Korean Job Discussion Forums

chaz47 · Joined: 11 Sep 2003

I tried to teach in Korea once already, it wasn't a bad teaching position, the kids were pretty awesome, the director was cool. The problem was the area I was in and the isolation I felt. I was told before I took the position that I would be the only native English speaker within an hours travel, at the time I thought that was GREAT. I was wrong, I flaked out after one day. I feel like a total schmuk, I could do the job and I enjoyed the *idea* of being in Korea but I still flaked out. I want to try again, but I really want it to work this time. As such I ask the advice of this forum.

1.) Name some non-slummy areas of Korea, I was in a suburb of Changwon city, closer to Masan. It was pretty slummy, not as bad as some of the places I saw as a GI, but still pretty bad. Not the sort of place one would like to call home for a year.

2.) If culture shock affected me once so strongly should I consider requesting a roommate or should I just try to go to an area with a large expat population?

3.) I heard that I cannot teach in the province I fled, is this true, or will they no longer sponsor my visa?

4.) Is my visa still valid?

5.) Is it hard to find work in Cheju Do? How expensive is it to live there(%) ? What sort of expat population would I find there?

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

My advice is to stay home. If you couldnt handle a foriegn country for one day on your own what makes you think anything has changed? Even in an area with a fair amount of foreigners you can feel isolated.

Think long and hard about whether you have matured enought to stick it out for a full year otherwise you are just jerking the school, the students and yourself around for nothing.

chaz47 · Joined: 11 Sep 2003

Grotto, point taken. I know a screwed up, if I had been able to sort out my personal issues before I left, the problem wouldn't have snowballed into the flake out that I experienced. If I give it another go I want it to work because I really enjoyed working with the kids. I was fleeing from obligations in a relationship that I had not planned. Culture shock and a guilty conscience with no one to sort out your head with can lead to difficult experience, or maybe I am just a little to soft for an ESL job.

Anyone else?

Addressing my questions?

I appreciate criticism, please keep it constructive though.

Embarassed

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Suwon is a nice new modern city, close to Seoul with many fine amenities...hotter than hell in summer but pretty mild in winter.

Your visa is history, it was sponsored by your school so it is now invalid

Roommates can be a mixed blessing or curse depends on the luck of the draw.

Dont know much about Cheju-do so cant help you there

VanIslander · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Good environment?

The op was working near to Masan?

Masan is about as ugly a place as it gets in this province. I turned down a job offer for that city when I did some background research and found out other expat attitudes of the place.

If you make it back to this province I recommend Tongyoung and Geoje Island for definite lack of slums. But if you're concerned about culture shock then you'd be better off sharing a three bedroom aprartment with a couple of other foreigners at one of the large hagwons near Haeundae Beach in Busan. Then you can experience the best of the natural world and still get expat culture.

And it sounds like you can live in an expat bubble in cosmopolitan Seoul if that suits your fancy.

Good luck, whatever.

Wishmaster · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

I'll say if for the thousandth time. Only work at a school in Seoul or within the subway system. That is the best way to ensure that you don't get to culturally shocked...because at least you have some conveniences. I lived in small town Korea for over a year and found it to be quite isolating. Of course, since I am pretty much a loner anyway, it didn't blitz me out as it might have done to someone else. Do yourself a favor and stick to the Seoul metro area.....................

Homer · Guest

Wishmaster,

They also have subways in Busan and Taegu... Laughing

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

Yes, but Daegu subway passengers end up as crispy critters. If you go to the websites of the various cities, you can generally find out what the expat populations are like. All the larger cities, Busan, Seoul, Ulsan, though it is very industrial, Daegu, not my favourite city, even the east coast around Soch-cho, Donghae, they are pretty cool places. I live in a very rural area and we have 18 foreign teachers here. Smile

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I agree that at one day it probably was not culture shock.

I would urge you to really consider the idea of isolation. In my opinion, it is probably the most difficult thing foreigners experience here. No family, no friends (until you make some), no emotional support really. Not much in the way of TV to fill the dead time. Books can only be bought in the bigger cities and online (what a god-send that is!). No TV dinners. Limited foreign food at high prices. But the real problem is the emotional isolation.

If you are a person who has issues with that, maybe Korea is not for you.