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Thomas G
Joined: 10 Dec 2013 Location: Incheon
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 1:28 am Post subject: Do you ever ask yourself, "What am I doing here?" |
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If so when did this phase start and stop for you?
Most days I feel content and just go about my daily routine. But certain days I ask myself, why? Why am I here? Away from everyone I know and love, from my familiar surroundings, to a country where I know no one. Where even doing the simplest tasks - like banking and visiting the pharmacy seems like a significant hurdle. Like I am just floating around in purgatory for the time being. Awaiting to go back home. I just become so overwhelmed with anxiety on these days, I just breakdown mentally and physically.
But as I mentioned, most days I feel happy and content doing what I do. But about 2 or 3 days a month I get these stressful days. They just hit me out of nowhere. How did you guys combat this? Thanks. |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010 Location: Victoria, Canada.
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 2:43 am Post subject: Re: Do you ever ask yourself, "What am I doing here?&qu |
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Thomas G wrote: |
How did you guys combat this? |
Beer & Chicken. Seriously, I drink a beer. Or get out in nature, if you have the time. |
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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012 Location: South Korea
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 2:59 am Post subject: |
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OP, during the upcoming winter break try to get out and see some tourist sites and get some food you miss. It can be tough to live in a foreign country. Try to keep a positive attitude and maybe see some museums and palaces in Seoul or something historical in your area, if you're not in the vicinity of Seoul. Go out to eat and get some interesting food. Take some pics and let your friends and family see those pics. Just keep things positive. It'll help to recharge your batteries. Remember, it's a constant battle for everyone. You'll be fine once you get a looksee at some of the touristy things around Seoul and Korea.
FWIW, the fall semester drags on too long with too few holidays later in the fall semester. Most teachers, including Korean teachers, feel that way. |
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BackRow
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:09 am Post subject: |
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I akways know: make sure I get rid of student loan debt and have some savings left over while still in my 20's |
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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012 Location: South Korea
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:15 am Post subject: |
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BackRow wrote: |
I akways know: make sure I get rid of student loan debt and have some savings left over while still in my 20's |
Financial progress? Yes, that's one way to make sure your time in Korea is productive. Other ways include sightseeing, and working out and making progress towards weight loss, and physical conditioning. It's all up to you.
But the important thing is to be proactive and do positive things during your free time, including vacations. Working and living in a foreign country and different continent can offer you once in a lifetime opportunities if you get out and do them. Or you can sit around your apartment and cry your eyes out. It's all up to you. |
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Thomas G
Joined: 10 Dec 2013 Location: Incheon
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:34 am Post subject: Re: Do you ever ask yourself, "What am I doing here?&am |
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Who's Your Daddy? wrote: |
Beer & Chicken. Seriously, I drink a beer. Or get out in nature, if you have the time. |
I have been drinking too much alcohol and eating too much bad food since coming to Korea. It eases the pain but at what cost?
BackRow wrote: |
I akways know: make sure I get rid of student loan debt and have some savings left over while still in my 20's |
The amount of money I can save/spend is about the same, maybe even less here than back home. I wanted new experiences, see new places and thought this would provide a good opportunity. I am starting to realize how good I had it back home and that this line of thinking came out of boredom because I led such a comfortable life prior to coming to Korea.
dairyairy wrote: |
OP, during the upcoming winter break try to get out and see some tourist sites and get some food you miss. It can be tough to live in a foreign country. Try to keep a positive attitude and maybe see some museums and palaces in Seoul or something historical in your area, if you're not in the vicinity of Seoul. Go out to eat and get some interesting food. Take some pics and let your friends and family see those pics. Just keep things positive. It'll help to recharge your batteries. Remember, it's a constant battle for everyone. You'll be fine once you get a looksee at some of the touristy things around Seoul and Korea.
