Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Derrek]

My parents are getting older, and they keep throwing these massive guilt trips on my about "wasting my time" in Korea, don't have a job with a pension, blah blah blah. They sort of blew up in an e-mail to me after I was talking about finding my next job here in Korea.

I really am excited to go back and see them in a few months, but I hate to face all of the whining and crap they're going to throw my way. I know they're going to do everything they can to keep me from coming back. Heck, I'm in my 30s now! They don't mind if I live anywhere in the USA, but definately NOT Korea.

Do other people go through this with family too?

[crazylemongirl]

My parents are still upset about me being here. But since my mother still hasn't forgiven me for doing my honours degree in political studies when I could have been doing something more productive read money producing like law or accounting. I don't think i've got anything to worry about.

I figure life's to short to be doing something you hate for 40 years, only to be run down a bus on retirement day.

Moral of story:: your old enough to make your own decisions (hell your almost 10 years older than me) but parents love to nag because that's what their there for.

CLG

[rapier]

My parents passed away when i was young, and I have effectively been on entirely my own mission ever since. Its kind of strange for me to see my mate on the phone to his parents now and again, promising to go back when he can and justifying all his moves to his mum. I feel no pressure to do or live up to anything- except my own values and goals. You're certainly old enough to follow your own plans. But also remember how fortunate you are to have two people who worry and think about you, would support you if you were in any sort of trouble, and who love you. (Ok just call me Oprah)

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I understand rapier, and I know sometimes it can be hard to look at people with parents and think "Don't complain! Sheesh! I wish I had parents!"

But honestly parents can be (not all) overbearing.

My folks have relaxed a bit and have stopped nagging.

Not much mind you...

[The Lemon]

Jade - totally none of my business, but what country was your mom from? I'm assuming she wasn't Korean, maybe European perhaps (judging from the EU comment)...

Just wondering..

[Dazed and Confused]

I can understand your parents. My parents did similar things when I headed off to China on a one-way ticket 8 years ago.
They've really settled down but do expect me to return to America, buy a house, and start a family. Never mind that I do not want to live in Oklahoma in a town of 6,000 people, my husband is Korean and has obligations here to his family, and I don't want kids.

What they never seemed to understand for the longest time was that I am not on a permanent vacation just because I live overseas. I actually have a job. I don't know how many times my mom told me she didn't see why she had to write a check to American Express since I could just take the train into Seoul and pay my bill each month. (At the time I lived in Daejon ) Another thing they can't seem to understand is that working at a university and having 16 classes per week doesn't mean you work on Monday and Tuesday and have the rest of the week off! Don't we all wish???

I guess parents will be parents and they can't understand why you're wasting away here in Korea. I recommend you read Bridgit Jones' Diary.

[panthermodern]

My time is Korea, from a family stand point has been rather easy;

Paterial Side: My family came to N.A. in the 1600's and is proud of that pioneer spirit. so, they look at it as a revitailization of the new family spirt of exporation and conquest. Plus they are all from the east coast of Canada, (Since the War of Rebellion) and see going to another place to get work as basically normal.

Maternial Side: Came to N.A. post W.W. II and see going abroad as a part of the quest for life. In addition this side of my DNA is horriblibly English and they view my ESL career to be out of some Joesph Conrad novel. The have the hardest time understanding that where I live (South East Seoul) is by far more modern then ... well anywhere but Chiba Japan ....


As I have said may times the x-pat life is mostly a personal thing ... make of it what you will ... and try to tell the folks at home it is a perfectly normal thing.

[weatherman]

Yeah, I understand. My mother always asks when I am coming home. This makes her start to cry, and it ruins my feelings for the day. She came and visited once, and didn't take very well to the crowds, food, and general intensity that is Korea. I understand it is hard for her, but I have invested so much time here, it is my home now.

[dogbert]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Doesn't matter what people call it.

Both are accurate descriptions.

[mysteriousdeltarays]

Mother is dear, Father is dear but Mao thought is dearest of all!

[Blue Flower]

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Well, I am going through this again...

My father is like "Well, this will be your last time fetishing in Asia I hope"



I want to just get my butt to Korea so I don't have to hear him all day, all night..."when you come back..."

[kimcheeking]