Korean Job Discussion Forums

[*wanderlust*]

Just a quick question for those of you teaching public school in Seoul....
I noticed on an other thread discussing the pros and cons of teaching in the public school system that one poster commented being the only foreign teacher created a feeling of loneliness.

Has anyone else run into this problem? Did choosing public school when you first came to Seoul make it more difficult to meet people, make friends etc.?

[crazy tigger]

I'm not is Seoul, and I'm at a hogwon, but I am the onlyforeign teacher hereand it can feel lonely at times, generally the Korean teachers speak amongst themselves in Korean. In terms of meeting other foreigners youjust have to be prepared to put yourself out there a lot, walk into bars and start conversations, that kind of thing.

[mistermasan]

lonely in korea? only about 18 hours per day.

[renzobenzo1]

Yes very much so. I am the only foreign teacher at 2 public schools.
My English co-teachers don't share my office with me and no-one can speak English.
Furthermore if you are singled out for any reason it makes life really difficult as it feels like a you against them scenario.

[indigo777]

I am the only native speaker at my school and it can be difficult but many of the teachers speak some English. I find the small community that I work in isolating as there is little to do and the only other English teachers are a couple I don't see very often. At this time I am looking for a position in a larger community as I would like to have at least one person to go for coffee with and I like going to the gym.

[*wanderlust*]

[crazy tigger]

Yes, it's possible to talk to someone without a desire to see em naked. I'm not sure how else I would have made friends here if I hadn't go to know people through the foreigners bars, I certainlydon't see any foreigners when I walk round my area. How does everyone else meet people then?

[*wanderlust*]

Sorry CT, didn't mean to be accusatory. Just as a 25 year old female I would prob. walk away with a few interesting stories.

[crazy tigger]

I'm a 26 year old female and sadly don't have any interesting stories. Maybe itis a different sort of community where Iam but it is quite common for newbies to find the foreigners bar and chat to anyone and everyone until they find a friendship base. I tend to go with the assumption people are just being friendly unless either I or them are flirting. There are a lotof schools here with just the one foreign teacher so a lot of people have been in the same boat and know how it feels.

[seoulunitarian]

Teaching at a public school can be heaven for an introvert (as I am) and hell for an extrovert. I love my alone time, which is most of the day in and out of school, at least as far as being with people with whom I must communicate at a native level. I have three close friends here in Korea after 5 years: my former Korean co-teacher, my current lover, and my ex.

It is not that I am particularly anti-social, but it is difficult to find good, long-term friends here who are interested in the same things as I. However, if you are an extrovert, there are opportunities to find and hang out with other native speakers. As someone said before, you have to put yourself out there. Isolation for an extrovert can lead to some fairly serious mental problems.

Peace

[*wanderlust*]

Sounds somewhat similar to backpacking hostel bars. Must say, I'm somewhat looking forward to that! Round here bars are purely there to get trashed and have a good time with your existing friends or to pick up. Would be a nice change.

[crazy tigger]

Sorry, re-read what I said and realised I came across as a bit snipey, was in one of the such bars last night! Yes, is very much like backpacking bars, at home Iwould never go to a bar alone, here Idon'tthink twice about it, and it's great when you get to the stage that you are certainthere wil be someone in the bar you know. I'm not sure if it is the same with Seoul, maybe depend on the area, but the city I live in has the ind of community where everyone knows everyone.

[*wanderlust*]

[crazy tigger]

Yes, there's always people coming and going and generally people are always looking to meet new friends, there are a few cliques like everywhere else butgenerally I've found people really welcoming. People are all in the same boat so know how it feels when you first arrive etc. Get a mobile phone as soon as you can and always carry a pen fornumbers, e-mails, facebook details etc!

[*wanderlust*]