Korean Job Discussion Forums

lithium · Joined: 18 Jun 2008

Why not have both?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqgSO8_cRio

Who's Your Daddy? · Joined: 30 May 2010 Location: Victoria, Canada.

I'd worry you'll become the family tutor if you live together.

Scorpion · Joined: 15 Apr 2012

OP, ignore PatrickBusan. He hasn't lived in Korea in six years. His advice is worthless. Take your advice from people who actually live here. Noone is saying "lock Korea out of your life". What people are saying is that there will be many times when you want to lock it out of your home. There will be days when you will despise aspects of Korea (the hundreds of annoying things add up). There will be times when you will experience culture shock. There will be many days when you get home from work and you desire nothing more than to lock your door, put on headphones and put in a movie....and lock Korea out. Blocking Korea out of certain aspects of your daily life (especially your home) is one of the survival tricks to living and working in Korea. The sooner one learns this the better. Sure you can invite a friend over, but here you are in control. You can't control who your roommate will bring over..and Koreans do everything in groups. Groups!

If you value your friendship with your friend I'd suggest living apart. Everyone needs their boundaries and their 'space'. And that applies triply to foreigners working in Korea.

We control very little in this country. Your home is the only place where you are totally in control. Don't give that up.

le-paul · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Location: dans la chambre

id suggest not listening to a word anyone says and just do what you intended to do in the first place. it seems like you already made your mind up.
move in with her, itll be a lot of fun
live and learn

itiswhatitis · Joined: 08 Aug 2011

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:39 am Post subject:

Los Angeloser · Joined: 26 Aug 2010 Location: Korea

Keep your personal life separate from your professional life. Don't be specific about where exactly you work, I'd even lie about the name of the place or tell her you don't know the exact name/address or forgot. And don't tell your employer about your "friend's" name or where she lives etc...If things go wrong at work(illegally fired, stalking, followed by the boot from "home") your "friend" could help you out by letting you stay there. But if your employer knows where she lives then your "friend" could see your boss at her front door in an attempt to get at you. The same goes with your "friend" if things go bad with her you wouldn't want her to harass you at work or threaten your job. Your "friend" is your emergency plan and never let your employer know the phone number of your "friend," for her sake.

War Eagle · Joined: 15 Feb 2009

Ok, where to start. First of all, only some people choose to "lock Korea out" because they have bad experiences and want to escape (Not downplaying the needs of those who choose to do so. Just saying not everyone needs to.). Unfortunately, those are many of the people who frequest Dave's to vent.

I, personally, wouldn't think of this in terms of a Korean roommate vs. an American roommate.

Most of it depends on your lifestyle and the lifestyle of your roommate. Do you get up at the same time? Do you go to bed at the same time? Do you both party? Do you like the same music? Do you mind if the other brings a hook-up home (just saying)? Do you both keep care of the house equally (i.e. one is a slob and the other a neat-freak)?

Financially wise, of course, it's better to be roommates. Also, you'll have a nicer play to say, most likely (School housing can be shitty.) On the other hand, do you want to jeopardize your friendship if you get into frequest arguments? Can you guarentee that won't happen? Is your relationship strong enough to survive it if it does?

Dodge7 · Joined: 21 Oct 2011

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 5:41 am Post subject:

Dodge7 · Joined: 21 Oct 2011

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:48 am Post subject:

I did miss the epic confrontation...

Religion (or lack of it) is a personal thing. No one should impose his or her views on anyone.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

The first year in Korea, I had to share an apartment with another foreign teacher. It worked out OK.

But with the never-ending supply of nutcases that seem to wash up on Korean shores, I would never do it again.

Korean, weiguk-in, whoever, you need your own space sometimes.

The reason my roomie and I got on well was that we both stayed out of

each other's business and both recognized that we needed our personal

alone time. (especially after a hard day)

I don't know if a Korean person (friend or not) would understand this concept. I had a few Korean friends who could be downright annoying
and I was sure glad not to be sharing a living space with them.

Scorpion · Joined: 15 Apr 2012

Op, if you opt to move in with your Korean friend please be sure to give up an update after a few months....if you haven't done a runner.

One more thing. You mentioned that you are a female. Your user name is 'tellhernow'. Is there something you omitted in your post, maybe concerning the nature of your relationship with your 'dear' friend? Is it romantic in nature, because this place ain't NYC. Officially there are no gays here. You'll be the first. Am I reading too much into your user name + your reference to a "dear friend"? Probably am...Too much time on my hands. Confused

But if I'm not, that's a pertinent piece of information.

edit: just read where you stated that your friend is in a long-term relation with a bloke. Me bad.

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

As someone who essentially disintegrates when living along, and has been squatting at a Korean's house in the States for the better part of a year (with family occasionally popping in), and having spent significant time living with Korean friends' families without the friends even there, I don't really see the issue in staying with said friend.