Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kim Jong Jordan]

I, for the most part, envy all of you who are in Korea right now teaching and living. I have been waiting two years to go to Korea (decided this is what I want to do after school, but had to finish last two years of University), and am finally close. I'm taking a tesol course for the heck of it (and to have some footing, however meaningless) and I want to find a job and leave by the end of August start of September. You are all there now and I can't wait. My question is, and I know this has been asked, articulated, explained, opinionated....in many ways in other forums and this one, but here it is anyways:
Remembering what your intentions were when you first decided to go to Korea, and thinking about your current state of mind/being NOW, how would you describe the overall experience? Good? Bad? Different from what you expected but still great?
I'm looking for the straight dope on this, because my intentions are to see another country, learn a bit of the language, save money, and have a F@#$ing blast. Am I too disillusioned at this here the beginning?

[Saxiif]

Boss = Satan
Everything else = just fine

[aussie col]

A few tips:

1. Your boss just wants to make money from you. he doesn't care about you even if he say so.

2. Have a great time with your kids. Who could hate teaching kids... well most of them.

3. Don't do things your boss wants you to do. He's just trying to keep the parents happy... doesn't care how much the kids actually learn. Just smile and say ok... then do the opposite.

4. Change the lock on your apartment door. Don't tell the director.

5. Keep things close to your chest. If you tell the korean teachers any small thing the whole school starts to talk about it. The director is usually the first to find out. It's like working with a room full of spies.

6. BS your way through EVERYTHING. Whatever anyone asks you the answer is always the same... you are very pretty. Korea is such a nice country. Korean people are so friendly.

7. Have a great time. Working in Korea is a blast.

8. Don't get sucked in with the negativce people. They will only bring you down. Stand up for you rights aginst the school, just don't b*tch about every little thing 24/7 like so many do.


I could keep going all day.

Anyone else with advice?

[Swiss James]

korean food generally tastes better than it smells. Eat first, smell later.

[osangrl]

i agree with swiss james....i couldn't get over the smell at first, but now i would pick a great korean restaurant over the outback anytime.

[VanIslander]

Honour your basic ethics and values but distrust your initial feelings when encountering new situations.

I hear many people operate on their old country's sense of what is normal,appropriate conduct.

If someone asks you your age and you feel like it shouldn't matter how old you are, then realize that you've encountered a cultural difference and make a conscious decision whether to accept it for what it is and go with the local flow, or not.

On a case-by-case basis.

Drinking? I do more than I ever would (and ever will again) back home.
Whoring? I don't do it now or ever, even though Korean men do it and offer to help find female services.
Bowing? I do it here in Korea as a sign of respect,and may continue it in some situations back home in the future, but mostly won't.
Jaywalking? I reduced greatly my habit of doing it here in this small Korean city but will probably begin again elsewhere.
Accepting changes in my work schedule with no prior notice? I do it here, but will not accept it back home.
Squatting in public restrooms? I'll keep that new practice going until I'm too old to do it.

You get the point. Strike your own balance. If you don't you'll either become overly judgemental and negative or else you'll go native and accept behaviours against your better judgement.

[phaedrus]

It was totally different than what I expected. Mostly for the worse as to what I wanted. I had been to China during university, and liked that. When I got here it wasn't China. After a while it was better mostly, except for the crap school. Dingy apartment, and if you sign for 30 hours per week it is too much.

Ask for pictures of your apartment and size- convert the pyeong. If it looks dingy it is. You want windows, bright and clean. A good pad will keep you up.

[buddy bradley]

[marcy]

I'd say it's been what I expected. I've saved what I thought I would, met great people, had great experiences, and been challenged in all sorts of ways.
I think the best advice I got before I left was from the girl whose job and apt. I now have... "try not to expect anything," not bad or good or worse or better, you just don't know what you're going to get...

Good luck...
marcy

[JackSarang]

[bibimbap]

well, aussie col articulated it beautifully.

i'd add:

i) don't go through a recruiter. you *will* be lied to. do your research. sign your contract *before* you leave. or, if you have the money from a flight, find a job when you get here - that way you can check everything out for yourself.

ii) the food is actually great. the variety is a bit stifling after a while, but it's very easy to eat healthily and you can't argue with the price - except for that indian restaurant in itaewon... where you may actually have to argue with the price.

[humanuspneumos]

1. Keep your head low. Do your best. Don't try to stand-out or be a hero. Don't talk too much (someone had a funny thread on a co-worker who just yapped and yapped).

2. Realize- if you get into a school that has a large number of foreigners things can get pretty ugly- in-house fighting. Someone in another post gave good advice- the fewer the foreigners- the more valuable you are to the school.

3. Don't be a "no" person 100 % of the time (always have "plans" on the go if you say "no."). Also- don't be a "yes" person all the time either. If you have a problem with "yes" or "no" you'd better take get some nerve pills prescribed because you're in for a rough ride. Keep an inch- the director sees it as a mile. Give an inch- the director will attempt to take a mile.

4. Know thyself. If you're a loner- get an apartment alone. If you're a people person- well- even then- who you live with- no matter how much you love people can end in tragedy because the management lets the apartments dement into a free-for-all. You have to work-out the dishes, scrubbing, fridge, beddy-bye-time .... all on you're lonesome. Slackards leave dishes. Partiers party on school nights. Psychos are just psycho.

5. Sign for 1 year. Save as though you'll only be there for 6 months. Research you're next career move back home and begin using your free time for ending-up there. Simply because- as the E-2 stands- this all can't seriously be seen as a fairly guaranteed/on-going career with continuity. Not Korea anyway.

I had no expectations except that I hoped Korea would be warmer. I guess I got that. Oh- I did expect to not be spied on for every word, move, nuance that came from my being- that was an unpleasant surprise. Some people don't know how to mind their own business. That's the one thing I really hated.

[Kim Jong Jordan]

Thank you all! Your comments are much appreciated. If we cross paths in Korea, I'll buy you a drink. Look for the guy with a giant map walking down the street, seemingly lost.

[royjones]

hey.. i read early in this post about changing your lock.. is this a standard thing?? and should i really do it.. will they get pissed.. ??

[Grotto]

unless you want the owner wandering into your apartment from time to time to see how you live....how messy you are.....going or just basically snooping around then definately change your locks.

Many directors view the apartment as theirs and you are just living there. If you want to maintain your privacy change the locks.

aussie col hit it right on the head good advice