Korean Job Discussion Forums

Omkara · Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Location: USA

I'm just curious. How do the Korean spouses adjust to life in the West? How have you overcome the economic hurdles, etc.? What were some of the shocks, surprises. . .?

When we date in this culture, these questions are swimming just beneath the surface.

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

"So long and thanks for the green card"

Sorry, just filling my useless comment quota.

Omkara · Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Location: USA

Well, that can be a real issue! Though, I've felt that to be less of an issue in this culture than in others. . .

yawarakaijin · Joined: 08 Aug 2006

I had a Canadian friend who married a girl from Cuba and set up a very nice home in Vancouver of all places. After 1 year in Canada she was begging him to take her back to Cuba! LOL

Canada was boring! LOL

Kuros · Joined: 27 Apr 2004

I'm dating a Chinese who has many 1st generation Chinese-American friends and Chinese friends living in America. They, too, find it boring in America. IMO, the problem is that Chinese have serious trouble adjusting to a suburban, car-oriented culture. Although one of these friends is an alcoholic, and simply hates that she has to drive to bars (and consequently cannot get stinking drunk).

I think you can help your Asian spouses by living in an urban area of the United States. Many of them do want to order the American (or Canadian) dream, but hold the french fries and the suburbia.

Omkara · Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Location: USA

Yeah, that's what I hear, that Koreans find North America very boring. It lacks stimulation.

I can understand that. We tend to socialize in homes, and less downtown. So, when they go downtown, there ain't much going on. Some people here, a few over there. . . no flashing lights. . .quiet. . .

Atavistic · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject:

Maybe women find NA boring. The Korean men I know who've been there like the work hours a hell of a lot better.

poet13 · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject:

My wife doesn't want to live in Canada or the US.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

poet13 · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject:

We already built our home there. We will retire there. I'm thinking maybe 5 more years.

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Sounds nice. What does it mean people are a pain in the arse? Will they knife me?

ed4444 · Joined: 12 Oct 2004

The first year abroad (western europe) for my wife was very hard because of the following:

But once you get over that hill together it gets better when she starts to see the benefits.

Omkara · Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Location: USA

Don't the better opportunities for women depend on their English fluency, etc?

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

I tell my students this every time I see their starry-eyed stares as they announce, "I'm going to study in the USA!"

It's freakin' boring.... be prepared to bum car rides off of everyone until you get your own drivers' license and a vehicle.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Poet: Where in the Philippines did you build. DETAILS, please!

And to keep the thread on track, I agree with previous posters. In general, most Koreans seem to be happier in urban settings; the bigger the city, the better. NYC, for example, was 'nice, but kind of mellow' to my wife who grew up in Seoul and went to university in Tokyo!

But it depends on the person. Just make sure you're on the same sheet of music before you move. Maybe take an extended vacation to where you may be moving back to to let her get her feet wet a bit. We went back to WNY when I did my last degree, and my wife was crawling out of her skin she was so bored. We know that we won't be moving there now.

People also change as they get older. We're in our early 40s now, and dig being in the city. In the future, though, we're thinking beach vicinity or college town.