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| How long have you been living in Korea? |
| 1 year |
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35% |
[ 19 ] |
| 2 years |
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14% |
[ 8 ] |
| 3+ years |
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20% |
[ 11 ] |
| 5+ years |
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9% |
[ 5 ] |
| 7+ years |
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20% |
[ 11 ] |
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| Total Votes : 54 |
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the crusher
Joined: 06 Sep 2009
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 Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:52 pm Post subject: Ok so before I jump on the plane to get to Korea |
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Hello everyone I'm new to this forum.
Ok so before I jump on the plane to get to Korea I'd like to know few things through a poll
how long have you been living in Korea?
in average how long do people stay in korea teaching? |
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Tiberious aka Sparkles
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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| *sigh* |
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mateomiguel
Joined: 16 May 2005
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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| I've been in Korea 5+ years, and I taught for the first 2 of those. After that I got out of it, because its not a career-oriented industry. Think of it as an entry-level position in Korea Inc and you'll have the right attitude. |
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AussieGav
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Uijeongbu
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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Some stay a very long time, some a couple of years, other complete only one year and others dont even do that. It varies greatly between individuals. Korea is great in the eyes of some and awful according to others as you will see if you read through these pages.
Having said that, be sure to bring an open mind and good luck. |
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the crusher
Joined: 06 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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honestly a lot of the postings i've read has been depressing. I'm being very blunt and honest, is it that harsh to live? I'm considering my options and korea is just one of them.
Thank you for your thoughts though |
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Forward Observer
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: FOB Gloria
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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| mateomiguel wrote: |
| I've been in Korea 5+ years, and I taught for the first 2 of those. After that I got out of it, because its not a career-oriented industry. Think of it as an entry-level position in Korea Inc and you'll have the right attitude. |
MY GOD I remember when you were a newbie!  |
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Clockout
Joined: 23 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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| What do you want to know exactly? |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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| the crusher wrote: |
honestly a lot of the postings i've read has been depressing. I'm being very blunt and honest, is it that harsh to live? I'm considering my options and korea is just one of them.
Thank you for your thoughts though |
Their culture is just completely different and extremely difficult for westerners to adjust to. In material terms, life in Korea is pretty easy for westerners, but in terms of feeling comfortable and getting along well with the people around you it's not.
I'm on my second year here but most of my friends who got here the same time I did ran away screaming long before their first year was up, which sucks for me because I have to keep making new friends to replace people who leave.
Also, it seems like Canadians tend to stick it out here longer than Americans. Americans tend to have too high of expectations and are more disappointed by the realities of living here, while Canadians seem to have a little bit thicker skin. The only Americans I've met who stayed here longer than 2 years are all married to Korean women.
(I'm American, by the way) |
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OiGirl
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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| It would have been difficult to stay here as long as I have if I were still teaching. |
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the crusher
Joined: 06 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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| redaxe wrote: |
| the crusher wrote: |
honestly a lot of the postings i've read has been depressing. I'm being very blunt and honest, is it that harsh to live? I'm considering my options and korea is just one of them.
Thank you for your thoughts though |
Their culture is just completely different and extremely difficult for westerners to adjust to. In material terms, life in Korea is pretty easy for westerners, but in terms of feeling comfortable and getting along well with the people around you it's not.
I'm on my second year here but most of my friends who got here the same time I did ran away screaming long before their first year was up, which sucks for me because I have to keep making new friends to replace people who leave.
Also, it seems like Canadians tend to stick it out here longer than Americans. Americans tend to have too high of expectations and are more disappointed by the realities of living here, while Canadians seem to have a little bit thicker skin. The only Americans I've met who stayed here longer than 2 years are all married to Korean women.
(I'm American, by the way) |
Are the locals more reserved when facing expats?
What kind of superficial attention would I recieve?
In your case do you have more Korean friends or expat friends? which group of people do you prefer to stick with? |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 12:50 am Post subject: |
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| the crusher wrote: |
| redaxe wrote: |
| the crusher wrote: |
honestly a lot of the postings i've read has been depressing. I'm being very blunt and honest, is it that harsh to live? I'm considering my options and korea is just one of them.
Thank you for your thoughts though |
Their culture is just completely different and extremely difficult for westerners to adjust to. In material terms, life in Korea is pretty easy for westerners, but in terms of feeling comfortable and getting along well with the people around you it's not.
I'm on my second year here but most of my friends who got here the same time I did ran away screaming long before their first year was up, which sucks for me because I have to keep making new friends to replace people who leave.
Also, it seems like Canadians tend to stick it out here longer than Americans. Americans tend to have too high of expectations and are more disappointed by the realities of living here, while Canadians seem to have a little bit thicker skin. The only Americans I've met who stayed here longer than 2 years are all married to Korean women.
(I'm American, by the way) |
Are the locals more reserved when facing expats?
What kind of superficial attention would I recieve?
In your case do you have more Korean friends or expat friends? which group of people do you prefer to stick with? |
Most locals cannot communicate with foreigners well, linguistically or socially (and vice versa). You will find most of your conversations to be about the same (e.g. "Do you like kimchi?")
You will receive a lot of attention from people who want free English practice.
I definitely have more expat friends. I have a few Korean friends but they all speak pretty fluent English and most have spent years living overseas. I just don't have enough in common (in terms of shared interests, hobbies, and values, not to mention the language barrier) with Koreans who have never lived outside of Korea, to develop more than superficial relationships with them. |
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Morning_Star
Joined: 21 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:59 am Post subject: ... |
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| Depends...people usually leave after a year or less due to the lack of friends and dates. It's all up to you though. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 2:20 am Post subject: |
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| It takes a mighty long time before your Korean friends see you as, Eamo. Rather than Eamo, the foreigner. |
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fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 2:40 am Post subject: Re: ... |
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| Morning_Star wrote: |
| Depends...people usually leave after a year or less due to the lack of friends and dates. It's all up to you though. |
really? I thought it would be easier to meet friends here, especially other foreigners since people tend to reach out more to people who similar to them in unfamiliar environments.
Anyway most of the foreigners I know who stayed here for more than year have
1. a Korean fetish
2. Married/long term relationship with Korean
3. Can't get a decent job back home
Most of them fall in the second category. |
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seonsengnimble
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: taking a ride on the magic English bus
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:43 am Post subject: |
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| redaxe wrote: |
| the crusher wrote: |
honestly a lot of the postings i've read has been depressing. I'm being very blunt and honest, is it that harsh to live? I'm considering my options and korea is just one of them.
Thank you for your thoughts though |
Their culture is just completely different and extremely difficult for westerners to adjust to. In material terms, life in Korea is pretty easy for westerners, but in terms of feeling comfortable and getting along well with the people around you it's not.
I'm on my second year here but most of my friends who got here the same time I did ran away screaming long before their first year was up, which sucks for me because I have to keep making new friends to replace people who leave.
Also, it seems like Canadians tend to stick it out here longer than Americans. Americans tend to have too high of expectations and are more disappointed by the realities of living here, while Canadians seem to have a little bit thicker skin. The only Americans I've met who stayed here longer than 2 years are all married to Korean women.
(I'm American, by the way) |
I couldn't disagree with you more, and I'm an American who's been here for 3.5years. |
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