Korean Job Discussion Forums

CatTess · Joined: 07 Mar 2005

I've been experiencing a lot of symptoms of culture shock lately. I'm about 5 months in to my contract and it's been going on for about a month and a half, but it started shortly after my school started me as a full time kindy teacher on top of my afternoon classes where I has only been teaching 1 to 2 kindy classes a day before. I'm just starting to wonder if this is actually just temporary culture shock or if it's real kindy-induced misery. Any insight would be appreciated.

matthewwoodford · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Location: Location, location, location.

Cedar · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:47 am Post subject:

Matthew --

The first year I tried, but in a stupid way (trying to just memorize things I wanted to say NOW). The second year I tried hard but in a good way (long vocab lists, writing my diary in Korean) the third year I still tried hard, but by that time I was able to converse well enough to get and keep non-English speaking friends, the fourth year I slacked off, by the fifth year I didn't study at all, but I did have lots of opportunities to talk to Koreans. By the seventh year I was writing bi-weekly articles in Korean, but otherwise not pressing myself to study at all.

I have a friend here who studied some vocab before she came adn had the alphabet down. She's been here since september, she's been dating a Korean since Christmas (and he doesn't speak English), she's writing her diary in Korean, and she's almost conversational functional... in less than a year of any effort, seven months of serious effort... she's starting at Yonsei KLI this month. So... that's what can be done if you try.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

CatTess,

At 5 months, you are in prime territory for culture shock. The newness has worn off and the realization that life has settled down into a routine--and some of that routine sucks. (Like having to go across town to get some cheese.)

From your post, it sounds like you are suffering from the stress of teaching. I think a lot of people new to teaching aren't very aware of just how stressful even a good day of teaching is. Having to plan every minute of the working day so that X number of people are kept busy doing something productive is stressful. On top of that, is Bum-Suk pulling Soo-Mi's hair again and why isn't Jong-Min back from the bathroom yet?

To me, culture shock is when the wonjong calls you in on Monday afternoon to tell you that you will be teaching 2 new classes starting Tuesday. And your response is, "Why didn't you tell me last month when you signed those students up? I would have had some time to prepare lessons." (The answer seems to be that information is not given to low ranking people until the last possible moment. It's a kind of power trip. The peon is just expected to nod and smile.)

CatTess · Joined: 07 Mar 2005

Thanks, you're probably right... I actually have 11 kids in my homeroom kindy so yeah, it's tough to keep them all busy.
As for dealing with the boss it was less of "I'm adding 2 more classes" more "We're trying to do something about your overtime so we've taken away 2 classes a week on your shorter days and added 1 more on MWF so you'll be teaching 10 hours straight no break..." fortunately I was able to point out the lack of logic there and things were rearranged...
So job stress is the most likely culprit...just wish I didn't have to get up at 8 so I could drink my way out of it like a normal Waeguk teaching in Korea Wink

guangho · Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2005 1:10 am Post subject:

I've been shocked my whole life. Being the foreign kid, being the only white kid, being the token Yid, and now back to being the only white kid. Problem is though that being "the only" starts to mess with your head after a while. Pretty soon you find yourself spending hours online talking to total strangers. Hypothetically that is Wink

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

This is the best thread I've seen lately, if not ever.

I've been in Korea for three years and I still experience culture shock. However, I have a korean wife and that really helps me. The bad thing is that it makes me lacadazical about learning the Korean language. She's offered to teach me but I would rather go do anything after work than "think".

I barely drank before I moved to Korea, maybe one beer a day and get drunk or buzzed once every two weeks. When I first started teaching here I really didn't like soju, so I started drinking bekseju. After a few nights out with some Korean friends, i acquired the taste for soju. Now I have quit drinking altogether in order to lose weight.

Things I learned. (maybe generalizing here)

If your male, you should try to avoid any job that requires teaching Kindy. Too stressful, 40 minutes and it can ruin the start of your day if not the whole day.

Never expect a Korean to be on time or to do things like you think they would. They may do great jobs for fellow Koreans but I think they care less about the finished product if it's for a foriegner.

Get used to the customs, be respectful and you can just watch the discounts and freebies flow (as well as smiling faces). Learn the basic polite phrases and other terms that you find necessary as fast as possible.

Don't even pay attention to what some old ajjoshi is screaming at you about. More often they are bitter old men and know you won't do anything when they are in your face.

Things I have to still figure out.

Why my ex-Korean friend ditched the privilidged MC position the night before my wedding after meeting with his church elders. (Hence, my beef with Korean conformity)

Why my middle school students still can't make a complete sentence in conversation or question response after being taught English for years and years.

Koreas almost universal lack of knowledge of Geography. (Other than Japan or China)

Koreans blatant breaking and bending of the law, traffic wise and everything else.

Koreas high adultery rate and the anti-Americanism. (I'm Canadian)

That about sums it up.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

blair · Joined: 17 Mar 2004

I've been here 3 years. I'm a 47 year old Aus male. I live and work in Daegu which is much better than Gumi but you would expect that. I guess I look about 40 and I am not fat or too ugly I suppose. I like to dress well when I am out. Nothing special just what I think is tidy. In winter I often wear a casual jacket that looks a bit like a suit coat. It is wool and cashmere it looks good with just about anything. A pair of pants, sometimes jeans, shirt .. just casual stuff. Compared to the average foreigner here, yes, I look dressed up. That is because you guys look dressed down. Like it or not everyone is looking at us. The difference is huge. I get treated with this "Gentleman" thing all the time. As though I am paying everyone a big compliment by breathing. I think bloody hell it is just my ol favourite coat. Look around, a lot of people here make an effort to look good, even if their sense of fashion is not to your taste they do make an effort. It is hard to look good here but you can make your own style happen if you keep your eyes open. Many Koreans of all ages compliment me on my "style" which as I said is not much but it is just that we get noticed. So people throw something "stylish" on whatever that is and see what happens. It is good fun and you may see a different side.

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

I haven't read the thread yet, but wanted to say that reverse culture shock back home was much worse than the initial culture shock that came with going to Korea.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I've been stuck in culture shock for years. No matter where I go. Maybe I'm just agoraphobic or something.

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Location: Canada

The first month I was in Korea, I suffered from panic attacks. I'd never had them before. I mean I would just freak out on myself. I felt I couldn't stay in Korea for another minute and almost left. There was nothing specific that made me unhappy; just being in Korea like a fish out of water. I think I was just homesick. I had some muscle relaxants and that's how I could calm down and get a grip. The panic attacks went away eventually and I was fine, but that first month...