Korean Job Discussion Forums

[itiswhatitis]

Nothing against Korea......but I've been here for years, the learning curve (understanding their culture etc..) has long since ended, I want to learn an Asian language and Mandarin is much more useful.

Alghouth there has been a lot of petty B.S. in Korea, for the most part I have been pretty much spoon fed everything that I need here.....my employer helped me open a bank account, my "apartment" had MOST of what I needed when I moved in, there was the same washing machine for clothes that I would use in Canada, easy public transport and a food mart always in walking distance and a big store like E-mart often in walking distance (or at least a short bus ride away) and I have found most Koreans to be very helpful with giving directions etc...

I'm not trying to be lazy (i'm not afraid of learning a few new things such as how to hand wash my clothes in China), but I would appreciate a frank assesment of what I am getting myself into should I go ahead with making the move to China in the next couple of months. To narrow it down, I plan to teach in a place like Tianjin, Shenzhen, or Guangzhou.

Information/advice about China from those who have taught in both Korea and China is much appreciated. What are some of the things that I will notice/should be prepared for during my first month or so in China?

Thanks in advance.

[Sector7G]

[Speck7]

the Chinese are far less xenophobic and dont stare as much when you are with one of their women as much as the Koreans too. So i've heard.

[radish kimchi]

[byrddogs]

Just make the move to Shanghai and don't look back. Your experiences there will prepare you for here.

[radish kimchi]

[robbie_davies]

Creeper not been on yet? He is scared you will take his job.

[Weigookin74]

I'd be gone to China myself if it weren't for a couple of things. I'm almost at a point to qualify for Korean pension. (Got to have some money to make up for not paying into the Canada Pension Plan.) Also have a little bit of debt left to pay off. Once that thresh hold is crossed, then China will definately be a strong consideration. If you've got a couple of years here experience, go home and apply for the Z Visa and move on to China. I may yet migrate over there eventually. If I were starting over, I'd definately consider it more. You can make some good money once you get settled in and network. But you have to get Chinese friends or some employers to send some of your money home. That's what some people do.

Just go to Amazon and order a good carbon fitler mask with some refills. Get it shipped to you in your home country and bring some with you. Most of the time you'll be indoors anyhow. Wear the mask when out. But, you'll be fine for the most part if you take the precautions. Knew folks who went to Shanghai and said it didn't feel that worse than Seoul most of the time. A few bad days as an exception, of course. Good luck, whatever you decide.

[Mr. Pink]

I've been in China for 5 years. Tianjin. The Air Quality is just beyond bad. It is the deal breaker for me that has it so I will be leaving once my contract is up in 2015. I am not an ESL teacher, but I know there are plenty of places that pay in the 3mil won+ range and cost of living is much cheaper here in comparison with Korea.

A few things: People will stare at you. Chinese people stare at everything though, so it isn't just because you are a foreigner. It is because you are are interesting and they love to watch people. If you are with a Chinese girl (my wife is Korean) the girls will look at you, and a lot of times it is with envy: they envy the girl that is with you because they know her life is much easier than theirs. Typically though, not even close to xenophobic due to there being 50 minority groups - nothing even close to Korea on that front.

Pollution is horrible in most places. If I were you OP I'd go south. Look at typical AQI readings for where you want to go and try to find someplace with a daily avg of 100 or under. Tianjin-Beijing is more in the 150-200 daily avg category and those days of 400+ just get BAD. I actually ponied up and bought a $1000 air filter for my home this year...

Internet: you will miss Korean internet every single day. So many sites are blocked here, others are so slow to load even if they aren't blocked. If you are addicted to doing what you want on the internet, this could be a deal breaker for you. Cell phones: forget LTE...their 3G is utter crap as well.

FOOD: I detest Chinese food, at least the stuff up north here, so for me Korean food was much better. There is WAY more selection though. I can get all kinds of food that isn't Chinese, and the amount of westerners owning restaurants, or Chinese that lived abroad is enough that good western food is to be had and unlike Korea, it isn't always in a zone like Itaewon in Seoul. IMO Shanghai is one of the best places in Asia for food, but that wasn't on your list.

COL: The cost of living has gone up every year I've been here, but still it is much cheaper than Korea.

If you go nuts about a lot of the things that drive you nuts about living in Korea, most of those will exist in China. People drive really horribly and what are traffic rules? Spitting...don't get me started, absolutely horrible and it is done all over. Smoking? People will smoke in all kinds of public places, like elevators and lobbies in hotels or in malls...it is so common here if you aren't a smoker or like smoke it will piss you off. Touching: I've never been grabbed in Korea that I can think of...here in China people like to grab and pull me all the time. Either vendors trying to get me into their shops or beggars wanting money. I'm close to the point the next person that grabs me might get punched.

Oh don't let me forget the whole "fake" thing here. Way too much fake stuff in food/drinks that you have to watch out for. When I first arrived I thought I was buying Nestle water...turns out it was fake and just tap water...smelt like crap, so good thing I didn't drink it. Fake food is also something you have to watch out for.

Guess lastly: fireworks. They love their fireworks and you will hear them A LOT depending on where you live and work. I suggest do not ever live near a hotel that has weddings as you won't get much sleep on the weekends with all the fireworks they let off during the day as each wedding party comes out.

Good luck. China is a good experience and lots of cool things to see. It also puts Korea into a lot of perspective: here most foreigners are NOT ESL teachers. In fact the minority are. In Korea the majority are, and that affects the type of expat community that is created. In my area, most expats are engineers, oil workers for Haliburton, plant managers of foreign plants like John Deer or teachers at international schools. Some of those expats make in a day what the typical ESLer that is on Dave's makes in a week...that impacts the expat culture quite a bit: they can afford to golf for example. How many expats in Korea golf in Korea?

[jazzmaster]

I don't have direct experience but my friend left Korea for China a couple of years ago. He is having a great time and has married a local girl. They are expecting a child pretty soon. His main complaints are all about the internet. He live to the North and takes regular trips to Hong Kong. He hasn't mentioned the air quality or pollution but maybe that depends on where you live.
My friend lived in Iksan for many years and came to Korea when it was still an unknown quantity. He had dealt with small town mentality, so perhaps he is well suited to live in China. I think the move is worth taking, and the rewards outweigh the drawbacks.

[joelove]

Try the China forums. You need a separate account, and need to be signed in to see the off-topic forum.

[creeper1]

Don't do it! You'll most likely regret it.

China is a big country and you can't really generalize but the air,food and water have issues.

Also take into account the massive salaries and truckloads of money people make in Korea

(evidenced in this survey - http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=232317&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
)

No reason to disbelieve the thread above. You won't be making that in China.

Also note that Chinese parents are extremely difficult to please and you will be blamed for any complaints.

[World Traveler]

[World Traveler]