|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
|
 Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:21 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| I guess so. I saw the CO2 emissions stats on a wikipedia page for air pollution, so i figured CO2 was a form of air pollution (because it was on that page). It's not? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Ballerina2012
Joined: 17 Jan 2012
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:26 pm Post subject: Hong Kong |
|
|
Hi,
I am trying get info on teaching in Hong Kong, but can't post on the forum.. Anyone heard of English Schools Foundation, or Hong Kong Academy. I have my Master's degree and three years of experience, btw.
TY, B |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| World Traveler wrote: |
Korea has very polluted air- certainly it is more polluted than in the U.S., Canada, Australia, etc. In fact, Korea has some of the most polluted air of anywhere in the world (as a country overall).
Countries with the highest CO2 emissions
Avg. emission per km2 of its land (tons)
United States: 597
China: 636
South Korea: 4758
I should note that CO2 emissions is just one measure of air pollution and just one type of air pollution. Anyone want to dig up some more stats? But yeah, Korea's air is definately not cleaner than the air in the West. Are there some areas of the world worse than Seoul? Sure. Are there a lot of places better, too? Again, yes. Everyone can make their own decision on where to live. But to act like Korea doesn't have a pollution problem is not correct. |
One such place that is worse than Korea IS China, though. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 10:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| World Traveler wrote: |
| I guess so. I saw the CO2 emissions stats on a wikipedia page for air pollution, so i figured CO2 was a form of air pollution (because it was on that page). It's not? |
It was recently added to the list due to the climate change issue. However, CO2 is a natural component of air. Animals exhale CO2 and plants absorb it. Certainly, people could suffocate if there was too much of it relative to oxygen, but the amounts of CO2 being emitted are nowhere near enough for that to ever be an issue. So, I simply don't see how CO2 is relevant when discussing air quality. After all, we are talking about situations where soot and even heavy metals get into the air and then absorbed by people's lungs. I think you can surely see the point I am making. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Carbon dioxide is a contributor to the environmental effect known as acid rain. Emissions released from fossil fuel-burning energy plants combine with moisture in the air. The result is precipitation with a high acid content. Documented evidence shows the physical damage to trees and other plant life. Water and soil pollution occur from the acidic precipitation. A complicating factor is the mobility of emissions. The effects of carbon dioxide can be seen and felt far from their sources, making their impacts on air pollution more serious. |
| Quote: |
| Carbon dioxide emissions impact human health by displacing oxygen in the atmosphere. Breathing becomes more difficult as carbon dioxide levels rise. In closed areas, high levels of carbon dioxide can lead to health complaints such as headaches. Carbon dioxide levels may indicate high levels of other harmful air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds which contribute to indoor air pollution. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Yaya wrote: |
| One such place that is worse than Korea IS China, though. |
All of China? Are you sure about that? I've been to major cities in China with air cleaner than Seoul. China's a huge country. You can't generalize about the whole place based on the air of a place like Tianjin. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
creeper1
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 8:16 am Post subject: quick point |
|
|
People have compared the manners of Koreans and Chinese on this thread and we have all basically came to the conclusion that they are unrefined to say the least.
That's fair enough but I say that the manners of foreigners in China is much better than in Korea
Scenes like the one below simply don't happen
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2011/05/10/foreign-louts-drink-play-cards-on-subway-ohmynews/
Now I don;t know if that is because a higher class of foreigner comes to China (less TEFLers and more professionals) or the Chinese police/public are not as easy going as Koreans.
However I have never seen that here. I have also never seen drinks being consumed on the streets here ( I mean walking with open containers).
They do have open air restraunts were drinks are consumed but foreigners just seem a little more respectful here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: China
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 8:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| i will agree with creeper there is little of the entitlment, fratboy look at me show the locals up attitude in expats in China. For one the locals will not tolerate it. Two the chinese generally treat people with respect, and that goes a long way. three . Young eslers do not dominate the expat scene here. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dodge7
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: quick point |
|
|
| creeper1 wrote: |
People have compared the manners of Koreans and Chinese on this thread and we have all basically came to the conclusion that they are unrefined to say the least.
That's fair enough but I say that the manners of foreigners in China is much better than in Korea
Scenes like the one below simply don't happen
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2011/05/10/foreign-louts-drink-play-cards-on-subway-ohmynews/
Now I don;t know if that is because a higher class of foreigner comes to China (less TEFLers and more professionals) or the Chinese police/public are not as easy going as Koreans.
However I have never seen that here. I have also never seen drinks being consumed on the streets here ( I mean walking with open containers).
They do have open air restraunts were drinks are consumed but foreigners just seem a little more respectful here. |
I think Korea attracts the fresh-faced little kid right out of momma's basement, naive and afraid of the big world, but Korea provides that little adventure to another country with a nice, safe security blanket of love. China is much bigger and "scarier" and attracts the true adventurous type that is serious about what he wants to do.
Korea=young, stupid douchey suburban kids.
