Korean Job Discussion Forums

Rock · Joined: 25 Feb 2005

You know, after reflecting on my time in Korea(six years,) I can only think of this arduous act of everyone trying to understand Korea and Koreans, or they making us do so. It's the great folly that I've since been free from, and from punishing myself over. I say this for various reasons.

This mindset depicts the Korean mentality to stir up a persons emotions since really, it's indescribable to depict Korea, making you all that more frustrated. Who needs this?

Coming there as a lousy English teacher, what, really, is the worth of being an arbiter, of sorts, of this nations national character? The character just doesn't make sense, it will never be upfront about what it is, and there's just no sound sense to grasping an understanding of it all. All this leads to my conclusion.

There's nothing like home.

Perhaps I'm thinking about returning to Korea someday, but my conscience is clear now, serene. I don't have to struggle over the idiosyncracies of co-workers, illegal immigration tactics by employers; I don't have to confront the foolish drunkeness of this society as a whole, nor the assanine women and the prostitutes lurking among redlight-like downtown areas. I think to myself, Why did I ever end up in Korea?

No, this too is a carry-over from their puzzling, enigmatic and vague personalities, and it is my conclusion that, just as they dismissed my person and disregarded any sense of reasoning, I'd rather think there's nothing worth knowing or remembering about Korea itself. So why return to this nothingness?

A nice diatribe, eh? Many people back home say "Why do you guys do that. . .go over there?" Once you get past the glamour and glow of travel and a foreign country, you have to get down to what life is all about, philosophically speaking. To me this is finding out what you believe constitutes a strong society and civilization, a country to boot.

But maybe, just maybe, I'll take their money once again.

Then again, I don't want to come back home and cover up my tracks by trying to explain to people where I was and what Korea was like. Not, at least, without feeling an ambivalent arse, and a liar too.

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

Fascinating stuff, Rock.

adventureman · Joined: 18 Feb 2003

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 8:20 am Post subject:

Two words: cultural and relatitvism. Cool

Prince Frog · Joined: 03 Oct 2005

Six years in Korea and all you can say is 'nothing to remember'. Hmmm, curious. Yes, and now you are thinking about going back. Even more strange. Why not call it a day and find something else to do?

Imbroglio · Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 7:21 am Post subject:

You could go back home, grow weed in northern Cali, use the profits to finance your Phd. Go teach in other parts of the world, Korea isn't as interesting as other places anyway. You may like teaching, and there are many other places to teach. I attended an American school in a foreign country and a lot of the teachers were hippies who graduated with advanced degrees and were able to secure good jobs with small private schools throughout Europe. Look into it, you don't have to give up teaching overseas just because you don't like Asians.

Good luck, and I was kidding about the maryjane.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Tell you, Rock, every weekend I have a great weekend. It blows me away. Peak stuff.

You just gotta arrange your brain so that the negative stuff shoots out without time to dwell.

I know you're not looking for advice. But whatever thrills ya. Can't be thrilled and whining about stuff at the same time.

So you gotta choose. Then jettison the big bad injustice and whatever negative claptrap is winding itself up like a case in court. Koreans are this that and whatever blablablabla.

You've got some pretty excellent writing going from time to time.

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

Imbroglio · Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 12:15 pm Post subject:

Jongnoguru used my joke in his sig line. Now I feel special!

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

Korea is one of those places you HAVE to learn to let things slide. If you don't, it will just eat you up inside and make your stay here a not so pleasant one.

Having said that, I have been here 8.5yrs and I think another year or so and I am definately ready to live in another country for a bit. I think I am getting TOO USED to the things that make people crazy - and well that can't be good, can it?