Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wormholes101]

I think that since living in Korea I have become a more impatient person. The 'bbali bbali' (quickly, quickly) has got to me. I used to be a very laid back person... Do it tomorrow attitude... now, i want it now....

Also, terrible as it may sound, the patriarchal Korean society has rubbed off on me and my attitude towards women has changed... I remember before I came here, a (girl) friend who had been in Japan a few years said to me... "Paul, don't become one of those guys who thinks their god's gift to women... " I not quite at that stage yet but something has changed.

I'm sure I've changed in a lot more ways in the 3 years since I've been here .... Maybe I'll add some comments later when I can think of more...

[waterbaby]

I too used to be really laid back and nothing much ever upset or bothered me. Korea has certainly helped me tap into my temper ... perhaps a combination of culture shock and my last Director helped unleash the devil in me ... I'm sad to say. But, the squeaky wheel gets the grease ... another great lesson Korea taught me.

I've also become a lot less tolerable of friends/acquaintences who take take take and ply me with "woe poor me" tales and then refuse to take any action or advice to get their act together... same old same old over and over again... and they give nothing back in return... I can be quite mean to them. Back in Oz, I would've been much more tolerant and less confrontational.

[schwa]

I'm not sure its Korea so much as getting into teaching .. but my selfconfidence in front of groups of people has mushroomed. The prospect of addressing 10 people for half an hour would have had me in sleepless anxiety a few years ago, now I can quite happily adlib a 2-hour speech to 200. In fact I quite relish the chance, its a good jag.

In terms of interacting with Koreans, I've discovered a nice confirmation of the value of being laidback & intuitive. Wont take you far in the western ratrace but makes friends & influences people here.

[crazylemongirl]

Korea changed my accent from kiwi to north american.

I've become a lot more tolerant of people then I was back home. Mainly because I'm the stupid one here, ie. not knowing the language/culture etc.

I've had to become a lot more humble. At my last job back home I was the boss, now I'm a pleb.

I'm a lot more comfortable with my own company now, I don't feel I have to go out all the time.

Crowd control skills are improving as is my chopstick skills.

CLG

[canuckistan]

Have become less healthy. Used to have a fair amount of muscle from sports and running around the Candian forests on weekends/summers doing whatever. This is the worst shape I've been in for years. Can't wait to get home for good. I'm going to sleep outside in the fresh air for a whole month.

[Zyzyfer]

It turned my blood into kimchi.

[William Beckerson]

It has taught me the fine skill of being cold-blooded.

[Tiger Beer]

How has Korea changed me?

1) I love drinking more often.

2) I speak much slower and in completely full sentences.

3) I've become more pro-American than I ever was before in my life.. I never cared for the USA when I lived there.. but hearing alot of ignorant stereotypes about the place makes me irritated so many people have so many gross generalizations and have no idea what they are talking about.. this doesn't only apply to Koreans either..

4) I have mastered the art of non-verbal communication..

5) My toleration level is much lower than it use to be.. and unfortunately, I think Koreans have made me a much more serious person than I ever was before in my life.. or is that age? Nah, I think its Koreans.. they are much too serious!

6) As much as I like western women, I have become completely indifferent to them in that what they think of me has very little effect as they aren't in my dating pool hardly at all.. (not that I wouldn't mind.. i just seldom if ever encounter any).. plus perhaps I just find myself unable to relate in the same way I would have if I had been in the USA all of this time.. I guess I've become a much more prominent member of the korean girl dating pool.. and adjusting to that quirkiness for better or worse..

7) I love chopsticks.. I eat anything and everything with them even though Koreans tell me that I should be eating fried rice with a spoon..

8 ) I've become brutally honest, Korean-style.

[Ody]

tiger beer,

[Pyongshin Sangja]

I have become tired of reading Tiger's posts. He wouldn't pass grade 6 English in Canada. Pro-American? Pro-Remedial.

[GirlFromMars]

well stop reading them! I like Tiger's posts

[Tiger Beer]

[thorin]

[shaundafarmer]

Just for your information linguist experts:

'North American " isn't an accent , it's a geographical term.
Someone may have a Midwestern accent, specifically from a certain town, or a Brooklyn accent, or Dublin, or Bristol, but no-one can have a general accent from an area the size of N. America.

Just for your information cunning linguists. Why anyone would attempt to change their vowel sounds just to suit a bunch of American -hating East Asians beggars belief though.

[Emma Clare]