Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mrroboto]

After finishing up in Korea, I got home to Canada and started to feel the need to be in Asia again. I've got an opportunity to go study multimedia design type stuff at a school there, and I'm wondering what the lifestyle is like...

Anyone have an opinion they'd like to share? How does it compare to Korea? Think an ex-teacher could hack it there for 3+ years?

Thanks

[The Lemon]

GO. Don't think twice.

I'd love to live in Malaysia, but there's no great demand for native English teachers there - you'll find most people have a reasonable level of English, especially compared to Thailand or here.

Some people don't like it because to them it's boring - the prostitute scene isn't what it is in Thailand, and they're seriously strict about drugs. But it's also a lot cleaner than Thailand, and slightly (though not much) more expensive.

It's a very cool, multicultural society. It's not quite happy-society-living-in-harmony that the government there claims - there's a lot of resentment from the Malay majority at the wealtly Chinese minority, and there has also been a growth in Muslim fundamentalism, particularly in the northeast - but it's a refreshing change from the monotony and homogenity of Korea. And people seem a lot happier there.

I've been there three times. Plotting my next return now.

[hojucandy]

i agree with lemon - malaysia is a great place - go there. i have been there twice, both times related to my former life as a government vet in png. to me malaysia has a perfect climate - humid tropics. the food is good, the people very friendly, there is a lot of english. itis clean and safe to eat mots everywhere.

they have the most wonderful fruit!!! mangoes, lychees, durian, mangosteen, coconuts, rambutan, sapote, papaw, longan - and all cheap. yu could live on fruit!!!

there is some racial tension. mostly islam is not too fundimental though. it is more resentment between chinese and malays. i have many friends there - mostly indians. it is a multicultural place. some of the best south indian classical music i have ever seen was in malaysia.

i would give a lot to live there. check out the deserted beaches on the east coast.

[camel96]

Where in Malaysia...? KL...?
Malays are very, very friendly and helpful.
Go for it. Buy an air-con.
Lemon's right about the cultural harmony being a little overrated. All things considered for how diverse it is, it is a very smooth situation BUT I'd say the other ethnic groups and minorities - Indians, Dayaks, Orang Asli etc. harbor far more grudges towards the Malays than vice versa.
Sharia law exists in a couple of the north eastern states but isn't really actively practised beyond there being seperate check outs in supermarkets for men and women. Apparently queue gropes were once a problem. I've toyed with the idea (and still kind of am) of studying there myself. Have fun.

[Zed]

Yes, like Lemon said: just go.

Will you have time to travel? There are so many excellent places to go there. It's quite diverse as well. I'm looking forward to getting to Borneo on my next trip there although that isn't exactly close to the mainland.

[mrroboto]

Sounds excellent, thanks for the advice!

Camel, It would indeed be in KL. After living a year of small town Korea, I'm definitely up for some big city life. Unfortunately, the school doesn't start till February, so I'm stuck in a bitter Canadian winter until then. I might fly over to Korea first to visit friends, if the fares are cheap enough..

Lemon, because you're the go-to guy on this sort of stuff, do you know if it's just as cheap to build a pc over there? My computer got electrified back in the storms last september, so I'm not sure what's salvageable.

Hojucandy, I'm a vegetarian, so living off fruit sounds like a good idea to me

Zed, Not sure if I'll have time, looks like the school has a pretty intense course load. I'm not planning on getting a job though, so I'll hopefully have time. Not sure if it's all year round, or just two semesters + summerbreak, so that might give me some breathing room.

school link: http://www.limkokwing.edu.my

[Zed]

Within striking distance from KL, there are west coach beaches (in season), Cameron Highlands and Teman Negara National Park (well you'll need at least a 4 day weekend to visit this last one but well worth it).

[OiGirl]

Go. Race relations are better than, say, the present-day US Deep South. I love it.

[buddy bradley]

I was in Malaysia for a short while and would definitely recommend it. More fun than Singapore. English is actually wide-spoken there (British English, but there's no real difference, right?). If you like hot, sticky weather then you'll really like it. I've heard that there's lots of nice islands around but I didn't have enough time to see any.

[The Lemon]

[bucheon bum]

unless the pay and/or job is bad, odds are you'll be happier there than in Korea. I really liked Malaysia and KL is great. If I could work anywhere in Asia, that'd probably be the place.

[mrroboto]

alright, it's a go. Now I've got to find a flight from Seoul to Malaysia. Best my girlfriend found was 480,000 won one way. Seems like a lot.

Does anyone know a cheaper way to get there? Possibly by boat?

A flight from Montreal to Seoul is 900$ cdn, versus 1200 from Montreal to Kuala Lumpur... all on travelcuts.

so hopefully I can do a little bit better to justify this. Anyone?

[Bulsajo]

[mrroboto]

No return, I'm planning on staying for a while.

Just got a good deal through a local travel agent..
slightly under 1000$ CDN from Ottawa to vancouver to Seoul with a month layover, then to KL.

looks really good to me.

[buddy bradley]

Great! I wouldn't mind some Malaysian weather or friendliness right now...