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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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 Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 11:18 am Post subject: |
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Great thread..some interesting posts.
My story -- I lived in Korea for almost five years, and now I've been back in Canada longer than I was away.
My first year back in Canada was very hard. There was the expected stuff, the struggle finding a job and apartment and getting settled, and if anything, I was lucky in that I found a decent paying job fairly quickly. I really didn't like it, but it at least kept me financially solvent. What was harder was the struggle with my identity. When I was in college, I was a college student. When I was in Korea, I was an expat. Now that I was back in Canada, who was I? And what now? If you lived away long enough you can't just go back and continue where you left off because everyone else has moved on. The best thing I can compare this to is someone breaking up with a girlfriend they've lived with for a long time and finding themselves learning to date again.
It took a good year before I started to settle in and the feeling finally started to wain. And then as more years passed, I've made a life with a new girlfriend, new career, and new interests, the nostalgia for Korea has become rarer and rarer.
Even though I lurk here once in awhile, it's more out of habit, and yes, a tiny bit of nostalgia. Though truly, I expect now the Korea I lived in is much more "different" now (in that I'm different) than the Canada I returned to after five years, and I couldn't imagine returning for any period longer than a short visit. |
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Cthulhu
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 7:27 am Post subject: |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
Great thread..some interesting posts.
My story -- I lived in Korea for almost five years, and now I've been back in Canada longer than I was away.
My first year back in Canada was very hard. There was the expected stuff, the struggle finding a job and apartment and getting settled, and if anything, I was lucky in that I found a decent paying job fairly quickly. I really didn't like it, but it at least kept me financially solvent. What was harder was the struggle with my identity. When I was in college, I was a college student. When I was in Korea, I was an expat. Now that I was back in Canada, who was I? And what now? If you lived away long enough you can't just go back and continue where you left off because everyone else has moved on. The best thing I can compare this to is someone breaking up with a girlfriend they've lived with for a long time and finding themselves learning to date again.
It took a good year before I started to settle in and the feeling finally started to wain. And then as more years passed, I've made a life with a new girlfriend, new career, and new interests, the nostalgia for Korea has become rarer and rarer.
Even though I lurk here once in awhile, it's more out of habit, and yes, a tiny bit of nostalgia. Though truly, I expect now the Korea I lived in is much more "different" now (in that I'm different) than the Canada I returned to after five years, and I couldn't imagine returning for any period longer than a short visit. |
Yes, you are right about things being different in Korea now. After leaving for good in 2003 after living there off and on since 1996 I returned with my wife in 2012 and the place was completely different. Most of the old hangouts were completely gone as was good old Camp Hialeah (I was in P/Busan) and the crappy hangouts like the Legion and Dallas clubs that used to be across from it.
Yes, you can't go home again, and although I was impressed by the beer selection in e-mart and the gleaming skyscrapers all around as others have mentioned I missed the grunginess of old Busan, something even Chinatown/Texas Street seemed to lack with its cleaned up look. I miss you old Pusan!
I enjoyed my time and wouldn't change any of it but I'm glad I'm out of that and working as a teacher back home. The chapter on Korea closed and the memories are grand, but there's no going back now. Great comments in this thread by the way, most of which I agree with. |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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| Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 7:45 am Post subject: |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
Great thread..some interesting posts.
My story -- I lived in Korea for almost five years, and now I've been back in Canada longer than I was away.
My first year back in Canada was very hard. There was the expected stuff, the struggle finding a job and apartment and getting settled, and if anything, I was lucky in that I found a decent paying job fairly quickly. I really didn't like it, but it at least kept me financially solvent. What was harder was the struggle with my identity. When I was in college, I was a college student. When I was in Korea, I was an expat. Now that I was back in Canada, who was I? And what now? If you lived away long enough you can't just go back and continue where you left off because everyone else has moved on. The best thing I can compare this to is someone breaking up with a girlfriend they've lived with for a long time and finding themselves learning to date again.
It took a good year before I started to settle in and the feeling finally started to wain. And then as more years passed, I've made a life with a new girlfriend, new career, and new interests, the nostalgia for Korea has become rarer and rarer.
Even though I lurk here once in awhile, it's more out of habit, and yes, a tiny bit of nostalgia. Though truly, I expect now the Korea I lived in is much more "different" now (in that I'm different) than the Canada I returned to after five years, and I couldn't imagine returning for any period longer than a short visit. |
Dead on, about so many things, I've been back only 6 weeks but you've nailed everything we've been experiencing.
Nice thing for us is we were able to land fairly softly and are able to take the time to readjust, my mother in law has been great about us pretty much taking over her house (we still have a lot of work to do on it, she really let it go over the past few years).
Think I'll say this again to people when coming back 1) if you weren't happy/burned out on teaching spend the money on a career counselor to help figure out what is best for you. 2) take your time finding even a grunt job, the culture shock is that bad, I'm telling any employer now its March 3rd before I'm available 3) you may have to find new friends, everybody moves on, get involved in something, for me I'm actually going to go back and do some soccer refereeing on a limited basis (I was active in the scene here for 10 years), find a cause, join a gym, don't sit around the house looking for jobs, get out and network. ABOVE ALL TAKE YOUR TIME!!!
