Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bjlesm]

With all the problems that new teachers complain about, I was wondering for how many people was Korea the first foriegnt country they have lived in. I am thinking of heading to Korea next year and am a little amazed at some of the things mentioned as problems, such as lack of available products from home, food, etc. Do people who have lived overseas before have an easier time of adjusting or is Korea really that differant?

[Tiger Beer]

[SuperFly]

I grew up in Europe.

[JacktheCat]

I grew up in Africa.

[lawyertood]

Some of us never grew up......

[Zenpickle]

I lived in Germany for a year a long time ago. My adjustment to Korea was much smoother than my adjustment in Germany.

I have noticed that the stuff that frustrates many here are the same things that frustrated me in Germany. So yeah, it could be a first-foreign-country-cherry-poppin' thang.

[Wangja]

My first overseas working experience was Lagos in Nigeria.

After that, I don't complain about anything much.

This is paradise.

[just because]

My first overseas experience was Gifu(where??) in Japan - near nagoya when I was 16 for a month.

-I must say if you've been overseas for a while you are likely to adjust here a little better. But then again, Korea is its own beast and some people can never adjust.

[Bulsajo]

First overseas living experience was South America.
Before coming to Korea I had also lived in Europe and the Caribbean.
This previous experience made me cocky and so Korea hit me like a ton of bricks (having a really crap job and living in the shit ier part of Inchon didn't help much either).

[I_Am_Wrong]

well...Korea has been my first time living in another country but I did travel in Australlia and Indonesia a bit as a teenager. I think having homestay students from Japan since I was about 5 helped me broaden my horizons tho.

[lastat06513]

I have traveled alittle in Asia (Japan, China, Philippines, North Korea and of course, here) and I think of Korea as the middle of all evils~

- Not as clean as Japan
- Not as dirty as China

[Swiss James]

I lived on my own in Switzerland for 6 months before coming here and learnt a lot about how to keep myself amused, entertained and happy in a country where I don't speak the language. Also learnt ways to meet new friends etc.

[jajdude]

Korea was my first foreign country. It was so different --- still is really --- at first I didn't know what to think. After a few months it was a bit familiar. But I don't think I've ever considered it "normal" in over 5 years here.

Several things I dislike, a few I like. You will manage to function.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

I lived in England for a year and a half as a kid, and Germany for three months in high school, travelled all over Europe and Asia, too. Been to about 21 countries so far. This 4 years has been the greatest of my life. I never want it to stop.