Korean Job Discussion Forums

[KeepingItReal]

Hi...I'm just curious about the general thoughts/experiences others have had in Korea being 30+ years old.
For example, are you enjoying the freedom of not being "stuck" back home with a mortgage or whatever?
Or, if you're single do you find it harder to make friends since others in your age group (especially Koreans) are usually married already? And because most foreign teachers are in their 20s.
Do you feel you get more respect or value for your age?
Do you feel like it's a bit of a dead end and you're just biding your time for other reasons?

For me, I don't feel it's a dead end since the work experience is helping me to fulfull other goals, but the friends part can be hard...too old to be clubbing but too young to be put out to pasture already. It can just be hard to meet quality people here that I connect with. But I guess many people here feel that way, regardless of age.

Anyhoo, just curious about how others feel the life experience is here while being over 30...

[hallazgo]

I'm 50 and life is just fine here.

I find that people don't respect foreigners because of age, but they do respect size and I'm a big dude, very strong and muscular and tall. They like that.

I did the corporate thing in the US for years. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, got mustard on it. Don't need to do it again.

[TheresaTheresa]

[Louis VI]

I came when I was 33 and road out my thirties here.

[Konglishman]

Well, I will be 32 before too long. Actually, I have a great job here. In fact, I am teaching my field of expertise (I don't teach English) here at a university. So, for me, this is definitely not a dead end.

I have had no big problems getting dates here partly because I look much younger. Most people usually assume that I am in my early 20's.

I do have to say that I have gotten a bit frustrated with the Korean women that I have dated. When my past comes up (I got divorced in my late 20's) and its unusual circumstances, they usually lose interest in me after that.

[Kurtz]

I guess socially it's a little hard. I see most in their 20's partying, trying to impress Korean uni students, hanging out in groups and I just don't want to know them, feels like years ago I had that mindset. You have to actively search people out by joining clubs and such, unless you live in a small city but you're at the mercy of the local expat set which can be very cliquey.

Quite a few 30's guys have hooked up and settled here with Korean women, I'd even guess that was the sole purpose for coming here. They seem a little unhappy and trapped; fighting with their wife over money, problems with the in-laws, I don't envy them at all.

I find Korean women extremely childish in general, I've dated many, but they seem to be cut out of the same stone; met one, met them all! There's a whole bevy of bored, frustrated 30-something women desperate to get married and escape living with mum and dad; be careful!

I don't think students respect me because just because I'm in my 30's, but that's just my impression. You have to earn respect regardless of age in Korea, especially if you're out of the Korean family here.

It's up to you how you want to network, update your skills and get a better job. Don't think getting a uni job is the holy grail, there are many levels of university jobs. For example, a friend of mine works at a uni but for only 2.2 million and is teaching the "Interchange" set of books which I've used for 6th graders in a hagwon, don't expect to be teaching high level English.

I'd fully research if Korea will be a good fit for you before packing it in, this place isn't for everyone, that's for sure. If you read something negative (like by me!) there may be some truth in it.

Don't think you're stuck being at home with a mortgage. That lifestyle worked for generations and even though things are much different these days, don't look down on that lifestyle. I was going to continue the ESL circus but I have an opportunity back home, so for me it's nearly over ("he'll be back" scream the angry gyopos).

Just be careful of the easy life here. It's always "just one more year" with many, "and then one day you find 10 years has got behind you, no one told you when to run, you didn't here the starters gun". If it starts to feel like a routine, it's time to go.

Good luck, and use your free time wisely.

[methdxman]

[Kurtz]

[Konglishman]

Frankly, I love the lifestyle here, but as I have already mentioned, I am a bit disillusioned with Korean women. Now, by lifestyle, I am not talking about going out and doing hard drinking. That is just not me although I do enjoy having a drink now and then, but nonetheless, I rarely get drunk.

For example, I love the jimjilbangs (Korean saunas) here. I love the convenient transportation. I enjoy going to my church and seeing my friends there. I enjoy my long vacations and the extra bonuses that I get from additional work that I do for the university.

Of course, I am not planning on retiring here, but possibly, I could see myself staying here many more years provided that I am able to continue making more opportunities for myself.

Korea is what it is. It is a great place to save money and enjoy a reasonable lifestyle. And this does not just apply for English teachers. I am teaching my field here in English (so, I suppose that my job does depend on English teachers helping Koreans develop a reasonable level of English).

If at some point, I grow bored with it or see another great opportunity elsewhere (Sometimes, I am interested in Singapore or Qatar), I may then move on to greener pastures.

Maybe, it is just me, but I did not grew up in any one single place and moved around a lot. In fact, my parents have already moved several times since I first went off to college over 12 years ago. So, when I go "home", it does not feel like home, and therefore, I do not feel that I have any particular hometown.

As a result, I feel quite content to make a career of working overseas living in various countries. Of course, the real key to making this work is to make sure that you have obtained good credentials (such as a master's degree or PhD). Finally, having good CV writing skills can never underestimated.

But of course, the overseas lifestyle is not for everyone. So, you should make sure that you do serious soul searching first and ask the classic question, "What do I want to do with my life?".

[methdxman]

[Konglishman]

GP??? Oh, are you talking about the Grand Prix?

[Kurtz]

[Gnawbert]

I've turned 29, 30, and 31 here. So did my girlfriend who came out with me. We've both enjoyed living the last of our soju-soaked twenties out during our first year here, calmed down a bit during our 2nd year (her more so than me) and really mellowed out into our 3rd year.

It's helped that we've set a lot of goals for ourselves in our early 30's like saving and investing and learning about business and taking up creative hobbies as well as actually taking a moderate interest to learn the language. It keeps us busy, mentally stimulated, and makes it easier cut down on doing the same thing we did our first year here: party hard.

And that's, personally, the only downer about getting older: it's sometimes hard to motivate my (younger) friends to take a trip to the sea or the countryside or go for a hike when there's the neon lights and soju nights of Seoul beckoning them. Also, I frankly can't keep up them anymore with an all nighter, physically, without feeling like serious rubbage for the next day or two.

Personally speaking, I'd say my (very early) 30's have, so far, been the best time of my life. I look 5 years too young, still play far too many video games yet I've saved up quite a bit of money out here, live relatively healthy, enjoy my work quite a bit, and have made enough mistakes from my 20's that I've built up some confidence, humility, and a sense of humor that keeps me sane through the days and motivated enough to scheme up other pursuits in the future.

Personally, I'd rather be in my early 30's in Korea than in my mid 20's. The person I was then was probably wound a bit too tight, a bit too cocky, and a bit too wild to have enjoyed more of Korea than its fine drinking establishments, norebangs, and the chairs outside the GS25.

But that's just me

[Vagabundo]

[Vagabundo]