. They certainly can't keep working in Korea until they are 60.
Something's got to give.
(And I really wish people here would stop referencing that fat ESler. Surely there are others with different experiences. I just don't understand why he's so popular here every time this subject gets brought up.)

Dodge7

Joined: 21 Oct 2011

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:50 am Post subject: Re: Back in the USA

I'm With You wrote:

No_hite_pls wrote:

It's not too late to go back and do those jobs.

I quit teaching English after about 12 years and went back to be a cop. I quit after the first year. It was interesting and kind of fun but make no mistake about it, you work hard. I worked more hours in a single shift than I did in a week teaching English. Add to that the 2 weeks of annual paid leave vs. the roughly 4 months of paid vacation as a TEFL teacher and it was a major lifestyle change.

Teaching English at the university level has spoiled me. I get long holidays, low work hours and the job is clean and my clients generally respect me. I have a couple thousand dollars a month, too.

I'm afraid I might not be able to go back to a regular Mon - Fri 40+ hour work week again. I've been spoiled by the TEFL lifestyle!

Spoken like a true lazy man Laughing

If you've done it before, you can do it again. You'd get used to it.

isitts

Joined: 25 Dec 2008
Location: Korea

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 4:17 am Post subject: Re: Back in the USA

Dodge7 wrote:

I'm With You wrote:

I'm afraid I might not be able to go back to a regular Mon - Fri 40+ hour work week again. I've been spoiled by the TEFL lifestyle!

Spoken like a true lazy man Laughing

If you've done it before, you can do it again. You'd get used to it.

Yeah, but why would you want to? And are you really in a good position promote the wonders of going back home?

isitts

Joined: 25 Dec 2008
Location: Korea

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 4:46 am Post subject:

Sireno wrote:

My gf also doesn't want me to come back as a teacher...

Don't be wapaawed by your girlfriend.

Just to expand on what I posted earlier, take the time to figure out what you want to do. And don't let reverse culture shock have too much bearing on your decision. It's rough, but possible to get through. I would spend time with friends and family so you don't get too wrapped up in the reimersion process...though you will want to be alone sometimes.

I've been in your shoes a couple times. The first time is the hardest. I tried to anchor myself back in the states, locked into conventional thinking that I was supposed to find a "real job" and should have a house and white picket fence. If that's your thing, fine. It wasn't for me. And it took going back a few times to realize that.

But that was my journey. You've got your own. I don't want to sway you one way or the other, but I'd say look for the opportunities that suit you and persue them.

creeper1

Joined: 30 Jan 2007

Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: tight

Dodge7 wrote:

creeper1 wrote:

Well, as I am sure you know, there are people in TEFL who are in their 60s now.

It could be a risky strategy though because TEFL really is being swamped by young 22 year olds ready to take even the worst contracts.

However the idea of going back home and replicating the experience of geomonronin is also not appealing.

THere is no easy answer to this and it will depend on the individual.

Also your comments about poor Geomonronin at the end there are just nasty!

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