I know once I get my life going I'll be spending less time here right now its a nice cushion as I readjust |
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I'm With You
Joined: 01 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:39 am Post subject: |
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Interesting comments about it akin to being like a break up with a girl you've been dating for several years.
It's a bad break up, a death, a move away from home, and I don't know what, all rolled into one.
A really difficult process, and not to be underestimated for those who undergo the process of returning home after 5 years or more. |
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NinjaTeacher
Joined: 31 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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Wow that's a long time!
There must be a reason so many people stay. All my friends who've headed over "for a year" have stayed on for 2 or more years. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm With You wrote: |
Interesting comments about it akin to being like a break up with a girl you've been dating for several years.
It's a bad break up, a death, a move away from home, and I don't know what, all rolled into one.
A really difficult process, and not to be underestimated for those who undergo the process of returning home after 5 years or more. |
I figure the best way to do it, at least for me, is to go back to graduate school in a town or city where I won't need a car. Also, it is good if some family or old friends live in the area. In fact, I have found one such place as a friend who lives there recommended it. But of course, now it is a question of whether I can get accepted into the graduate school there. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 12:37 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| Yaya wrote: |
| I'm thinking that Pax Americana is by and large over, and though the U.S. remains the world's top superpower, who knows how long that'll last. Lots of jobs and opportunities have disappeared since the 2008 financial crisis, and well, having lived life abroad, the U.S. seems so damn mundane and boring in comparison, though I'm not saying Korea is necessarily better. |
So pessimistic, man. Have hope. America is doing well. There are opportunities there. It will not go under anytime soon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_hour_worked
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| The U.S. has the highest mean and second-highest median household income in the OECD as well as the highest average wage |
America's unemployment rate: 6.7% (which is lower than Canada's).
America's unemployment rate for those with a college degree: 3.4%. |
How many of the college grads are working at Walmart or Starbucks? Far more than many think.
http://gawker.com/5992314/unemployment-stories-vol-32-you-are-slowly-erased-from-the-lives-of-your-friends |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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The majority of Americans are doing well.
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| The unemployment rate inched down in January to 6.6 percent, the lowest level since October 2008, from 6.7 percent in December. |
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| more educated workers continue to enjoy much better employment options than those with a high school degree or less. The unemployment rate for college graduates in January stood at just over 3 percent, compared to 6.5 percent for high school graduates and 9.6 percent for people who lack a high school diploma. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
The majority of Americans are doing well.
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| The unemployment rate inched down in January to 6.6 percent, the lowest level since October 2008, from 6.7 percent in December. |
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| more educated workers continue to enjoy much better employment options than those with a high school degree or less. The unemployment rate for college graduates in January stood at just over 3 percent, compared to 6.5 percent for high school graduates and 9.6 percent for people who lack a high school diploma. |
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I'm no economist but I'd say the rich are doing well and that the divide between the haves and the have nots have greatly widened in America. Joblessness is down but job growth seems stagnant.
And well, saying the unemployment rate is down from the crisis period isn't saying a whole lot, eh? |
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Lunar Groove Gardener
Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Location: 1987 Subaru
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| Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats on 10 years, BeertownDave. Same for me.
I'll spot you a Sprecher and a brat, either at Summerfest or Brady Street block party!
Rock on. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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Yaya, thousands of jobs are being added. At least 100,000 each month. That's progress. It is good news and cause for celebration.
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| average earnings were $59,415 for people with a bachelor's degree (but no graduate degree), compared with $32,493 for people with a high school diploma, but no college |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 3:27 am Post subject: Re: 10 years went by fast... |
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| Francis-Pax wrote: |
| Milwaukiedave wrote: |
Last Thursday marked 10 years since I came to Korea. When I first got here I would have never guessed I'd end up staying.
Never say never...... |
How have you grown? Have you been able to really advance professionally? It looks like we came to Korea around the same time. I was in Korea from 2004 to 2009. I left mainly because it seemed like a dead end.
I earned my MA TESL/TEFL while in Korea and moved to China -- later to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. I make a lot more money and work in a very professional environment. I feel like what I have now would not be possible in Korea. I sometimes think about returning to Korea. Being married to a Korean has the obvious visa advantages, but I think that I wouldn't be able to work in a place that actually respects me. Now that I am getting close to earning my doctorate, I think that Korea might be an option, but I still think it is on the B list. The respect issue is something that always bothered me in Korea. English teachers, even at the universities, are not taken seriously.
Are you really happy with where you are? |
I got my TESOL certificate my second year here and taught university for a few years. Got married 8 years ago and bought a house 3 years ago. I'm now working on a doctorate in business. Took some time off and will be going back to work in March. I started my dissertation at the beginning of December and have a year or so left to finish. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 8:09 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
Yaya, thousands of jobs are being added. At least 100,000 each month. That's progress. It is good news and cause for celebration.
| Quote: |
| average earnings were $59,415 for people with a bachelor's degree (but no graduate degree), compared with $32,493 for people with a high school diploma, but no college |
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I'm sure it's progress and not saying America is doomed but its superpower days could be numbered. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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