Korean Job Discussion Forums

[brento1138]

So, I have actually been missing Korea quite a bit. Unlike many in Korea, I actually really loved it there. Sure it had its bad moments, but every place in the world, including the very beautiful city I am living in now, has bad moments. I do love my home country (Canada) but the lifestyle you are able to live in Korea, is not bad...

The thing is, I really do like teaching... I taught adults at a university there. Free housing is nice too, plus eating out often with friends / coworkers, the transit system, weekend getaways, and many vacations / backpacking adventures around Asia was FUN. And as a DJ / producer of electronic music, Seoul sure does have a much more happening scene than where I am living. The people here tend to prefer indie rock more, which I like of course, but have absolutely no interest in going to see or perform live... or DJ of course. Also, the job in Korea gave me SO MUCH TIME to work on my music production stuff. I grew there sooo much, made many wonderful tracks... now that I am back in Canada, I'm too tired at the end of the day to really do much with it.

I miss my friends there, many of them who are lifers. I moved there at age 23 and made a ton of great friends. Now at age 28, I miss them! Many of them are married to either Korean men or women, or are just staying put with good jobs with good benefits. I have great friends here in Vancouver too, buuuut, it seems as if I have more friends over there now than I do here. And here, I can't go out as much as my income / expense amount here is less desirable... plus, I don't save money here. You can't, you just go into debt unless you're making six figures... or living with Mom.

Personally, I moved back here because I was thinking about the future. Knowing that having a pension is important, raising a kid in Canada would be more ideal, etc. etc. I thought of many reasons I should come back. But to be honest, I'm not all that interested in having a kid or family at the moment... I don't have much interest in starting a new career path. I feel comfortable with teaching, I like it... in Vancouver, the income is not what it could be, unless you were a public school teacher...

But really, it's not the money I am worried / thinking about that much. It's more the lifestyle, the everyday human interactions, the "interest" level of living in Exotic Asia vs. Plain Jane North America (this is just my opinion, but I do find Asia more interesting still, even after 4.5 years in Korea).

Ahh, so I miss the place. But the problem with going back is that my parents will be extremely disappointed. Friends will be very sad I'm going. Also, I would worry about coming back to Canada and having few job prospects. I'd, of course, want to stay a teacher (Business / ESL specialization, high school level) but once you're away from Canadian work life, it's harder to get back in.

So, do I do the stupid-fun (live your life!) thing and go back to Korea? Or should I hunker down here, live a little less of an interesting life, bear with things, until I finally start makin livable cash. Also, it's so depressing seeing the housing costs in Vancouver (crazy expensive) when you don't even save more than $200 bucks a month!

So, lots of stuff going through my mind. A bit less decisive than I've been in the past. I guess I have to sort out my values, and such, and make my decision then.

But I am interested in YOUR stories. What made you come back? Or what made you stay in your home country? Very interested to hear your take on this...

[Olivencia]

Can your lady come with you?
One paycheck here in Korea goes very far in my home in the Philippines.

[brento1138]

[Konglishman]

[shinramyun]

your wife is japanese? why not go to japan?

[ashland]

[brento1138]

[Old Gil]

[Stalin84]

Hey Brento1138, we know each other (I'm from Canada, we had mutual friends, etc.)

You should come back. Canada is boring, isn't going anywhere and doesn't really offer much more than Korea in terms of long term life solutions unless you want to join the military or something.

Korea is actually getting better in a lot of ways and the economy is doing well, in comparison. I'm sure you'd get on well if you came back.

[Xuanzang]

[imitates Al Pacino] Just when I thought I was out. THEY PULL ME BACK IN!

[Freeghen]

If you love Korea and you enjoy being a teacher, then come back. Sounds to me like you have made up your mind already.
I am also from Vancouver and have been trying to escape that place for a very very long time. But now I am getting pulled back in because I just got engaged and my fiance lives in Van and his job is better than mine (well...I will be unemployed once I leave Korea and go back there next month). I'm really REALLY not looking forward to trying to find a job and place to live there. The rest of Canada really isn't much better right now. However, I also can't imagine staying in Korea for a few more years, this place just isn't for me. But it you love it and it's the lifestyle you enjoy - then just go back!

[Hightop]

[Xuanzang]

[VanIslander]

You're 28. You can play in Asia for another four years then return and grow up, get married, start a family, get a mortgage, pay into pension and toil ever after like a good son of the mother who told you this is how it ought to be.

Or you can throw the script out altogether and do what you want and dang the consequences. Age is just a number.

Good luck whatever.

[Hightop]