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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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 Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:26 am Post subject: Re: A question for the lifers... |
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| Corporal wrote: |
| monkeybear wrote: |
have you adjusted to the Korean culture enough that you don't need "western" conveniences any longer?
~JD~ |
No. I will never not need good anti-perspirant, shampoos designed for blond hair, high-quality makeup, English literature, and good baby products. |
There are many people who import North American products and sell them online (our favorites: www.yamoo.co.kr, www.abuba.com, www.gom3.com). One of the members of this forum owns a book store in Seoul. You can check his web site at http://www.whatthebook.com/. Hope this helps. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:34 am Post subject: |
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| Demophobe wrote: |
I currently work in Seoul 3 days a week...enough to know how much it stinks. Literally.
See Korea...get out of Seoul. |
I agree.
By the way, fishing, rafting,and even hunting are all possible if you live in or anywhere near Kangwon-do. Air seems a lot fresher there than anywhere else. I'd say it's as close to Canada as you'll get in Korea. The east coast even reminds me of the Maritimes when you get close to the DMZ. |
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inkoreaforgood
Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Location: Inchon
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:43 am Post subject: |
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I'm staying here for the cushy job, the wife, and I'd miss it if I were somewhere else (hope the wife doesn't read this  ). Today was a little harsh even, with people bumping into me like I'm not even there (almost crushed one ajuma with a fist at the subway ticket booth). I figure anywhere you are, that's home,and everywhere you go you gotta take the good with the bad. Lots of good here, just gotta go looking for it. |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:52 am Post subject: |
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I stay because of my wife and her family. Because I like my life here and the lifestyle we have.
I like my students and my job along with the consulting I do.
I like our neighborhood with its open air market, public bath and nearby mountains.
I also stay because of my 2 nieces whom I love to death and because of my parents in law who quickly became more then just in-laws.
I stay for my sundays in the park playing Jangi with the old dudes.
I also stay because with my job and my wife's job we have the vacation time and money to travel 2 times a year to wherever we like. |
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monkeybear
Joined: 05 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 4:23 am Post subject: |
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It's so good to hear all the positive reasons for people to stay because it seems that I've been reading so many negative remarks.
| demophobe wrote: |
| I have lived in Chucheon for 9 years, and love it. Clean air, water is reasonable, people are friendly, mountains are all around, 2 lakes, 3 rivers, 4 universities, capital of Kangwon, so it's a big government town, lots of schools with bright kids...hiking, biking, rafting, skiing, boatrides, parks, temples, Sorak mountain is a hop away, as is Sokcho....everything to qualify my statement. I say it's clean...comparatively, of course. It's no Canada, but it's pretty good. |
This is exactly the kind of the place that my husband and I are looking to go to when we finally make the decision to go over. We're kinda sitting on the fence right now which is why I wanted to know about the good parts of Korea. If/when we do go, it won't be for awhile but I'm trying to find out as much as I can now so that we'll be as prepared as possible when we do go.
I definitely agree that you have to take the good with the bad. With all the good there is across the USA there is definitely that much bad as well, it's just a matter of adjusting to your surroundings and making the best out of any situation you're in.
~JD~ |
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Zenpickle
Joined: 06 Jan 2004
Location: Anyang -- Bisan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 5:06 am Post subject: |
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| monkeybear wrote: |
It's so good to hear all the positive reasons for people to stay because it seems that I've been reading so many negative remarks.
[...]
~JD~ |
Well, you know, people don't usually like to talk unless they're bitching. I've noticed that most of those who are enjoying themselves in Korea (of which there are many) don't even bother with this board because it's such a negative circle jerk.
Now, I myself am far from being a lifer, but I like the brochure. |
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lepid gecko
Joined: 28 May 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 7:49 am Post subject: |
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| Demophobe wrote: |
It's also about commitments...I have made some decisions in the same way we make decisions about any road we take in life. Keep faith in the Lord to keep my path true, weigh the pros and the cons and go from there. I am committed to my wife and my future, and Korea affords me the joys of doing all I want.
