Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kuval]

So far, I've only been here for 5 months... but I feel like I've learned a lot in that time. I wish I had read something that wasn't over the top cynical or ridiculously happy before I came over here. Nothing really seemed too balanced. It was either, "I hate this place so bad, everyone's stupid," or, "Korea is the greatest thing that ever happened to anything ever."

I'm going to try and tackle this country in one post... and I hope it's helpful to someone some day.

Looking for a job was ridiculously scandalous. I remember shoddy paperwork, multiple job offers, people sending me offer sheets from the wrong clients... but never fear- if they ever request your paper work (from what I can tell) you're pretty much in. Don't worry about how scandalous it seems. If it were Mexico or Nigeria, the circumstances surrounding your job offer should probably be a lot more legitimate looking.

Anyways, try to do research before you come here as to the area you're going to be in and the school you're going to be teaching at. Know that this research is (quite often) going to lead to incorrect beliefs about your circumstances, but it's always good to come from somewhere. You know, to have some sort of anchored beliefs.

I've decided to teach at GnB. I did a lot of research about them, and they're a very reputable hagwon. Hagwon is just what they call private schools. Anyways... yeah. Turns out, my GnB has a very scandalous history with someone trying to pillage the company's assets, then fleeing the country, then they sold the school to some other old dude... now the school is in shambles and the number of students is dwindling. I got unlucky. USUALLY, GnB is going to be an outstanding choice. On the internet, I found many people saying it was awesome and only a few people saying they had a bad experience. But that's what I mean. Do your research, but come on your own accord. Don't really pay much attention to internet research.

Next, try and see if you can contact the teacher you're replacing by phone. Get them to talk to you about what the circumstances of your school and life are going to be in Korea. I didn't do this, but I wish I had. It would have helped me ease into things a lot better. Just tell your recruiter you'd like to speak with the teacher you're replacing. They'll almost always setup a meeting. Don't worry about impressing your replacement. Try to get serious answers to serious questions... and don't offend them cuz they'll usually help you out by leaving you all sorts of resources.

So when it's finally time to arrive in Korea, I went through a strange group of phases. First, I was in the tourist phase. Everything was awesome... it was Korea. Second, I went through the hatred phase. This phase is not as fun. Many of the teachers you encounter are not going to be qualified to teach back home... in fact, many of them can't find work at all back home. Sometimes this is because there are no jobs, and sometimes it's because they're brainless people. Nevertheless, you will encounter many ... dimwits... in Korea. These people will amaze you with their stupidity and dysfunctional lifestyles. You can't judge them, accept them and move on. If anyone annoys you, don't hesitate to cut them out and move on to the next group of friends. Don't have a short fuse, but definitely... definitely... if someone is bothering you a lot- just find a way to talk to them a lot less. I've had this a couple times, but generally people are pretty nice. I wasn't prepared for all the gossip that goes on behind your back, buttttttt that brings me to the next point!

The social dynamics of groups here... is strange. I live in a small farming community close to Seoul, so it might be different than existing in the big city- but I'd bet it's similar anyways. Essentially, you're arriving into a group of friends that has mostly been together for the better part of a year. Usually you're the newest person and you want to impress people. Don't. Just relax and let it all come to you. People need time to figure out who you are, and just have fun with it. Back home, I was a social superstar. I had built my social network and on any given weekend I could pick from at least 5 awesome things to do. Here in Korea, I was the little guy. I knew nobody, and I didn't have any good friends. Combine that with a rift in the solidarity of the foreigners in my city... and it was all just a big cliquey disaster.

But back to the social dynamics... so eventually, you'll see people come and go. Sooner or later, you won't be the new guy anymore. This is a good feeling (for me). You get to see yourself in the new person, and all the funny mistakes they make. Nobody can prepare you for all the funny things you're going to do. For instance, I ate fish paste my first week here... but I didn't know what it was so I fried it up and ate it plain. Nobody does that (I don't think). Not even Koreans. Not just that, but I would be very nice to everyone for no real reason. I would be very understanding and try to accept any negative circumstances that surrounded me. It's just the eager beaver attitude you have at first. It's cute.

Then one day, out of the blue, you'll feel like there's no pressure to do anything. Not that there was in the first place... just that, you might have wanted to do something but didn't know what to do. But now you'll feel almost like you're the one making plans to do things that you want to do (because you know about them now) and people will want to join you. Either that, or you just know about things you want to do and so you'll do them.

As far as learning Korean... it might make your stay a lot more pleasant in the beginning if you took a 4 month course or something... but I really don't think very much learning is necessary. Learn the alphabet (hangeul) and all of the sounds everything makes. This is extremely important and some people say it only takes an hour to do. I call those people asshats and liars, but they say it's true. It took me about 10 hours of study/review/thinking to separate my mind from the latin based language system and be able to actually understand the alphabet... and it was over the course of 10 minute intervals within my first month. Also, try to learn hello, goodbye (both ways to say goodbye in formal talk), and thanks. Definitely do this.

