Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jajdude]

I want to leave my current gig about 5 months in, not because the job sucks or the money has been unpaid, but because I dislike where I live and feel isolated and freaked out, and feel "my old friend the blues" of depression taking over. I have little social life other than meeting other foreigners on weekends. I am sick of this country and its monoculture, and the stares and zero English everywhere, and the smoky PC rooms, and more... so although the boss and his employees have been good to me I want to go because I am depressed and unhappy here. But I think giving notice may be a problem. I may be hard to replace in the boonies, even though that is not really my concern. And I do not want to incur bad feelings, but hell my life and mental health is at stake. So should I give notice, or just bail after next payday? I want to give notice and be fair and hang in there for another month or even two, but frankly every day here is driving me closer to the looney bin. And I do not really trust these people. My boss speaks almost zero English and requires a translator to communicate with me. Just living here has felt like a bit of a nightmare and I am desperate to get out soon! Any advice? Going nuts...

[Dan]

if the school hasn't treated you badly, I think you should give notice.

if you aren't given that option, i would consider running then.

[saw6436]

Sounds to me like you are suffering from good old culture shock. If you are packed out some where in the boonies it can be pretty tough to adjust here and 5 months really is not much of and adjustment period.
I was getting along fine for my first 6 months then one day just walking down the street I just froze. It was like I had been blind and could suddenly see.
Are you fortunate enough to be teaching adult or college age students? My experience is that they love to hang out and "teach" foreigners about Korea. They also get extra English practice. Or perhaps get into some activities here like Taiquando lessons, etc...
I have been here almost 5 years now and have had my bouts of disgust and depression with this place. But I don't think it is really that bad. Where are you located? Feel free to e-mail me if you are looking for somewhere to vent. I am cetainly ventable.
Of course the honorable thing is to gut out the rest of your contract. Especially if your boss and co-workers have been treating you well. When a teacher runs the crap really flies all over your co-teachers. I have had 2 co-teachers run in my school and it created misery for everyone left behind.
Keep a stiff upper lift and all that other nonsence. Best of luck!!

[Nelson606]

Hey man, feel free to e-mail me anytime or check out my crappy neighbourhood in Seoul. I feel totally depressed about one day a week. Usually the next day I'm fine. I found some really cheap vodka (Commander from Holland) at a market. Come on by and we'll get commandoed.

[Zyzyfer]

You should *at least* give notice. If you're suicidal, you need to seek professional counseling.

[Arthur Fonzerelli]

Hey, I know it's really tough... I went throught the same thing after about my 4th month... I think it's really "culture shock" setting in like a previous poster mentioned... I started hating everything about Korea, Koreans, and my workplace... I really consider skipping town on a midnight run, but somehow I resisted the urge and managed to pull through to complete the contract...

I think the key is to find at least one good friend who you can talk to and vent with regularly... Also, for me I really started to focus my energies on the work itself..learning about ESL, trying to prepare excellent lesson plans, and trying to learn as much as possible about teaching....

If you leave, give your boss notice as stipulated in your contract...If you seriously think your mental health is at risk, you should leave... But if you stay, you will have 1 year of solid ESL experience under your belt and opportunities to find better positions not only in Korea, but other parts of the world as well...

I hope it works out for the best...

[Tancred]

Well...mental health is a capricious thing...i too have had my bouts with insanity. Not yet while in Korea, but during long tedious hours at other inconceivably banal jobs. My advice would be not to skip out of your contract if they've been good to you. I mean really...that's just bad. I would suggest giving notice...and helping them recruit your replacement over the internet...even if you give notice of say 1 month...the fact that you know that you only have that much left will be quite a comfort to you, and will probably get you through the rest of the time. They can't really do much to stop you if you give them notice, and if they are nice like you say, i'm sure they'll understand if you explain your situation to them.

T. (email me if you need further advice)

[W.T.Carl]

If they are treating you well, then you owe them notice. Nobody forced you to sign a contract, and they spent quite a bit of money to get you there. However, if they are not living up to their end of the contract, split ASAP.

[kimcheeking]

if you do the midnite run, then you are the one with no morals/ethics. You said the hogwan is treating you well, then you should do the same to them. I find it confusing that you can't trust your boss even though you have been treated well.

you need to find some friends get out and enjoy life, you defineately have culture shock. Hold on, it gets better.

[gomurr]

Hey at least you can hang out with Foreigners on the weekends. Me I'm in redneck country(it's what I imagine West Virginia would be like). The only other whiteman here is my 10 month old son and him and his mother are going to the philippines to see her family for 2-3 months. I feel for you I really do after almost 6 years of this bullpuckey I have been through it all. The general idea is to take a trip next vacation somewhere out of the country and you'll feel better. This is a great place to make some money and to travel to other countries. If your already 5 months in then 7 more shouldn't take to much. Toughen up and stick it out. The experience can only make you stronger and more confident.

[william beckerson]

I get more depressed when I hang with foreigners. Dont know why. I think it's because I'm reminded of Pogey Scotia.

[hellofaniceguy]

Suck it up and do what you're paid to do. 7 months left and you can't hold out? Seems to me you have not stuck with very much in life. You mentioned that the staff and owner treat you decent, pay is not a problem, etc. Hell, you're lucky! Thousands of teachers get screwed over on pay, etc.! Would I hate it if I were in your shoes? Yes I did HATE it and came close to leaving a few times. The only foreigner around for a two hours drive in any direction! But, I did sign a contract and knew before hand what I was getting into. It's only one year. You got a long life. Leave a good impression with the school. Don't you think the korean teachers feel miserable also?

[gigi]

I know exactly how you feel. The desire to run and make all the bad things of Korea go away is overwhelming sometimes. My first 3 months were like that and I still have my days. but you sort of get to a point where you just resign yourself to the fact that you are here and start to shrug things off while thinking "This is Korea" as if that is the best excuse! but sometimes it is. If your school has treated you well than give notice. If you don't trust that once you give notice you will be treated fairly or maybe not get paid then run. this is a judgement call on your part. good luck!

[gomurr]

Remember there are those of us who have been through even worse situations. For example, I was fired and the very same day my wife starting having contractions and we went to a hospital. The next day my son was born. The school I was working at realized that this was making them look bad and they allowed me to transfer but I still got ripped off by them. point is I'm still here for another year and a half and it's off for home. What your going through is nothing compared to the stress of that one experience. Yeah I'm not to thrilled with this country but it has given me some things and toughened me up.

[Dan]

geez guys, lets ease up on the guy. he's having a tough time. foreign lands have a different affect on everybody.