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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Zackback
Joined: 05 Nov 2010
Location: Kyungbuk
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 Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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| I hope I can find a nice girlfriend there. |
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markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Zackback wrote: |
| I hope I can find a nice girlfriend there. |
It's not hard bud, I'm sure you can do it. I won't go into great details, but you wouldn't be lonely. However, I found when it rains it pours there. |
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cheezsteakwit
Joined: 12 Oct 2011
Location: There & back again.
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Dalton
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 1:28 am Post subject: |
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Every time I see this thread I check the China job boards and the China job discussion boards and have a 'What the heck are they talking about' experience.
But if you're young, know what your doing then there are a lot of countries to explore, a lot of cultures to experience. Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Cambodia, Malaysia. Go for it.
If it's money you're after, read the China Job Discussion forum and ask questions.
If it's a wife you're after then I've heard very good things about Taiwan.
If it's the benefit of a wife without actually having a wife then I've heard many good things about the Philippines. |
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metalhead
Joined: 18 May 2010
Location: Toilet
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| Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 2:51 am Post subject: |
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I guess a good way to put it is that Korea is sterile. If you want a real Asian experience, go to China.
I still think Korea is better for saving though, simply because there is less to do here (for me at least).
Not being able to buy clothes I like and/or clothes that fit are a huge factor, too. There is only one of everything in Korea in any case - one style of clothes, one spice in food, one style of building, one way to think, one taxi to take - anyone that has lived here should know what I mean. |
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Dalton
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 3:31 am Post subject: |
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| metalhead wrote: |
I guess a good way to put it is that Korea is sterile. If you want a real Asian experience, go to China.
I still think Korea is better for saving though, simply because there is less to do here (for me at least).
Not being able to buy clothes I like and/or clothes that fit are a huge factor, too. There is only one of everything in Korea in any case - one style of clothes, one spice in food, one style of building, one way to think, one taxi to take - anyone that has lived here should know what I mean. |
Having lived in a couple Asian countries for about 5 years each I'd agree that their isn't much to do but reading these forums and tourist sites makes me suspect that I'm an outlier.
I quoted you because I think if someone really wanted an Asian experience they might try places like Laos or even Cambodia. AFAIK they aren't very westernized like the the giants of Asia. The countryside of Vietnam is reportedly quite pristine as well. China just sounds smelly, excessively unhealthy and cheap to me. |
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metalhead
Joined: 18 May 2010
Location: Toilet
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| Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 4:33 am Post subject: |
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| Dalton wrote: |
| metalhead wrote: |
I guess a good way to put it is that Korea is sterile. If you want a real Asian experience, go to China.
I still think Korea is better for saving though, simply because there is less to do here (for me at least).
Not being able to buy clothes I like and/or clothes that fit are a huge factor, too. There is only one of everything in Korea in any case - one style of clothes, one spice in food, one style of building, one way to think, one taxi to take - anyone that has lived here should know what I mean. |
Having lived in a couple Asian countries for about 5 years each I'd agree that their isn't much to do but reading these forums and tourist sites makes me suspect that I'm an outlier.
I quoted you because I think if someone really wanted an Asian experience they might try places like Laos or even Cambodia. AFAIK they aren't very westernized like the the giants of Asia. The countryside of Vietnam is reportedly quite pristine as well. China just sounds smelly, excessively unhealthy and cheap to me. |
So you've never been to China, but it sounds smelly? Cool beans man, I've never been to North America, but it sounds like crap to me. I loathe plastic cheese. |
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Dalton
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 4:39 am Post subject: |
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| metalhead wrote: |
| Dalton wrote: |
| metalhead wrote: |
I guess a good way to put it is that Korea is sterile. If you want a real Asian experience, go to China.
I still think Korea is better for saving though, simply because there is less to do here (for me at least).
Not being able to buy clothes I like and/or clothes that fit are a huge factor, too. There is only one of everything in Korea in any case - one style of clothes, one spice in food, one style of building, one way to think, one taxi to take - anyone that has lived here should know what I mean. |
Having lived in a couple Asian countries for about 5 years each I'd agree that their isn't much to do but reading these forums and tourist sites makes me suspect that I'm an outlier.
I quoted you because I think if someone really wanted an Asian experience they might try places like Laos or even Cambodia. AFAIK they aren't very westernized like the the giants of Asia. The countryside of Vietnam is reportedly quite pristine as well. China just sounds smelly, excessively unhealthy and cheap to me. |
So you've never been to China, but it sounds smelly? Cool beans man, I've never been to North America, but it sounds like crap to me. I loathe plastic cheese. |
Wow. So you can't read but you teach? |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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| metalhead wrote: |
I guess a good way to put it is that Korea is sterile. If you want a real Asian experience, go to China.
I still think Korea is better for saving though, simply because there is less to do here (for me at least).
Not being able to buy clothes I like and/or clothes that fit are a huge factor, too. There is only one of everything in Korea in any case - one style of clothes, one spice in food, one style of building, one way to think, one taxi to take - anyone that has lived here should know what I mean. |
I like Korea because Koreans are very direct and non PC. It means I get to be this way too. Had some older women question me once about foriegners preying on Korean women. I replied by asking about Korean men using Soju to lure Korean women. It was awesome. We both got to speak our mind and never get in trouble. I've been blunt with Koreans and have never gotten into trouble. So, being direct, emotional, and all that stuff is fine by me.
