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| How long have you been in Korea? |
| 1 year or less (newbie) |
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14% |
[ 17 ] |
| 2 years (greenhorn) |
|
19% |
[ 23 ] |
| 3 years (been around) |
|
7% |
[ 9 ] |
| 4-5 years (think you've been here a long time, but not really) |
|
11% |
[ 14 ] |
| 6-7 years (getting there) |
|
15% |
[ 19 ] |
| 8-9 years (You've definitely got some staying power) |
|
10% |
[ 13 ] |
| 10 years (A whole decade - you've reached veteran status) |
|
3% |
[ 4 ] |
| 11-15 years (wow!) |
|
11% |
[ 14 ] |
| 15-20 years (gone native) |
|
3% |
[ 4 ] |
| 20+ years (were you born here or did you retire here?) |
|
1% |
[ 2 ] |
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| Total Votes : 119 |
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| Author |
Message |
SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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 Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:06 pm Post subject: time for the annual "how long have you been here" |
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| So how long have you been in Korea? |
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Kimchieluver
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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| I put 6, although I have only been here 5 and 8/12ths. I like it more every year. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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Just over 7 years. No plans to leave.
It gets more comfortable here every year. A good job with substantial vacation really makes the deal. I would have never stuck it out in Korea if I had stayed in the hagwon grind. Working 50 weeks per year is no way to live. |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Going on 4 now. I don't seen an end in sight. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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| eamo wrote: |
Just over 7 years. No plans to leave.
It gets more comfortable here every year. A good job with substantial vacation really makes the deal. I would have never stuck it out in Korea if I had stayed in the hagwon grind. Working 50 weeks per year is no way to live. |
I second that motion.
Working on year 7 and comfortable in my circumstances.
Decent pay, nice vacation time and a reasonable work environment. It didn't all fall into my lap. It took patience to get it to all work out but life is pretty good.
I also am glad that I got out of the hakwon grind early on. It was a good training ground and the Korean friends I met there have stayed with me over the years. It has made all the difference in the world but I am glad that I don't have to grind it out that way any more.
Korea is not a bad place. You pay your dues and move up as you figure it all out- just like at home. Learn to work within the system, make small changes as you go and it all works out in the end.
Having said all that, this will be my last year here (2008-2009 school year). It is time to move on and move to the beach to sit and watch coconuts (and my daughter) grow.
. |
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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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| I agree with the others. Once you get a job with big vacation, leaving becomes harder and harder. I'm sure I can get better pay back home, but I will never have have this much free time. |
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maingman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Location: left Korea
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:02 am Post subject: |
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I have some good vacation
would the last message be to stay then
in the job currently -NOT hakwon (of course) is that right to say at least ive more than 5/6 months
and its going slowly 70 % of the time
thanks for any advice |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:15 am Post subject: |
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12 years and 4 months.
It's the students and the adventure that keep me here. |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:45 am Post subject: |
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| A bit over 10 years. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:49 am Post subject: |
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| maingman wrote: |
I have some good vacation
would the last message be to stay then
in the job currently -NOT hakwon (of course) is that right to say at least ive more than 5/6 months
and its going slowly 70 % of the time
thanks for any advice |
I'd love to give advice if I knew what you were asking. |
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OneWayTraffic
Joined: 14 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:01 am Post subject: |
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| Going on year 7. I don't get such a lot of free time; my various freelancing jobs keep me busy all year round. I like it that way, though I'd like to try the university life to see what I'm missing. |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:09 am Post subject: |
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| I'm 3 months away from finishing my 11th year. |
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kiwiduncan
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: New Zealand
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:46 am Post subject: |
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| A bit over 5 years now, on and off. I've almost mastered the mysteries of chopsticks but I'm still having trouble with this outlandish 'four seasons' concept. |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:14 am Post subject: |
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kiwiduncan...I don't know why you would still make that chopstick & four seasons joke after 5 years here.
One would think you would have learned to get over this trivial thing....   |
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Roch
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:27 am Post subject: |
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| Off and on for 70 months or so. Came back, though, to sue the government. Will know soon if this promise is gonna be actualised. |
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