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uofagirl
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Location: Central Seoul
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 Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 8:10 am Post subject: Dealing with homesickness after almost 2 years |
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It'll be two years in September and I've never felt this homesick before(except for the first few days I was here). Is it time to go home for good? I know people go through cycles where it comes and goes every few months...but after such a long time(well...relatively), you'd think such strong feelings of wanting to be home would be minimal. Anybody else go through these extreme feelings after being here for this long? How do you deal with it?
I work with many foreigners and live in the "international" part of town so it's not being insolated from other English speakers that's the problem. I can't seem to pinpoint where these emotions are emanating from. Maybe I just need a vacation... |
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doctor bacon
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Vancouver Represent!
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 8:17 am Post subject: |
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| Go home! Your negativity is unbecoming! I myself can't wait to return to Vancouver. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 8:32 am Post subject: Re: Dealing with homesickness after almost 2 years |
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| uofagirl wrote: |
It'll be two years in September and I've never felt this homesick before(except for the first few days I was here). Is it time to go home for good? I know people go through cycles where it comes and goes every few months...but after such a long time(well...relatively), you'd think such strong feelings of wanting to be home would be minimal. Anybody else go through these extreme feelings after being here for this long? How do you deal with it?
I work with many foreigners and live in the "international" part of town so it's not being insolated from other English speakers that's the problem. I can't seem to pinpoint where these emotions are emanating from. Maybe I just need a vacation... |
I know exactly how you're feeling. I focused in on one person tonight who I really missed from home and.....sheesh......
Problem is...I don't really feel I want to live at home. I just want a bit of it. The curse of the internationalist. |
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joyfulgirl
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 10:09 am Post subject: |
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| i got here december 2003...have been thru ups and downs, mostly ups...have had a great run here. but, yea...lately, all of a sudden, just want to be home again. things that never bothered me before are suddenly bothering me. i'm not a joyful girl. and it just kills me i haven't seen my family since 2003. i am genuinely homesick. (not the 'homesick-shock' i felt those first few days here.) |
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joyfulgirl
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 10:19 am Post subject: Re: Dealing with homesickness after almost 2 years |
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| uofagirl wrote: |
| I can't seem to pinpoint where these emotions are emanating from. Maybe I just need a vacation... |
and, yea...i say the same thing. i just need a vacation. a change is as good as a rest, er something. i've worked at a hogwon for the past 2 +years, and have no holidays. maybe i'm just tired. er sad i'm not at a public school job with better holidays. (my ambition is lacking..) i don't want to leave korea, i don't think. it's good here. but, i'm just tired. maybe a few weeks away will make it all better. er maybe it'd be nice to see the folks, and go to a grocery store or drug store in canada. just to be home. |
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crystal
Joined: 04 May 2006
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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| sounds like you just really need a break and a rest, get away from it all for at least a few days, some time to yourself can really help to alleviate all the stress and homesickness, it should pass in a while |
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cypher
Joined: 08 Nov 2003
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Oh, you are so echoing what I'm thinking. I've been here 2 and half years, with a long break at the one year mark, and the last half year has been the most difficult. It is even more difficult than my first month, when I didn't know anything or anyone. Just little things that I let slide of my back before are now bothering me to an unusual degree. I definitely need at least a break. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: Dealing with homesickness after almost 2 years |
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| uofagirl wrote: |
It'll be two years in September and I've never felt this homesick before(except for the first few days I was here). Is it time to go home for good? I know people go through cycles where it comes and goes every few months...but after such a long time(well...relatively), you'd think such strong feelings of wanting to be home would be minimal. Anybody else go through these extreme feelings after being here for this long? How do you deal with it?
I work with many foreigners and live in the "international" part of town so it's not being insolated from other English speakers that's the problem. I can't seem to pinpoint where these emotions are emanating from. Maybe I just need a vacation... |
I had a similar experience about the same time (maybe a bit earlier - 1 1/2 years in ). I took a 10 day vacation back home back in Spring 2003... reality check really... then came back and been on a good roll ever since. Winter 2004/spring 2005 I had a LONG vacation on the beach and life is pretty good now... Probably gonna take another 2 weeks home next Feb between contract renewals.
Take the break/vacation/reality check at home. Say hi to family. Refresh and recharge the batteries and then you are good for another go-round.
Vacations are nice... but that occasional trip home is a god-send too.
Last edited by ttompatz on Sat May 20, 2006 6:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| I never felt homesick. When I went to Canada for a visit, I missed Korea more than I ever missed Canada. And now I dont miss Canada at all. I guess Ill go back for a visit again, but it will be some time in the future. Why miss Canada? |
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doctor bacon
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Vancouver Represent!
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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Are you INSANE?!?!?!?!
Korea:
Canada:
'Nuff said. |
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canuckistan
Mod Team
Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like you're overdue for a break!
I did my first 2 years in Korea straight up, very few breaks. Gawd I was tired at the end of it.
A vacation anywhere else but Korea for a while will revive you. |
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jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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Nature is boring. canada is boring. Ill take Korea over Canada any day. Atleast people here arent obsessed by a juvenile sport like hockey.
And anyway I could very well post photos of junkies in Vancouver, ghettos in Toronto, building falling apart in any big city, hockey fans drunk like idiots on any day their little team is playing. Whats your point? If you miss Canada so much just GO there. Its pathetic that you are here when you miss Canada so much. Whats the matter? |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah. Sounds like it's time you took a vacation (assuming you're satisfied with your job and love life).
I got a bit of homesickness for Canada after my second year here but a month trip to New Zealand cured me of that!
Now it's been three and a half years and the only thing I really miss is my family and a good friend. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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| jinju wrote: |
Nature is boring. canada is boring. Ill take Korea over Canada any day. Atleast people here arent obsessed by a juvenile sport like hockey.
And anyway I could very well post photos of junkies in Vancouver, ghettos in Toronto, building falling apart in any big city, hockey fans drunk like idiots on any day their little team is playing. Whats your point? If you miss Canada so much just GO there. Its pathetic that you are here when you miss Canada so much. Whats the matter? |
I hope you're being sarcastic because it would be pathetic to insult people and their country because they feel homesick. It's not as if the OP just came off the boat, you know.
Last edited by Hollywoodaction on Sun May 21, 2006 12:44 am; edited 2 times in total |
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The Hierophant
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| I've only been here in Korea a month and a half now, and already I'm making career plans for what I'll do once my contract is finished and I'm back in Australia/NZ. Korea is not my kind of country, and teaching is not my kind of job. Still, I'm keen to explore Korea as much as possible in the upcoming year. My hat goes off to all of you folks who have managed to stick with korea year after year. |
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