Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nkern]

Hello everyone! I wanted to join this site to tell my story of my 4 month teaching experience in Korea. Under no circumstances do I mean any type of offense to the Korean culture.

I seriously considered teaching overseas after going on a study abroad to Australia. It seemed like a great way to travel, work, and see another country. So, I sent out e-mails to several recruiting agencies and received several replies. I went with the first person that actually phoned me in Iowa. I read a couple of books about Korea and did some research on the web, so I thought I was prepared (How wrong I was!). If any thing was too bad, then I could come directly home, or so I thought.

My first impression of Korea was extremely shocking. I knew that it would be different, but I wasn't prepared for how different. When I flew into Seoul, I immediately wanted to catch a return flight back to the U.S. I knew that it was probably not going to be easy, but I decided to give it a legitimate shot. I took a 7 hour bus ride from Seoul to a place outside of Daegu (across from Youngnam University). My arrivival happened at night, so I was unable to see the conditions of my new environment, but the following day I was shocked. It seemed like I had been placed in the middle of a garbage dump.

My problems in Korea came from my inabilities to adjust to the culture. The pollution, screaming children in cramped classrooms, and the subtle differences that no book, website, or recruiter could prepare me for. It was clear to the director and coworkers that I was having difficulties sleeping, because my face was extremely drawn and sickly. At one point, my hagwon director thought the problem was lack of sex, and that I needed to find a Korean girlfriend. I didn't know how to tell him that the Korean cultural differences were making me sick. For me, the culture shock never went away and I kept getting sicker and sicker. Ultimately, this affected my abilities as a teacher.

There is plenty more to story that I will post at a later time, but I wanted to see what other people thought. I left after 4 months because I could no longer handle the situation. I was paid for 3 monts work and some overtime, but I wanted to maybe send over $1000 to reconcile my leaving Korea so soon. The contract never called for me paying for the flight over to Korea, but I still felt very badly about leaving, even though I could no longer effectively go on as a teacher.

Nick

[tomato]

Hello, Nick!

And thank you for sharing! I am sorry that you were unable to adjust to Korean culture, but I am glad that you did not vent your frustration on the Koreans.

On this message board, there is considerable bantering between people who are happy here and people who are not. It doesn't do any good. As long as people are different, our reactions to a foreign culture will be different.

I shall call attention to a few of these differences. I hope that this will prevent any insensitive bashing on this thread.

�� on culture shock

This is my second experience in a foreign culture, the first being a job in South America about 25 years ago. Compared with most other Anglophones, I have been relatively immune to culture shock.

This is because I have a mild case of autism. What difference does it make whether I'm a stranger in my own culture or a stranger in another culture?

Please don't think I'm necessarily better, smarter, or stronger than anyone else. On the contrary, I have many weaknesses have come to the fore. Read on.

�� on age group preference

Every few months, someone posts a message on this board saying, "Help! I have to teach kindergarten and I don't know the first thing! What shall I do!" Whenever I see these messages, I am willing and able to pitch in and help. I have a kindergarten now, and I'm eating it all up.

Does this mean that I am better or smarter than someone else? Hardly. On the contrary, I'm not fit to teach older kids or adults. I know because lost my last three jobs for this reason. And I was doing my dangdest to adjust, too.

As for your comment on the cramped work environment, probably most of us feel the same way. According to one book I've read, South Korea is more crowded than India. The population density seems to be manifest in its real estate prices.

�� on dependence and independence

I have one soft spot which most other participants on this board don't seem to have. I am averse to Koreans "just trying to help." Rather than appreciating their thoughtfulness, I resent their implying that I look weak and helpless.

I especially resent Koreans speaking to me in English. When a Korean says "hello," it implies to me that I'm too stupid to know the word "annyeong haseyo." When a Korean says "thank you," it implies to me that I'm too stupid to know the word "kamsahamnida."

I am probably wrong in making this assumption. The Korean people have an entirely different view on dependence and independence. Sometimes I ask Koreans, "How would you like it if you went to my country and someone spoke Korean to you?" They invariably reply, "I would appreciate it."

Even among the other foreigners studying the Korean language, some resent being spoken to in English, some don't. For this reason, foreigners have written back to me on this board, calling me a @@@@@ and a ##### and a %%%%%. But my feelings are deeply rooted, so it does no good.

�� on patriotism

I used to know a foreign teacher who was a real flag-toter and horn-tooter. Whenever an adult student expressed anti-American sentiments, she gave that student a real tongue-lashing. "Where would you be if the United States hadn't stepped in? Living under Communist rule, that's where!"

