Korean Job Discussion Forums

bibimbap · Joined: 14 Dec 2003

Well... the end is nigh and here is my requisite list of loves and dis-loves (it's a word, I just made it up) I have for Korea.

(The list was written for my web-site, so it doesn't assume prior knowledge of Korean life.)

Here goes...

Ten Things I Will Miss About Korea

1) My Students - On the whole, these kids have been polite, respectful and a joy to be around.

2) The People - Korea is one, big forty million member family! Literally. Koreans refer to each other
as 'brother', 'sister', and they say 'our mother' and 'our father' (uri omani; uri appaji)

3) The Food - Bibimbap (hotpot of rice, beef, and vegetables and hot sauce), japchae (oily noodles with vegetables), tofu, tofu, tofu in everything (or tubu, as it is called here), Dwenjeong Chige (soy bean soup with tofu and vegetables), Chumchee
kimbap (rice, tuna, egg, ham, vegetables, and mayo all rolled into a seaweedy bundle of love).

4) Internet - It's damn fast and what can I say? It's important to me.

5) The Language - I'm just starting to get my head around the basics and I really enjoy learning its nuances.

6) The Subway - The cheapest, cleanest and most efficient system of any urban centre I've been in.

7) Soju - For one dollar, you AND all your friends can lose your sense of balance and public decency.

Cool

Taxis - When they're not avoiding you because you're a foreigner, they offer a very cheap transit alternative. Fares start at about a dollar fifty and start increasing only after a five or ten minute drive.

9) Cinema - I think Korean directors are consistently creating the most exciting films in the world right now. Period.

10) Kimchee - I think I'm hooked on the stuff.

10 Things I WILL NOT Miss About Korea

1) My Students - We've spent a year together. It's time to move on.

2) The People - Korea is one big forty-million-member family... and if you're not in the family (i.e. Korean), you're out of it.

3) The Food - I love Korean food; but I like Italian food more; and Indian; and Thai; and Vietnamese; and French; and Carribean; and Chinese... Besides a few ethnic neighbourhoods in downtown Seoul, there is no true diversity in the dishes being served in this country. It's spicy seaweed and rice - or spicy cabbage and rice.

4) Concrete - In the rush to modernise, Seoul has paved over any natural beauty it may once have had. Well, the Han River is still there... but I wouldn't go swimming in it

5) Racism - Yes, racism is everywhere. But that doesn't make it any more acceptable. I have no black co-workers; in fact, I can count on one hand the number of black people I've met that teach English in this country. This won't be a popular thing to say, but let's be honest: Blacks aren't welcome here; no matter their English ability, and, frankly, it nauseates me. Caucasians can expect a different set of restrictions. Many nightclubs and fitness clubs do not allow foreigners and it may be easy to find a Korean girlfriend; but don't expect to be doing brunch with her parents.
Again: refer to no.2, above.

6) Pollution - From pesticides to auto emissions, Seoul is a toxic coc-tail I can do without.

7) The Beer - It lasts forever and so do the hang-overs. I don't know what's in it and I don't want to know. It delivers the most excruciating head-aches I've ever had.

Cool

Taxis - Time Asia recently attributed Korea with the third highest traffic death rate in Asia. I've come close, so many times, to contributing to that statistic.

9) Coffee - It's treacle, it really is.

10) Work - I think I'm allergic to it.

VanIslander

I can relate to what you'll miss about Korea but only to some of what you won't:

bibimbap · Joined: 14 Dec 2003

yeah, i'm just not passionate about *teaching*. the kids are brilliant, but i must confess they'd be better off with someone else.

Alpha · Joined: 24 Jul 2004

This has nothing to do with your post, but I just wanted to say that your avatar is hilarious. I got a lot of laughs looking at it.

Mashimaro · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: location, location

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I hear ya man.

When I was about to leave, I couldn't wait to see the back of Korea, but 2 weeks later, I wanted to go back.

I just got back, and I am glad to be here.

bibimbap · Joined: 14 Dec 2003

Welcome back, Ilsanman.

Actually, I'm in Ilsan too... and up here there's a lot of development (north of the Baeksok area). Beautiful rugged greenspace is being turned into - you guessed it - apate buildings.

Also, look at the DMZ - it's one of the most beautiful and ecologically rich reserves in the world... though, I'm sure it saw a few bombs during the war.