Korean Job Discussion Forums

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

A Korean recently asked me what has kept me here for 5 years. It was difficult to answer.
Korea is like that.
So what has kept you here or why are you leaving when your current contract ends?

The Chewbacca Defense · Joined: 29 May 2004 Location: The ROK and a hard place

What has kept me here...?

Well it would have to be three things

1) The friends I have made.
2) The experiences
3) The money

That's it. I am doing my master's dgree and will probably be here for a few more years. I have already been for 6.

stevenisi · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

If you've been here for that long, I don't think you could explain it. Wherever you go, there you are.

cwemory · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Location: Gunpo, Korea

the girlfriend...
and being more comfortable and content than I should be...

VanIslander · Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:03 am Post subject:

This is my fourth year in what started out as a one to one and a half year "experience" overseas.

This place changes you, sometimes in some ways for the better, or worse, or both.

I went from thinking my hometown is a hole to my province is a hole to now thinking my home country is mostly a hole. Oddly enough I don't see Korea as a hole, or rather, as a very interesting hole I KNOW I will get out of, so is easier to appreciate than places back home I fear/expect I'll settle down in eventually.

When asked why I'm in my fourth year here I shrug and say "I keep expecting this to be my last year or so. As soon as I feel I'm in REPLAY mode then I'll head elsewhere."

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I was only supposed to be here a year, now I'm on my fourth.

Oddly enough I think that this place really was a good place for me to grow up and figure who the hell I was and what I want to do with my life. It's also given me the confidence to know that the only thing that is stopping me from getting where I want to go is my own insecurities.

When I think about it, it amazes me that I landed here broke, insecure, alone, fat, not knowing anything about Korea or the Korean language to having some amazing moments with people and becoming a successful teacher. So if I can do all this here without a safety net, I know I'll be fine 'back home' to get where I want to go.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I think the reason why some people like the ex-pat life and others don't is not a quantifiable thing. Either you do or you don't. It's easy enough to b*tch and moan about anything that annoys you about any situation you find yourself in, but it is darn difficult to say why you like any situation you find yourself in.

When asked how long I will stay, I have always answered "As long as I have a good job"...because most of the time I have had good jobs. I currently have a lousy job. I am trying to find a better one....but my hopes are dimming.

If I don't find one, then I think I'll throw in the towel. I've been here most of the time since '94. It's been a good ride--most of the time. The bad times make good stories once they are over. I put up with a bad job for a year because I signed a contract for a year. I see no reason to waste another year of my life at a bad job.

Life is too short.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

Pack your shit and go.

Can't you make it back home?

Mashimaro · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: location, location

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

The King of Kwangju · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Location: New York City

I loved living in Korea and stayed for many years.

In the end I left because I didn't want to be an ESL teacher forever, and there were a lot more things I wanted to do, that would be impossible in Korea.

trigger123 · Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:04 am Post subject:

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

Can't you make it back home?

Actually I thought it had validity.
I think as each year passed here, it became more and more difficult to go home. Back home you have to set up your real life. It is just so easy here and some do become complacent I think.
Those of you in your 20's it is easy to go home, but for those of us in our 30's and 40's it is tougher I think.
There would be some people in Korea that would answer the above question as "no. I can't"
But I have also noticed that once you make that decision to go home, you can't wait to go.

bluelake · Joined: 01 Dec 2005

I first came here twenty-two years ago (taught high school back then, as did my wife), and have been here continuously for the past seventeen years. I stay here because Korea is as much my home as is the States. People often ask me if I plan to stay forever; I just say that forever is a long time--I still take things one year at a time.