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inlimbo
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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 Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:47 pm Post subject: How do you keep a positive attitude in Korea? |
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I am leaving Korea early. I have one month on my contract and yet I can't take it anymore. I'm tossing in the towel. I have given plenty of notice and the hogwon has had time to find a replacement for me. But the prospect of staying here even four more weeks is just not tolerable. The strange thing is, even though I am giving up a lot of money and a return ticket, I feel nothing but relief. I know this seems foolish.
I worked in Bangkok at a private school for 3 years, and have spent a lot of time in India, so I am used to living and working abroad. I do not know why I find it so difficult to be here. It may be the attitudes of the people, the general culture, the exploitative nature of the hogwons, the disrespectful students...don't know.
Reading the posts here I am glad to see that some people are having positive experiences. It is the responsibility of the expat to adjust to the culture in which they are living. Guess I just wasn't able to do it. I am going to go and hang out in India for a year and try to relax a bit.
My question is, what advice would people give to a new comer to Korea to help them keep a positive outlook on things? I am afraid my advice would be not to come, but I know I am not seeing things clearly.
I feel disappointed that I wasn't able to meet the challenge offered by Korea. But right now I just have bitter feeling towards the place. Hope that will change with time.
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Lemonade
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:11 am Post subject: Re: How do you keep a positive attitude in Korea? |
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| inlimbo wrote: |
I am leaving Korea early. I have one month on my contract and yet I can't take it anymore. I'm tossing in the towel. I have given plenty of notice and the hogwon has had time to find a replacement for me. But the prospect of staying here even four more weeks is just not tolerable. The strange thing is, even though I am giving up a lot of money and a return ticket, I feel nothing but relief. I know this seems foolish.
I worked in Bangkok at a private school for 3 years, and have spent a lot of time in India, so I am used to living and working abroad. I do not know why I find it so difficult to be here. It may be the attitudes of the people, the general culture, the exploitative nature of the hogwons, the disrespectful students...don't know.
Reading the posts here I am glad to see that some people are having positive experiences. It is the responsibility of the expat to adjust to the culture in which they are living. Guess I just wasn't able to do it. I am going to go and hang out in India for a year and try to relax a bit.
My question is, what advice would people give to a new comer to Korea to help them keep a positive outlook on things? I am afraid my advice would be not to come, but I know I am not seeing things clearly.
I feel disappointed that I wasn't able to meet the challenge offered by Korea. But right now I just have bitter feeling towards the place. Hope that will change with time.
Thanks |
When you get to India, please be nice to the Dalits. Maybe after your experience in Korea, you can identify with what they have to endure. There's no comparison really, but.....
What advice would I give a newbie to Korea? See my signature below? That's it, in a nutshell. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:27 am Post subject: Re: How do you keep a positive attitude in Korea? |
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| inlimbo wrote: |
| My question is, what advice would people give to a new comer to Korea to help them keep a positive outlook on things? I am afraid my advice would be not to come, but I know I am not seeing things clearly. |
I'd tell them to visit first.. look at the different schools.. and sign a contract based on the location, apartment, and school.
Way too many foreigners sign contracts sight-unseen just thinking its all cool.. and then end up complaining about some aspect of it.
My first contract was in an undesireable part of a city surrounded by Koreans who seemed pretty conservative, boring, rough, unlikeable and whatever else.. and my job sucked being farmed out.. and lived in a crowded apartment with other teachers.. I hated Korea.
Since that time I found much much better locations with really cool adult students and great locations and good living situations.. and totally different experience. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:55 am Post subject: Re: How do you keep a positive attitude in Korea? |
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| inlimbo wrote: |
| My question is, what advice would people give to a new comer to Korea to help them keep a positive outlook on things? |
Um... don't live and work in Thailand for three years first!
I mean, I like Korea a lot. It feels like my home, and it's the only place I want to live right now. But after visiting Thailand and spending a day sitting in on my friend's classes at her school... I really liked what I saw. It would be kinda hard to enjoy Korea after getting used to Thai culture. |
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endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:07 am Post subject: Re: How do you keep a positive attitude in Korea? |
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| inlimbo wrote: |
| It may be the attitudes of the people, the general culture, the exploitative nature of the hogwons, the disrespectful students...don't know. |
Or perhaps it's also you. I don't mean to offend you and I don't know your whole story; however, I find if your unhappy in your internal world, the same can be said for your external one.
Good luck in your future. |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:08 am Post subject: |
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I drink my fu*king face off... and beat the kid.  |
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xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:33 am Post subject: |
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Wow, just one more month? I agree sounds like you have some internal issues. I've been here six months and I am coming back for another round next year. Of course my life is a shit ball back home so this is like Club Med compared to that. Just focus on the money. And try to get laid, its a sure fire stress reducer.  |
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TheDude
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:41 am Post subject: |
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| There is another identical thread on this very same topic in this forum. |
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