Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zulethe]

First of all, I've got it good. My future is bright and I planned accordingly before I left Korea. I'm in an MSW (masters of social work) program that is being paid for by the Department of Veterans affairs. I also have a disability so I'm basically getting paid to go to school.

I really like where I live in New Mexico - everything should be good but it's not.

I've found dating to be nearly impossible here for me. The women just do nothing for me. My libido has tanked since I left Korea. Not even the chicks in strip clubs are hot to me Many people in my apartment complex carry around oxygen bottles and are on some type of disability due to their morbidly obese health related conditions.

I can't stand listening to people talk. It's like the worst form of noise pollution. I never leave my house without my ipod.

I don't really miss Korea but I do miss the lifestyle and I really miss traveling and working and living overseas.

I have a very bright future in social work if I choose to continue. But honestly, I don't know if I want to work with the majority of Americans and their problems that are mostly self-made.

I really think the longer you stay overseas, the more difficult it will be for you to return to your home country. Also, if you don't have a plan before returning, good luck. Not only will you have to deal with readjustment issues but also have to worry about career issues as well.

Sometimes I'm jealous of the simple people who are just satisfied with two kids, and a simple job. Working and living overseas changes one fundamentally. I spent many years in the Army and it has been more difficult adjusting back to American life after Korea than it was post-service for me.

[jfromtheway]

I think that's the ebb and flow of life sometimes, but I know exactly what you're saying. Are you sure you are pursuing the profession that will ultimately fulfill the desires/life you think you may have in say, 10-20 years? Social work is a valiant career choice and with a master's degree you should be able to set yourself up for a position where you aren't simply a case worker, or necessarily involved with the more depressing aspects of the field, right? I might just set my sights on getting the hell out of New Mexico once school is finished if I were you, just kidding. I've been many times, it's very nice.

I have been fortunate enough to have traveled possibly more than anyone on this board and I spent many years partying and living it up, getting laid constantly and bouncing all over the world. But I would periodically come back to the US and grow miserable after a while, and I live in one of the best cities in America. Even when I was in college I would become disgruntled at times being tied to things that had little meaning to me; I was still living it up and going to a great school, but the eventual self-neutering settlement aspect at the end of the road has never been something I looked forward to. It may be a perpetual fear of mine. But it could be an equally insufficient life path to constantly be on the move and interrupting the things that may help make your life easier in the future, even if they are monumentally more boring.

I took a position in the political realm knowing fully how unsatisfied I would immediately become, and I'm ditching it to go to Korea simply because I have to get away again. I took three graduate school exams to ensure that I'm set up to pursue a specialized career path, most likely in the legal or business fields, but I'm simply not ready to commit myself to 2-3 more years in America right now. The travel bug can lead to a vicious cycle. I'm unsure how things will be when I return to school, but I keep telling myself that this will be a last hoorah to get my wanderlust and philandering out of the way. I understand where you're coming from though, it's difficult to settle on certainty when you're having to adjust and readjust all the time. And the internal responsibility gauge is hard to fight. But I think it will always get easier with time. Anyway, I feel your position strongly so wanted to give my 2 cents, wish you the best of luck.

[silkhighway]

Zulethe, how long have you been back in New Mexico? I know how tough it is, it's major culture shock returning. For me it was way worse than leaving. The silver lining is things did get better and life became normal again after several months (for the most part).

[jdog2050]

[winterfall]

I grew up abroad. Every 2 years I packed up and moved back home or moved back to Korea. Friends came and went every 6 months. Teachers changed every year. Didn't have a semblance of stability till high school when I moved back to the states permanently, wound up in the inner city. That was jolting and I couldn't readjust till my junior year in college. I had more experiences than the people around, saw more things, and all that other white noise. But unlike them, I didn't grow up with the people around me. Everyone I met and hung out with was permanently a stranger.

And that's what it comes down to. That care free living abroad lifestyle isn't what it's cracked out to be. I've got hundreds of friends and acquaintances spread around the globe. But, all of these relationships are shallow. They're only good for maybe getting a place to sleep when I travel again or a free tour guide. You are and always will be just that guy that drank with him every day in Korea.

If your life went down the drain right now. How many of em will drop everything to fly over and help you get back on your feet?

[DigitalSoju]

You guys from NM too?

I'm from LC, really really boring there, but great Mexican food

[southernman]

Yeah, reverse culture shock was my biggest problem when I returned home after 3 years. I've been In korea for almost 4 years now. At one of my going away parties from home. Four close friends came uo to me at different times and told me they didn't think that I would be coming back and that I was travelling for them too. At the time I wasn't so sure

But now I've made the decision that I'm a permanent ex-pat. I'm just saving up some coinage for a nice little business on a beach. I just find the mundane routine of the average worker is not for me, I wish it was, well ok, thats a lie...

OP, we've spoken on ths forum before. My ex swk life, working with teenage criminals even got boring after a while. Sure always new clients and new senarios but after a while same old same old.

Anyway, goodluck, the world needs more qualified, competent, social workers.