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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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 Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| kangnam mafioso wrote: |
| I can't imagine leaving on the 11th month. I take it you are in the boondocks somewhere with no friends or dates and working for a hogwan that seldom pays you on time and who you doubt will pay you on the last month and severance and all that. Your boss is always interfering with your teaching, the kids are rude, and everyone tells you that you suck at teaching. People on the street won't look at you and if they do it is with a xenophopic scowl. You hate Korean food and there aren't many American fast food or chain joints in the backwoods craphole within which you reside. |
It would have to be much worse than that to make me leave in the 11th month (maybe the 3rd, not the 11th)  |
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xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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| I can't imagine leaving on the 11th month. I take it you are in the boondocks somewhere with no friends or dates and working for a hogwan that seldom pays you on time and who you doubt will pay you on the last month and severance and all that. Your boss is always interfering with your teaching, the kids are rude, and everyone tells you that you suck at teaching. People on the street won't look at you and if they do it is with a xenophopic scowl. You hate Korean food and there aren't many American fast food or chain joints in the backwoods craphole within which you reside. |
Living in Pohang, I could be living in what you would call the "backwoods". I know many many teachers from here and surrounding areas and I have yet to meet one that has not been paid on time or had any of the serious problems of which you've described. Most of the horror stories I have heard have come from the larger cities like Seoul or Busan. Lets face it, there are some people who can cut it here and some who can't. But in the end it is we, ourselves who are responsible for our own well being. I have seen all types come and go since I have been here. I will say that I have noticed that a person's fortitude in relation to korea seems to be in direct proportion to the standard of life they had back home. If they were well off and were resonably successful careerwise, had relationship opportunities, etc.. then they will usually be nothing but misserable here because they are constantly comparing their life here with what they left behind. On the contrary, if they have no career possibilities back home, are ingnored by people of the opposite sex, and their life is pretty bleak then they will usually do just fine. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| xingyiman wrote: |
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| I can't imagine leaving on the 11th month. I take it you are in the boondocks somewhere with no friends or dates and working for a hogwan that seldom pays you on time and who you doubt will pay you on the last month and severance and all that. Your boss is always interfering with your teaching, the kids are rude, and everyone tells you that you suck at teaching. People on the street won't look at you and if they do it is with a xenophopic scowl. You hate Korean food and there aren't many American fast food or chain joints in the backwoods craphole within which you reside. |
Living in Pohang, I could be living in what you would call the "backwoods". I know many many teachers from here and surrounding areas and I have yet to meet one that has not been paid on time or had any of the serious problems of which you've described. Most of the horror stories I have heard have come from the larger cities like Seoul or Busan. Lets face it, there are some people who can cut it here and some who can't. But in the end it is we, ourselves who are responsible for our own well being. I have seen all types come and go since I have been here. I will say that I have noticed that a person's fortitude in relation to korea seems to be in direct proportion to the standard of life they had back home. If they were well off and were resonably successful careerwise, had relationship opportunities, etc.. then they will usually be nothing but misserable here because they are constantly comparing their life here with what they left behind. On the contrary, if they have no career possibilities back home, are ingnored by people of the opposite sex, and their life is pretty bleak then they will usually do just fine. |
It's more likely that unhappy people back home (not depending on anything material or how many girls/guys you can lay) are unhappy here, while happy ones are happy. |
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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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| princess wrote: |
| coffeeman wrote: |
"Go with the flow." Just accept things as they are. So the adjuma just cut in front of you in line. What did it cost you? An extra 5 minutes? Then another Korean will buy you lunch. At the end of the day, you break even or come out ahead. It's a different culture. The best thing is to just accept things.
Yesterday I went to the bank and was given a pen, some food containers and a twin pack of hair shampoo and conditioner. Back in Canada, the only thing a bank would ever give me is headaches.
Good advice to people would be to take notice of all the good treatment you get in Korea and don't dwell on the bad.
I would also try to sometimes return the good behaviour to Koreans to show your appreciation. I think I might buy some snacks for the other teachers in my office. Might cost me $20, but be money well spent. |
The bank thing applies to US banks as well. Most places in the US don't know the meaning of freebies/samples. Most businesses are just slefish money grubbers. In Korea, most places give me craploads of samples, and on the rare ocassion I don't get a free sample, I am very surprised. In the US, I am floored if I actually DO get a sample^^ |
Yeah, back in the States they don't give many free samples-they just charge you way less for almost everything and have frequet honest-to-goodness sales. |
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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how do I do it?
