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verok
Joined: 11 Aug 2014
Location: United States
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 Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 2:33 pm Post subject: Last minute thoughts and qualms |
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First off, sorry for the amount of threads as of late. I'm just extremely stressed about this move.
I leave to Seoul in less than two weeks, and holy shiiiiit I'm officially freaking out. See, in the midst of my nervous breakdown(s) I've began to realize there are quite a few things I should have taken into consideration before accepting the offer. I was hoping you guys could help me answer them..
1-Let's say I hate the school I work at. Would I have to get a new set of documents to apply for a new visa with a new job, or could immigration transfer those docs to the new school?
2-What if I get fired? Will it be almost impossible to get a different job?
3-Other than they give their teachers a shit ton of hours (I'll get 7 daily, according to the contract), does anyone know anything about Mapo Poly? I've found reviews on other Poly schools, but nothing about the one in Mapo.
4-Other than getting fired, realistically, what's the worse that could go wrong?
5-I've mainly done tutoring and one-to-one classes, so I'm really nervous about teaching groups of kids with a co-teacher. Any websites you guys know of that could help me become a better/more prepared teacher?
Honestly (evidently?), I'm having second thoughts and I don't know if I should listen to them. When I moved to Istanbul last year I was in love with the city and I knew that's what I wanted, but I'm not in love with Seoul (as much as I've tried). Still, I want to go. I'm just unsure if I should. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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1. Assuming you are on an E2 visa, you cannot transfer the documents. Your application is tied to your employer. You are not a free agent.
2. Unlikely you'll get fired. They didn't fly you out here to fire you. Unless you do something dumb that is.
3. No clue about that school
4. A lot- crappy apartment, crappy boss, crappy students, late pay, no pay, school suddenly closes, racism, you can't stand the food etc. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
5. Find something where you have to give orders to a bunch of people or deal with random customers. Do two weeks at McDonalds. With the quality of employees there you should be a manager by the time you quit.
1. How much do you know about Korea?
2. Perhaps researching first and then deciding instead of deciding first and then researching is a more effective method.
3. You may or may not have bad results, but if you lose your nerve, you'll definitely have bad results.
4. As a general rule, if you believe kindness and generosity are to be expected rather than appreciated, you'll have a tough time (in life generally).
As I mentioned before, this statement here should be seriously reevaluated- "The only reason why I don't ask said people for a bit of money beforehand (*cough* parents *cough*) is because I'm an grown ass 25 year-old who should be over the whole asking for money thing."
Don't be weak-minded enough to buy into the whole Hollywood-corporate notion of telling your parents to eff off and that that's somehow a wise course of action. Your parents and you should be able to mutually support each other in times of need and be willing to give money to support each other when new opportunities arise. You don't have to prove anything and don't do things out of pride or spite. |
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verok
Joined: 11 Aug 2014
Location: United States
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
1. How much do you know about Korea?
2. Perhaps researching first and then deciding instead of deciding first and then researching is a more effective method.
3. You may or may not have bad results, but if you lose your nerve, you'll definitely have bad results.
4. As a general rule, if you believe kindness and generosity are to be expected rather than appreciated, you'll have a tough time (in life generally).
As I mentioned before, this statement here should be seriously reevaluated- "The only reason why I don't ask said people for a bit of money beforehand (*cough* parents *cough*) is because I'm an grown ass 25 year-old who should be over the whole asking for money thing."
Don't be weak-minded enough to buy into the whole Hollywood-corporate notion of telling your parents to eff off and that that's somehow a wise course of action. Your parents and you should be able to mutually support each other in times of need and be willing to give money to support each other when new opportunities arise. You don't have to prove anything and don't do things out of pride or spite. |
1. Enough to know that it won't be an easy first few months. My worry is that it won't get any easier after the first three or so months...
2. I did, but at the time I was too excited to leave to see any other option. This wasn't my only job offer, so I do know what I'm getting myself into. I just don't know if I'll be able to handle it, but that's for me to ultimately figure out.
3. & 4. Thanks, I suppose.
The reasons why I don't ask my parents for help go further than being an adult. But I guess humor isn't something welcomed here often. They're not in the financial position to help unless it's absolutely necessary, so if I don't get fired the first month (IDK how badly I need to screw up for that to actually happen hehe), I will bear being treated like shit for a few months until I can get my grown 25 y/o ass out of Seoul myself. I have nothing to prove.