FWIW, the fall semester drags on too long with too few holidays later in the fall semester. Most teachers, including Korean teachers, feel that way. |
My time here has mostly been positive so far. But I still get these feelings of doubt and anxiety every once in a while. They are so intense and crippling I don't know how to face them to be honest. I am hoping it is just a combination of culture shock and homesickness which will pass as time goes by. Not something serious that will persist forever. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 3:41 am Post subject: Re: Do you ever ask yourself, "What am I doing here?&am |
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Thomas G wrote: |
I have been drinking too much alcohol and eating too much bad food since coming to Korea. It eases the pain but at what cost? |
Be careful not to get fat. That could happen quickly and unexpectedly (from all the alcohol and white rice). Before I came to Korea I was single digit body fat. Within a year I was about twenty percent. Very shocking. Eat natural foods like nuts and vegetables to stay healthy. |
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Thomas G
Joined: 10 Dec 2013 Location: Incheon
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 4:16 am Post subject: Re: Do you ever ask yourself, "What am I doing here?&am |
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World Traveler wrote: |
Thomas G wrote: |
I have been drinking too much alcohol and eating too much bad food since coming to Korea. It eases the pain but at what cost? |
Be careful not to get fat. That could happen quickly and unexpectedly (from all the alcohol and white rice). Before I came to Korea I was single digit body fat. Within a year I was about twenty percent. Very shocking. Eat natural foods like nuts and vegetables to stay healthy. |
Yeah I haven't been to the gyms in months. I need to find one. I used to go 4-5x a week back in the States but I never got around to finding one here. I actually ended up losing about 6 pounds since coming here but I look like I gained weight. Probably lost a bunch of muscle. Bleh. |
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El Bandito
Joined: 07 Oct 2013
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 4:19 am Post subject: Re: Do you ever ask yourself, "What am I doing here?&am |
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Thomas G wrote: |
World Traveler wrote: |
Thomas G wrote: |
I have been drinking too much alcohol and eating too much bad food since coming to Korea. It eases the pain but at what cost? |
Be careful not to get fat. That could happen quickly and unexpectedly (from all the alcohol and white rice). Before I came to Korea I was single digit body fat. Within a year I was about twenty percent. Very shocking. Eat natural foods like nuts and vegetables to stay healthy. |
Yeah I haven't been to the gyms in months. I need to find one. I used to go 4-5x a week back in the States but I never got around to finding one here. I actually ended up losing about 6 pounds since coming here but I look like I gained weight. Probably lost a bunch of muscle. Bleh. |
Sometimes they're pretty hard to find. If you can read/write Korean, look on Naver under 지도, then type in your location followed by 헬스 |
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Thomas G
Joined: 10 Dec 2013 Location: Incheon
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 4:29 am Post subject: Re: Do you ever ask yourself, "What am I doing here?&am |
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El Bandito wrote: |
Sometimes they're pretty hard to find. If you can read/write Korean, look on Naver under 지도, then type in your location followed by 헬스 |
Thanks will try this!
Since people have been so helpful so far, I have another question: Is there something I can tape up on windows to keep the heat in? If you are in Korea right now, you know how freezing it is. My bathroom has a fatal flaw, it has a paper thin window that leaks heat like crazy.
It's fine if I have the bathroom door closed but when I need to use the bathroom it is so cold. There is little difference from the temp of my bathroom and the outside. I need to put something up and shield the window but don't know what to use. Anyone else have a crappy, oldschool, thin window in their bathroom? What do I do? |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 4:31 am Post subject: Re: Do you ever ask yourself, "What am I doing here?&qu |
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Thomas G wrote: |
Most days I feel content and just go about my daily routine. But certain days I ask myself, why? Why am I here? |
You certainly don't have to be there. You might want to think about the nice things about South Korea and how difficult it is going to be to get back in once you foolishly leave. |
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optik404

Joined: 24 Jun 2008
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 4:41 am Post subject: Re: Do you ever ask yourself, "What am I doing here?&am |
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Thomas G wrote: |
El Bandito wrote: |
Sometimes they're pretty hard to find. If you can read/write Korean, look on Naver under 지도, then type in your location followed by 헬스 |
Thanks will try this!
Since people have been so helpful so far, I have another question: Is there something I can tape up on windows to keep the heat in? If you are in Korea right now, you know how freezing it is. My bathroom has a fatal flaw, it has a paper thin window that leaks heat like crazy.
It's fine if I have the bathroom door closed but when I need to use the bathroom it is so cold. There is little difference from the temp of my bathroom and the outside. I need to put something up and shield the window but don't know what to use. Anyone else have a crappy, oldschool, thin window in their bathroom? What do I do? |
3M sells a kit that is basically a sheet of plastic you put over the window area. Or you could use bubble wrap and weatherstripping. |
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Thomas G
Joined: 10 Dec 2013 Location: Incheon
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 4:54 am Post subject: Re: Do you ever ask yourself, "What am I doing here?&am |
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optik404 wrote: |
3M sells a kit that is basically a sheet of plastic you put over the window area. Or you could use bubble wrap and weatherstripping. |
Where do I buy this? At a E mart or Home Plus? Do you know what it is called in hangul? Thanks.
young_clinton wrote: |
You certainly don't have to be there. You might want to think about the nice things about South Korea and how difficult it is going to be to get back in once you foolishly leave. |
Before coming here I always thought of myself as self-reliant and capable. Man, being dropped in a foreign country with no ties and language barrier makes me realize how wrong I was. |
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optik404

Joined: 24 Jun 2008
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 5:15 am Post subject: |
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I think emart and homeplus both have 3M products. Just ask for the 문풍지 (weatherstripping) section, it should all be in that area. |
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Harpeau
Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC
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Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 5:46 am Post subject: |
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OP- I asked what I was doing here on Christmas eve. of '97. The IMF Crises was in full swing and the exchange rate was 2000 won to the US dollar. I toyed with going over to Japan, but ultimately decided to stick around. Times like that you just keep breathing and "kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight." I landed a uni. gig and things began to improve.
These days, things have gotten difficult, but I really love living in Seoul. (My wife is Korean, so that also helps. ) |
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