Korean Job Discussion Forums

[just because]

1. How did you wind up in Korea?
-I had just travelled through Europe and Asia for a bit over a year and went back to oz and thought, holey moley this is boring. I didn't want to go back to my old jpb(advertising) so I set a job up in Osaka but I came here as soon as I saw the free airfare and accomodation. I thought to myself same thing, different taste and it proved so.


2. How long have you been living here?
-About 2 and 3/4 years and will be here for a long time I think.


3. What do you like and dislike most about Korea? (this will be easy for some, but please add both a like and dislike.)
-Like:The ease of travel both in the country and internationally
:The food
:Contrary to what i read on here most people will just leave you alone, especially compared to other countries.
:Learning Korean
:With the right mind-set some wicked times can be had here.

-Dislike:The sameness and lack of innovation.
:The negative attitudes towards western man-korean woman relationships(korean men-asian women seems to be accepted), not necessarily racism just you know what some people are thinking.
:With some the closemindedness, maybe due to fear.


4. What is your favorite place in Korea and why? (Maybe a city that you lived in or visited, a cultural site, a hidden getaway, etc..)
-Jejudo would be my fav, just get out of Jejushi and into the countryside. Also any mountain is great if you are into climbing(which i am)


5. What is your favorite place in Seoul? If you've been.(Specifically. Not just 'Hongdae'. Doesn't have to be the default entry of bar/restaurant, but could be a place that you have some personal attachment to. But if your favorite place is actually a bar, well, feel free.
-Maybe Gwanghwamun for cultural and Sheraton Walker for fun.


6. What is the first thing that comes to mind that you can do here, but not back in your hometown?
- Buy a bottle of 2000won soju and get tanked if the feeling arises.


7. What do you miss most from your life back home?
-Obviuosly losing touch with the folks and family but also the longer you are away you do negin to not quite click with the idioms that are created.

[edgellskiuk]

1. How did you wind up in Korea?

Headhunted from my previous company.

2. How long have you been living here?

Two and a half years

3. What do you like and dislike most about Korea? (this will be easy for some, but please add both a like and dislike.)

I like my girlfriend, my friends and ttack galbi (not sure how to spell it)

I dislike gelatinous chinese food, lack of marmite, bad whiskey at high prices and European colleagues forgetting time zones and ringing me at 1am to discuss work.

4. What is your favorite place in Korea and why? (Maybe a city that you lived in or visited, a cultural site, a hidden getaway, etc..)

In the countryside where my companies production facility is. It is so peaceful I can switch off there.

5. What is your favorite place in Seoul? If you've been.(Specifically. Not just 'Hongdae'. Doesn't have to be the default entry of bar/restaurant, but could be a place that you have some personal attachment to. But if your favorite place is actually a bar, well, feel free.

Toscana at the Renaissance Hotel. I need my Italian food at least once a week.

6. What is the first thing that comes to mind that you can do here, but not back in your hometown?

Scare church ladies on a Sunday morning by answering the door with no shirt on. After a year you wouldthin they'd expect a hairy westerner to answer the door but they always look shocked.

7. What do you miss most from your life back home?

Not a lot, I spent the last 5 years travelling on buisness 75% of the time. How can you miss hotel rooms? I was turning into Alan Partridge (I think brits may get the reference)

[Juggertha]

1. How did you wind up in Korea?
On my ay back from my first overseas trip (thailand) I ran into a lady who was teaching here. We both had a long layover and ended up chatting for hours in the Seattle airport. Within 4 months I was on a plane here to take here job over. (in a good way)

2. How long have you been living here?
I'm at about 2 years and 8 months.

3. What do you like and dislike most about Korea? (this will be easy for some, but please add both a like and dislike.)
I like the potential that I have here. Some of it might be simply because i'm a white face but alot of it also comes from me being out of my element and having to hustle a bit more to make my way. Back home, I was too complaicent.
As for not liking here.. the genral drunkeness and censervative facade that is put forth.

4. What is your favorite place in Korea and why? (Maybe a city that you lived in or visited, a cultural site, a hidden getaway, etc..)
I'd have to say.. no where. This place as a whole does not impress me. I enjoy parts of it but nothing has jumped out too much for me. It's the people that I enjoy.

5. What is your favorite place in Seoul? If you've been.(Specifically. Not just 'Hongdae'. Doesn't have to be the default entry of bar/restaurant, but could be a place that you have some personal attachment to. But if your favorite place is actually a bar, well, feel free.
This is the same as above. If I was to look at where I go most often (youido, gwahamun, meyong-dong) then I guess that would qualify.

6. What is the first thing that comes to mind that you can do here, but not back in your hometown?
EAT DOG! I'm sorry if that disgusts some people but even back home I was known for my weird tastes. Her in Asia, I still am, but at least it's a little more acceptable.

7. What do you miss most from your life back home?
Well I haden't been home in a long time. This summer was my first trip back. I missed the usual; steak, bbq's, dill pickle chips, clamato juice and most of all my friends. The thing is though, i've gotten used to not having alot of those things in my life. My friends though, I really wanted to see. After introducing my wife to them and then havingto listen to how many of them are now divorced or had cheated on so and so... i'm not sure how much I miss back home.

The thing is.. things weren't horrible for me back home.. but comparing there to hear, well it's a blow out. Here I have a great place, an amazing wife, a family that embraces me, and a fun job. Total opposite of back home.

[masuro]

1. How did you wind up in Korea?
Answered a newspaper ad on a whim. Next thing I know I'm in a big jet plane looking down on rice paddies and huge apartment complexes.

2. How long have you been living here?
Nine years. I'm now a Korean citizen (Apparently the only Canadian-Korean in existence) so I'll be here for the next two or three reincarnations at least.

3. What do you like and dislike most about Korea? (this will be easy for some, but please add both a like and dislike.)
Like:
-My village. Clean air, clean water, mountains, little furry animals.
-The food. Much more interesting than standard Newfoundland fare.
-Internet access. My village of 15 houses has ADSL.
-Me missus.
Dislike:
-Crowds. Especially in the summer when all the idiots from Seoul and Kyeongki province get in their cars and fly through this area to go rafting or get drunk next to the river.
-Bad driving habits.
-Men who think friendship is impossible because I don't drink.

4. What is your favorite place in Korea and why? (Maybe a city that you lived in or visited, a cultural site, a hidden getaway, etc..) Here (Gangwon Province). I love mountains and we have lots. Sokcho E-mart is only 90 minutes away and I can get anything I want delivered right to my door by courier. I also like Andong. Lots of cultural things to see and do.

5. What is your favorite place in Seoul? If you've been.(Specifically. Not just 'Hongdae'. Doesn't have to be the default entry of bar/restaurant, but could be a place that you have some personal attachment to. But if your favorite place is actually a bar, well, feel free.
Chongno, I guess. Mostly because Kyobo Bookstore is there but there are also some good restaurants.

6. What is the first thing that comes to mind that you can do here, but not back in your hometown? Eat out often (though I don't anymore)

7. What do you miss most from your life back home? Nothing, really. I suppose that's why I was able to give up Canadian citizenship without any doubts.

[chronicpride]

*bump*