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Why did you stay in Korea?
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AtmaWeapon



Joined: 30 Jun 2011

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 2:27 am    Post subject: Why did you stay in Korea? Reply with quote

For the people who stayed in Korea after their first year contract expired - why did you stay instead of going back to your home country or continuing teaching ESL in another country like Taiwan or Japan?

I'm back in my home country after doing a year in Korea and although I would love to experience living/working in a new country (Japan most likely) it looks more and more likely I will be returning to Seoul for a number of reasons (K-girlfriend, better pay, relatively low cost of living, friends, familiarity, etc). Just curious to see why other people chose to stay longer than a year.
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Lacan7



Joined: 12 Sep 2009

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 2:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Same reasons as you listed, but add on lack of opportunity at home, and sheer laziness to sign up/set myself up in another place.

On a side note, nice name. Did it come from the beast or the sword?
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Draz



Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 3:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I didn't have enough money to get started up back home. I only had a couple grand left after paying off my debt so I decided to come back for another dip into the money pot. At that point I already knew I wasn't big on teaching so working in other countries for less money and basically being stuck teaching indefinitely didn't hold much appeal. Cultural experiences be damned.
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northway



Joined: 05 Jul 2010

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Girlfriend.
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theevilgenius



Joined: 10 Sep 2010

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 7:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

All of that said above, plus the people here are friendly, crime is very low and it's easy to use as a focal point as I travel around South-East Asia.
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jlb



Joined: 18 Sep 2003

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I got a uni job, complete with 4 day weeks and 5 month vacations.
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AtmaWeapon



Joined: 30 Jun 2011

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jlb wrote:
I got a uni job, complete with 4 day weeks and 5 month vacations.


How? What were your qualifications? In Seoul?
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jlb



Joined: 18 Sep 2003

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 2:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Masters degree....outside Seoul, but still on the subway line. It also helps being a girl for getting uni jobs.
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Feloria



Joined: 02 Sep 2006

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 3:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My first year I taught at your typical children's Hakwon.
I had a friend who worked at a really good Adult Institute, and I got a job there, and remained for a couple years.
I'm now working at a University--I kind of climbed "up the ladder", as it were.
Korea's great for many of the reasons listed above, but I won't lie to you.
If I could get an interesting job back home where I could live as comfortably, have the same kind of health coverage, and work the same amount of hours; I'd go back to the States in a heartbeat.
But Alas--

Another major bonus is how inexpensive it is to travel all over Asia with Korea as your "home base."
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Zyzyfer



Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

End of...

First year - gf
Second year - received TFA application rejection days before flying back to the US, was planning on going back for good, didn't have the extra cash lying around to wait it out for other options
Third year - job opportunity (broke into editing)
Sixth year - after three years, left that job, thought I could land something that paid better, also, gf (relationship was faltering, however)
Eighth year (gaps between jobs amounted to a year at this point) - no funds (job went to the pits)
Ninth year - gf + lack of funds
Tenth year - got engaged Wink
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DejaVu



Joined: 27 Jan 2011
Location: Your dreams

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 5:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Getting a decent ESL job in Japan (JET) is ridiculously difficult, especially since I know no Japanese.

Working in western Europe is close to impossible as an American.

So, anywhere I really want to go is out of the question.

After a year, I got a pay increase here and a reason to stay indoors and spend time alone with my passions (the reason being that this country can get quite depressing outdoors). With a good apartment and good money, this is a good place to grow myself before breaking out into the world like a fistful of bullets.
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Sinnerman



Joined: 19 Feb 2011

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 5:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I left after 7 years. It was time to come back and be with family, settle my roots and pay into a pension plan. (Which I am really upset about as I just lost my ownership of the Leafs)
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Harpeau



Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Coquitlam, BC

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jlb wrote:
I got a uni job, complete with 4 day weeks and 5 month vacations.
+ 1.
Married a Seoulite. Also, a growing counseling practice is going very well. Love living in Itaewon 2 dong in a great villa. Enjoy traveling around the world. Acting & playing music. Close to Namsan Park. I am very content in Seoul.
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sallymonster



Joined: 06 Feb 2010
Location: Seattle area

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 6:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It costs money to get started back up in the US. I'll need first and last month's rent, money for a used car and insurance, and enough to survive off of for at least a year while I work on becoming more employable.

Also, I organize a meetup group here and I'll need to find and groom a successor before I leave. This has been very difficult, especially with for-profit groups offering compensation for people helping them. I worry that there isn't much incentive for someone to take over a non-profit group. I'm very afraid that my group will either get taken over by another organizer, and/or turn into someone's profit generator, and I really don't want either scenario.
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Yaya



Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Beware that Korea can be a trap as many who want to leave cannot because of lack of viable options for work and stuff. Again, many who leave Korea vowing never to return end up coming back.

Of course, it's your right to stay but I've seen plenty who've stayed who shouldn't have.
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