Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

Actually I my worst time here was my first 4 weeks. I was here alone, I didn't know anyone or anything about the place. The teachers at my school didn't speak very good english (I was the only waygook teacher) and the Itaewon scene just seemed to be a bunch of cliques and weird guys hitting on me.

I still get down patches, but they are more on specific events ie graduation I just binge on icecream and romantic comedies because it's a cheap way of feeling better without resorting to chemicals. If I see anything kiwi I get a twinge of 'I used to live there' but generally it's been getting better here.

Bascially you need some sort of comfort thing 'a happy place' where you can forget about korea for a while.

CLg

[SweetBear]

[
Bascially you need some sort of comfort thing 'a happy place' where you can forget about korea for a while.

CLg[/quote]

Clg is right. I've been finding myself getting absorbed in books, making western foods and being open to new friendships. Also I watch TV much more than I used to, just to hear the same language. I am at the three month stage, but was aware of it from living in another country before and remembering how that was a struggle. So I guess I was prepared.
Hang in there.

[Eazy_E]

I'm at the three-month stage and still waiting for the other shoe to drop... Korea has been pretty comfy so far, mostly because there are some waygooks in another part of town 10 mins away by bus whom I see at least once a week. I have a comfy apartment where I can cocoon myself and I've rediscovered some old hobbies, ie. drawing, studying French. Also having the comforting breakfast food that I'm used to is a big help. If I had to eat rice and kimchi for breakfast I don't think I would last two weeks here . Buy yourself a little something once in a while, enjoy your free time, and make the most of the lifestyle you have here. Find your happy place and hang in there, as previous posters have said.

[mithridates]

When I went back to Canada the first time after a 9-month stint in Japan almost nothing had changed. Had I known that I might not have been in such a hurry to go back that time. It usually takes a few months to plan what you're going to do after going home so when feeling homesick it can be good to think about that and give it a lot of time.
Then again, being a lifer I could also tell you why Korea's worth living in forever...^^

[The Man known as The Man]

[Ya-ta Boy]

It sure sounds like culture shock to me.

All the advice about finding positive activities to fill your time are exactly right: take up hobbies, learn something new, order books online if you need to, get hold of 'your' comfort food, find a social circle (club, class or informal group of friends). Doing some volunteer work might be the thing for you.

I'm not sure it's true for everyone, but I know for me that if I have something creative in my schedule, I feel a whole lot better and I look forward to it.

With Christmas/New Year's coming up next month, and being new in town, it's probably a very good idea to locate some group to get into so you have something special to do that day besides sit at home alone and feel sorry for yourself. Big holidays can be nasty if you aren't prepared.

Here are two addresses that might help: yesAsia.com (free book mailing from Hong Kong); grocerymall.net (a decent food mailing service from Jinju)

PS: Until I lived here, I had no idea how easy it is to make chocolate pudding from scratch. Just be sure to mix the corn starch in a little milk before adding it to the melted chocolate.

[kangnam mafioso]

it took me about 6 months to start meeting the right people. don't kid yourself and say that "there is no one interesting here ... all the expats are strange." with that kind of attitude, people won't like to hang with you anyway. i was in seoul and met quite a few people who didn't drink or drank moderately ... and i met some very interesting people. i was usually the lush and spent too many weekends clubbing or sitting in bars or "hunting." i think you have to be a little open minded and give people the benefit of the doubt. i found myself hanging with some people who weren't my "normal" crowd, but generally had a good time. not sure about daegu ... it might be a different cup of tea altogether. good luck. remember, the 3-6th months are the hardest.

[Dan]

One think I really wanted to do but never got around to was dance classes. They aren't cheap and because all the kids want to learn hip hop, that class is usually more expensive, but i love dance and i think it must be a good way to meet non-freaky people.

[IconsFanatic]

Lighting flares at the footie matches every weekend helped me survive.

[just because]

IconsFanatic,
Where do you buy the flares from???

[brakattack]

Here's somewhat of an introspective question: Does anyone find that it helps to deal with their culture shock by taking a walk in the woods, along a deserted shore, or any sort of place in nature that is removed from people?

I am likely gong to be placed in a suburb of Seoul and I worry that I won't be able to find a way to get away from the throngs of people and the hustle and bustle of everything. I know I will experience culture shock in some form but I think that as long as I have a place to get away from everything after a bad day at work I will be able to refresh my mind and handle the stress that comes with culture shock. Is it plausible to take a short trip after a day of work to somewhere where there aren't cities and loads of people? I know this is a very general question but it is looking like I will be placed in Anyang if that helps.

[Louis VI]

[clustered]

[tottenhamtaipeinick]

Well I started living in Taiwan at 17 just before 18th birthday alone years back. Unfortunately I lived in an apartment by myself and had one friend who I knew from back home in the same city as myself. He flew back! So 1-2 mths in I was felt dead alone (I took up smoking and drinking obsessively)... But still in the end I got over the lonely feeling and loved it! I think it is a normal feeling everyone experiences at some point as feeling like you belong to a group or community and family is a human necessity and if you don't u must be cold blooded! But soon enough everyone finds an attachment! and if you don't after 6mths! move on or change your lifestyle! The more down you are the less likely people will want to be part of your dull existence!

[tottenhamtaipeinick]