It's what you make of it, really. Learn the language....this is paramount to enjoying the country, the culture and the people. If you can't speak the language, how can one survive for a long time? Without the language, we are like infants. This feeling gives way to anger and bitterness and isolation....three big hurts here. Those feelings fester if not remedied.
Korea affords me many great opportunities...I can work part-time and still earn a decent wage...this gives me time to do things (study) I wouldn't be able to do in Canada.
I don't miss the west....sure, some foods and bits of culture, but the internet and friends can give me all I need...order the food I want, talk to my friends and family, watch Canadian news...all online...meet some friends occasionally...there is enough of the west avaliable for me. I have met some really great people here from all over the world; some that I wouldn't have met in my hometown.
I just like it here....I am no "apologist"...that implies there is something to apologize for, when in fact, Korea is what it is...like it or leave it. It's not changing overnight, but it is changing. All of the racism threads here these days...I can understand them, but haven't experienced it myself...at least, not in a bad way. I smile a lot, carry a positive attitude and just try to look up...Koreans are pretty good to me. I keep in mind to control what I can, and try not to get stressed about what I can't. Keep things in perspective....like my sig says....not my circus, not my monkeys...worry only about what you can change. If a Korean is bad to me, just don't see him/her again. Why empower them any more than that?
Korea requires patience, even-temperedness, some forgiveness (because I don't understand, usually) and a lot of persistance. I don't have any of these good characteristics in abundance, so Korea is good for me.
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Brilliant comments that correspond with a revelation i had the other day. And it's taken me an entire year living here to figure it out. But that's not bad at all, considering I may stay longer..better to get it earlier than later.
The crux of it is you can never blame a country for anything. Yes, there's culture shock and all that, but living in Korea is the perfect opportunity to sort out your mind, because it amplifies everything you don't like, and you have to deal with it. Hardships experienced here accelerates everything whereas in one's own environment it's easier to cushion things and let the slide. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. |
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kiwiboy_nz_99
Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Location: ...Enlightenment...
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 10:40 am Post subject: |
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| Where ever I lay my hat, that's my home ... |
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insamsaram
Joined: 16 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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| This is like a breath of fresh air. I'm so happy to hear stories of those having nice experiences too. It seems that people with other things going on...hobbies, relationships, desire to learn Korean language and culture, etc... are having a decent time. I hope to as well. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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[Ghosts....
Last edited by Demophobe on Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ody
Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Location: over here
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Corporal wrote: |
| Squid wrote: |
Corporal, good baby products are common here... how else would they treasure the little princes and princesses so?
At least the wife and I have not had difficulty finding them... strangely excepting a bouncer, if you're familiar with them. |
Diapers, cribs, toys, the list goes on. I haven't found anything geared towards babies here to come near to matching the standards of the American/Canadian versions, and I've looked in a lot of places. And of course, if they do happen to have imported name brands (Fisher-Price), it's ridiculously expensive. Even the Huggies diapers are not real Huggies. They're made in Korea and so they suck proportionately.
It's good that you guys are happy, though. |
baby gear in Korea, even Seoul, stinks. we got our bouncer from the states, a baby matt and matching soft-blocks from Australia, the jumper my son used is still in our storage space (gotta fish that out soon, our daughter is ready). i'm shopping around for a walker now (will check out the tragic baby dept. at Carrefour this evening)...
my theory is that in Korea, with extended families being the norm, there is always a warm lap nearby to park junior in. whereas we westerners usually don't have that option and therefore need entertaining, un-peopled venues (i.e. gear) to amuse/pacify our children in while we cook, clean, shag, etc.
diapers are another matter. stateside, i only bought Huggies, sometimes pampers. anything else bit. here, i have yet to purchase a diaper that i don't like.
to answer the o.p.
hmm.
1. i like teaching E.F.L. more than any of the professions I toyed with back home.
