Korean Job Discussion Forums

n3ptne · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Location: Poh*A*ng City

I've been here over a year, and in that time I've come to realize one fundamental truth about this country: The character of the average foreigner [here] is just barely scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Honestly I can't stand my "colleagues" here. They are lazy, unmotivated schleps without the slightest regard for understanding either the country, culture, or people they find themselves amid. And, I unconditionally understand/support the Korean line of distrust towards foreigners. I even adopt it as my own.

I am constantly enamored by the composition of Korean ethics vis-a-viv all things, and find myself trying to mimick them down to minutiae. I find myself adopting their prejudices toward the Westerners here.

I'm not being xenophobic, as I'm sure I'll be charged (despite my Americanism), but the ilk of half of you (or undoubtably more) is simply substandard compared to those I once knew.

We are paid nearly double what the average Korean makes, yet we work roughly half as hard... and despite this, we, as a collective, campaign for even greater disparity. We call in sick for colds. We have no conception of how business is conducted here, or how things reflect on our employers. Worse yet, we don't care. *beep* you, pay me.

To the majority of us Korea is either a place to party, or a "spring board" of some form whether it be to see the world, or sock away money. But, from all that I gather, and despite the great benefits being given to us, the average foreigner has no desire to reciprocrate upon their hosts. It's all about "me".

That's the exact attitude that drove me out of the West.

Not saying Korean's are guilty, or even perfect. But I will this, I'll take my chances with them, over the average foreigner, any day of the week. I respect them.

I can't wait to immigrate.

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

I hate Koreans.

I hate foreigners.

I hate foreigners that hat koreans.

I hate Koreans that hate foreigners that hate Koreans.

I hate foreigners that koreans hate.

And on and on.

Dont you realize....

all you need is love.

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

n3ptne · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Location: Poh*A*ng City

Love for lazy bastards who complain because the silver spoons they were born with weren't gold?

No thanks.

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

n3ptne · Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Location: Poh*A*ng City

huntjuliehunt · Joined: 18 Oct 2006

I am someone who came to Korea for money alone. Yes, I could have stayed in the USA and gotten a job, but I'm not normal, and when my acting and writing aren't paying the bills, I refuse to have a "normal" job. So, since schools pay airfare and housing, I thought- what the heck- I'll go to Korea. I'm on my way out of here next week, and I have nothing left to prove to anyone. I have nothing left to gripe about in angst, because I see the near future, and Christmas with family, where Korea is a distant past.

I never found a true friend here. I have spent 6 months alone in my room. I haven't exercised or eaten well, and being a vegetarian has been especially difficult for me here. Contrary to foreigners telling me that I would "be infected with yellow fever" like everyone else if I stayed long enough (the term sounds offensive to me anyway) I never found myself physically attracted to Koreans. I never felt that I related to them, and I spent all of my time trying to find quality foreigners, or at least one who I identified with. There are some good ones, and many nasty ones, but like I said, I've been alone. No real intimacy of any kind.

At the end of this, I feel that I haven't had a true Korean experience. And yet, what is that exactly? I'm not one to run to every landmark for a common tourist's photo. Yes, I'm sure there are some things I could have done to enrich my time here. But I realize something too. I have spent my days, and my only real conversation, with my Korean students. I have experienced this country through their eyes, through their hearts and thoughts. And life is not about things, but about people. I've had some nasty students too. But I have cared about my students and been real with them, and for me, they are Korea.

I am giving you more information than you need, but I understand the original poster's message. The need for money is a hard reality, and there is nothing wrong with going somewhere for that sole purpose. But I have spent months being antisocial or indifferent with the Korean teachers, while everyday they put a little candy of some sort on my desk and seem to stumble nervously around me.

The first foreign teacher I worked with, screamed at the director everyday and threatened her in front of everyone. The other foreign teacher never spoke to anyone. I liked both of them regardless. At the same time, my heart aches for the negative ways we handle cultural barriers and the way we hurt people. I am not ashamed that I never ate Korean food. I am not ashamed that I haven't completed a to-do list of touring Seoul. I am only ashamed that I didn't give a little more of myself to those around me, and that they may have been emotionally hurt by the actions and attitudes of foreigners like myself.

Schools faults, some enormous, include cheating us on money, which is something I'm facing right now. But I can't excuse my faults based on theirs. I also had a nasty Korean manager from Seoul in America, but he can answer for what he's done over there. The Koreans here have, more often than not, treated me well and soon it will no longer be about "me" and "them" but about God and me, and about me and me... and what will I see?