Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I'm way the hell happier here. My first three months were OK - honeymoon period. Months 4-8 got very stressful with quiting and getting a new job. Since then my worries have been pretty trivial compared to most people in the world.

[sojourner1]

My first month was hell for me, but my year in Korea made me much happier and I'm ready to go back and do my best and see more rewards such as seeing kids learn and have fun and then I get to experience other great places like Thailand on my time off.

I would say teaching in Korea has a lot of offer over what employers at home for those who are adventurous, open minded, flexible, and patient enough to effectively communicate in the vexing Korean work environment of disorganization, last minute business, and a lack of communication from them. It was isolating and I wanted people to talk to, but so is home as all my old friends, but one, are either dead, in jail, or missing. Most I know and related to at home are dying, not trying for themsevles, handicapped, and over dosing on drugs so it's best I stay away and go live my life and career rather than trying to fix my relatives back in Missouri USA.

Really, the only thing that bothered me greatly in Korea was my hagwon director not knowing or caring anything about teaching, not trusting her due to slimy pay, pension, and tax issues, a lack of communication in letting me know what I need to know to best do my job, and last minute stuff throwed on me at the last minute such as an extra class during one of my open periods I used for lesson planning.

The benefits of taking on this challenge far from home far outweighed the negatives plus I didn't have to deal with all that family drama that my relatives are all about. I believe with at least one year experience, one can do even better in a public school so long as the school really wants you to head and teach their English program. ...And be very happy.

[big_blue_21]

I was pretty happy, actually really happy my second time . . . but my lungs were getting big-time jacked starting in July . . . like I was always short of breath . . . how do people deal with that??? not affected or just not in Seoul??? that's what keeps me from coming back . . . I just can't imagine not living in Seoul and I've been to all the major cities (Kwangju, Busan, Daegu, Incheon) . . . Maybe Busan, but the air doesn't seem much better, and I wonder if Korea would be bearable in the boons? . . . man, I don't have many requirements, but I need English-speakers, I need Gyobo Bookstore, I need my 7-11 and, Good Lord, I need my 24 hour kimpap store!!! . . . I don't even understand how I get by without the last in America . . .