Thanks |
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Sister Ray
Joined: 25 Mar 2006
Location: Fukuoka
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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I wouldn't stress over it. Living in Seoul in 2014 is really not that hard. Thousands have gone there before you, myself included, and survived with far less preparation and foreknowledge and succeeded, or at least, not failed too spectacularly.
I arrived in Korea straight out of University in 2001 with zero research done and a host of other issues confronting me. It was a challenge and a pretty big culture shock but not at all insurmountable. You'll be fine.
What does not kill us only makes us stronger and all that.
Good luck. |
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verok
Joined: 11 Aug 2014
Location: United States
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Sister Ray wrote: |
I wouldn't stress over it. Living in Seoul in 2014 is really not that hard. Thousands have gone there before you, myself included, and survived with far less preparation and foreknowledge and succeeded, or at least, not failed too spectacularly.
I arrived in Korea straight out of University in 2001 with zero research done and a host of other issues confronting me. It was a challenge and a pretty big culture shock but not at all insurmountable. You'll be fine.
What does not kill us only makes us stronger and all that.
Good luck. |
This post is a bit reassuring. Thank you!  |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
As I mentioned before, this statement here should be seriously reevaluated- "The only reason why I don't ask said people for a bit of money beforehand (*cough* parents *cough*) is because I'm an grown ass 25 year-old who should be over the whole asking for money thing."
Don't be weak-minded enough to buy into the whole Hollywood-corporate notion of telling your parents to eff off and that that's somehow a wise course of action. Your parents and you should be able to mutually support each other in times of need and be willing to give money to support each other when new opportunities arise. You don't have to prove anything and don't do things out of pride or spite. |
Great post. Unfortunately, too much Asia, not enough America here. This is simply not the American way, stupid as it may be. How many parents co-sign on their kids exorbitant student loans when instead they could simply loan them the money themselves? |
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verok
Joined: 11 Aug 2014
Location: United States
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
Great post. Unfortunately, too much Asia, not enough America here. This is simply not the American way, stupid as it may be. How many parents co-sign on their kids exorbitant student loans when instead they could simply loan them the money themselves? |
HAHAHAHA oh, thanks for the laugh. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Great post. Unfortunately, too much Asia, not enough America here. This is simply not the American way, stupid as it may be. How many parents co-sign on their kids exorbitant student loans when instead they could simply loan them the money themselves? |
People need to realize how economically shortsighted the whole "hostile" adolescent-young adult and parent relationship thing is and how much it benefits the elite out there. Why save money by living with mom and dad, sharing meals, supporting expenses, and so on when you can move out and throw money at landlords, food service companies, whatever loan and debt agency you've become attached to, not to mention because you've decided to do this you are now a source of cheap labor for some food franchise or supermarket chain, and so on and so forth, all in the name of "independence", which is really just "I want to get laid, party, and do drugs".
Don't borrow money from mom and dad. Sign up for a credit card and borrow money from us!
While there are benefits to such a view, you do have to wonder how beneficial such a view truly is and who does it really benefit. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Great post. Unfortunately, too much Asia, not enough America here. This is simply not the American way, stupid as it may be. How many parents co-sign on their kids exorbitant student loans when instead they could simply loan them the money themselves? |
People need to realize how economically shortsighted the whole "hostile" adolescent-young adult and parent relationship thing is and how much it benefits the elite out there. Why save money by living with mom and dad, sharing meals, supporting expenses, and so on when you can move out and throw money at landlords, food service companies, whatever loan and debt agency you've become attached to, not to mention because you've decided to do this you are now a source of cheap labor for some food franchise or supermarket chain, and so on and so forth, all in the name of "independence", which is really just "I want to get laid, party, and do drugs".
Don't borrow money from mom and dad. Sign up for a credit card and borrow money from us!