Get a Korean boyfriend/girlfriend. When I first came here, I didn't speak Korean and I didn't like the look of Asian girls. It wasn't that I disliked them, it was that I didn't find them attractive. Sooner or later, you realize how sexy they are... and god damn are the majority of them EVER SEXY. Almost every girl I see is gorgeous. I'd say 3% are in the ugly category and maybe 7% are in the "decent but I'm not interested category." The other 90% are in the, "ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME category?" The final 10% (yes, 110%) are in the most beautiful girl in the world category. Yes, that's right, almost every day you will see one girl that amazes you with her looks. And that's in a small town. Yikes.

Anyways, after a few accidental crazy nights with teachers in my school... I finally got my first Korean girlfriend. The sex isn't what you're used to, but it's still nice to have someone close to you. We broke up because I am a "bad man." Still, I'm pretty sure that's just the Korean equivalent to- it's not you, it's me. Every Korean cheats on their wife; so if you're a good person, then they're a bloody idiot for breaking up with you. You must be a bad person for the breakup to happen.

Be eager to learn the language and customs. I haven't been to a language class yet, but I can communicate with Koreans on a kindergarten level. I talk to cab drivers and I always learn new words. I like it a lot, and it's kinda like a game. Usually when Koreans try to teach you Korean, they do it in a horrible way. They'll tell you that you said something correct when you didn't, or they'll say it super fast. Just be patient, you'll get it.

I haven't traveled much, but there's so much to do in Korea that I don't really feel like I've been ripped off. I've seen many parts of Seoul, and many parts of Korea. It's fun. You don't have to go to other places to have fun- although, try to escape to somewhere hot and cheap in the winter. There are many of these places near Korea. I just hate the cold.

If you see a Korean doing it, then you can do it too. They usually want you to be quiet on the bus, but I've seen endless amounts of Koreans being loud and crazy on the bus. It's just a racist double standard for foreigners.

Black people and brown people seem to get the most racism, whereas whites get less... but it's still there. Japanese people are hates probably the most here. My ex gf told me about how they call them monkies. It's a strange place sometimes.

The food here is awesome. It'd be a crime to not partake in the food. Try to avoid eating western as much as possible... and only eat a meal or two a month western if you can. This is both healthier and cheaper. If you must get Pizza... you NEED TO SPLURGE ON THE DOUGH. Dominoes is like $30 for 1 pepperoni pizza... but fucking worth it man. If you get some shitty cheap Pizza School Pizza... you may as well eat cardboard. Do buy some Sriracha (some thai spicy sauce... made from red peppers). And always eat the food.

Take advantage of your benefits AS MUCH AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. They have awesome coverage here for everything. I swear, this country has the best medicine I've ever seen... and I'm CANADIAN! True, in Canada I pay $0 per doctors visit... but here, I pay like $3 and I can get damned near free dental. As well, I have to pay for my prescriptions in full in Canada unless I'm covered through my work. In Korea, as a foreign teacher, you're always covered.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes in Korea, there's almost never a negative circumstance for your actions. Unless a man is with a woman, you can always hit on girls. They'll mostly cover their eyes and pretend like they hate you... which is disturbing as hell, but every so often you'll meet somebody sexy that wants to party. I struck out something like 15 times in one night in a huge club... whereas back home I've never done that to any such degree. Maybe 4 or 5 strikeouts a night, but some girl within 5 girls is definitely going to want to at least talk to me. Here... I dunno, I've still got to figure out how to mack girls in a nightclub. I'm pretty sure the only way to do it is through "booking," which just means you sit in the VIP room, buy lots of overpriced alcohol and pay money for the waiters to bring you the sexiest girls. The girls almost never say no, and they steal your booze, and then you can get their numbers.

If you like hookers, this is the place for you. I don't know much about them, but they're more prevalent than in Vegas. It's illegal, but the cops don't care. There's a brothel right next to a police station in Pyeongtaek. It's a very strange place sometimes.

Just get used to it.

[Dodge7]

Someone throw this guy a bone and read his ridiculously long post and judge it to see if it was any good. It looks like he spent a lot of time on it and eager for some feedback. If it gets enough "good" votes I'll read it, too, OP. Sorry, I'm the TL/DR type.

[T-J]

[peacemaker]

Naive, offensive, pointless, and poorly written. Sorry, but it is.

[T-J]

OMG! It gets better. Four months ago you didn't know how to write your own address and now you have it ALL figured out. Priceless.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=2838114&highlight=#2838114

[Dodge7]

I don't think this was the response OP was aiming for lol.

[jonpurdy]

This thread is what happens when people fresh off the boat mix with people who have been here for years.

[KiwiRob]

Well i enjoyed reading through your post. Cheers

[spilot101]

Ahh... the vultures. Thanks for your honest 6-month opinion though. Obviously, some will always have a "problem" with the concept of subjectivity. Message board is a serious business, I tell ya....

[Squire]

[salutbonjour]

This is pure comedy.

[yfb]

OP, this essay is like tossing a raw piece of meat into a shark tank. It got ripped apart real fast.

You're posting an essay about teaching at 6 months on a forum frequented by embittered lifers.

That said, there is very little in your essay that hasn't been posted at 10,000 other blogs about teaching in Korea and thus, very little new or interesting content.

Edit: Actually read through this horrible essay, and OP fits this ESL teacher's behavior to a T

http://www.quickmeme.com/Clueless

[northway]

[northway]

[edwardcatflap]