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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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hatfiejl
Joined: 14 Feb 2012
Location: Ohio
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 Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 5:44 pm Post subject: One and done...and then back again. |
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| Hey all. I was wondering if anybody could comment on having the experience of teaching for a year and then returning home only to return to Korea. I'm interested in how the second stint goes, as the first year is pretty standard in terms of what emotions one experiences (excitement, homesickness, depression, alcoholism, excitement to return home), but what does one experience the second time around? Obviously everyone has a different experience, but is there any type of pattern to expect? |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| sounds like you had a bad experience the first time. If that was from a shitty job, understandable. However, if a lot of that came from living in Korea, you will most likely experience more of the same. |
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3DR
Joined: 24 May 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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Taught from 09-10 and then went home for 8 months. I wanted to teach in Korea again, but I also felt like I needed to go home for some downtime and recharge.
I was at a public school and back then, I wanted to go home for a month or two, and then come back. Big mistake was not finding a job first as it took me another 6 months just to come back, and I had to settle for a hagwon which I started in Dec '10.
The hagwon started off ok, but ended up being a nightmare.
So around the end of my cotnract, I applied for EPIK, went home in December of '11 and came back with a public school in March. I have been at the same school since then.
When I came back the second time, I actually thought I had made a big mistake. The apartment the school gave me was horrible, and I considered pulling a runner. I stuck it out, but it was very different from my first year.
The novelty wore off and the excitement wasn't the same, especially since a lot of my friends returned home.
I did go out and meet more people that second year, but overall, it was the worst year of my time in Korea (minus meeting my fiancee that summer) just because of the job.
The novelty has still worn off here, but I'm pretty satisfied with life here overall. |
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hatfiejl
Joined: 14 Feb 2012
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the responses guys. @SeoulNate - I didn't necessarily have an awful time the first time, although I see how my post might suggest that. I would guess my emotions were pretty average compared to most people. To be honest the biggest problem I had when I was there was just that I was so bored all of the time. @3DR - Glad it got better for you! |
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meangradin
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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| i came in 1995 for a year, then returned in 2003 on a whim. i met the person who would become my wife the first day back and have been here ever since. we have two wonderful boys and a thriving business that will allow me to retire in the next few years if i wish. i'd say it was a good decision to come back. |
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hatfiejl
Joined: 14 Feb 2012
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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| meangradin wrote: |
| i came in 1995 for a year, then returned in 2003 on a whim. i met the person who would become my wife the first day back and have been here ever since. we have two wonderful boys and a thriving business that will allow me to retire in the next few years if i wish. i'd say it was a good decision to come back. |
wow thats awesome, congratulations. |
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Lucas
Joined: 11 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Hey all. I was wondering if anybody could comment on having the experience of teaching for a year and then returning home only to return to Korea. I'm interested in how the second stint goes, as the first year is pretty standard in terms of what emotions one experiences (excitement, homesickness, depression, alcoholism, excitement to return home), but what does one experience the second time around? Obviously everyone has a different experience, but is there any type of pattern to expect? |
Why would you come back?
If the answer is 'coz there's nothing for me back home', then I think you'll be in more pain down the road (unless you marry a Korean and stay here forever). I'd guess that has potential pit falls, judging by some posters on here!
Draw up a game plan and stick to it. It's too easy to just exist here in Korea. |
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tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Lucas wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Hey all. I was wondering if anybody could comment on having the experience of teaching for a year and then returning home only to return to Korea. I'm interested in how the second stint goes, as the first year is pretty standard in terms of what emotions one experiences (excitement, homesickness, depression, alcoholism, excitement to return home), but what does one experience the second time around? Obviously everyone has a different experience, but is there any type of pattern to expect? |
Why would you come back?
If the answer is 'coz there's nothing for me back home', then I think you'll be in more pain down the road (unless you marry a Korean and stay here forever). I'd guess that has potential pit falls, judging by some posters on here!
Draw up a game plan and stick to it. It's too easy to just exist here in Korea. |
From personal experience, coming to Korea was never a plan to stay or get married, but both happened. It's been ten years now, and after receiving my dual citizenship last year, I find that being in Korea is just as good as being anywhere else in the world (at least for me  )
Lucas is right, most people would be wise to have a plan they can stick to, otherwise risk the possibility of going home and wondering why they ever travelled in the first place. My spouse would like to move somewhere else in the world, but we are taking our time to make sure whatever move 'might' happen in the future is really our best option.
meangradin's post is a success story of sorts, but to be truthful, most people never stay long enough to realize this type of ending. I can't tell you the number of friends whom I have seen leave Korea in the past ten years, and it is sad to think that many of them I will never see again in my life. Be true to yourself and if staying suits you, stay; if going and coming back for whatever reason suits you, then by all means come back; but, more than anything, make sure you do it for the right reasons.
Most of the people I know in my small circle of close friends who came back, have for the most part been glad they returned to Korea for better or worse. In many ways for some people the country has a way of feeling quite comfortable once you understand the culture, customs and lifestyle. Cheers!  |
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