Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rapier]

I've come to realise that living a stress- filled workaholic life of teaching here has really changed me- quite rapidly over the past year or so..I've toughened up a bit..all my old sympathies and laid back nature has died a death somehow. Anyone notice any change in them due to being here?
I think being brought face to face with the mercenary, money-minded, competitive in-your-face nature of Korea has hardened me somehow..particularly because Koreans are more blatant than westerners.
I think I look at situations far more objectively, and with more distance than before..I see the truer motives behind people now,, I like to think.

[eamo]

Korea has made me more 'American'.

I used to be much more "left-wing take care of others". The competitive atmosphere in Korea has rubbed off on me.

I'm more about what I want now.

Still don't know if it's a good thing for me long term.

[jajdude]

Of course it has changed me. The literary word is "disillusionment"....

but take anyone in this world as an adult already with almost no experience of other cultures and plant him in a brand new place, so different indeed!

Then if he spends years over there......

He will be changed.

That's why the prospect of visitng back home seem sketchy

[Toby]

I think I am a much better person now than when I came here 41 months ago.

I have learnt patience.

I have learnt communication.

I have learnt to lose stress.

I have learnt how to teach, or to a certain level anyway.

I have learnt to respect and be respected.

I have learnt how to smile.

I have learnt how to appreciate what I do have.

I have learnt how to drink - not sure that is good, but.....

I appreciate my family a whole lot more now too.

Sounds kind of cheesy, but, that's how I feel.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

I bud in front of others and sometimes don't hold doors open for people. I have become a rude, inconsiderate jerk.

On the plus side, I have become a solid, responsible worker, which I wasn't before arriving four years ago.

Sparkles*_*

[Eazy_E]

I have become much less reluctant to make an ass of myself. Teaching kindergarten kind of necessitates that. Running around a room to amuse a bunch of five-year-olds can make one feel like an imbecile, but I think it's healthy in a way. I don't take myself as seriously anymore.

I feel so much differently about people who come to Canada (especially Asia) without knowing much English. I used to judge them quite harshly, but now I know how enormously difficult it is to learn a language so completely different from your own, and when you're working full-time and don't have a lot of time to study. It really gives me a different perspective on being an outsider.

I guess you could say I'm a much less self-conscious person now than when I arrived here.

[JacktheCat]

I for one don't like what Korea is doing to me.

It is trying to make me a bitter, rude person who doesn't care for the feelings and opinions of others.

I have to fight constantly to keep my laid back, open minded persona.

[edgellskiuk]

I have become more British. I never really thought about being British it much before I came to Korea. Now its like every bit of English culture ,(if such a thing exists), I see gives me a warm fuzzy glow. With what seems to be a fashion for union jacks on korean clothes I am nearly always feeling warm and fuzzy these days.

[Toby]

[edgellskiuk]

Toby I am afraid I do not drink soju, but it could be the oship seju. Anyway warm fuzzy feelings however they are induced.

[Barking Mad Lord Snapcase]

I am more "Westernized" now than I was before I went to Korea. It was a revelation to have a first-hand reference point from which to compare and contrast Western culture.

Other changes:

I look at myself in the mirror more often. If it's good enough for Koreans to stare at me, then I think I'm entitled to the same indulgence.

I mutter to myself more often.

I occassionally compare the GDP of nations and divide by the population. I now have first hand experience of what this means. It is pleasing to live in a nation that can place real toilet paper in (shock! horror!) the toilet cubicles, of all places.

I don't feel an ounce of guilt eating steak. If one could apologise for boshin tang, then the entire animal kingdom may was well be stuffed into a burger (except the animals that I like, thank you very much).

I laugh at the more petty examples of Western culture, secure in the knowledge that 1: a tradition of free expression gives us the right to produce trash, and we should be grateful since all talented artists should start at the bottom, and 2: when it comes to petty commercialism, Australia isn't the worst culprit, and neither is America.

[oneiros]

I guess I'm the opposite of most people. I think I've become less "Canadianized".

I have no idea what's going on in Canada.

I haven't voted in the past two federal elections, and frankly, have no clue who's leading any of the political parties, other than the Liberals..

I refer to myself as "foreigner", not "Canadian" unless explicitly asked "Where are you from?"

And the Canadian immigration people give me that special "non-resident" treatment when I visit the country on occasion.

[Barking Mad Lord Snapcase]

Nothing could possibly be more "Westernizing" than a thread like this:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=23791

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

Of course it's changed me ...

Before I came I was simply superb, but now I'm utterly brilliant!

[Mashimaro]