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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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 Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 10:10 am Post subject: English Teachers are Rich |
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Your total income including housing and airfare puts you at the top of the world ... top 5% or better ...
Try this ...
http://globalrichlist.com/index.php |
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madoka
Joined: 27 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 10:55 am Post subject: |
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I'm in the top 0.001% in the world. Sounds impressive until you learn that how they calculated it:
These calculations are based on figures from the World Bank Development Research Group. To calculate an individual's position on the list, Poke assumes that the world's total population is 6 billion and the average worldwide annual income is $5,000.
So even someone who makes $26,000 per year is in the top 10%. |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 11:10 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, Madoka. Thanks for smashing my DREAMS   |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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I have often in my life been keenly aware that I and those around me are in the top 10% in terms of wealth in the world and use that info to temper the whining and complaining people make over money. I am not financially ambitious, am quite satisfied with what I make and have made, whether it be more or less than now, it's still not only vastly more than the majority of humanity but also much more wealth than most people EVER have had throughout human history. Putting it all into context makes one less petty about the little things. My cup's much closer to being full than empty and I don't need more money to top it off.
The obsession Koreans display over wealth, the stress and pressure to make more and more and putting lifetime success in material terms is a bit headshaking. It's one thing to work hard and to like nice cars and homes. It's another to define one's life and happiness around the pursuit of it and to contemplate suicide over the failure to attain it. Koreans collectively and individually have this need to be number one, are discontent with their efforts, as if a mental flogging of themselves is needed to keep them striving. It's quite an ingrained cultural thing. Even as young as elementary school they get the pressure. The contrast between them and I is constant in this regard. They have no idea how much more relaxing and fun childhood can be! |
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oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
The obsession Koreans display over wealth, the stress and pressure to make more and more and putting lifetime success in material terms is a bit headshaking. ....
The contrast between them and I is constant in this regard. They have no idea how much more relaxing and fun childhood can be! |
Koreans obsession with money was a complete culture shock to me when I first arrived (and still is, to some extent). I'd never heard anyone talk about money, or base their life on money, as much as Koreans. However, after spending more time in Asia, I realise it's just Asian culture - not just Koreans.
I've come to think this 'money obsessed' mindset is caused by:
(1) centuries of abject poverty based on rabid competition for scarce resources.
(2) Hierarchical societies that have never developed a 'social contract' with their citizens (i.e., taxing citizens to provide them with the right to state welfare should they become disadvantaged, old, sick, unemployed etc).
Asians know that if they get sick, old, lose their jobs etc - only their money (or their families' money) can help them. In most cases, their governments won't. Hence their constant need to accumulate money. In Asia, being 'rich' isn't enough for your family to survive. Your family must always be richer than other families - because they will use their wealth to exploit your family.
This is a huge contrast to my country - where if I stop working, the govt. would give me a 'fly fishing' benefit (after a 6 month standown). |
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AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010
Location: Truck Stop Missouri
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes, $26,000 a year is probably more than most people get, but the cost of living is another thing to take into consideration. It's like comparing apples to oranges. $26,000 is nothing for people from expensive countries like Australia, Korea, America, and England. |
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Senior
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| We live BETTER than the 12 richest kings in Europe did a century ago. Every facet of our life is better. We probably even work less. |
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UknowsI
Joined: 16 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Suddenly between 150000 and 160000 Euro the calculator "breaks" and will report everything above as top 0.0001% while 150000 is 0.08%. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
| Yes, $26,000 a year is probably more than most people get, but the cost of living is another thing to take into consideration. It's like comparing apples to oranges. $26,000 is nothing for people from expensive countries like Australia, Korea, America, and England. |
Yes, cost of living may vary, but wealth translates well if you move. Nothing is stopping you from building a reasonable savings in a developed country, then moving to an area with a lower cost of living and retiring reasonably well.
We in developed countries really do live better than the overwhelming majority of people in history. In the last year working in Korea alone, I easily put away enough money to fund a dollar-a-day lifestyle -- a lifestyle billions of people live -- for decades. That doesn't mean I want to live on a dollar a day (or even a few dollars a day), but when you take that into account it's hard to feel bad about your economic situation.