I look forward to my yearly trips.. its sad but I stay positive knowning I will on some nice sandy beach miles away from this place!! to bad its only for a month hahahah
I usually just live in my own bubble, dont really pay attention to whats going on around me.. thats how I do it.. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| xingyiman wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I can't imagine leaving on the 11th month. I take it you are in the boondocks somewhere with no friends or dates and working for a hogwan that seldom pays you on time and who you doubt will pay you on the last month and severance and all that. Your boss is always interfering with your teaching, the kids are rude, and everyone tells you that you suck at teaching. People on the street won't look at you and if they do it is with a xenophopic scowl. You hate Korean food and there aren't many American fast food or chain joints in the backwoods craphole within which you reside. |
Living in Pohang, I could be living in what you would call the "backwoods". I know many many teachers from here and surrounding areas and I have yet to meet one that has not been paid on time or had any of the serious problems of which you've described. Most of the horror stories I have heard have come from the larger cities like Seoul or Busan. Lets face it, there are some people who can cut it here and some who can't. But in the end it is we, ourselves who are responsible for our own well being. I have seen all types come and go since I have been here. I will say that I have noticed that a person's fortitude in relation to korea seems to be in direct proportion to the standard of life they had back home. If they were well off and were resonably successful careerwise, had relationship opportunities, etc.. then they will usually be nothing but misserable here because they are constantly comparing their life here with what they left behind. On the contrary, if they have no career possibilities back home, are ingnored by people of the opposite sex, and their life is pretty bleak then they will usually do just fine. |
It's more likely that unhappy people back home (not depending on anything material or how many girls/guys you can lay) are unhappy here, while happy ones are happy. |
I don't know - I was getting pretty fed up with 'back home' but am really enjoying it here. I know quite a few other people who feel the same way. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
| xingyiman wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I can't imagine leaving on the 11th month. I take it you are in the boondocks somewhere with no friends or dates and working for a hogwan that seldom pays you on time and who you doubt will pay you on the last month and severance and all that. Your boss is always interfering with your teaching, the kids are rude, and everyone tells you that you suck at teaching. People on the street won't look at you and if they do it is with a xenophopic scowl. You hate Korean food and there aren't many American fast food or chain joints in the backwoods craphole within which you reside. |
Living in Pohang, I could be living in what you would call the "backwoods". I know many many teachers from here and surrounding areas and I have yet to meet one that has not been paid on time or had any of the serious problems of which you've described. Most of the horror stories I have heard have come from the larger cities like Seoul or Busan. Lets face it, there are some people who can cut it here and some who can't. But in the end it is we, ourselves who are responsible for our own well being. I have seen all types come and go since I have been here. I will say that I have noticed that a person's fortitude in relation to korea seems to be in direct proportion to the standard of life they had back home. If they were well off and were resonably successful careerwise, had relationship opportunities, etc.. then they will usually be nothing but misserable here because they are constantly comparing their life here with what they left behind. On the contrary, if they have no career possibilities back home, are ingnored by people of the opposite sex, and their life is pretty bleak then they will usually do just fine. |
It's more likely that unhappy people back home (not depending on anything material or how many girls/guys you can lay) are unhappy here, while happy ones are happy. |
I don't know - I was getting pretty fed up with 'back home' but am really enjoying it here. I know quite a few other people who feel the same way. |
Changing places will only cover up past insecurities or problems. Doesn't fix them (not saying you have any either  ). If you were an unhappy person, you will most likely continue to be one. This obviously doesn't apply to everyone though. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:01 am Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
| xingyiman wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I can't imagine leaving on the 11th month. I take it you are in the boondocks somewhere with no friends or dates and working for a hogwan that seldom pays you on time and who you doubt will pay you on the last month and severance and all that. Your boss is always interfering with your teaching, the kids are rude, and everyone tells you that you suck at teaching. People on the street won't look at you and if they do it is with a xenophopic scowl. You hate Korean food and there aren't many American fast food or chain joints in the backwoods craphole within which you reside. |
Living in Pohang, I could be living in what you would call the "backwoods". I know many many teachers from here and surrounding areas and I have yet to meet one that has not been paid on time or had any of the serious problems of which you've described. Most of the horror stories I have heard have come from the larger cities like Seoul or Busan. Lets face it, there are some people who can cut it here and some who can't. But in the end it is we, ourselves who are responsible for our own well being. I have seen all types come and go since I have been here. I will say that I have noticed that a person's fortitude in relation to korea seems to be in direct proportion to the standard of life they had back home. If they were well off and were resonably successful careerwise, had relationship opportunities, etc.. then they will usually be nothing but misserable here because they are constantly comparing their life here with what they left behind. On the contrary, if they have no career possibilities back home, are ingnored by people of the opposite sex, and their life is pretty bleak then they will usually do just fine. |
It's more likely that unhappy people back home (not depending on anything material or how many girls/guys you can lay) are unhappy here, while happy ones are happy. |
I don't know - I was getting pretty fed up with 'back home' but am really enjoying it here. I know quite a few other people who feel the same way. |
Changing places will only cover up past insecurities or problems. Doesn't fix them (not saying you have any either ). If you were an unhappy person, you will most likely continue to be one. This obviously doesn't apply to everyone though. |
I think that some people get on the wrong career track, stay at something too long when they should switch paths, or get in a rut, and for many such people Korea offers new and interesting opportunities. Different cultures are better suited to different people, as well. Then there are a few ex-druggies I know for whom Korea has been very good re-hab.
