Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Squire]

Cut the cord, it's time to grow up and leave your mom's basement

[Who's Your Daddy?]

Are they negative about Korea and the impact on your career, or are they worried that you can't handle living here? Maybe they don't know much about Korea, but they probably know you well enough to give advice on your personality type.

Some people don't fit in Korea. It isn't that they're bad, or weak, they just don't fit.

[Smithington]

[Steelrails]

Are they worried about you vanishing under a mushroom cloud?

Ask them how they managed to live through the Cold War without crapping themselves in fear everyday.

[andrewchon]

[Scorpion]

Why do you have two separate threads going on this same topic? Oh, and by the way tell mum and dad to turn off CNN. If that's where they're getting their 'scary' information about Korea then there's your problem. How many threads do you see here on Daves about how scary and dangerous it is living here? None. Nobody is living in fear of a nuclear attack. Korea has its problems, but the biggest danger here is crossing the road or being ripped off by your boss, screwed over by immigration, etc. It's not a particularly scary place. So turn off CNN and hook your parents up to the internet. Let them read what other Westerners complain about in Korea. They'll quickly see that it being a scary, dangerous place is not one of them.

You'll be fine. Once you're settled bring your parents out for a visit. They can see for themselves. Problem solved.

[aussieb]

As a parent whose child has lived in Korea for 12 years, I can tell you that when my wife & I were told by my son that he was moving to Korea, we were devastated. We knew that he was a mature adult and we didn't challenge his decision or his right to make it,but we knew that he was moving to the other side of the world and we would seldom see him. It was this separation that was so devastating. I think that most parents would feel the same way. We always expected that our children would eventually leave the family home and become independent but would have been more comfortable with his moving to the next suburb or the next town or even interstate but across the world was difficult for us to accept. I was not really concerned about the country he was moving to. Regular communication with your parents will be important for them. Skype will be their savior. I'm sure that your parents will gradually accept the situation but give them time to adjust to your decision. They may not have seen this coming. Set them up with Skype before you go and good luck with your decision to teach in Korea.

[joeteacher]

When I told my parents, my mom cried and my dad asked, "Are you f*&king nuts?". Almost seven years later, they haven't fully accepted it and still give me some hardcore guilt but they are much better about it and know that I'm happy here. OP, you got to do what is good for you. Go for it!

[Steelrails]

Reading this, I thank goodness for my parents who got to enjoy living in Europe (and marrying over there) for a couple years while my dad was in the Army, having a wedding in Germany with minimal pomp and circumstance (and no relatives- did have a reception when my dad got discharged), and being informed enough about the world to yawn over North Korean antics.

They view what I'm doing as normal and reasonable. I can't imagine dealing with people who would freak out over this.

[No_hite_pls]

[John Stamos jr.]

[Squire]

[Steelrails]

[Weigookin74]

[Died By Bear]

They probably see you going to Korea to teach English as a waste of your precious time.