Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Eazy_E]

I'm nearing the end of my contract in late August. When I came here I was told by my recruiter that Siheung in Kyunggi-Do province is 30 minutes by bus from central Seoul.

Well it turns out that it's a little more isolated than that... for all intents and purposes I'm stuck in a small town. For entertainment, meeting other foreigners, and dating, the options are really limited. Most nights I end up going to the PC bang, watching TV, or staring at the walls in my apartment. There are some other foreigners close by and we go out on weekends.... probably the only thing that has kept me sane.

But the question that pops up in my mind lately is: how did I last this long? Korea has been fun at times but it also has its share of mind-numbing boredom and isolation. Can anyone else share their stories about life in a small Korean town?

[VanIslander]

After a year and a half in a community of a few thousand, and with a plan to spend another year, I've of course thought about the drawbacks of the rural life for an EFLer in Korea.

[Eazy_E]

Well it's true that my first year is coming to an end. Someone from my recruiting company visited my school last week. (They do quality checks on all the schools, and I don't hold a grudge for their slightly misleading information about my town). She told me that they do work for a school in the Gangnam area of Seoul that teaches adults and university students. With a year under my belt here she assured me it wouldn't be a problem to get on at that school, and with the large number of teachers there is a lot of turnover.

So I need a break back in Beautiful BC, see the family and friends, then I may well do another year in Korea. Teaching adults would make sense career-wise too, as I might consider ESL teaching when I eventually settle back in my own part of the world.

I think that Koreans are genuinely kind and warm people. I honestly don't understand all the negativity and Korea-bashing that goes on here. I would be happy to spend another year here in slightly better circumstances.

[adventureman]

..

[oneiros]

I live on the outside edge of a smaller city (under 300,000). I'm the only foreign teacher at my school, so basically, I don't see other foreigners during the week. I also live up in the mountains in a relatively isolated area, so I don't even have many Korean neighbours.

During the week, I've got an internet connection at my apartment (which is why I spend too much time here;) ), I read, go running, and shamelessly download tvs and movies from Bit torrent.

On the week-ends, I get to socialize a bit more. I'm actually really enjoying the city. I've lived in isolated settings before, so that aspect doesn't bother me too much. But yes, there are times during the week when not being able to have a normal English conversation does start to get to me.

[frogrocket]

300,000 people?! I live in a 'city'...aka 'village' of 140,000 people. My Canadian roomie and I are the ONLY foreigners here.

This is my survival guide:

1. FIND A HOBBY! This is key to survival...I joined a gym after 2 mths of almost near suicidal boredom.

2. GET OUT OF THERE ON WEEKENDS! Escape to the nearest populated city (with foreigners)...even if you don't have foreign friends there, you will need to get out of the small town. You actually somewhat look forward to going back.

3. EMAIL! or phone...keep in contact with friends...I have my own computer at the PC room!

That's what is getting me through this! My town is the hottest in the summer, coldest in the winter...and is known as the CITY OF LOSERS...where all the people who didn't make it anywhere else end up! YUP!!!! You want to talk to a smalltown girl...give me a shout!

BE STRONG!!!!

[Bowden_PSM]

I live in a really small town (that's "eup", 25 000 in Korean). There is only one foreigner here in the town, and we don't work at the same hagwon. I am the only foreign teacher at my hagwon and I basically only have one, maybe two friends at work. The Korean teachers who teach the other subjects (my hagwon does it all) stay fairly distant from me and if they can speak any english they are completely reluctant to use it.

Living in the small town has had it's share of ups and downs. I agree with another poster that I felt like "roughing" it in the countryside would be an ok idea as far as picking up a taste for the country and its people. This was a forced decision though as I was told I was going to be living in Ulsan by my recruiter, and that was not so in the end.

The people in the twon do not speak english, almost down to the last man, woman or child. They have been very kind to me and have taken me everywhere, from dinner to po-jam-mah-cha's to noreabangs to this and that, regardless if they could communicate well or at all with me. That was the first 6 months. Lately things have tapered off a great deal as the novelty has worn off. I am a little over 8 months into my contract.

I suggest a hobby and other things. Do as much travelling on the week-ends as possible, keep a journal (it keeps me busy as I have to write each day), get the Internet in your apart. if possible, rent movies, and decorate you walls so they are more interesting to ponder on off days.

[Grotto]

Got you all beat! A crappy little town of 60,000 4.5 hours from Seoul 1.5 hours from the nearest Emart....only 5 foriegners in town...myself, co-worker, 2 mormons and one kyopo.

I have kept sane by getting out on weekends, drinking copious amounts of soju, and by becoming a hermit!

I have lasted 11 months+ and have a mere 3 weeks left before I am finished and stuck with a ticket but no flight seat

Books, computers, and email have kept me somewhat interested but to tell the truth I am at my wits end.

Next time a place near a major city.

[intergalactic]

My first year here I lived in a town of 160,000 and there were 5 foreigners. We used to ride our bikes around the countryside, stopping at little stores to sit on the raised platform and drink a cold drink, stopping at little bridges and swimming in the streams underneath them, riding alongside the train tracks and watching the trains go by.
At nights we ate BBQ chicken, made bonfires and drank on the riverbank in town, or visited one of the 4 or 5 hofs in town and drank beer with students. We went to the beach, hiking, or skiiing with students on several weekends. Bathhouses took up several hours of my week.
One day on one of our trips in the countryside someone found a tall special plant in a rice ditch. After that, even if we stayed indoors watching videos, things were very pleasant.

[ryleeys]

Icheon is about 150,000... honestly, it's a tad too big for me. Fortunately, I live on the outskirts and only have to go downtown when I want to. The only thing lacking in my little corner is a good apartment (d'oh!) and an atm machine (double d'oh!)... but I make do.

I wonder what a Korean town similar in size to my hometown would be like... about 200 people.

I think a town of a couple thousand, but within an hour bus ride of Suwon and/or Seoul would be nice.