On the contrary, I am averse to nationalist propaganda. It brings back unpleasant childhood memories. My elementary school principal held assemblies in which she told us, "You don't know how lucky you are!" We allegedly lived in the greatest and richest country in the world. Therefore, all of our grievances against our parents, our teachers, and our peers were petty and unworthy of consideration.

Consequently, I get malicious pleasure whenever another nation surpasses the United States in any way. To me, that implies an advance in empathy-worthiness on the part of the children of the United States.

�� on individual interests

If someone were to write a valid Foreign Culture Inventory, one of the questions might be "What are you interested in?"

A person who likes pop songs, media, and sports from his own country might need a circle of compatriots. In my current job, I work in a teachers' office with a few other gringos. Class breaks are replete with discussion on the latest movie or the latest TV show. They hang out together on weekends. Every Friday, they make arrangements for meals and shopping trips.

It's hard to say how my colleagues are affected by their overseas experience. They probably don't miss home very much because their artificial subculture serves as a substitute. Or they probably miss home because their artificial subculture might not provide enough.

In my case, it has never mattered whether other Yankees were around or not. I always found a stimulus anyway. Music has always been an avid interest of mine, so I enrolled in danso classes in Hongseong. (That's a Korean bamboo flute.) I also enrolled in ocarina classes in Cheongju. (Of course, that's not a folk instrument, but an interest which could be pursued in Korea nevertheless.) Here in Suweon, I attend sign language classes.

That means that I don't have time watch the movies and TV shows which my co-workers watch, so they probably think I'm an intravert. Oh, that's right, I AM an intravert!

I notice you didn't mention any other bwanas that you met in Daegu. Does that mean that you didn't meet any? Or were they not able to provide the comfort which you needed?

�� miscellaneous

Every once in a while, someone starts a thread asking us to list things we like or don't like about Korea. These threads always get a wide variety of answers.

There are as many perceptions of Korea as there are people. If someone tells you you're crazy for not perceiving of Korea exactly as he or she does, don't listen.

[ontheway]

nkern,

If Korea was too much culture shock for you and it was making you sick then leaving was the right thing to do, for you and for your students. It's good that you gave it a go, it's good that you pulled out.

You said that you worked 4 months and got paid for 3. So, don't feel guilty about airfare. Sounds like you're about even, unless there's more to the story. In fact, it may be that your school owes you some money. Again, we don't have details. Does your ex-boss want you to pay him? If not, forget it. Move on. Enjoy Iowa.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Like many have said before, Korea is not for everyone. Those first months are a definite 'challenge'. I loved the comment about your boss being concerned about your sexual health. Where else in the world would that happen?

Hope your next job choice works out better for you. The good thing is you're home where you can get tenderloins as big as a plate and come July, the best corn on the cob in the world.

Good luck.

[VanIslander]

I had a smile on my face for the first six months. (I never even visited Dave's at all, back then.)

But I loved my apartment, the nearby beaches, the spicy food, the newness of everything to me, the oddness of the differences, the intriguing puzzles of everyday life for me. I also had a supportive director and quickly made a couple of good Korean friends, and had several adult students wanting to go out for dinner, drinks and norebanging often.

I can easily imagine my first experiences having been different, worse. I feel extremely lucky sometimes.

Though I think it isn't for everyone.

One's orientation and basic approach affects the experience. Adjusting to a new place, new values, new ways of doing many things is hard for some. I don't compare Korean ways with Canadian ways. This is a different country, and I by no means expect them to be like back home. I am here for a limited time, so I have no interest in changing their society, so I have no interest in judging them and their ways. I do shake my head a lot, and just don't get it sometimes, though I don't feel I need to understand everything, even though learning about Korean history does add some dimension to the experience.

[Real Reality]

nkern,
You are not alone. You might find the following articles interesting and informative.

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
Overall living conditions, including education, housing, medical care, transportation, immigration, and access to the Internet are pointed to as inconveniences. Not only inconveniences caused by different systems and customs in Korea, but also special discriminating practices, such as the practice of submitting two years of monthly rent in advance like a deposit, which is required of foreigners just because they are foreigners, are ubiquitous.... "Even though Korea has achieved some degree of globalization in going abroad, it has still a long way to go for globalization in embracing foreigners inward," said foreigners residing in Korea.
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

Ex-pats Describe Korea's Culture of Corruption
by Kim Hong-jin, Chosun Ilbo (December 16, 2004)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200412/200412160027.html

Most Foreign Firms Find Korea Less Than Friendly
Cho Hyeong-rae, Chosun Ilbo (April 24, 2005)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200504/200504240010.html

