Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yaya]

I thought I'd just share my experiences in the US after a long sojourn in Korea.

I moved to LA from Seoul last year on the advice of a friend. I was ready to move on and get more skills before considering settling down in Asia for good. My friend said real estate appraisal was a surefire way to make dough, so I did it. First off, I had to wait TWO MONTHS for the classes and then another THREE MONTHS to take the damn license test. On top of that, I found out that most appraisal trainees work at a fee shop, and thus you earn what you make. I ended up making just $500 my first month and blowing my entire savings (over $20,000) in a year.

Furthermore, my health took a hit as I was getting all of these allergies and ills due to my stress. I lost 30 pounds in two months as my eating habits suffered. I then had to take a month off from work to get my health back. I visited my folks on the East Coast and it improved my spirits. When I went back to LA, I worked at the apprisal firm for two more months before quitting due to high stress and low pay.

After doing nothing for a month, I looked at the Korean classifieds and got a job at some trading company. The pay wasn't bad but the manager was some older Korean man who couldn't shut his trap. I left that job and joined an escrow company, where I am now. As for the future, I hope to go to graduate school in order to go abroad again. But of course, that will take effort and money, though hitting a Cal State school will be cheap.

Thus far, I've found out a few things based on my experiences in LA:

1) America is FAR from a fun place; being an expat in Asia was just too fun.

2) People are people, no matter where you go.

3) Having a car is a MAJOR reason why you can't save money easily in the US.

4) I hate tipping.

5) Americans live to work, particularly on the East Coast.

6) Not much changes in the US, and that's both a good and bad thing.

Anyone like to add their experiences and thoughts about coming back from a long sojourn abroad?

[Real Reality]

How long were you in Korea?

I hope things get better for you.
Good Luck.

[Ryst Helmut]

I guess it all depends on how well you plan....

My Life After Korea: Year One

So I quit my job in August of 2003, with the impending move to the States with my Korean wife. I moved in with the in-laws, did some privates (thank goodness for the privates over 6 years....had about $100,000 US coming to the States, and attended Korean language school full time.

So we arrived in Florida. Moved in with my folks, for what my wife and I thought were to be 2 weeks. Alas, life threw a curve ball....and two weeks became 4 months. Four months with my Pa is like four months living with your hakwon director....

I drove my wife 5 days a week, 2 hours a day to a language institute, helped her with the TOEFL, and studied for the lovely GRE.

She passed, I passed, I'm finishing up my MA this fall session (already completed most of it, and transfered credits in). I have met some great people, really caring, and really helpful. I have been offered several jobs while here, and decided on teaching (part-time) at the language institutes on University campus. MUCH better than homogeneous classes...even the Koreans that come here are better, then again, none come unless they've drive....

Yeah, cost of living bites...we've blown a good $40,000 in 4 months, but that includes $20,000 cash for a new car, and setting up household furnishings (that wasn't damaged after being in storage for 7 years), rent and schooling. Yep, gonna blow another 3,000 bucks this fall on tuition, but after that....nothing...save for doctoral studies (IF I have to pay).

Just like in Korea, I was able to have some western goods to satiate me, well....finding Korean goods is even easier in FL.

Sickness? Yes, I was pounded at first. I never had a stye in my life, but on arrival on US soil, I've had at least 9 in 6 months. Weight loss? Hell no, God bless the plentiful supply of choices!

Yaya, just get into school....it seems the rat-race is killing you. Man, the stress you have is unhealthy..I mean, I've got it (like I should be doing empirical reviews, but Dave's is too tempting...I sit at the computer ATLEAST 8 hours a day...research sucks, yet fun)....will suffer my procrastination in 3 hours.

YEs, tipping sucks, and my wife and I avoid it. $15 for a guy's haircut? Are you joking!? ...and that's cheap! (course, found a barber that charges 7 bucks, but he's near my parents (an hour away).

Anyhow....you've got your health. That's tanfastic. Now, get into school. Knowing your advancing makes all the difference. Struggling to advance is different than struggling to make ends meet.

!Shoosh

Ryst

[Mashimaro]

2) People are people, no matter where you go.

I think you hit the proverbial nail on the head there.

[Harin]

[Ryst Helmut]

[Harin]

[Ryst Helmut]

[peppermint]

[Crois]

Depends who is hugging me.

[Ryst Helmut]

I'm too drunk to make laughing sounds....damn, typing is a chore now!


sho-osh

Rystus being Hugustus

[Zyzyfer]

[paul]

There was a big section on this a while ago, regarding people's lives after they return home. Most people went back to school to intergrate back into the workforce.

I went back against my will (long story) and it sucked. I'm from Vancouver and wanted to teach part-time and do some freelance journalism.

Well, for starters, my exp. in Korea didn't put me any further ahead of the teachers in Van who had no exp. but they did have degrees up the ass. It seems the education is more important than exp.

So I returned to Asia and got a job in Taiwan.

But there's also complaints of the lifestyles in North America being just too damn anal and expensive. I agree, to an extent. I mean, not only did I not have a job in Van, I was bored stiff with the general way of life.

I mean, there was nobody who wanted to bump into me on the street; everybody spoke English (agh!); beer and cigarettes were outrageously priced; and the lack of Aisan girls made life dull, dull, DULL!

[Chonbuk]

So, it hasn't been a year yet, but I'm at 5 months away.
I'm in Sydney, doing my Med in Tesol.
I'm not an Ozzie, I'm Canadian.

Sydney- the weather is great, fantastic. School is good, I have learnt so much and am looking forward to finishing this November. It will be a quick year, I can't believe I'm half done.

Sydney is expensive, but thankfully no tipping.

The transportation (public) system sucks, expensive and slow.

ADSL sucks, have been waiting for 6 weeks and still no dial up.

Food is great- though we cook mostly at home, a combination of Western, Japanese, and Korean.

The people- nice once you actually meet them, but like any Western city hard to meet.

Yoga- is the highlight of my life, cheap classes- 5/hour.

We found a reasonably priced unit- near school, smallish, but good enough for 2 people used to living in small spaces.

Work- just started this teaching and touring group. the pay sucks, but the job is easy, and the commute is exhausting.

I miss Asia. I think we will move back, but I have no idea where.

I may go back next winter for a camp if I can't find anything reasonable here, but will come back to Sydney afterwards.

I like it here but I don't think I will apply for Premanent Residency.

oh one more thing- everything is slow, which drives me crazy I think I"ve become too used to a 'balibali' society.

But school has been great.

Take care,

Chonbuk

[Bulsajo]

My wife and I also blew a lot of our savings relocating to Canada. The first year back was rough; But then, the first year of moving to Korea was also pretty rough on me.