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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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 Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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Better not to return to one's country then. You could pay with your life. Best to stay in Korea* where it is safe.
*a country with one of the world's lowest suicide rates |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 7:33 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| I don't have to hurry. The economy has been improving for a long time and will continue to improve. For you to assert there are no good jobs there is pathetic. |
The unemployment rate is not dropping because the jobs picture is improving. It’s dropping because people are giving up their job searches. They’re not participating in the workforce. In fact, only around 62% of Americans even have a job right now, the lowest since 1978.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/19/minimum-wage-job-losses-cbo-analysis |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Many Americans are giving up the search...well saying that anyway...to go on SSI for a disability. Free money for not working. Way too many do that. Millions. Others aren't working because they are housewives who don't want to work, prefering to be a stay at home mom raising their kids. The majority of Americans are working. The majority who want a job have a job. Why do only two thirds of Americans have a job? Probably due to longer life expectancy. People are living into their 90s. (My mother retired at age 55. Many others did too.) |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| Many Americans are giving up the search...well saying that anyway...to go on SSI for a disability. Free money for not working. Way too many do that. Millions. Others aren't working because they are housewives who don't want to work, prefering to be a stay at home mom raising their kids. The majority of Americans are working. The majority who want a job have a job. Why do only two thirds of Americans have a job? Probably due to longer life expectancy. People are living into their 90s. (My mother retired at age 55. Many others did too.) |
And you have empirical data to back this up? |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/04/08/how-americans-game-the-200-billion-a-year-disability-industrial-complex/ |
So you're saying more people are going on disability and that's why fewer Americans are not working now? The article doesn't say that and it doesn't talk about the vast numbers of young college grads or those in their 20s and early 30s who are unemployed or underemployed.
Again, I'm not saying the U.S. economy isn't improving or is doomed (though many experts might say otherwise), but things are changing for the worse due to China and other emerging economies, and the recovery won't be as strong like those after previous recessions in that fewer jobs will be produced.
40% of workers made under 20,000 dollars a year
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/11/05/2890091/wage-income-data/# |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
"a college degree typically yields much more inflation-adjusted earnings than before"
"roughly nine in 10 college graduates ages 25 to 32 said that their bachelor's degree had paid off or will pay off in the future"
"Young adults see significant economic gains from getting a college degree regardless of the level of student debt they have taken on." |
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
I want what they're smoking. I think more than one in ten are liberal arts grad or general business degrees without any specialization. Only degrees that have specialized skills are making the cash. In a boom economy, other grads can start at the bottom and with smarts and proving themselves can work up. |
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simpleminds
Joined: 04 May 2006
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| Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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| ajuma wrote: |
August will mark my 18th year here...minus about a year spent in the Czech Republic where I did my CELTA and worked for a few months.
I'm probably one of the few women who has lasted this long without marrying a Korean! I'm also one of the few (back in the 90s anyway) who came here and WASN'T 20 something. In fact, I was 40 something! I even had one director tell me that she was worried about my age! 
Why do I stay? I have a great job with lots of vacation time and decent pay. And I love teaching!
Do I love Korea? Yes and no and maybe. I love the health care system, the public transportation (although I have a car) and the fact that I can be myself. If the Korean rules are the best fit for me, I can follow them. If I'm more comfortable doing things Western style, people don't think twice about it. I'm a foreigner after all! 
Changes? Yeah, even since 1996 there have been huge changes! When I first got here, I lived in a small town and I was the only foreigner. Everyone knew me and pointed to me. City buses used to slow down so everyone could get a look at me. Today, now and then a little kid with stare, but not very often.
Someone else mentioned class sizes and I have to agree. My first uni class (after teaching for 3 years in a hagwon with a maximum of 12 students in a class) had 70 students!! I'm happy with the 30 that I have now.
The availability of foreign food is something else that has changed. I was living in Ulsan back in 1998 and Carrefour (now HomePlus) got a shipment of nacho chips. I think all 70 of us foreigners ran out there and bought up every bag. They didn't get any more for months!!!
When going "home" to the States, what will I find the most difficult? Not having any references except Korean ones...and that's for jobs, apartments, everything! Car insurance is going to be a lot more expensive, even if I can convince whatever company I go with to accept some Korean documentation. Slow internet!!! My Mom has one of the so-called "fast" providers. HA!!! It was that fast in Korea 10 years ago!! And she pays double what is usual in Korea. Health insurance is going to be a concern. I don't want to work full time and I don't think you can get insurance through work if you're only part time.
Will I miss Korea when I finally leave? Hell yes!!! |
I'm another woman who has not married a Korean. 14 years here in May. Not a 20-something when I came, either. I'm here cos I'm one of those who always wanted to teach ESL. The vacations, the free housing, that is a bonus on top of living in a culture different from my own.
When I visit London (yearly; used to live there) or go 'home' to Oz, I appreciate where I come from. The icing on the cake is, I miss the worst of the Korean summer or winter, and don't have to endure the most rubbishy of the London or Melbourne weather, since I go in summer. Two summers a year; not bad!
I've met people I would not otherwise have met, and have made friends with people of all ages and different backgrounds and countries. Not so much if I had stayed in Oz and taught in the politically correct environment there.
When I go to Oz, I'm always under the impression it is behind everyone else. It's too far from anywhere, but it's likely I'll return there eventually to teach IELTS or similar.
Since I live only 10km from the DMZ, I get asked why I'm there. When I say I do a job I like, four months' vacation, free housing, great food (yes, the food!), decent health insurance, efficient public transport, being able to truck to another country in 12 hours or less instead of 24 (like Oz to Europe), etc, it's 'no wonder you stay'.  |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:09 am Post subject: |
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| Lunar Groove Gardener wrote: |
Congrats on 10 years, BeertownDave. Same for me.
