Korean Job Discussion Forums

[adventureman]

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[weatherman]

I believe it is a matter of outlook on life. I came when I was 26 in 1996 and being completely lost as to how Korea works, I didn't really have a good time. But the longer I stayed and learnt how on a grass roots level Korea operates, and the more personal life experiences I gained, the better Korea has become. I really think it comes down to how well adjusted one is as a person in getting what you want to get out of your Korean experience. And that begs the question. What do you want out of living in Korea?

[Koreabound2004]

Very good question adventure man....and I don't think age has much to do with adjusting to this place....it is all about you and how you deal with things. Korea IMO, is a hard place to live. I am sure I would feel the same way about it no matter my age.

Being here I have become more assertive, and a little bit more angry I would say....I really hate being a foreign woman in Korea! I find myself clenching my fists a lot, and biting my tongue.

I have had a lot of time to think about my goals and such while being here...and it has given me time to plan...but the more time I have to think, the worse things seem to get...if that makes sense.

[chance2005]

[alicat_blue]

I went and taught English in Thailand for six months before I came here and I thank my lucky stars that I did. On the fun meter, and this is my personal opinion, Korea ranks pretty damn low. If you want to make a bundle of cash however, it's a great place to put in a year of work. Another thing to consider is that the older you get, the harder it is to find a job as an esl teacher. Teach here for a year, save some loot, then go really get your kicks somewhere else. I've also heard that Taiwan is a great place to teach English and I'm going there next, after I spend all my Korea savings on world travel, that is.

[turtlepi1]

ahhhh, to be young, carefree and stupid again...

And ESL teachers wonder why they don't get any respect...

[Nabi]

I came here the first time when I was 20. Came back when I was 24, again at 27/28 and now at 34. This time around it is so much easier. When I was here the first time, everything was exciting and an adventure. The second and third times, certain cultural aspects really annoyed me. I spent a lot of my time grumpy. This time around, I think I've mellowed with age and I'm more easy going. The things that bothered me before just don't seem so annoying these days. Or, maybe it's that Korean society has changed quite a bit since I was here 6 years ago and life is actually easier and more comfortable here nowadays.

[Homer]

Came here when I was 1997, it has been over 7 years now. The first year was tough but I adapted quickly enough.

I think age does not matter as far as living here. My only observation here would be that if you are older (over 45 for example) and have never traveled outside the west then you might have a harder time adjusting here. Then again, that holds true of anyone under such circumstances but the younger teachers who come here usually end up surrounded by teachers their own age.

[mindmetoo]

My feeling is being younger, the money you bank is more meaningful. Not many 23 year olds can bank $10K a year. Banking $10K a year when you're 38 is trivial.

Assuming you're not ready to get married at 23, Korean women might ruin you for North American women. You'll go home, all the chicks are fat and stupid, etc. You'll spend the rest of your life chasing Korean women in North America along with the rest of the fetish crowd.

What I like about being older here is when my hagwon screws up, I realize it's not because my director is out to get me. It reminds me of every office environment I've ever worked in in North America. There isn't a sane, well run company on the planet. I'm not here to bank every dollar I can to pay off loans. I work, I go home, I don't try to fill my free time with privates. If my situation becomes untenable, I'm on the first plane home and go back to the tech world.

[Derrek]