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asmith
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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 Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:39 pm Post subject: Are you a lifer? |
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| I think I'm a lifer. I'm getting older. Not much point in going back. Any other lifers out there? |
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fruitcake
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Location: shinchon
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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| how depressing |
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hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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I can count on both hands the amount of people who would want to spend their life in korea...and I ask them why would they want to do that! Even koreans don't want to stay in korea!
I suppose if life is no better back home, korea might do it for some. |
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asmith
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Actually, I kind of enjoy living here. |
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AgentM
Joined: 07 Jun 2009
Location: British Columbia, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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| asmith wrote: |
| Actually, I kind of enjoy living here. |
Yeah, I don't really get the denigration of lifers that goes on. If someone likes Korea enough and wants to stay, what does it matter? Good for them. Who knows I might become a lifer (I'll have to see how things go when I'm over there). |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Even koreans don't want to stay in korea! |
Actually, they do. The vast majority of them anyway. Just about all my Korean friends are horrified at the thought of moving away from Hanguk. Koreans are way more attached to their motherland than we might think.
Korea had a lot of immigration when it was dirt poor. Now they're doing well. People are staying. You'll still get the education immigrants, but they're coming back a lot more often now.
As for being a lifer.........I certainly am.....maybe that's hard to understand if you're grinding out 50 weeks of work per year in a hagwon with windowless classrooms for 2.3mill, then going home at 9pm to an 8 pyeong rat-hole......
......but not all of us live like that!
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Snake Doctor
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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A lifer? I don't know...
I lived in Korea for 3 years back in the mid to late 90's, lived back home for 8 years, came back for the past 2.7 years. I live well on an F5 visa, make no less than 5-6 million a month, save a good 3 million per month. I won't stay more than another 2 years at most. If that's a lifer, then chalk me up as one. |
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Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Location: Not Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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| I almost became one but became steadily employed in Canada (4 years, promotions, awards, certifications, travel for training etc). Would I work again in SK? Not as a teacher but it's cool for those who are. |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I've been here 9 years. I am, all being well, starting my PhD at the end of this year. It's beginning to look more like I will be here for another 2-3 years. Definitely don't want to stay here forever and now that I know I can leave whenever I can, I am wondering if I shouldn't just leave NOW vs. later. |
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Riddle
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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| I very well could be a lifer in the making. I've been here 3 years and just signed on for a 4th. I've got a good job, good girlfriend, and recently started a good Master's program in Education. I love the food, I'm healthier than I've ever been, and I'm saving lots of money. If you're happy, why shouldn't you live your life in Korea, or anywhere else for that matter? |
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polonius
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:43 am Post subject: |
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People have called me a lifer. I leave on August 23rd. I have no intention of coming back. Mind you, I said that June 30th, 2003, as well.
Total time in Korea, 7 years. |
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red_devil
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:19 am Post subject: |
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| The grass is always greener... |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:41 am Post subject: |
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| eamo wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Even koreans don't want to stay in korea! |
Actually, they do. The vast majority of them anyway. Just about all my Korean friends are horrified at the thought of moving away from Hanguk. Koreans are way more attached to their motherland than we might think.
Korea had a lot of immigration when it was dirt poor. Now they're doing well. People are staying. You'll still get the education immigrants, but they're coming back a lot more often now.
As for being a lifer.........I certainly am.....maybe that's hard to understand if you're grinding out 50 weeks of work per year in a hagwon with windowless classrooms for 2.3mill, then going home at 9pm to an 8 pyeong rat-hole......
......but not all of us live like that!
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Exactly. Many lifers or long-termers have full lives. Many people I know own a large appartment, a nice car and have significant savings. They havea full family life too. Do not mix-up your life as a hakwon jockey stuck with 2 weeks vacation and 6 classes a day for 2.3 with that of people who made a life in Korea and have accessed better jobs.
Its all about choosing and happiness. I lost count of the number of people who found a good life here. These people are not losers or people who "could not make it" back in their home countries. They chose to go overseas and made something of themselves there. |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:13 am Post subject: |
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I wasn't a lifer in the beginning. Now I am, until I decide I don't wish to be any more.
The Zen of being a lifer. |
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Sergio Stefanuto
Joined: 14 May 2009
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:58 am Post subject: |
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At first I thought I might become a lifer, or very long-termer, but it's time to move on to pastures where more lavish pickings are to be had.
10 more weeks...... |
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