Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shifty]

In principle, it's a sin to wish your life away.

But doesn't take into account paradox. For example, a salesman contrives to slow things down, in order to reach quota. Is the salesman happier than the EFL teacher in Korea? Ok, invidious comparison..

I think it healthy to count time down in Korea, else we wouldn't do it. I mean it's pretty much pervasive, even if it does seem sad.

Teaching in Korea can be compared to a marathon, and some folks are addicted to countdowns, however they manifest.

Besides, Korea tends to draw on the more marginalised..the dregs, some believe (especially Koreans), those who might exhibit a higher incidence of mental disturbance.

I read somewhere that folks of obsessive/compulsive disorder have it as trait to want to count the whole time.

So, yes, a good thread, interesting.

[myenglishisno]

I don't know, I left Korea somewhat angrily and came back a year later missing the place like mad. It just sucked me right back in.

I just find it easier to be comfortable here for a lot of reasons. Without any prospects of meaningful employment back home--for anybody--I feel better off here. Especially since I actually enjoy teaching (weird, eh?)

I don't consider myself mentally disturbed either. I'm quite obviously weird and a bit eccentric but internally I'm actually one of the most well-balanced people I've ever met.

[Jane]

I don't think counting down the days till the end of your contract means you are compulsive or mentally disturbed...just, well, human.

It's called 'anchoring'. When you have a set date, amount or other unit as a benchmark or deadline, people tend to estimate and mould their outlook based on this figure.

When it comes to teaching english in Korea anyway, there are contracts, which are denominated in 1 year, 2 year lengths. Therefore, we will think in terms of these time contraints.

If I said you "You just won $50,000!", you might quit your job and do something that you wouldn't have done. However, if you are a millionaire, you'd probably say:"Cool. Maybe I'll invest in a bigger pool."...but it's not life-changing.

What I'm trying to say is, if you didn't have a contract, you wouldn't feel compelled to compartmentalize and order your life around the finishline, but you'd see a fluid line of the future, which is what most people in most cultures today view the future as.

[whitestboyalive]

It makes sense people would count down. I don't and I'll tell you why. I fear moving back... why? Instability in life, not knowing where to go next, etc.

I suppose I should get that stuff in order and start paying attention to the expiry date of Korea.