| Madoka wrote: |
| So even someone who makes $26,000 per year is in the top 10%. |
The fact that what seems a low wage to us is still in the top 10% from a global perspective should tell you exactly how well we live. You've pretty much made the point the site is trying to make for them. Sure, by Western standards $26,000 a year might not seem like much, but that person still has a home of their own, access to what is for practical purposes unlimited amounts of electricity, food, and clean water, probably a car, almost assuredly a variety of devices devoted purely to entertainment, and may even take international vacations from time to time if they otherwise live frugally. That sounds pretty well off when you consider what the majority of people in the world have. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Fox wrote: |
The fact that what seems a low wage to us is still in the top 10% from a global perspective should tell you exactly how well we live. You've pretty much made the point the site is trying to make for them. Sure, by Western standards $26,000 a year might not seem like much, but that person still has a home of their own, access to what is for practical purposes unlimited amounts of electricity, food, and clean water, probably a car, almost assuredly a variety of devices devoted purely to entertainment, and may even take international vacations from time to time if they otherwise live frugally. That sounds pretty well off when you consider what the majority of people in the world have. |
Who can have a home of their own making 26k? A rented or mortgaged place with the help of at least one other person, sure, but certainly not their own. This may vary in other places, of course, but where I'm from, even outside of the city one pays a minimum of $1,200 a month on rent for a studio apartment.
You're right that we live far better than the majority of the world, though. I've seen some terrible housing situations, and am thankful that I was fortunate enough to have been born in a well-off land. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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| NYC_Gal wrote: |
| Fox wrote: |
The fact that what seems a low wage to us is still in the top 10% from a global perspective should tell you exactly how well we live. You've pretty much made the point the site is trying to make for them. Sure, by Western standards $26,000 a year might not seem like much, but that person still has a home of their own, access to what is for practical purposes unlimited amounts of electricity, food, and clean water, probably a car, almost assuredly a variety of devices devoted purely to entertainment, and may even take international vacations from time to time if they otherwise live frugally. That sounds pretty well off when you consider what the majority of people in the world have. |
Who can have a home of their own making 26k? |
Sorry, I articulated that quite poorly. I meant they could afford to live by themselves in a decent apartment. Re-reading it, you're correct that it sounded like I was suggesting they could own a house.
In my home city of Madison, it's possible to get a decent one-bedroom apartment for under $600 a month. I consider that to be fairly affordable for someone on a $26,000 a year salary. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Fox wrote: |
Sorry, I articulated that quite poorly. I meant they could afford to live by themselves in a decent apartment. Re-reading it, you're correct that it sounded like I was suggesting they could own a house.
In my home city of Madison, it's possible to get a decent one-bedroom apartment for under $600 a month. I consider that to be fairly affordable for someone on a $26,000 a year salary. |
Absolutely then. I had to have a roommate where I lived in order to have a larger nicer apartment, and I made more than 26K, so was curious. |
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kiknkorea
Joined: 16 May 2008
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 12:26 am Post subject: |
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Rich can be relative. It's all about lifestyle.
We always hear about multi-millionaire celebraties and athletes who live large and end up broke.
I find if somewhat laughable when I hear people complaining they're not making enough money teaching here. Unless you want an exotic car collection, I think this pays plenty to live well enough on. |
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dirving
Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
I have often in my life been keenly aware that I and those around me are in the top 10% in terms of wealth in the world and use that info to temper the whining and complaining people make over money. I am not financially ambitious, am quite satisfied with what I make and have made, whether it be more or less than now, it's still not only vastly more than the majority of humanity but also much more wealth than most people EVER have had throughout human history. Putting it all into context makes one less petty about the little things. My cup's much closer to being full than empty and I don't need more money to top it off.
The obsession Koreans display over wealth, the stress and pressure to make more and more and putting lifetime success in material terms is a bit headshaking. It's one thing to work hard and to like nice cars and homes. It's another to define one's life and happiness around the pursuit of it and to contemplate suicide over the failure to attain it. Koreans collectively and individually have this need to be number one, are discontent with their efforts, as if a mental flogging of themselves is needed to keep them striving. It's quite an ingrained cultural thing. Even as young as elementary school they get the pressure. The contrast between them and I is constant in this regard. They have no idea how much more relaxing and fun childhood can be! |
This deserves a Double Word-uh! |
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dirving
Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 2:05 am Post subject: |
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| Fox wrote: |
| NYC_Gal wrote: |
| Fox wrote: |
The fact that what seems a low wage to us is still in the top 10% from a global perspective should tell you exactly how well we live. You've pretty much made the point the site is trying to make for them. Sure, by Western standards $26,000 a year might not seem like much, but that person still has a home of their own, access to what is for practical purposes unlimited amounts of electricity, food, and clean water, probably a car, almost assuredly a variety of devices devoted purely to entertainment, and may even take international vacations from time to time if they otherwise live frugally. That sounds pretty well off when you consider what the majority of people in the world have. |
Who can have a home of their own making 26k? |
Sorry, I articulated that quite poorly. I meant they could afford to live by themselves in a decent apartment. Re-reading it, you're correct that it sounded like I was suggesting they could own a house.
In my home city of Madison, it's possible to get a decent one-bedroom apartment for under $600 a month. I consider that to be fairly affordable for someone on a $26,000 a year salary. |
Madison, Wisconsin?! If so, she's held as one of the better places in which to reside in the U.S. |
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