Korean Job Discussion Forums

[demianamar]

Ok, so granted I've been here only 2 weeks and 2 days.....however, I have not enjoyed anything but afew days. I know everyone says it takes 3-6 months to be able to really judge living and teaching here...but I don't seem to want to stay. The homesickness and the culture shock are just overwhelming. Plus I had to argue with my school for the first week over the contract that I was basically deceived about in a number of ways and I'm afraid that if I do stay, I'm either gonna get gipped out of my bonus in the end, or have to fight tooth and nail. What should I do?

[the_beaver]

[Tiger Beer]

[Freezer Burn]

Do you have any other foreign teachers working there?
If not try to make a few friends as fast as possible, luckily we tend to find friends easy enough here just because we are western, Korean or foreign friends that is.
It will make your time here much more enjoyable, and it gives you a someone you can b-itch about your school\Korea about.

[peppermint]

My first two weeks in Korea were pretty hellish, and I really considered throwing in the towel. Things calmed down at that school,worked out mostly fine and 3.5 years later I'm still here.


Give yourself a set time- (say til the first pay check), and reallly try to make the time between now and then enjoyable. When you're not working, go and explore your area. If you still hate it here at the end of that time, you can go home knowing that you tried your best, and you probably got a few good stories out of it.

Believe it or not, the place really can grow on you.

[Ribs75]

Mariam,

I'm posting this because we actually met last Saturday. Do you remember me? I am the guy who was on the subway in Seoul with the Asian couple. We sat down and talked for a few stops before splitting.

I know your problems seem bad now and (maybe) you need to leave that hogwan (I don't know all of the situation). But don't give up on South Korea just get. You will only regret it. I'm having some minor problems right now where I work, but I know that going home is not the answer.

If you can manage it financially, it is far better to stay. Believe me, I had a job go wrong on me and returned home for a couple of months before coming out to South Korea. I know how much it can batter your self-confidence. If you can get over the home-sickness, you will not regret staying for your overseas experience - I can almost guarantee this.

I've lived away from home for over a year now (excluding the couple of months I returned back there). You get used to being overseas and learn new independence and coping strategies. You're here now, so don't let it go to waste.

Best of luck.

[sheba]

My first week was horrible.... I cried every morning, the teaching was SCARY, it was difficult to talk to the teachers, and I got so many comments about my weight and clothes. By week two I was questioning the director on tax issues and trust.... I had at least one bad day every week for the first month or so.

Ive been here a little over 4 months and I love it. It just keeps getting better and better and so far no culture shock!

The first month is pretty stressful. Once things settle you will feel much better. Give it a GOOD go, and if it doesnt work out then thats fine.... you need to at least give yourself that chance.

[CustomX]

i will agree with the other people that already posted, the first month sucks. i was living on my own essentially, didn't have a job, i didnt see another foreigner for 5 days even though i went to seoul, i felt like i was starving(actually i was) because i was too afraid to make any attempt to purchase food, i didnt know anyone....looking back on it, im surprised i didnt go back home. i actually contemplated the idea several times the first 2 or 3 weeks. i continually thought 'why the hell did i do this to myself?' stick it out like the other people said, slowly things will start to get better. Months 2-5 were great, i think every day was better than the previous day. Now im in a comfort zone, i know quite a few people, my apartments all set up, i have a girlfriend....i think if you try for another few weeks you will slowly start to see some changes. good luck

[djsmnc]

When I first started, it was a cakewalk. My boss was young and rich, so he drove me around in his Porsche to pick up girls in Apgujeong. My apartment was a little shabby; 28 pyeong and only 3 bedrooms, paid for by the school. My classes were block shift, teaching mostly uni girls from 3pm-7pm. We often went out to nightclubs together and drank ourselves into oblivion. I often woke up in the morning with one or two girls I didn't even remember meeting the night before!

Sorry to hear about your bad experience.

[Hollywoodaction]

[morituri]

Didn't anyone tell you about the three dreaded rea's of Asia: Korea, gonorrhea, diarrhoea?

Seriously tho, you can try to separate the problems with your school from the problems you have with the country, if the school looks dodgy you can look discretely for another one. As for culture shock, I suppose everyone gets it, and you have to look at the reasons why you came here. It is like commodity trading: if the fundamental reason why you went in no longer holds, be prepared to turn on a dime and get out, otherwise just accept things as the market trying to shake you out of a perfectly good position.

If you think the school is genuinely trying to shaft you, then the earlier you move the better, because it will be run by the same people during the time you are here. But unless you hate the vibes that this place (Korea) gives you, maybe a few weeks is a little too quick to pull out, because you haven't met that many people.

Go out, meet people, make friends, get a hobby, learn something, join clubs, develop an interest in this place's history (invented or otherwise) or culture (or lack of it). One goes to a foreign country to see how different it is, by the time you leave you realise that it is not much different from your own, people want the same things, dislike the same things, feel sad or are hurt by the same things. Perhaps people are pushier and ruder here because they are more insecure and less certain of the future.

The poem goes: 'The sea does not fear water because it increases it, the mountain does not fear earth because it increases it'; so should it be with people no matter their age, race, sex or colour.

I hope you have a good time here and do not become embittered or cynical.

(posted in in a different topic by mistake)

[uberscheisse]

mariam...

it will get better. as constricting as your first 2 weeks may feel, you will find that the opportunities in this country outweigh the black holes 10 zillion to 1.

relax, cruise the job forums and quit if you have to. find something better, because i guarantee you it's out there.

[Cedar]

Try to keep an open-mind. Treat yourself to things that you need to make you feel more comfortable... an ice-cream cone, a donut... worry about your weight next month, this month, pamper yourself as much as you can, because you are adjusting to a lot of new stuff all at once and your noggin can only handle so much.

When I first got here, all I wanted was to be able to not worry about food. Nothig makes you hungry like barely being able to eat... I got here with my ex and we had about 12,000 in Korean won, it was a Saturday, and we didn't know anyone. We had to live till Monday after morning classes before we could get a co-worker (we'd just met that minute) to take us to a bank to exchange traveler's checks for local cash. That first weekend we bought dish-soap (to clean the apt.s kitchen-- it was gross), rice, onions, bottled water and soy sauce. That was how far 12,000 would go.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I'll bet part of the reason you came here was for adventure. You can't have adventure if everything is easy. The hero has to suffer and struggle before overcoming. Give yourself 3 months.

Homesickness is nasty, but you have to deal with it sooner or later. Decide this place is your home for X amount of time. Go out and get some nice pix for the walls or whatever will make it feel like your home. Make a determined effort to make a circle of friends. Homesickness feels lousy but it is not fatal. Do what you need to do to win the battle.

The job. If the job is still crummy after the battle with the boss over the contract, start looking elsewhere. If things have settled down at work, the rest of your life will work itself out. If not, you will stay miserable.

You are an educated person, intelligent enough to have graduated from a university. You have abilities and talents. Separate the problems in your life and set down a plan to deal with each one. Tell yourself that quitting is not an option until you have done your best.

Good luck.

Good luck.

[Real Reality]

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
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Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

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