Korean Job Discussion Forums

[beekeeper3000]

I'm a bit hesitant to post this since it seems so lame, but:

Is anyone as lonely as I am?

Let me explain: I don't live near one of the "hip" areas like Hongdae, Gangnam, Shinchon, or even Itaewon. Moreover, I'm not that into drinking and I feel as if my social life has ground to a complete halt.

The prospect of "going somewhere" to "meet people" seems weird. I've seen and/or met people in shops or on the trains, but I feel like every foreigner is weird or strange. But I AM A FOREIGNER! What is going on?

My hagwon is too small to support any kind of social life and my neighborhood isn't one with (as far as I can see) ANY English-speaking people.

Whine whine groan groan. I suppose the irony is that if some guy came up to me and said, "I'm looking for someone to be my friend" I would probably say, "Keep looking."

[keithinkorea]

You need to get a hobby. Going to the pub is a good way to meet people but it isn't everything.

Something creative is a great way to meet people. Hiking around the mountains is also a great way to expend energy and possibly meet people.

Try and learn some Korean if there are no English speakers in your neighbourhood. Get out more and meet people, stop feeling sorry for yourself!

If you look depressed and feel depressed then your not going to make any friends. To be frank you sound depressed and we all know how boring depressed people can be.

Cheer up, get a gf or bf or go the the gym, learn a new skill or get a hobby.

[beekeeper3000]

First of all, I'm not depressed at all. Nor do I feel sorry for myself. I am having a great time here. I guess I'm just having trouble finding people who have similar tastes as me. For instance, if I was in America, I could go to a drum and bass club. Inevitably I would meet other people who enjoyed the same kind of music. Here there is no such thing.

My hobbies include reading, writing music on my computer, listening to music, riding my bike, and all sorts of things. Now that I look at these things, these are really all things I do alone. Hmm.

[EFLtrainer]

[joe_doufu]

[Ya-ta Boy]

There are lots of ways to meet people. You just have to be a little creative about it. Taking a Korean class is one way. How about taking a Korean cooking or art class? A martial arts class? You could join a church if you are into that sort of thing. What about joining a Korean English club? Lots of them would drool over the prospect of having a native speaker attend regularly.

[babtangee]

I'd join a Korean class, but I think the temptation to call the teacher "stupid" and "a son of a bitch" would become to much in the end.

[resa]

Beekeeper, I am feeling you. I feel the same way and actually just posted something similar a few days ago. Similar hobbies as well...and you're right, they're very solitary. On the upside, at least you and I could be friends!

Really though, I think it's just a weird time. I have friends, but mysteriously all of them (Korean and foreigners together) are busy or gone right now. My
dog is quite personable, but still a dog.

I think part of the problem is how big Seoul is and how hectic life is here. Most of my friends from church live on the west side of Seoul, and I live on the east side. Getting together with them means working around all of our work schedules, and figuring out a mid-point, something to do, etc. etc. It's complicated. This never happened back in Alabama! (Disclaimer: that last sentence was a joke. While I have lived in Alabama, I put it here only for comic effect.)

[rapier]

[ilovebdt]

[sarahsarah]

At least you live in Seoul.

Just think...you could be like me living as the only foreigner in West Icheon, not to be confused with Incheon. I only have the students who live in the dorm at my school to keep me company out here during the week and they don't even speak English. I don't have stores or buses either.

But all that isn't to make light of your situation. It really isn't easy to make friends if you're not one for the bars or if youre the only foreign teacher at your school. I'm lucky because the first school I taught at in Korea had 12 foreign teachers and some of them are still in Korea after two years so I still have friends.

I hate to say it because it's so trendy and all, but get on myspace.com. I've actually met quite a lot of people in person from there with similar music taste as me. I didn't think a punk scene actually existed in Korea, but it does. So as evil as myspace is, it's a good way to make friends.

[beekeeper3000]

yeah, unfortunately the internet has made it far too easy to boil people down into a list that you either are or are not interested in. for example, if my list said:

drum and bass
monty python
anime
aqua teen hunger force
IDM
reading
exercise

you might think, "well, I like monty python and reading, but this guy's other tastes are too extreme/childish/unknown/etc... and therefore we won't make good friends." i find with sites like myspace and friendster it's really difficult to see people for who they are. this of course goes either way - someone could be a really evil maniac who shares the same preferences as me. holy crap!

just some thoughts. but yes, i'll give it a shot.

[manlyboy]

Could be worse. I know a few people here with loads of friends, but apparently they don't like any of them.

[Grimalkin]

Pick up a copy of K-Scene. There might be some suggestions for clubs you could join or hobbies or classes you could take up.

Good Luck.