Korean Job Discussion Forums

[allovertheplace]

So after a few years in Korea and some time in other nations, I am back in the west. And I'll be honest, it sucks. I didnt realize that Americans largely live in a police, fear state. Afraid of car payments, parking tickets, loans, credit card bills, breaking cell phone contracts, cancer, midgets, canadians, french canadians...
I think this is not solely an American phenomenon but rather one of the western world. I took for granted the money I made in Korea. Not that I was a millionaire-well I guess I was, but I had enough to not have to weigh my options. Also the simple fact that getting a job as an english teacher is pretty darn easy. Getting a job as a trash collector is pretty darn tough.
I'm not saying Korea is better, but I do believe that it leaves more wiggle room for fun.
Cool things though- driving, eating big steak, having 10 movies to choose from, weed, seeing old friends, lots of tv options, taco bell, good beer cheaper groceries - YES- cheaper than korea - AMAZING AND TRUE
Bad things- cops, funerals, credit cards, expensive fast food, women that arent pretty k girls, everything and everybody looking the same

[bobpeterson1973]

[Epicurus]

[okayden223]

Yes your life as an English teacher largely excludes many of the aforementioned pyramid of time-payments. Guess what? Every single one of your students' parents is probably up to their eyeballs in debt as Koreans have one of the lowest savings rate of any nation in OECD. I'll agree with you...life certainly is much simpler in Korea for us. Jobs are definitely hard to come by right now...they're out there though. There's just no comparison though when it comes to variety of food options, entertainment, freedom of expression, etc.. However it is annoying how useless public transportation is in the U.S. for the most part. Sitting in traffic is one of the worst ways to spend time ever invented. I think you should add labor laws to your list of good things about the U.S.. I'm not saying migrant workers don't get shafted in the U.S., but give me a break. There's no comparison. If a boss tried to jack your pay, evict you, and get you deported all because he couldn't pay the bills in America, it'd be on the 7 o'clock news and he'd get his ass handed to him. I'll have to agree that good beer (at a reasonable price) is sorely missed. I also miss lemons and limes. The Koreans have no idea how much better those things make life.

[Cheonmunka]

I get the feeling that because you mention funerals, perhaps it was for a funeral that you left Korea?

[Steelrails]

[allovertheplace]

funeral was actually just a sad little bit of news upon arrival.

Good thing- understanding things.
Bad thing- having people know I understand things.

I actually came back for a killer grad program but I am starting to rethink. I wouldnt have stayed in Korea forever but I might have stayed out of America long enough where upon arrival I could stare at the majesty of green trees and 8 lane highways and be amazed.

America aint all that bad, its just so much of a pain in the ass, and while Korea was a giant pain, I could largely ignore it and just throw my hands up and walk away.

[Jane]

I hear it takes in general 6 months to a year to adjust to going back home. This is true for all the people I know who have left Korea to make a life back home.

Be patient.

Furthermore, people tend to talk more fondly about events in the recent past, then when they were occurring.

[gaffe]

So many fat people! I live in a small town and there are at least three 500 pounders here. It is cool to drive (fast) again but the cops are dicks and love a chance to prove it. I don't know if I really miss Korea in particular, but I miss Asia in general.

[OnTheOtherSide]

[AgentM]

[djsmnc]

Man, you guys make it sound so terrible. I found that when I worked my way out of the country into metropolitan America (real metropolitan, ie Chicago, New York, etc) that things weren't so bad as long as you have a decent gig. I think if you were Korean, you would see things a lot differently in Korea as you are placed in a social box at a young age. However, I suppose it's helpful to already be certain your life is going to be complete shyte after failing the Korean final exam in high school.

[fermentation]

[gaffe]

[benji1422]

The way I understand capitalism in America is that the only time things were "fair" during the industrial revolution was in the 1950s post war until the early 70's. That is a time when one working man could afford a wage to buy a house and provide for his family so long as you weren't a total incompetent drunk, and the gaps between the rich and the poor were narrowed (thanks to the distribution of wealth coming from the fact that every other country was destroyed)

Before WWII and after the 80s= sucks to a be working person and you have to do anything (albeit immoral) to get a leg up. Since lack of economic justice has always been a fact in a super capitalist society like the U.S. I don't see it as a big deal. I mean, if you really want to make money there are always ways... right?

The problem I have is with an American culture without a sense of values -- not conservative values, but ANY values. And a culture where fat, stupid, ugly and worthless people are continually validated and everyone is narcissistic. That is one thing that is different from societies years ago - that everybody is all about themselves and their childish needs rather than their community or family. I blame this on the car culture and suburbanization. It's not TV or media - that is just a mirror.

My hope is that as the next 5-10 years brings the collapse of this suburbanization/mortgage/debt/car culture that things return to a more community and local based togetherness and people stop focusing so much on themselves. To be honest, while it has its downsides, the "community spirit" of societies like Korea really appeal to me more after a lifestyle spent under hyper individualism of suburbia.

The lack of wealth happening to people right now in this country will certainly force people into this more community spirit type of thinking... or at least a sense of proportion. As a member of the most violent generatlions (Generation X) that contributed to the highest crime rate in history I would like to think that would be our legacy. Whether that will force these fatties to loose weight is another matter.