Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zulethe]

I was so tired of all the BS that I put up with in the states - all the bureaucratic non-sense, office politics, and other stressors that accompany working in the American work-force.

So after 16 years away from Korea, I decided to come back. It has been great. I have nothing to complain about. I feel fortunate to have a job.

But there is something missing. I've always thought that I had an anti-A type personality but maybe I was wrong.

I miss solving problems: real problems not whether or not In Soo acts out in class. I miss working with groups of diverse people trying to come up with a common solution to a very complex problem.

I miss a challenge. I miss being challenged. As much as I hate criticism, it has made me a better person.

I'm not evolving here. It's not because I can't. It's because there is something about this place that lulls me into a state of inactivity.

For the past year and a half, I've been on cruise control. I go to class, do a decent job and then go home and drink a couple of bottle of soju. I repeat the same routine day in and day out.

I bring home no stress but no accomplishments either. This is what I came to Korea for so what's my problem?

That damn little inner voice telling me that I've got more to offer than this. I wish I could shut it up but I can't.

For those of you who are content here, I'm a little envious of you. For those of you who are hearing the same whisperings as me, I say go for it.

[eamo]

Different people have different needs. Some people need a more eventful life with challenges. Others can be content.

Or maybe older or younger people would see this differently. Older people might think that if you have something good then stick with it. Younger people would be more understanding of the need for variety and achievement.

[janafromfrance]

It is called................AMBITION, living to one's greatest potential.

It seems the highest ambition of most of the teachers is to get some
kind of online degree

I noticed that in korea you mostly have a group of:

1. Guys who married Korean women, have kids, and will stay forever being the teachers. Their quest in life is acheived as they shelter inside their world of classrooms, and apartments for escape.

2. Guys who are looking for women, get a job, drink, party, etc......
They will stay until they start to be too old to keep doing that, or get married.

3. Girls who are looking for cash (me). Come, get out quick, and finish the dream searching (me.....ART)

4. Girls who are looking for a husband, get married to a korean man, stay forever.

5. Girls who want to have a good time, come, drink, and party till they finally wake up and see that it is time to get out and get a life started.





Time is ticking, if you have a dream and are wasting your life, you had better move on. Its nice to have a comfortable bed to sleep in, but why not build a castle of dreams.

[redaxe]

I feel you man, Korea just feels like "same stuff, different day." There's very little of the bad kind of stress, but also very little of the good kind of stress. It's unbelievable how little my employer expects me to accomplish, and how much time they make me spend at the office. Hence the reason why I'm on Dave's all the time.

I need to be challenged in life. So I'm outta here in 5 months, as soon as my contract is up.

[Draz]

[Wishmaster]

Completely agree with you, Zulethe. There is no challenge here in Korea, especially after you've been here awhile. Sure, I enjoy the fact that the job is stress free and it is the easiest that I've ever had in my life. My apartment is good. Good social situation, but not great because so much of it revolves around drinking, going to clubs, etc. I only came back to Korea because I lost my job in Hawaii last year to that wonderful economy. Came back to save a bit, take a nice SE Asian vacation and then later this year I'm leaving for good. I've realized that Korea really offers nothing for me anymore and that it is time to stop coming back here because it is so easy. Basically, it is time to go onto the next adventure and to put Korea in the past because Korea is so stagnant and to spend the next 20 years dealing with all things Korean just doesn't suit or inspire me. Will life be tougher at home? Sure. The economy will still suck. But life is an adventure and Lord knows I've had my share of them, so it will continue. I think a lot of people here are too comfortable and afraid to leave the Korean nest, but they will end up regretting it, I believe. Besides, there is that saying: Who dares...wins.

[Stalin84]

[Cerulean]

I hear ya Z.

Know that you're not alone.

[adventurrre]

Korea is totally stagnant. But I'm trying to use my time wisely here. Learning Korean to a high level is keeping me motivated and my mind active. I'm trying to get a music career off the ground and have ample time to write. I work out a few times a week in an effort to get into the best shape of my life. I'm learning how the economy works, specifically the market so that I can turn a good amount of svaings into a great amount of savings. These things keep me occupied in Korea and I suggest everyone try to do similar things so that a boring job and bottle of soju don't represent 90% of your time here. The hobbies also mean my time here can actually enhance my future possibilities. Korea doesn't have to be a waste of time.

[nautilus]

[VanIslander]

get a hobby

seriously, there's more to life than the 30 hours out of 168 hours per week you spend teaching

forget the soju and make something, study something, do something new, go somewhere new, meet someone new

find out if there is more to you than just a job

[ms.catbc]

There are always opportunities to make teaching more challenging if you are teaching at a school that gives you more freedom.

If you have to follow particular workbooks and teach to government tests than there is not a lot of room for a challenge. it is almost like factory work.

What kind of school are you working for. Is there anyway you can create challenges for yourself and students. any room for cool projects that force you to think on your feet?

[nautilus]

Why not go to Afghanistan and join the war?

That'd give you some new challenges.