While there are benefits to such a view, you do have to wonder how beneficial such a view truly is and who does it really benefit. |
I live in a certain Korean suburb of Atlanta (those in the know will know), and my Korean friends are always shocked that these white kids are shouldering the debt burdens they are. Did these friends get significant help from their parents to go to school? Not really. But they picked the best deal they could within striking distance - whether it be Georgia Tech, Georgia State, or UGA for the particularly ballsy ones. They live at home. They go to community college until they're sure what they want to study. Am I saying this is the right/best/ideal way to go? Not necessarily. But I can tell you who is a lot more likely to own a nice house and be driving a Benz by their early thirties. |
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atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 12:04 am Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
| Steelrails wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Great post. Unfortunately, too much Asia, not enough America here. This is simply not the American way, stupid as it may be. How many parents co-sign on their kids exorbitant student loans when instead they could simply loan them the money themselves? |
People need to realize how economically shortsighted the whole "hostile" adolescent-young adult and parent relationship thing is and how much it benefits the elite out there. Why save money by living with mom and dad, sharing meals, supporting expenses, and so on when you can move out and throw money at landlords, food service companies, whatever loan and debt agency you've become attached to, not to mention because you've decided to do this you are now a source of cheap labor for some food franchise or supermarket chain, and so on and so forth, all in the name of "independence", which is really just "I want to get laid, party, and do drugs".
Don't borrow money from mom and dad. Sign up for a credit card and borrow money from us!
While there are benefits to such a view, you do have to wonder how beneficial such a view truly is and who does it really benefit. |
I live in a certain Korean suburb of Atlanta (those in the know will know), and my Korean friends are always shocked that these white kids are shouldering the debt burdens they are. Did these friends get significant help from their parents to go to school? Not really. But they picked the best deal they could within striking distance - whether it be Georgia Tech, Georgia State, or UGA for the particularly ballsy ones. They live at home. They go to community college until they're sure what they want to study. Am I saying this is the right/best/ideal way to go? Not necessarily. But I can tell you who is a lot more likely to own a nice house and be driving a Benz by their early thirties. |
Doesn't everyone in GA graduating with a B average from high school get free tuition from the money the lottery raises?
Doraville? |
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atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 12:08 am Post subject: Re: Last minute thoughts and qualms |
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| verok wrote: |
First off, sorry for the amount of threads as of late. I'm just extremely stressed about this move.
I leave to Seoul in less than two weeks, and holy shiiiiit I'm officially freaking out. See, in the midst of my nervous breakdown(s) I've began to realize there are quite a few things I should have taken into consideration before accepting the offer. I was hoping you guys could help me answer them..
1-Let's say I hate the school I work at. Would I have to get a new set of documents to apply for a new visa with a new job, or could immigration transfer those docs to the new school?
2-What if I get fired? Will it be almost impossible to get a different job?
3-Other than they give their teachers a shit ton of hours (I'll get 7 daily, according to the contract), does anyone know anything about Mapo Poly? I've found reviews on other Poly schools, but nothing about the one in Mapo.
4-Other than getting fired, realistically, what's the worse that could go wrong?
5-I've mainly done tutoring and one-to-one classes, so I'm really nervous about teaching groups of kids with a co-teacher. Any websites you guys know of that could help me become a better/more prepared teacher?
Honestly (evidently?), I'm having second thoughts and I don't know if I should listen to them. When I moved to Istanbul last year I was in love with the city and I knew that's what I wanted, but I'm not in love with Seoul (as much as I've tried). Still, I want to go. I'm just unsure if I should. |
Don't sweat it. It'll be a great adventure. And like all great adventures, the best stories will be about the things that went wrong.
As far as teaching, just be yourself. That you are already thinking about preparation, etc. tells me you'll do just fine. |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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Seoul is a top-ten global city, and a LONG cry from what she was 20-30 years ago. Expat living here has become almost too easy, so put your worries to rest.
That, and as another poster reflected, millions have come before you, and not all of them the sharpest pencil in the cup.
Get here, start your job, give it some effort, and get used to living here just like everyone else. No problem. If you're THAT worried about all these little things coming over, living abroad might not be right for you. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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| PRagic wrote: |
Seoul is a top-ten global city, and a LONG cry from what she was 20-30 years ago. Expat living here has become almost too easy, so put your worries to rest.
That, and as another poster reflected, millions have come before you, and not all of them the sharpest pencil in the cup.
Get here, start your job, give it some effort, and get used to living here just like everyone else. No problem. If you're THAT worried about all these little things coming over, living abroad might not be right for you. |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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actionjackson
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Location: Any place I'm at
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