It's when I meet some westerners, who start going all PC on me, that annoy me. Koreans are chill, even if there are occasional bouts of xenophobia. They leave me along and don't bug me. So, it's cool. |
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No_hite_pls
Joined: 05 Mar 2007
Location: Don't hate me because I'm right
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| Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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| metalhead wrote: |
I still think Korea is better for saving though, simply because there is less to do here (for me at least).
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There is some truth to this. The water park in Yeosu is only open from July 20-August 26 because that's swimming season. WTF Even though half the water-park is indoors but it's still closed 11 months a year.  |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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| No_hite_pls wrote: |
| metalhead wrote: |
I still think Korea is better for saving though, simply because there is less to do here (for me at least).
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There is some truth to this. The water park in Yeosu is only open from July 20-August 26 because that's swimming season. WTF Even though half the water-park is indoors but it's still closed 11 months a year. |
Follow the rules son and, just maybe, you'll do ok here.... When you are exactly 28, you must get married. When, it's exactly August 26th, you can't go to the outdoor beaches anymore either. When, it's 3 pm and cold outside, you always open the windows. When you're over 25, you can't go to regular nightclubs anymore. Always, follow the code sonny boy and never deviate from it. Conform to the masses..... |
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Bariko
Joined: 21 Aug 2012
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| Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| I did my first year of ESL five years ago in north-east China (Harbin). Loved it. The pollution was bad, but the people were awesome. The only problem I had was that my job sucked (I didn't do the research). Less red tape, lower cost of living, great amenities, plenty of expats and/or places that cater to them, and northern China has some fo the friendliest people I've ever met in my life. I was seriously debating returning to China as opposed to taking the job I just started here in Korea. All in all, I'm not disappointed, but I don't think I'll be in Korea for long. A year after this contract at best. There's a bunch more places to see! |
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rockbilly
Joined: 19 Mar 2013
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| Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 6:33 am Post subject: China Caution |
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Folks, listen up.
I did ESL in Korea from 2001 to 2007 (with a hiatus working for lawyers, in Seoul). Started with kindie, moved on to business English, got in with the lawyers, ended up at one of Korea's top three ranked high schools.
Someone should have cautioned me then, going into 2008, that making the move to China would prove UTTERLY DISASTROUS.
Job #1, a state uni in Nanjing, cheated me out of money. You're incredulous? YOU DON'T KNOW CHINA! Yes, the Chinese GOVERNMENT will cheat you out of money.
I then fled to job #2, a CANADIAN franchise in Beijing, teaching rich kids for what was promised to be big bucks. Come payday, I was offered 300 RMB in exchange for a month of day and night teaching. Read it carefully, folks--no mistake--I was offered FIFTY US DOLLARS in exchange for a solid MONTH of day and night work which I'd done for those people.
Job #3 had no textbooks and so very, very badly insulted me and abused me that I was forced to flee within one week . . .
FOUR YEARS LATER I'd finally had enough of China.
Why four years? Because I'm longsuffering and patient. Because I was naive. Because like a lot of you here I thought that China is just another country, a place you can go to to live and work.
You can't.
Chinese people will not respect you. They will lie to you. They will cheat you. They will do it again and again and again until finally, sooner or later, you wise up and leave.
That was my experience. Yours may of course be different. In fact, I very much hope that yours IS different, VERY different, if you brave China.
Learn from my experience though. Don't go. On holiday, yes. A day in Beijing, an afternoon at the Great Wall. Heck, I'll even go so far as to recommend Pingyao, in Shanxi province, and Dali, in Yunnan. DO go to both places. BUT ON VACATION, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD'S SAKE!
Do NOT go to China to live and work. You will regret it. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| metalhead wrote: |
I guess a good way to put it is that Korea is sterile. If you want a real Asian experience, go to China.
I still think Korea is better for saving though, simply because there is less to do here (for me at least).
Not being able to buy clothes I like and/or clothes that fit are a huge factor, too. There is only one of everything in Korea in any case - one style of clothes, one spice in food, one style of building, one way to think, one taxi to take - anyone that has lived here should know what I mean. |
I like Korea because Koreans are very direct and non PC. It means I get to be this way too. Had some older women question me once about foriegners preying on Korean women. I replied by asking about Korean men using Soju to lure Korean women. It was awesome. We both got to speak our mind and never get in trouble. I've been blunt with Koreans and have never gotten into trouble. So, being direct, emotional, and all that stuff is fine by me.
It's when I meet some westerners, who start going all PC on me, that annoy me. Koreans are chill, even if there are occasional bouts of xenophobia. They leave me along and don't bug me. So, it's cool. |
I have to say, the aspect of Koreans being very direct and how it impacted me is something that I still have problems with.
Backstory: I worked and lived in Korea for 9 years. I became VERY direct as I found it was the only way to get through exactly what I wanted. I think at times, perhaps I enjoyed this lifestyle as there was no consequences for being direct.
Fast Forward: I went back to Canada to upgrade my education: family and friends had a hard time dealing with my directness.
Fast Forward-pt2: I finished school and landed a job in China at an international school: coworkers and students sometimes have a problem with my directness and I am 1000x more chill then when I first stepped off the plane in Canada back in 2006.
It is a blessing about being in Korea, but since the rest of the world doesn't operate like that, it has been a curse that I have been trying to get rid of. I absolutely despise the whole PC culture, but I am still trying to get my non-direct skills worked out. Honestly, I am wondering if it will ever happen as I have been out of Korea for 7 years and I am still direct with people without even realizing it! |
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tran.huongthu
Joined: 23 May 2011
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| Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Zackback wrote: |
| I hope I can find a nice girlfriend there. |
The least of your worries in China, trust me. Filtering out the bad ones should be more of a concern as they can take you for a wild ride. |
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