Korean Job Discussion Forums

tanklor1 · Joined: 13 Jun 2006

Maybe I'm an odd duck, hell I know that I am, but I think that I'd like to try a Tiny Town for a year. Cut myself off from the magority of the expact community and have a go at it. Anyone either lived in or is living in a small town now? Is it as laid back as I think it is? Or am I just romanizing the whole notion.

livinseoul · Joined: 28 Nov 2007

When in Rome

Bigfeet · Joined: 29 May 2008 Location: Grrrrr.....

sojourner1 · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:56 am Post subject:

Yes, it's more laid back, friendlier, and more simpler, but the hard part is the lack of English so you won't be able to hold important conversations very well with your co-teachers and administration so it can be confusing. Your co-teachers will be the local Koreans who will have at least some English and the most English of anyone in town not including other foreigners. It does take a lot of mental energy and effort out of you to live and work where communication is very difficult, but it's much healthier living in a tiny town.

tanklor1 · Joined: 13 Jun 2006

red_devil · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: Korea

The advantage is that you learn Korean much faster. Local celeb status too? Razz

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

The key factor is the type of school you work at. If you are in a high school, make sure to ask what kind. If it is a technical high school, the motivation level is going to be very low since the students know they aren't going on to college and will never need English. The good students will have been sent away to a city school. The kids left are poorer than city kids and their families show the effects of poverty the same as anywhere else.

It's an interesting experience. I don't regret my time at two tiny town high schools.

sojourner1 · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:24 am Post subject:

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

air76 · Joined: 13 Nov 2007

I think that you need to define your parameters of what a "tiny" town is before you can get a realistic picture of what life would be like there.

We live in a town of maybe 50,000 (it's officially 100 and something but divided into a new and old town by 8km) and it's absolutely fabulous here. There are plenty of foreigners in town so there is a group of at least 10-15 of us that socialize and whatnot. The countryside and mountains around here are beautiful. There is no traffic. But the city is still big enough that we've got everything we need (although the money from the factory here helps to bring in things like HomePlus). I would recommend living here absolutely 150% over living in Seoul. Buy a motorcycle and get out and see the countryside before you even go to work.....that being said anywhere smaller than here might be too small. So if 50,000-100,000 people is what you'd call "tiny" then I think you'd like it....if 10,000-15,000 is more what you're talking about then I think that you might actually go clinically insane. Another option would be somewhere like Mokpo or Suncheon, that are small enough to be closer to the countryside and to not have an enormous expat community but still a legitimate city.

Phant0m · Joined: 15 May 2008 Location: in your mind~

I heard that Yangpyeong, which is where I'll be heading to in about a week, is "tiny". Is that true? How small is it? How many foreign teachers are there?

mysterious700 · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

Go to the Jeolla's, young man. Jeollabuk do outside of Jeonju or Iksan is pretty much country. As much as Kangwan-do. having a girlfriend though not impossible is tough. so if you don't mind that. it could be ok. public schools use to be more slack. they would give you extra days off (especially during exams) and you could leave early every day. but now they seem to be getting almost as strict as a city school. but my korean is prob better than 80 % foriegners (though i still have a long way to go.) people don't stare much now. are use to seeing me.

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:18 am Post subject: Re: Tiny Towns

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

Don't forget the privacy issue. If you get a job in a small town, everyone will always know your business. If you hang your boxers out to dry in the sun, it'll be the talk of the town for days and maybe weeks. You'll be known not as 'teacher' but by your actions away from work. Some from the west are uncomfortable with this.

Are you going to be writing a novel while living in this small town? I assume you'll have internet service. If not, I'd start writing.