Korean Job Discussion Forums

crazy teacher · Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Location: Seoul

How long is a newbie a newbie?

Is this dependant on your time here, your enthusiasm, your stupidity or is there a panel of forigners in Korea that make the decision that you can graduate?

krats1976 · Joined: 14 May 2003

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

1 year..
people into their second year contracts are no longer newbies!
but when they say "im into my third my third year this year, what about you"? me? Ive been here 8 years.. then they feel like a newbie hahahaha

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I remember some of the ghey arguments that used to surface on here about tenure. "Oh, you've only been here 2 years and you still like the place? Well wait until you reach 2.5 years like me and everything changes, blah-blah."

Newbie is just a state of mind. I've met guys that have been here for 7-8 years, know 4 words of Korean, and ask me where to find stuff like deoderant. And I've also met guys that have been in country for less than 6 months, are well on their way to an intermediate level in Korean, and are savvy on anything to do with getting around and surviving here, that when the odd time that they do have a question, its posed in Korean to one of the Korean friends that make up 90% of their social network.

The only time I really hear the word Newbie is when I come on here and see some of the needy males trying to prop up their feelings of self-worth by waxing condescension to the questions of some people trying to get their footing in Korea.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Actually, I too have started and failed a business in Korea, if thats what you are getting at.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Sorry. I first read it as a shot. My bad.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

sparkx · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: thekimchipot.com

Thunndarr · Joined: 30 Sep 2003

PolyChronic Time Girl · Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Location: Korea Exited

I've been here 2 years and 8 months and realize more and more I know less and less about this place.

My name's PCTG and I'm still a newbie Cool

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

I'm with JongnoGuru, but I will add a bit of secret information: the panel looks for, and fails, the insufferable ones. They were the ones who were experts at 3 months and remain experts at 3 years and still haven't learned anything much about Korea. That's what I was told by a committee member.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

I've been here 3 years and just last week at the panel meeting I made the heartbreaking decision to fail Ya-Ta.

canuck in Ansan · Joined: 27 Jul 2005

Until they eat kimchee without having to be dared to do it... Wink

[/quote]

I ate kimchi my first day of school.

I think i'm going downhill from there. I just got in a cab, realized i forgot the piece of paper that says where i live (cause I can't pronounce it for the life of me), the buses weren't running anymore, then realized my newly bought cell phone had a dead battery. Boy did I feel like I didn't belong!

all good times though =]