People who are perpetually unhappy here, however, probably were and would be at home. The exception is people whose workplace environments are intolerable and ruin their lives. Even with them there is often a problem of a reluctance to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and effect some change. |
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SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul
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| Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:04 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, I thought Xingyiman had a point there. The problem with it, mind you, is that it plays into the hands of people who say "you only like Korea because you were such a loser back home". Not that I care. iT makes me chuckle when I hear that from someone who's in Korea themselves. My definition of a person that sucks ass is someone who's unhappy where ever the hell they are. This time last year I was truly miserable, the lowest ever point in my life. A year later I couldn't be happier. Then again, I've got a very cushy job and I think that makes all the difference.
However, if someone's truly happy back home, why bother leaving? For an adventure maybe? That's fair enough, but it takes quite a lot of effort and stress to get over here and you feel that all of us are perhaps getting away from something. If people are so happy back home, why don't they just stay?
I just took a massive walk. I did yesterday too. I'm renowned for my big, crazy walks. Yesterday I walked from my house in Eunpyeong-Gu to downtown and ended up at Yaksu station via Namsan. That's a bloody long way, trust me! Today I wanted to walk to Hongdae via an interesting route but it didn't work out and I ended up walking up some big mountain. Fabulous journey though. Taking a big walk in the lovely Spring sunshine keeps me positive, although I repeat I don't need to make myself feel positive for the most part because my job and my life and my standard of living is very nice here in Seoul. |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 2:52 am Post subject: |
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I think that some people get on the wrong career track, stay at something too long when they should switch paths, or get in a rut, and for many such people Korea offers new and interesting opportunities. Different cultures are better suited to different people, as well. Then there are a few ex-druggies I know for whom Korea has been very good re-hab.
People who are perpetually unhappy here, however, probably were and would be at home. The exception is people whose workplace environments are intolerable and ruin their lives. Even with them there is often a problem of a reluctance to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and effect some change.
I think this makes a lot of sense. Well said Yu_Bum_suk.
Many people confuse unhappiness with a job they are not meant for (teaching) and unhappiness with a country. Or they simply transfer that unhappiness onto the country.
Others are just not built to live abroad or to live in this particular culture and be happy.
There those who get stuck in a bad job or get cheated and this will obviously affect their experiences in Korea.
Last edited by Homer on Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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Huh-huh...you said, "taint." |
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xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Changing places will only cover up past insecurities or problems. Doesn't fix them (not saying you have any either ). If you were an unhappy person, you will most likely continue to be one. This obviously doesn't apply to everyone though. |
I was probably one of the most unhappy people you could have met back in America. About 6 years ago I was actually pretty successful. I had a 3 bedroom house with an inground pool and Mercedes in the garage as well as a new Jeep. This time last year I was living in a friends house and sleeping on an inflatable mattress with all my possessions piled around me. I was misserable. My divorce left my wife and I with nothing due to having to pay off attourneys for excessive legal bills resulting from a ridiculous fight she wanted to wage. I had been a successful salesman for a GIS solutions firm before I decided to go back to college and get my Master's. Thats what started it all. After the divorce I had virtually no career opportunities available to me because my future was contingent on starting up my own GIS consulting company and at that point I had no funds to do so. I also wanted to try to establish another relationship in my life but I found that most of the women that were attractive to me were in their early 20's and I don't really jive with the early 20's attitude of these girls. Most of the women in their 30's just simply weren't attractive to me. Honestly, I was not enthusiastic about my future to say the least. But now that I am in Korea all that has changed. I am positive (although it took some time) about my future and I have a new set of plans for my life. While here I have dated a beautiful Filipina lady that was my age - imagine that. I couldn't be happier at the moment in comparison to where I was at this time last year. I have some hope and I have seen that a 30 something guy can actually have some happiness in life after all. I am not planning on returning to America to live. I want to pursue a life and retirement in Thailand. So Korea has been exactly the opposite for me. |
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