China=more serious-minded folks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Oreovictim
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Smithington wrote: |
| I have a few more questions. Which cities are closest to Seoul. I'm guessing the likes of Dalian, etc. If I go to China I'll be leaving my girlfriend here so I'd like to be able to visit Seoul, and have her visit me in China. |
I've heard that Dalian is nice but boring, but boring is a bit subjective, isn't it? Qingdao is a nice costal city - clean, too. But there are lots of Koreans there.
| Smithington wrote: |
Also, one reason I want to take a break from Korea is (among other reasons) I'm tiring of Korean manners (eating habits, the whole phlegm thing, spitting, always having to listen to people hacking, coughing and snorting, etc.) Unfortunately I've heard China is even worse in that regard. But are there parts of cities, regions, where people are more refined? Are there upscale neighborhoods? Or is the whole place akin to one big Korea on steroids?  |
The manners are pretty bad in China. There's more line cutting; the entering/exiting subways is obnoxious; people smoke everywhere, etc. You'll see lots of nose picking, too. Two new things that just bug the crap out of me in China. First, you'll be having a meal with a woman, maybe she'll have a bit of gristle or bone in her mouth, and she'll lean over and spit it out on a napkin on the table. Second - the loitering. Visit a crowded Starbucks or Burger King and you'll see people sitting at a table, fiddling about on their iPhones. They're not ordering food, and they're not waiting for anyone.
Fortunately, there's not as much spit, and there's definitely not as much puke on the ground, compared with Korea. Well, it's not much of a problem in Shanghai; I can't speak for all of China.
I would say that Chinese are definitely more polite to foreigners than Koreans are. This has just been my experience, but when a Chinese person is rude, they're rude to everybody. When a Korean is being rude to you, it's because you're a foreigner. But I understand if others disagree.
| Smithington wrote: |
Finally, is there an equivalent of Itaewon in any Chinese cities? A place to get away from the more disagreeable aspects of the culture once a week.
Thank in advance,
Smith |
There's an area in Shanghai called Xin tian di. There are some nice foreign restaurants. It's a lot classier than Iteawon, but it's also a bit expensive. Tian Zi Fang is nice. There are quite a few nice foreign restaurants. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Scorpion
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 6:14 pm Post subject: Re: quick point |
|
|
| Dodge7 wrote: |
| Korea provides that little adventure to another country with a nice, safe security blanket of love." |
Dude, what are you smoking? Can I get some of that? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dodge7
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:21 am Post subject: Re: quick point |
|
|
| Scorpion wrote: |
| Dodge7 wrote: |
| Korea provides that little adventure to another country with a nice, safe security blanket of love." |
Dude, what are you smoking? Can I get some of that? |
-Small enough country to see your friends if you aren't teaching near them
-Locals who bend over backwards to try to speak English to you
-Foreigners everywhere you turn your head (in and around major cities)
-Get paid the most out of any other Asian country
-Ridiculously easy work
-Great public transportation
-Flight money, paid furnished living arrangement, etc, etc.
-Hot girls that throw themselves on you
This place is easy as hell to adapt to and with idiots over here posting Facebook pics of getting wasted and acting nuts in Korea makes it attractive to their friends back home working at McDonald's, so they come over, too.
I'm not saying you will never feel out of place or unaccepted, but the every day goings and comings is just like back home--perhaps even easier (as far as your work/play life goes.) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NohopeSeriously
Joined: 17 Jan 2011
Location: The Christian Right-Wing Educational Republic of Korea
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 4:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Yaya wrote: |
| One such place that is worse than Korea IS China, though. |
Time will tell. China is becoming better than Korea. I guess non-marxist Socialism works. China proved it very well to the world.
But anyways, hating isn't a good idea even if you fanatically believe that Korea is great.
Then again, I'm an Asian-Canadian. It's a unspoken taboo to hate China if you're an Asian-Canadian. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
| World Traveler wrote: |
| Yaya wrote: |
| One such place that is worse than Korea IS China, though. |
All of China? Are you sure about that? I've been to major cities in China with air cleaner than Seoul. China's a huge country. You can't generalize about the whole place based on the air of a place like Tianjin. |
I've read that a few places aren't bad but that the cities are horrible. And Seoul isn't the benchmark for clean air, I admit. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
One Shot
Joined: 23 Aug 2011
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 7:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Yaya wrote: |
| World Traveler wrote: |
| Yaya wrote: |
| One such place that is worse than Korea IS China, though. |
All of China? Are you sure about that? I've been to major cities in China with air cleaner than Seoul. China's a huge country. You can't generalize about the whole place based on the air of a place like Tianjin. |
I've read that a few places aren't bad but that the cities are horrible. And Seoul isn't the benchmark for clean air, I admit. |
I'd be interested in hearing what cities in China have air quality that is better than or comparable to Seoul. From what I've seen Seoul seems to have better air quality overall than similar sized Chinese cities.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/table3_13.pdf
I'm interested in making the move over to China, but air quality is something that's hard for me to compromise on. I can deal with people cutting in line and the 'great firewall' but I'd hate to develop health issues down the line because of the terrible air pollution. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