Korea Young Couples Fill Emigration Fair
An increasing number of young South Korean couples are seeking a new life in a foreign country due mainly to stiff competition for higher education and unstable job market here.
By Kim Rahn (September 19, 2004)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200409/kt2004091915445010220.htm

Koreans Flock to Emigration Fair
By Mike Weisbart, Korea Times (March 27, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200503/kt2005032719145611990.htm

Koreans Look Outward to Seek Better Life: Increasing Number of Technicians, Other Professionals Join Emigration Tide
By Chung Ah-young, Korea Times (October 27, 2004)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/special/200410/kt2004102718575545250.htm

96.5% of Young Employees Wish To Work Abroad
Chosun Ilbo (September 6, 2004)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200409/200409060026.html

[jinju]

I loved living in Korea from the beginning. I dont think reading books can prepare you. You are either able to adapt or you aren't. Its funny that the OP thought he was ready to go abroad because he went to Australia. Australia is like back home but with better weather and hotter girls.

[pest1]

It also depends on where in Korea you work and live. Some places are more polluted and more crowded than others. It is possible to have completely different experience teaching in Seoul or a small country town. Also it could depend on your job and school. Working with adults could be totally different than working with kids, and the age group of the kids can affect your experience too. It is possible that it's not because you are not adjusting to Korea, but because you are not adjusting to your particular situation.

Your director actually suggested for you to get a Korean gf? Some of the school directors ban their FTs from touching their women. LOL

People who are more extroverted seem to do better because they can easily make some superficial friends in no time. People who are more introverted find it hard to fit in this society. You must participate in the social scene in order to function here. For example, at work you must ask your boss/co-workers to know what is going on; the information is not readily available to eveyone. You must have "relationships" with everyone in order to function at work. Simply getting the information because it is necessary to do your job is not enough. If you are not a social person like one of them, you are truly lost here.

[riley]

nkern, sorry it didn't work out for you. Glad to hear that you were able to come to an agreement on leaving, and didn't pull a midnight runner. Those shouldn't be done when the problem is just culture shock.

[JZer]

nkern, well I hope you don't give up. maybe you should trying teaching in the Czech Republic or Poland. If you can get an EU passport maybe you should try Germany or Italy.

You might also want to try applying for a Fulbright teaching scholarship. The Fulbright comission places Americans, Canadians, and British in other countries to teach English.

[bulgogiboy]

I agree with the last poster.I think teaching in Europe might be a good idea for you. Some people jump right off the deep end and go to Asia(as I did) but that's not for everybody. Personally, for me the more different the culture the better, it feels much more like an adventure that way. I think the culture isn't as difficult to adapt to in Europe, especially in western Europe, and of course you wont stick out like a sore thumb when you walk down the street.

[chinook]

The beginning of your post resonated with me - i too freaked out a bit on arriving in the airport and arrived at night, so i didn't have a clue where i was. being dumped in the middle of the night in a tiny apartment by someone who didn't speak any english and couldn't tell me when i was starting work or what the plan was, was stressful.

however, i was in seoul with four other teachers who had all arrived in the last two weeks at my school, so we learned about korea together and they were a great support system.

i can't wait to head back!

[Mills]

[memorabilis]

I can see how Korea would not be for everyone, but really the similarities here far outweigh the differences. I worked in India last year, and the adjustment there was huge compared to here. My director there actually had bets going with the other Indian staff as to how long I would last as I was the only employee they hired who had never left Canada or the US. They thought I would head for the hills in under a week. (I'm shocked they even hired me!) I wouldn't if I had been in their situation.

While Korea's population density might be greater, Korea can not hold a candle to the packed-inedness of the Indian urban environment. Nothing (literally nothing) can prepare you for the unbelievable sights of poverty that you encounter there. You shock yourself by developing a filter that allows you to ignore it. You have to, as to consider it on a daily basis would completely destroy you. After that, any other cultural difference is easily surmountable. I can confidently say that I am prepared to go to any country in the world after my Indian experience. Funnily enough though, my complaint against Korea is that it's not crazy enough. The people are downright orderly here. There are lanes in the streets and traffic laws. People don't hang on you to visit their shop. There are no wonderful and racous festivals in the streets with elephants, lights, and firecrackers.

It seems that once you've entered the chaos, you are constantly drawn back in.

[chinook]

and it should be said, you certainly weren't a stupid american. it is not stupid to try something new and different, nor is it stupid to admit that something just isn't for you. in fact, it seems very wise.