I'll spot you a Sprecher and a brat, either at Summerfest or Brady Street block party!
Rock on. |
Hey I'm going to hold you to that! |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:15 am Post subject: |
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| simpleminds wrote: |
| ajuma wrote: |
August will mark my 18th year here...minus about a year spent in the Czech Republic where I did my CELTA and worked for a few months.
I'm probably one of the few women who has lasted this long without marrying a Korean! I'm also one of the few (back in the 90s anyway) who came here and WASN'T 20 something. In fact, I was 40 something! I even had one director tell me that she was worried about my age!
Why do I stay? I have a great job with lots of vacation time and decent pay. And I love teaching!
Do I love Korea? Yes and no and maybe. I love the health care system, the public transportation (although I have a car) and the fact that I can be myself. If the Korean rules are the best fit for me, I can follow them. If I'm more comfortable doing things Western style, people don't think twice about it. I'm a foreigner after all!
Changes? Yeah, even since 1996 there have been huge changes! When I first got here, I lived in a small town and I was the only foreigner. Everyone knew me and pointed to me. City buses used to slow down so everyone could get a look at me. Today, now and then a little kid with stare, but not very often.
Someone else mentioned class sizes and I have to agree. My first uni class (after teaching for 3 years in a hagwon with a maximum of 12 students in a class) had 70 students!! I'm happy with the 30 that I have now.
The availability of foreign food is something else that has changed. I was living in Ulsan back in 1998 and Carrefour (now HomePlus) got a shipment of nacho chips. I think all 70 of us foreigners ran out there and bought up every bag. They didn't get any more for months!!!
When going "home" to the States, what will I find the most difficult? Not having any references except Korean ones...and that's for jobs, apartments, everything! Car insurance is going to be a lot more expensive, even if I can convince whatever company I go with to accept some Korean documentation. Slow internet!!! My Mom has one of the so-called "fast" providers. HA!!! It was that fast in Korea 10 years ago!! And she pays double what is usual in Korea. Health insurance is going to be a concern. I don't want to work full time and I don't think you can get insurance through work if you're only part time.
Will I miss Korea when I finally leave? Hell yes!!! |
I'm another woman who has not married a Korean. 14 years here in May. Not a 20-something when I came, either. I'm here cos I'm one of those who always wanted to teach ESL. The vacations, the free housing, that is a bonus on top of living in a culture different from my own.
When I visit London (yearly; used to live there) or go 'home' to Oz, I appreciate where I come from. The icing on the cake is, I miss the worst of the Korean summer or winter, and don't have to endure the most rubbishy of the London or Melbourne weather, since I go in summer. Two summers a year; not bad!
I've met people I would not otherwise have met, and have made friends with people of all ages and different backgrounds and countries. Not so much if I had stayed in Oz and taught in the politically correct environment there.
When I go to Oz, I'm always under the impression it is behind everyone else. It's too far from anywhere, but it's likely I'll return there eventually to teach IELTS or similar.
Since I live only 10km from the DMZ, I get asked why I'm there. When I say I do a job I like, four months' vacation, free housing, great food (yes, the food!), decent health insurance, efficient public transport, being able to truck to another country in 12 hours or less instead of 24 (like Oz to Europe), etc, it's 'no wonder you stay'. |
There's nothing wrong with that. I have a friend who taught in China and she is an older retired teacher. She loves it there and is good at what she does. |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:17 am Post subject: |
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| isitts wrote: |
| Milwaukiedave wrote: |
| Last Thursday marked 10 years since I came to Korea. |
| hogwonguy1979 wrote: |
| We just finished 17 1/2 years… |
| Yaya wrote: |
| I'm in my 18th year in Korea… |
| schwa wrote: |
| Coming up 15 years myself. |
Well, this is all very encouraging. I’m about to go into my 5th year here in Korea and was wondering if I could last another 10. Generally, I like it here. I just don’t like that the Pacific Ocean is so big. Those flights to visit “home” really exhaust me. If flying to the US was as easy as flying to Japan… And I don’t know what I’d do without samgyetang, the public exercise machines at the parks, health insurance, no rent/mortgage, and a job I actually like doing…
Ten years seems like a big chunk, but, I guess one year at a time… |
It is a large chuck of time. I only go back home every 2 years or so (I'm going to be at 3 this summer). I particularly hate the flights because of the length and the expense so I don't go often. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 10:31 am Post subject: |
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Be wary of staying TOO long in Korea, as in past your mid-40s. Believe it or not, you can still start a new career at that age in the U.S. (dunno about Canada, the U.K. or Australia). Age discrimination in Korea becomes a powerful factor after 40 in Korea, especially if one lacks teaching credentials and such.
Life can play tricks on you here and there. I thought I'd live out my days in Korea, but not anymore. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 9:55 am Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
Be wary of staying TOO long in Korea, as in past your mid-40s. Believe it or not, you can still start a new career at that age in the U.S. (dunno about Canada, the U.K. or Australia). Age discrimination in Korea becomes a powerful factor after 40 in Korea, especially if one lacks teaching credentials and such.
Life can play tricks on you here and there. I thought I'd live out my days in Korea, but not anymore. |
What is your plan now? |
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chungbukdo
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:07 am Post subject: |
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| I met a woman who came in the early 80s for the peace corps. The leading cause of death in Korea was tuberculosis at the time, which she was tasked with treating. Her male friend was sent to the rural and impoverished Southern regions where leprosy was out of control. Its amazing to think of how far Korea has come, especially since the South was poorer than the poorest African countries after the war ended. |
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