Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rapier]

Some "losers" have legitimate reasons for being in korea. I've heard a full range of reasons for people being here. Some strike me as good, some as excuses.Any interesting reasons you've heard? Whats your main purpose for being out here? And whats your take on it?
In any case...Society is a few degrees harsher and more judgemental than it used to be..."Losers" used to be called "battlers' if I remember correctly.

In the incredibly competitive, judgemental, materialistic society of korea- of skewed and stereotyped perspectives...it does indeed seem that koreans by and large see esl teachers as losers, as suggested by Igotthisguitar on a similar (now sidetracked) thread.

By its very nature, society has losers and winners. There are simply not enough jobs for everyone: there are a myriad of reasons for teachers being out here pursuing an alternative life in the orient- reasons that most of them do not talk about.
I mean i've known great and intelligent teachers here who revealed things like..they were abused in their past relationship..or they lost everything, their business overnight.. or there was simply high unemployment at home. These to me are fairly legitimate reasons to step out of a bad situation and start again.
I think the term "losers" is so judgemental..so da m mning.. Not everyone is responsible for what happened to them in life.

But the most borderline reason i heard for someone being out here was this guy who said " I couldn't stand the sight of my ex girlfriend walking down my street everyday with her new boyfriend".

[Wrench]

I don't think I am looser.

My reasons for being in Korea.

I burned out on my IT job. Almost got married. I just wanted to do something different. Mostly the experience was my reason.

[captain kirk]

Well I can't be responsible for what others think. If 'Koreans think hagwon teachers are losers' I take it with a grain of salt. Minority bashing, and jealousy, and we are outlandish figures in the neighbourhood. Imagine if a Korean arrived and started teaching the world language, Korean, in your neighbourhood. It's like an alien arriving. I've heard mockery is big in Korean humour.

And then there's the national pride thing, the Nork tension, which relates to how they'd perceive the comical alien in their neighbourhood 'teaching abc's'. Kind of an invader, but not.

It's the whacky Korean reality that seems to be forever learning English and requires aliens to teach them. I think it's mad, fun, and interesting.

[Freezer Burn]

Im here travelling getting a bit of money together while seeing another country, its not a career, I'm younger so I'll worry about the future when I'm done seeing the world, and hey if that doesn't work out theres always Korea

[The King of Kwangju]

Full disclosure - I'm not in Korea anymore.

But when I was, there wasn't any talk of wayguks being "losers." Not that I heard anyways. But there's no doubt that they were losers when they came.

I never understood how a loser could travel to a foreign country, get a good job, have the time of their life, maybe find love, and still be considered a loser.

That person isn't a loser anymore. They found what they couldn't find at home, and that makes them a winner.

[Maserial]

Perhaps I'm one of the losers, or battlers (although I've always wanted to be a Renegade of Funk...), although as the OP points out, it's both a matter of interpretation, and a convoluted issue further complicated by a lack of cohesive ideology on the part of its 'constituents'.
Or, to rephrase, I don't feel entirely qualified to deem myself a 'winner', 'loser', or anything within the spectrum. I certainly concur with C. Kirk's assessment that one must take the supposed ire of some Koreans with a grain of salt, if not an outright display of amusement. If one is considered a deviant entity by those no less deserving of the moniker, be it instigated via ignorance, fear, jealousy, a monstrous conglomeration of aforementioned qualities, or some entirely alien aversion, so be it. The same applies to the opinions of my 'fellow foreigners'.
To wander back unto the path of Rapier's post, I have heard similar rationale for departure (given by other individuals) as to what has been mentioned previously, and as for myself, I suppose my motivations are less than noble, or forgivable. I didn't come to Asia (Japan initially, and then Korea) due to any heartache, or economic impetus, but rather, I had no particular, rewarding reason to remain within the midwestern United States.
If one becomes a 'loser' due to a lack of veritable, quantifiable (most likely materialistic concerns, or those concerns which pose as something worthy, such as desperately seeking a mate for the purpose of fulfilling societal expectations) associations, then I say bring it on.

(or to throw in a peripheral, vituperatively abject Blake reference, perhaps I just grew tired of attempting to extract, constrict, and squeeze meaning out of the gnarled American Tree of Mystery)

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

I came soley for the spirit for adventure. I was 24, just finished college and maybe a little over idealistic and naive who wanted to "save the world." I was planning to join the U.S Peace Corps and thought that a one year stint in Korea (which I knew nothing about) was a good way to test the expat life and bone up my application for the Corps. I actually had no idea the money was good here and I certainly did not come because of job dissastifcation. Actually, I can say this with certainty that most of my jobs back in the U.S were more fulfilling and sastifying then teaching here (although the pay was crap). If I didn't meet my husband here, I know I definitely would have gone back to the U.S after my first year. I like Korea but not enough that I'd stay a second year (if I were alone).

Now, I'm a little sad that the idealistic tree-hugger in me has almost diminished. I don't know if it chalks up to the easy, money lifestyle here or just getting older. I don't think I'll be rushing off to the Peace Corps now:cry:

[buddy bradley]

I came because they paid for my ticket.

[nrvs]

I took a few classes in Mandarin in university and I was ready to go to Taiwan to study and teach English. Then, I met my Korean-American girlfriend at home. She had similar plans to go abroad...but to Korea. She's a Korean national and wouldn't qualify for a working visa in Taiwan. So, Korea it was.

Although I don't mind studying Korean, I still think Mandarin is more useful. Oh well. At least I can talk to the proprietors of convenience stores in the West Philly ghetto when I go home.