Korean Job Discussion Forums

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Hey, I didn't!

I moved to Taiwan.

But I thought I'd return with the right job offer - now maybe not.

Plume D'ella Plumeria · Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Location: The Lost Horizon

Why I've stayed up to now? The money, in the main.

Why I probably won't stay much longer? The ratio of compensation to headaches is no longer in the acceptable zone. In other words, the headaches are starting to outweigh the compensation. For me, that is.

(Abandon hope, all ye Koreaphiles who enter this thread).

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Every you go, there are bound to be people who complain about the place.. just because they complain about it doesn't mean that they don't like living here. Hell, I used to complain about Hong Kong and the UK too and I have homes in both places and actually love living there.

This place is like a portal for people who otherwise don't have that many friends who understand how they feel. May be they have a particularly bad day that they need to vent about and they come here.. but it doesn't mean that they are like that all the time.. (well with the exception of a few sour grapes who ARE like that all the time.................. )

Razz

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

I am staying for (at least) another year because I love this country. The people are friendly, I'm in lust with the bathhouses and I love Haidong Gumdo. Money is not an issue for me whatsoever. I don't have any debts that need paying at the moment (british student loan, interest at the rate of inflation.. I don't care if I'm not paying it.) I'm staying because I have a comfortable lifestyle and I AM somewhere exciting and exotic. Most British people don't even realise there is a South korea, they think I'm in some dodgy communist dictatorship.

Simply, I'm staying here because Korea rocks and my home coutnry (Britain) sucks.

Apart from family the only thing I miss is nice food. I guess if I move to Seoul I can get western stuff though.

-HE

Freezer Burn · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Location: Busan

Im not going to stay after my contract expires, there are two traits that p*ss me off most in people, ignorance and arrogance and I seem to be living on a continent whose inhabitants perspire these attitudes more than most.
Naturally I'm aware that its not primarily an asian trait to be ignorant but when you see examples of it every single time you walk out of your apartment building, you have to look at why I am here if it works me up so much.
The Korean culture works in a way that I'm not used to, I'm used to speaking up if I think something is wrong or I have a problem with my work or my life, I belive in social ettiquette and common sense, Im looking for acceptance and tolerance, not ignorance to other cultures and lifestyles.
This is a dead-end job, and its not challenging in the slightest unless you have adult students who are serious about taking the language to a higher level, or you care about teaching your students the best you can do.
Teaching in a hogwan is a job that most can do in their sleep because we can speak english, the difficulty that arises in these positions is the ignorance/arrogance we feel from non-native Koreans who believe that because they have a basic knowledge of our language, that their way is best and refuse to accept another point of view from an 'expert' because it may mean losing face.
The only positives I can take from Korea are the students at my school, they are my friends and I care about their education.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

DRAMA OVERKILL · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

For 4 years I had been immensely happy with my life here - I enjoyed teaching, work environment was good, great girlfriend, great accomodations, close friends, lots of free time, an interest in all things Korean, etc. etc...

Now, all of the above is pretty much the same, but, unfortunately, I'm just straight up getting burned out... At times it can be so difficult to live here (as with almost anywhere else)... I'm not blaming anyone, it just seems to be the way it's unfolding...

thorin · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

Money for nothing and chicks for free, like the song goes.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Hwajangsil Ajumma · Joined: 02 May 2005 Location: On my knees in the stall

1. Because any problems here are usually pretty minor; on a good day you might not even be bothered by them.
2. You can always leave if you get that fed up with it...
3. ...then you'll probably realise that, on balance, it's no better anywhere else and wish you were back in Korea again
4. Cheap soju. Cheap subways. Cheap meals. Cheap utilities. Cheap shoes.
5. Guangho, Eunoia, Kermo, Sparkx and Hwajangsil Ajumma are all here.

Though personally, I'm just here because they lock the door to my hwajangsil every night so I can't harm myself or others.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I'm broke. Need to stay for some cash. Simple enough reason I guess.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Seven months of the year there is snow in Canada. It was cute growing up but enough's enough. It's really pathetic. Come spring everybody's practically having an orgasm over the turdish smell of thawing muck. And the arrival of migrating birds.