Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Demophobe]

Hi all.

I don't know if it's just me, but is the spirit of adventure dead? Seems like there are so many people who come to Korea, but don't want any surprises and are so carefully and meticulously planning their travel, it's almost boring.

I understand that it may well be these forums that make people believe that they need to do this, thinking there is a shifty director waiting to stick it to you around every corner, but that just isn't so. At least not universally.

Am I alone in my stupidity? I came to Korea knowing next to nothing about the culture. I was armed with my Lonely Planet and a small arsenal of Korean, spoken and written. That's it. 2 tiny suitcases and 2 wide eyes.

Does having so many answers before the test spoil it? I think so. The magic seems like it will be spent before you arrive. Also, Korea seems to be a tailor-made dream/nightmare/experience, and I think that getting answers from anonymous strangers is in itself inherently dangerous, but also giving too many preconceptions and coloring your experience before it's even begun.

What happened to the days of just doing it? I realize that there are many pitfalls, but as I mentioned, where you are getting your answers and what kind of questions you are asking are just as caution-taped areas. The worst of the snakes waiting in the grass here aren't poisonous. They may sting and hurt, but that's part of life. Yes, there is necessary information we need to do things in life, but do we need a manual for every moment of our lives? Worst case, it's a year of experiences that will make you a better person in the end....best case, it's "X" years that make you a better person. Optimistic (a.k.a. "Apologist")? Yes....happily.

Personally, I think people are getting soft. Advice is one thing, but it seems like people need someone to walk them through their time here, before they even arrive. Wanting pictures of your prospective apartment, posting contracts, directions to foreigner watering holes...it just seems so wierd. Can't people read contracts and decide for themselves what is fair? Do we need others to read English? Don't people know what their time is worth to them? Do you think you will be in a mud hut for a year? Some rickety shanty-town? Can't you explore the area on your own for a while?

I guess I will be seen as somekind of "bad dude" for saying all of this, but I'm sure a few people here can agree that some of the questions are just too much. I wait for all of the poor souls to pour out their pain in this thread as proof to how bad it all is, as I wait for the happy stories. If those "sufferers" are really and truly worse off in life because of Korea and not due to their own decisions along the way, then it's a shame. I surmise that 99% wil be frustrating stories that can somehow be traced back to their own errors. Painfully, many of our tragedies in life are indeed of our own doing. People really hate to take responsibility for their lives, which kind of takes me full circle back to topic. If all the crap hits the fan, we can lastly and in a wonderful absolution, blame the advice we got at the outset of our trip...those lousy posters on Dave's.

Adventure is truly dead. We want guides, maps, pictures and familiarity....all from a foreign land.

Thoughts?

[Swiss James]

I think the adventurers who are finding it out on their own don't post here. Otherwise they err, wouldn't be doing it all on their own.

[Demophobe]

[sparkx]

meh..most of us save our adventures for places that are exciting and awe inspiring. I just got back from the philippines and had the time of my life.

When i first arrived in korea i was much like you - no clue as to what was in store for me but still with a romanticized conception of the place.

Every weekend I would go "mountain climbing" (snicker) or visit temples outside of seoul until I realized that these little excursions were on par with last minute shopping at the mall on Christmas Eve back home (followed by a ridiculously long car ride back home in gridlock of course).

The neon buildings all looked fantastical when i first arrived here and i couldn't wait to explore what they had to offer. It wasn't long before i realized that these weren't hidden gems - all of them were either singing rooms, calbi restaurants, soju bars, etc. housing the same assortment of drunk business men.

To me, korea was nothing more than an overcrowded let down. Now I just save all my adventures for vacations and business trips.

schloop.

[riverboy]

I think in many ways you hit the nail on the head. I came here pretty much blind as I just liked the money opportunity and the chance to get away and see the world. That being said, I did appreciate the help and advice given to me by foriegners.
I just found out that a younger friend of mine had been in Korean now for about three months. I dropped him an email and got his phone number. He is doing well, but still has a lot of questions. We had a long talk about a lot of things and he still has a ton of questions. We are getting together on the weekend and are going to talk some more because he needs a little direction and perhaps he sees me as a big brother figure.
That being said, I think he wiould still do fine on his own, but he appreciates the advice as well.
So while I agree, the most exciting thing about coming here was what I did not know, it is always a welcome relief to find advice and support when you have questions that need answers

[Demophobe]

Well, I just reead a thread in the "Job discussion" forum that seems pretty bad....and it looks like they pretty much had the 'adventurer's spirit'.

I still think that the good WAY outweighs the bad, and stand behind my post. Most folks only post the bad anyways.

[riverboy]

I too think the good far outweighs the bad. It makes me think why so many people come here yet they bitch and moan about how much they hate it here.

[adventureman]

Demphobe, why do most of your posts always seem to include some kind of overriding critical or condescending tone towards other foreigners here?

[just because]

I still have my sense of adventure.

I went to jakarta last week as i wanted to go and see what it had to offer even though they just tried to blow up the Australian embassy.
Best holiday I've ever had(and I've been to a lot of places) because I had no clue what to expect other than Thailand or Malaysia.

I love going to new places a little on the blind(although I have ended up in jail in 3 countries - not recommended) as the smaller you know, the more you embrace.

In korea, i came on the blind and my first year here was frigging fantastic and i did so much and had some of the greatest experiences of my life primarily due to the fact that I knew nothing about nothing.
I didn't find this site until 18 months after i had been here.

I see all the newbies coming on here covering their bases(which is probably the smart thing to do) but I do feel sorry for them as the surprises are what is best.

They seem to be so clinical about the whole process where as i didn't care about what money i got(I suppose having no debts helps), just about having a good time. If things got shitty i would have just gone to japan where i had lived for about a year before.

I think it is smart to suss out your work situation before you get there but please don't get cynical before you get here

BTW...in March I'm doing some jungle trecking in Sumatra so I still have plenty of adventure left in me, those who want to come are invited but be prepared as it ain't kansas(or even Korea) anymore Toto as some of the tribes up in the Sumatran mountains still practice cannibalism.

[indytrucks]

[Demophobe]

[manlyboy]

A number of times I've seen posts here talking about working in China. Someone invariably says "but I can't go there because I need the money". I was in China for 6 weeks. I got 5 job offers, and I wasn't even looking. Almost stayed because I was having such a great time, but my goal is to save enough to buy a house, and I can do that faster here.
Let's face it. If adventure was more important than money, most of us would have gone to China or elsewhere.
I lived in Indonesia for a number of years, and I can honestly say that in my own experience - In Indonesia, adventure finds you, but in Korea, you have to find adventure.
It can be a cool place to live, but you've got to work at it.

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

[Demophobe]

[AndersonKrause111]

Adventure.

How about moving away from home, across the globe, and assimilating yourself into another culture. There are a lot of dumb-@sses here that seem to have come here for other reasons. F-off, those of you that remain cynical and try to pass it off on to others.

This is my last post here. I can't stand the cynical view so many of you share. The decent advice I've gotten here has been much appreciated. However, I can't keep coming here and listening to people b1tch and moan when they've got such a good thing going.

Bye.