Korean Job Discussion Forums

[captain kirk]

Over on the Korea vs Japan vs Taiwan thread someone says Japan reminds them of Britain. Kind of aggressive, won't let you alone, not low key. And Taiwan there are lots of f-teachers so little job security. While in Korea there's the quaint, in comparison, 'honour bound' one year contract with free housing (Taiwan you pay your own rent and find your own place).
Meanwhile, back in the U.S./Can/the 'developed world' (and there's a lot of complaining about Korea being backward) it's like 'me first' on steroids. Guys shaving their heads and being cool, so individual. So yappy mouthy and aggressive. In your face, not to mention the drug problem back home.
I was talking to a guy in his fifties at the bar. He works in a haggie, is from New York state. He's a musician. Really cool, mellow guy. He jams with his friends playing guitar. When I see him at the bar his slight, old skinny body is usually pretty drunk but when you talk to him he's very cool. Like he's not blaming anybody for anything wrong. Nothing is wrong. He's just happy to be alive. You know, 'found himself' kind of thing. No problem, just enjoy, be straightforward, low key.
Well, he said one night, 'I LOVE korea'. I said, sceptically, 'why?' with a sort of 'are you for real, seriously?' look on my face. Because I bug Korea all the time on here, it's like, cool, right? . And he said, 'because it's safe'. Well the way he said it, and coming from who he is, made it just sound verifiably genuine, true. He explained there are no junkies trying to rob you, it's safe.
There's another thread on the board, 'Are teachers who stay here conservative?'. I guess what's happening (and it's amusing what some poster said about being warned about Dave's Korea board which 'tends to be dark') is we're all having a blast and what we hate about Korea we really like. Everybody's so normal, conforming here. All orderly and predictable. Meanwhile we just go about having a blast. Like time travellers from the future back into the '1950's'. Enjoying all the good things about that; honour, duty, safe, predictable society. And all this 'I hate Korea' stuff is mostly just the bedsores of pampered couch potatoes stuffing in snacks and enjoying the movie.

[matthewwoodford]

We can get the best of both worlds, enjoying Korean society when we want and deciding the rules don't apply to us when we feel like it.

[peemil]

After about three beers I sometimes think it's not a bad place.

[VanIslander]

[trigger123]

van islander wrote

[Homer]

Excellent post captain Kirk...and quote of the year indeed.

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

[sillywilly]

I often thuoght Korea was beautiful.. The sheer strangeness of it struck me when I first arrived. I wanted to learn and explore, so, yeah, Korea is nice.. At least for a year.

[ajuma]

matthewwoodford said:

[eamo]

Kirk, that guy you talked to is absolutely right. It's the biggest reason I stay in Korea.

When I visit home (Belfast, Northern Ireland, yeah, I know) I feel the threat of violence everywhere. When I come back to Korea it's like a weight off my shoulders.

Most Koreans don't have the options in life to indulge in the 'life-experiences' we in the west go through. It makes for a safe but slightly narrow society.

What's the choice? The freedom of a Western life, which can be a hugely entertaining journey, but which also entails many possibilties to mess up big time. Or, a safe but dull-ish life in Korea.

[captain kirk]

Price to pay, that's right. But Koreans can't be as boring as they seem, can they? Gotta stop buggin' them about it. Dig a bit. Get the gold.

[itaewonguy]

I believe most countries in the world if you stick around a bit you will LOVE IT.. every country has charm, problem is. we live here so...
but im sure if anyone of us moved to ummm spain or swiss, or prague what ever and we were working making COIN.. we all be raving the good the bad and ugly..

[Keepongoing]

[eamo]

[hocbas]