Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Whotini]

Hey ya'll! I'm a brand new resident of South Korea...moved here with my husband for his job in the pharmaceutical industry ,and I now have a teaching position in Dongchun dong. It's about 5 minutes away from our house in Songdo New City. Does anyone have any advice for a misplaced southern belle and a now a spankin' new teacher???
It's all completely new: the culture, the language, the food. Any advice is appreciated greatly.
My husband was raised in different countries so he doesn't completely get my shell shock!!!

[VanIslander]

Firstly, stop saying you're a "Korean teacher" unless you are in fact Korean. The thread title is a bit confusing.

You are an expat now! A foreigner. And if you wanna adopt the local lingo you are a "waygook", and if American, a "megook".

An ESLer.

[Whotini]

Again it's all new....Sorry I mean megook and yes I've already got the stares to prove I'm a foreigner!!! A young blond woman in Korea is like an open fly...they can't help but stare!

[fidel]

Plus stop mentioning spanking, you'll get a few of the lads on this site who can't get dates all hot and bothered

[Swiss James]

I used to constantly check my trouser fly when I first came here- "What are they looking at? Have I got something on my face?" etc.

Best advice I can give, don't smell the food before you eat it!

[JongnoGuru]

(Speak for yourself, Fidel.)

So, what's up with this spanking? Specifically, administering or receiving?

[SPINOZA]

I'm relatively new to SK myself, Whotini (3 months), but I personally would've found the following advice very useful had I not learnt it quickly myself:

1. Learn the script. It's unbelievably easy. Most say it can be done with 4 hours of study, but really it oughtn't take even that long. I don't know where the place is that you're living, but hopefully it's near Seoul. Use the Seoul subway, read the place names in English and Korean. Practise reading signs. Learning to comprehend a menu is absolutely vital. Not everyone deems it necessary to learn 'Han Geul' but IMO you may as well because it's straightforward, ingenious and enjoyable.

2. If you haven't already done so (I assume not), go to a small K-restaurant with just seats and tables and order: Bib im bap, Dol sot bib im bap, Kim chie Bok oom bap (my favorite), Dwen jong jee gay, Kim chie jee gay, Kim bap, Mandu Kook, Kim chie man du. I won't tell you what they are - buy 'em! An adequate intro to K-food. Price range: 1-5 bucks. When you order something, eg, Kimchie Mandu, say "Kimchie Mandu Joo-se-yo". That's so basic a suggestion but you gave the distinct impression everything is completely new so I figured I'd say something basic and essential. Joo-se-yo means 'give me (politely)'. Alot of basic Korean has 'yo' on the end; yo signifies politeness. When you've tried all or some of the above dishes, you may wish to try the K-BBQ (my favorite being San gyop sal). Don't bother buying groceries when you first get here ; it's expensive, boring and unnecessary. Get out there and order K-food. You may hate it, I've no idea, but frankly if you do hate it you're options aren't great.

3. Learn basic phrases from K-colleagues for Hi, Bye, Thank you - again assuming you haven't already done so.

Enjoy!

[Ya-ta Boy]

Welcome!

Recommendations:

1. The things your mom told you before you left are good advice: eat your veggies, wear your mittens in the winter and use an umbrella in the rain.

2. To immunize yourself against the stares, go to the local moke-yoke-tang (spa, sauna, jjim jil bahng). People will stare (big time!) but there will be so much of it that you get used to it pretty fast. Then you can get on with life.

3. Learn your Korean numbers first. Then you'll feel more in control when you go shopping. People will still hold up a calculator with the total price, but still...

4. When someone (Korean) says something bizzarely offensive, bite your tongue and think about the situation. Chances are very high that the comment was the result of poor English skills rather than hostility.

5. When someone (waygookin) says something bizzarely offensive, bite their head off. Chances are very high that the comment was the result of their poor social skills and hostility rather than poor English skills.

6. Relax and have a good time!

[SPINOZA]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[sheba]

Also when giving or receving something (anything), use two hands (especially to someone older than you). It took my friend a long time to get used to this and she got a lot of dirty looks because of it.

[billybrobby]

[JongnoGuru]

[Gwangjuboy]

[fidel]