Korean Job Discussion Forums

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

My TESOL trainer told me not to worry about meeting foreign people in Korea because experiences are so much richer with Koreans... I must agree... I have had some terrific exoeriences with my foreign friends, but having Korean friends opens a completely new door to their culture...

Im the only foreign teacher as well and have had no problems at all. The K-teachers are great and very helpful... Most of the foreigners I have met arent worth spending time with anyway - our interests are just different.... Im not interested in sleeping around and blowing my money on partying every weekend!!!

Summer Wine · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Location: Next to a River

In my first year I was a little concerned, but I have no problem now with working by myself. It depends on different daily issues how much it can affect you, but it is the same for living in Korea.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

In my first year I was the only foreigner at my workplace, indeed in the whole town. However when I posted this, and admitted that it was rather pleasant, I was the target of numberous posts stating that I should leave and find another place with lots of foreigners. (Not a single person posted to say that they were the only foreigner) When I asked why most seemed to be along the lines of for moral support "in case WJN jerks you around". Strange to say that never happened. And now other people are learning the advantages of living and working alone.
I agree. Living and working alone is best, not because you are the resident English expert, but because you don't have any other people to reflect badly on you. My school has never had an English teacher before (which led to a few "hiccups" in the hiring process, but as a five-year veteran I was able to sort those out) thus I have no negative impressions to outlast.

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 5:22 am Post subject:

baldrick · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: Location, Location

butter808fly · Joined: 09 May 2004 Location: Northern California, USA

An interesting read. Ive worked in both situations, and now currently work alone. I find it very isolating and times and when Im dying to just straight talk about my day or work or something, nobodys English is that good that I can just talk normally to them.

On the other hand, I also didnt like working with past co-workers to much. I mean, I liked them but having them and having to talk all the time about crap I didnt care about, well that was annoying too. Its nice to be so adored by the kids since Im the only white person. IM 'beautiful teacher' etc. Its nice.

I guess, depends your preference.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

I can't say I prefer one over the other because the situations are varied. Right now I have a foreign co-worker whose my age and has common sense. So we can talk. It helps she's the same age. I've worked with foreign teachers who were younger and they were intimidated and stand-offish. I'd been here longer than them. And they clustered with other foreigners.

After working as the only teacher I'm not into clustering with other foreigners. It feels lowest common denominator. Like the usual social blather is just too much waiting to get it over with. Especially after doing the lowest common denominator thing getting the Englishee across in class as a full time job. So I get used to having diversions that are disconnected with being dependent on other folks/foreigners.

Working as the only foreigner I was immersed in the Korean Way. When it came to disputes over duties and payment I was outnumbered. So it took some backbone and hard bargaining.

Once I got so bushed from being alone out in the boonies I started riding the motorbike ninety minutes to the nearest city where there was a foreigner hangout hof. Just to talk to other foreigners, because I'm not a drinker(though I drank alot of draft there anyway). I gotta say though being out in the country is flat out calm for the soul when you feel you need to gear down. And a year contract out there is a lot of soothing balm. The locals just take you in as a curiousity that's part of the neighbourhood. Saw every video in the video shop of that one horse town. Got to love the mist on the mountain.

Veronica · Joined: 29 Aug 2005

I love being the only foreigner in my school. It is awesome. There are no politics, there are no 'covering up' issues, no complaints about anything issues, jusy nothing. I come. I work hard. I have the respect of nearly all my students and the teachers. The I go home again. What more could you ask for really?