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A different point of view

 
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Seoulman69



Joined: 14 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Tue May 14, 2013 12:46 am    Post subject: A different point of view Reply with quote

I bitch and moan about living in Korea as much as anyone else. It's hard being a foreigner in Korea and sometimes I feel that Koreans don't understand. While nobody can ever really understand what someone else is going through Koreans are often having a difficult time in Korea too. I've been lucky enough to make some good friends over the years and they have told me some of the troubles they experience. I though I'd share them here.

My friend went to a decent uni but not one of the best. He lived in England and France for a while. He speaks English and French well. He currently lives with his parents and can't get a decent job in the field he wants. He's 31 and worries he won't be able to look after a wife and family. He doesn't have a girlfriend. He doesn't make much money each month and any job offers he gets are temporary worker contracts which strip the benefits.

My other friend is married, went to a good uni and has a decent job. He finished at around 6pm but his boss always wants him to go drinking with him. My friend wants to go home and relax with his wife. He worries that refusing to go drinking with his boss will negatively effect his promotion prospects. His mother is very demanding and always has been. Every weekend he is expected to go and see his parents who constantly ask why he isn't doing better in life. He's considered a disappointment. His wife works very long hours and doesn't get home till late. My friend constantly complains that he only gets to spend time with his wife on the weekends and it often feels like he is living with a lodger. Recently he told me his job is being made obsolete and he will need to find another job.

These are two of my friends and are educated guys. They are struggling and worry about the future of themselves and their family.

It's hard living in Korea. Keep your chin up and be as positive as you can.
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maximmm



Joined: 01 Feb 2008

PostPosted: Tue May 14, 2013 1:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well..... These are still first world problems
Here is more info on this major issue facing the world: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN2WzQzxuoA


If you really want to feel good about your life, you might want to look at the starving children in the 3rd world nations, but then again, that can also make you even more miserable. It all depends on one's personality ^^
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oppa637



Joined: 05 Dec 2011

PostPosted: Tue May 14, 2013 4:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Its tough everywhere, but the social expectations here are brutal. Along with the competition, a lot here are giving up on the family life and just trying to make ends meet but they don't want anyone to see this.

It makes me sad.
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Lucas



Joined: 11 Sep 2012

PostPosted: Tue May 14, 2013 5:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Its tough everywhere, but the social expectations here are brutal. Along with the competition, a lot here are giving up on the family life and just trying to make ends meet but they don't want anyone to see this.



In any country that sees being over 30 as 'old' and too late to try something new has problems.....
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atwood



Joined: 26 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Tue May 14, 2013 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks--and tell your friends to keep their chins up as well.
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jdog2050



Joined: 17 Dec 2006

PostPosted: Wed May 15, 2013 1:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

oppa637 wrote:
Its tough everywhere, but the social expectations here are brutal. Along with the competition, a lot here are giving up on the family life and just trying to make ends meet but they don't want anyone to see this.

It makes me sad.


Yeah; the expectations are just insane. I have a friend who actually has a decent but minimum wage job at a startup. The start up will probably have room for her to grow(a few people have already been promoted to managers), but she can't tell her dad about it because he expects her to work for a Chaebol. The sad thing is that, statistically she's better off sticking with the start up and working her way up/growing with it than trying out for one of the scant jobs with Hyundai, Samsung, etc.

What's sad is that the conversation has become a "no-go" area when she talks to her parents because it's become such a carousel of the same arguments over and over.
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MiXX



Joined: 30 Aug 2012

PostPosted: Wed May 15, 2013 1:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Korea blows. Completely fugged up pretentious, vain, xenophobic society with their priorities a$$ backwards.

Only redeeming qualities are

1) Saving Money / Paying off debt
2) Food / Eating / Drinking Culture
3) Travel Oppurtunities
4) Banging sloots in Itaewon

I guess you could throw in hiking if you like that kind of stuff.

Needless to say I cant wait to leave
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KimchiNinja



Joined: 01 May 2012
Location: Gangnam

PostPosted: Wed May 15, 2013 8:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

oppa637 wrote:
Its tough everywhere...


Easy as cake everywhere, but everywhere I've been people complain.

Imagine if you lived in the dark ages, disease, eat some moldy bread, get hit in the head with a mace...now that would be tough.
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beison



Joined: 28 Feb 2010

PostPosted: Wed May 15, 2013 12:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

KimchiNinja wrote:
oppa637 wrote:
Its tough everywhere...


Easy as cake everywhere, but everywhere I've been people complain.

Imagine if you lived in the dark ages, disease, eat some moldy bread, get hit in the head with a mace...now that would be tough.


Best comment I've read all day. Quit the complaining and make YOUR life awesome.
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maximmm



Joined: 01 Feb 2008

PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2013 6:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

KimchiNinja wrote:
oppa637 wrote:
Its tough everywhere...


Easy as cake everywhere, but everywhere I've been people complain.

Imagine if you lived in the dark ages, disease, eat some moldy bread, get hit in the head with a mace...now that would be tough.


I suspect that I would be complaining in that situation as well^^
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orosee



Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Location: Hannam-dong, Seoul

PostPosted: Fri May 17, 2013 5:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MiXX wrote:

4) Banging sloots in Itaewon


Are there still "sloots"?

Itaewon is full of Korean couples and families now. I'm pretty sure they're going to change the two signs over Itaewon-ro to "Welcome to Lotte World II" soon.

I'd love to type this in one of the 20 new coffee shops or bubble tea houses that opened up in Itaewon recently, but all seats have been taken by trendy Koreans since 10am...
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Waygeek



Joined: 27 Feb 2013

PostPosted: Fri May 17, 2013 5:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MiXX wrote:
Korea blows. Completely fugged up pretentious, vain, xenophobic society with their priorities a$$ backwards.



4) Banging sloots in Itaewon



Something tells me Korea is not the problem...
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Seoulman69



Joined: 14 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2013 2:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Met my friend again on Thursday and had a couple of beers. He was in great ranting mode. Here are some of his opinions.

Koreans are too obsessed with money, and this is to the detriment of the society positively evolving.

All the Koreans with any money and/or power are riding on the coattails of the Koreans who served the Japanese during the occupation. He points out the injustice of the many politicians who killed fellow Koreans yet were never punished, and the rich chaebol owners who are never sent to jail for slush funds etc.

My friend is a good guy and loves his country. But he wants to see it change and improve.
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No_hite_pls



Joined: 05 Mar 2007
Location: Don't hate me because I'm right

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2013 8:46 pm    Post subject: Re: A different point of view Reply with quote

Seoulman69 wrote:

My friend went to a decent uni but not one of the best. He lived in England and France for a while. He speaks English and French well. He currently lives with his parents and can't get a decent job in the field he wants. He's 31 and worries he won't be able to look after a wife and family. He doesn't have a girlfriend. He doesn't make much money each month and any job offers he gets are temporary worker contracts which strip the benefits.

My other friend is married, went to a good uni and has a decent job. He finished at around 6pm but his boss always wants him to go drinking with him. My friend wants to go home and relax with his wife. He worries that refusing to go drinking with his boss will negatively effect his promotion prospects. His mother is very demanding and always has been. Every weekend he is expected to go and see his parents who constantly ask why he isn't doing better in life. He's considered a disappointment. His wife works very long hours and doesn't get home till late. My friend constantly complains that he only gets to spend time with his wife on the weekends and it often feels like he is living with a lodger. Recently he told me his job is being made obsolete and he will need to find another job.

These are two of my friends and are educated guys. They are struggling and worry about the future of themselves and their family. .


Life is hard.
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