Korean Job Discussion Forums

[philinkorea]

I just got back from Korea yesterday to England after spending 2 years there with a small break in between. I must say has been a great time but now am going to pursue some study in England. I found Korea to be very interesting place.

I was wondering though, particularly for those who stay in Korea longer how does a foreigner really fit in there. The society is one which ultimately excludes you. Even if you speak good Korean, are a great teacher and make an effort to be the model EFL citizen it seems like you will never be a true member of the society and almost be a ghost in some way, never really expressing your whole character fully

I dont want to sound like a korea complainer. Its been a great unique time. I enjoyed my job and saved some money and experienced something totally different but I just wonder how you all generally felt there and how you see your place in Korea

[mercury]

I think most of the teachers in Korea are so called 'cowboys'. They want to make money, drink, and sow their wild oats. And I don't really see anything wrong with that. That is life. Many Koreans go to the states and to Canada to do the very same thing. The second group is more like a honeybee type. They want to build a home here, marry,learn the language, and make a beautiful life as best they can. The third group is someone who is just curious and wants to explore. I guess interest is the main motivation here. This is speaking mostly of guys. I am not sure about the women here, maybe we can put some of them in the first category, the second, and the third.

[philinkorea]

I agree a lot with what you said. Your analogy is really good. I guess I kind of feel for me personally that sort of cowboy feeling does get dull. I felt if I stayed in Korea longerId want to be making this nice respectable life there, nicely integrated into the community etc but it doesnt really seem possible. well i guess my main aim was coming back to England to study.

My first year I partied loads, really loved the novelty of meeting korean women. My second year I taught adults, studied korean , read about the history, buckled down a bit with saving money. Made a nice girlfriend too. I tried my best to be a good member of the ESL community. Ive had a great time but I guess somehow my conclusion is that its been great but I as a foreigner there your one of these 'cowboys' as you say or someone why tries to really fit in but is just excluded anyway so there was no point in trying. There is no real in between.

Whereas England certainly has bad points I feel now I can immerse myself here in a good respectable way more than would ever be possible in South Korea

[Summer Wine]

Ok, I will step up.

The comments that it is our fault for coming to Korea and finding no body who really treats you as a friend or wants us as a friend sucks. I will say it loud and proud, I met a guy in Korea from a country I lived in before. I met him for one day and we have stayed friends even though he is in another country. We drink too much???? What else do you do in a country that treats you like a monkey or a child.

I mean, I have had it with people who say its our fault. What did we do wrong? come here? Oh, you don't like it? Leave!!, Yeah thats the solution. Face it, I don't always agree with people from my country, should I leave??

Its not apologies to think there are good people here or negative to think we get screwed. But it happens, more than it does else where sometimes. I have good times here and bad times here. Don't apologise for them, thats their job, Don't condem them, thats thier job. But, But!! as one person said, America, Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, South Africa, many cultures, same complaints. How can that be possible if its all our fault for not understanding them.

I have not understood many cultures I lived in, I just have not felt so like an example of everything I would not want someone else to feel. Yes! Let me say that again, Yes!!! I don't feel every Korean is the same, though if you pick up enough grains of sand, what do you call it? A beach?? or a Mountain??

You call it as you see it and if enough people call it, what is it??? Be true to the experience not the concept of self denial.

[waggo]

To the OP... arent you the idiot who started the "Does England Suck?" thread where you basically said England was rubbish?
....and whats that you say? Youve gone back to England to study and settle down?.....SOLID GOLD KNOBHEAD!

[Badmojo]

[Tiger Beer]

My place in Korean society?

Hmm.. what is my place in American society? How exactly do I fit in there better there than anywhere else?

My identity in Korea is much stronger.. being back in the US I become identity-less.. no one is all that interested in what some 'standard white guy' is doing when you are the status quo.

Its true that being in the home country, you have a wider range of possibilities.. but being a foreigner in Korea also opens a lot different doors in a society that would be closed off to the mainstream Korean.

Being a white male expat in Asia is where its at! I have absolutely no problem with that!

[mercury]

[philinkorea]

[Ya-ta Boy]

I'm with Tiger Beer on this one.

By my third year in Korea (at the same job) I began to feel Korea was 'home'. I knew a bit of the language and was easy with most of the culture stuff. Had friends to hang out with. People in the neighborhood knew me. I felt welcome anywhere I went.

The only area I felt constrained was that I had no alternative to living on an E-2 visa. I looked into getting some other visa that would give me more freedom. That wasn't possible. But then it is very difficult to get that kind of freedom in other countries. Legal immigration is always very restricted.

I'm curious. In what ways did you want to fit in?

I'm not saying this is true of you, but more than once I saw a new teacher get 'irrate' because he couldn't change the set up of the school.

[Homer]

summer W,

That was an excellent post.

[matthewwoodford]

[Cedar]

I feel that I do fit in better here than I do in America. Those people don't understand me. I'm not culturally American, not culturally Korean... nor Chinese nor Tibetan, actually. I am just me, an expat, Cedar, myself... I define myself with my activities, not my place of residence. My activities in Korea make me happy... end of story. And being an English teacher is NOT the only option here...

[Squid]

I'm feeling circumspect right now so I'll chip in.

Cedar I agree with the point it's not where you are necessarily that's going to define your fitting in or not, it's more about how you act and the interests you pursue wherever you may be... at least that's how I understood what you wrote. That's my angle.

People in Korea, or anywhere I traveled at least, appreciate the same things I do... like mutual respect, character, honesty in dealing with people...etc. Summer Wine I see the point you make but can't help thinking you're hanging out with pretty bad sorts.

I've found that what helps me fit in is doing my own thing, and the turkeys and flies soon drop off you, like overfriendly hagwon owners calling me "brother" when I've known them for 5 minutes, or rude p**cks that try to rip me off, and if you can rise above that lot you get to meet better people... same all over though.

Learning about this place and it's history, learning it's language is not only smart from a financial perspective but helps you avoid the sort of people you don't want to be around. I'd suggest it for SW if only to get you a better look at some more decent folk here.

Particularly thoughtful, for me.

[Tiger Beer]

For me, I like being a minority person. I always wanted to be a minority person.. as I can see almost all benefits in being that no matter where you go or who you are.

Being a majority person - its not interesting, you represent nothing, you are nothing.