2. i love my Korean in-laws.
3. in our case, our children have better education opportunities here in Seoul.
4. the food is pretty good.
5. things just keep getting worse back home (don't know if I'll ever live there again).
Oh- I could go on I'm sure. Things aren't perfect here but then, what do I know about perfection? I rather enjoy a certain amount of chaos and disorder in my life. |
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mysteriousdeltarays
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Location: Food Pyramid Bldg. 5F, 77 Sunset Strip, Alphaville
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:13 am Post subject: |
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I suppose I've been here longer than anybody.
I don't like "tough guys." Num-chuks, and "I'm studying martial arts."
I don't like being unable to talk to males because "they" figure that you are a homosexual hustling them. Being unable to talk to females, because "they" figure that you are trying to hustle them.
I'm a nice friendly drunk, boy they'd throw me to the wolves on that one.
They'd love it! How self rightous they could be! I don't even have a Vicodan problem (how understandible that would be!)
I like kids, but I'm not a child molester (that would be a little beyond them.)
Frankly I really miss shovelling snow and my all time favorite mowing the lawn.
I love people whose best friend is their car, and can only make small talk about "How about those Cubbies?" A losing American baseball team. Or these days Pro-wrestling! Or Nascar! Or extreme boxing!
Gee I miss Las Vegas. The art alone, the culture!
The private police forces controled by the casinos, the survelience cameras! The sheer kitsch!
Most of all I think I miss demolition derbies, monster trucks and rural rusting trailer parks, not to mention line dancing. |
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tomato
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:56 am Post subject: Re: A question for the lifers... |
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Hello, Monkeybear!
I hope that this message answers your questions:
| monkeybear wrote: |
What is it that has kept you in country?
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I am as autistic as all get out. I can't get a job in my own country because I can't sparkle and glitter at job interview time. Korea is the only place where I can stay out of the pawnshop and stay out of the rescue mission.
Here I have a steady job which I enjoy. I work with kids, whom I enjoy. The job offers a creative outlet here, which I also enjoy.
I also like being able to work with children free from the supervision of the sexual abuse hysteria victims. (Mysterious Delta Rays, I understand that you are of similar sentiment. Am I right?)
Autism offers one blessing--immunity from culture shock. Sure I'm a stranger here, but that's nothing new. I'm a stranger in my own country, too.
| monkeybear wrote: |
| Is there anything that you miss or have you adjusted to the Korean culture enough that you don't need "western" conveniences any longer? |
Creative outlets matter to me more than anything else in life.
As long as I can plug in a computer, I'll be happy for hours at a time.
Intellectual stimulation ranks second.
As long as Amazon ships internationally, I'll be happy for hours at a time.
I miss Western food, though, but I'm overweight anyway. |
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lastat06513
Joined: 18 Mar 2003
Location: Sensus amo Caesar , etiamnunc victus amo uni plebian
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| Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:31 am Post subject: |
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I first came here when I was 19 and I hated it with a passion...
I didn't go outside the bases for the first 8 months. But after taking a tour around Kyonggi Do and meeting some people, I started to think this was not a bad place after all.
Then after my second trip here, it was mostly ineteria that kept me coming back here every 2 years for the last 8 years.
And the fact that I felt a kind of disappointment with the situation back home (economically and socially). Believe it or not, Korea is not a bad place to live. Just take the ups and the downs and roll with the punches as they come.
The truth is now I'm contemplating a move to China next month. But I have firm plans to come to Korea after a year or two. |
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the_beaver
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 6:00 am Post subject: Re: A question for the lifers... |
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| monkeybear wrote: |
| is there anything that you miss or have you adjusted to the Korean culture enough that you don't need "western" conveniences any longer? |
There's almost nothing I want that I can't get here.
Why do I stay? It's a comfortable, easy life and there are more opportunities here than back home.
But, I could not handle it outside of Seoul (although I was in ���� a couple of days ago and those women speaking with that accent made my lust meter peak). |
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