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C.M.
Joined: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Gangwondo
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 Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:27 pm Post subject: Goodbye Korea |
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With my hangover subsiding, I prepare to leave Korea today. I am not a little sad at departing. I have enjoyed my time here. It's funny; stumbling home last night after an alcohol-soaked goodbye dinner with the owner and a couple co-teachers, I found myself muttering, "I don't want to leave."
I have wondered each day since I gave my notice, how long it will take me to return. I like Korea. The people, the food, the country and all that it offers. Korea has a vital 'snap' to it that is lacking in the west; Korea has a spirit about it that seems wanting back home. It is hard to define. There is a certain substance to the people here which I find very attractive. Last night after class, a student I taught took off her necklace, gave it to me as a gift, smiled and said 'thank you'.
I am not sure if I will return; I am going to work on my doctorate and that will most certainly provide new directions and offer new opportunities, but I will think of Korea always (and yes....I am hoping they do well at the World Cup  ). |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| One year? |
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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: Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: Goodbye Korea |
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| C.M. wrote: |
| I like Korea. The people, the food, the country and all that it offers. Korea has a vital 'snap' to it that is lacking in the west; Korea has a spirit about it that seems wanting back home. It is hard to define. |
True, that.
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| I am not sure if I will return; I am going to work on my doctorate and that will most certainly provide new directions and offer new opportunities |
Sounds like all has been for the best. You might have even fonder memories in the future since you're going from the kindness of Koreans to the pretentiousness of grad school.
Good luck in the future! |
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Lemonade
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject: Re: Goodbye Korea |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| C.M. wrote: |
| I like Korea. The people, the food, the country and all that it offers. Korea has a vital 'snap' to it that is lacking in the west; Korea has a spirit about it that seems wanting back home. It is hard to define. |
True, that.
This is a joke, right? Geez, where are you guys from?
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| I am not sure if I will return; I am going to work on my doctorate and that will most certainly provide new directions and offer new opportunities |
Sounds like all has been for the best. You might have even fonder memories in the future since you're going from the kindness of Koreans to the pretentiousness of grad school.
"kindness of Koreans?!" [clears throat loudly] You've GOT to be kidding.
"pretentiousness of grad school" - grad school was a great experience for me... especially compared to being in Korea.
Good luck in the future! |
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flotsam
Joined: 28 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: Goodbye Korea |
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| Lemonade wrote: |
| VanIslander wrote: |
| C.M. wrote: |
| I like Korea. The people, the food, the country and all that it offers. Korea has a vital 'snap' to it that is lacking in the west; Korea has a spirit about it that seems wanting back home. It is hard to define. |
True, that.
This is a joke, right? Geez, where are you guys from?
| Quote: |
| I am not sure if I will return; I am going to work on my doctorate and that will most certainly provide new directions and offer new opportunities |
Sounds like all has been for the best. You might have even fonder memories in the future since you're going from the kindness of Koreans to the pretentiousness of grad school.
"kindness of Koreans?!" [clears throat loudly] You've GOT to be kidding.
"pretentiousness of grad school" - grad school was a great experience for me... especially compared to being in Korea.
Good luck in the future! |
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Profound. |
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Dan The Chainsawman
Joined: 05 May 2005
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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Nah chum... Profound was what I just left in the squat toilet without flushing.
Good luck to yah C.M. |
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Natalia
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:23 pm Post subject: Re: Goodbye Korea |
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| C.M. wrote: |
With my hangover subsiding, I prepare to leave Korea today. I am not a little sad at departing. I have enjoyed my time here. It's funny; stumbling home last night after an alcohol-soaked goodbye dinner with the owner and a couple co-teachers, I found myself muttering, "I don't want to leave."
I have wondered each day since I gave my notice, how long it will take me to return. I like Korea. The people, the food, the country and all that it offers. Korea has a vital 'snap' to it that is lacking in the west; Korea has a spirit about it that seems wanting back home. It is hard to define. There is a certain substance to the people here which I find very attractive. Last night after class, a student I taught took off her necklace, gave it to me as a gift, smiled and said 'thank you'.
I am not sure if I will return; I am going to work on my doctorate and that will most certainly provide new directions and offer new opportunities, but I will think of Korea always (and yes....I am hoping they do well at the World Cup ). |
Define 'The West'. I hate how people make these broad, sweeping generalisations. 'The west' is a big and varied place.
And I find it quite the opposite. I find Korea is lacking that something that makes a place interesting to live in. It's like living in a big, culturally-void vacuum. |
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flotsam
Joined: 28 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: Goodbye Korea |
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| Natalia wrote: |
Define 'The West'. I hate how people make these broad, sweeping generalisations. 'The west' is a big and varied place.
And I find it quite the opposite. I find Korea is lacking that something that makes a place interesting to live in. It's like living in a big, culturally-void vacuum. |
Like this, Dan? |
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Dan The Chainsawman
Joined: 05 May 2005
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Word that is profound. |
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Satori
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Location: Above it all
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: Goodbye Korea |
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| Natalia wrote: |
And I find it quite the opposite. I find Korea is lacking that something that makes a place interesting to live in. It's like living in a big, culturally-void vacuum. |
While I have my complaints, quite forcefully stated on this forum, about Korean xenophobia, people often misunderstand my position on Korea. You may clash with elements of the culture, but cultural void it is not. It is an extremely vivid cultural experience to live here. It's vigorous and compelling dispite some hardship and inconvenience. Only the excentric and hardy stay a long time, and long timers, whether you click with them personally or not, are always interesting and unique characters. Korea gets in your bones, it has "flavour". That's why I stayed five years, and will no doubt return... |
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Lemonade
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: Goodbye Korea |
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| Natalia wrote: |
| C.M. wrote: |
With my hangover subsiding, I prepare to leave Korea today. I am not a little sad at departing. I have enjoyed my time here. It's funny; stumbling home last night after an alcohol-soaked goodbye dinner with the owner and a couple co-teachers, I found myself muttering, "I don't want to leave."
I have wondered each day since I gave my notice, how long it will take me to return. I like Korea. The people, the food, the country and all that it offers. Korea has a vital 'snap' to it that is lacking in the west; Korea has a spirit about it that seems wanting back home. It is hard to define. There is a certain substance to the people here which I find very attractive. Last night after class, a student I taught took off her necklace, gave it to me as a gift, smiled and said 'thank you'.
I am not sure if I will return; I am going to work on my doctorate and that will most certainly provide new directions and offer new opportunities, but I will think of Korea always (and yes....I am hoping they do well at the World Cup ). |
Define 'The West'. I hate how people make these broad, sweeping generalisations. 'The west' is a big and varied place.
And I find it quite the opposite. I find Korea is lacking that something that makes a place interesting to live in. It's like living in a big, culturally-void vacuum. |
I concur and I would futher add that anything Koreans associate with their "culture" to be (for the most part) negative in human nature, i.e. lying, corruption, cheating, etc. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: Goodbye Korea |
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| Lemonade wrote: |
| Natalia wrote: |
| C.M. wrote: |
With my hangover subsiding, I prepare to leave Korea today. I am not a little sad at departing. I have enjoyed my time here. It's funny; stumbling home last night after an alcohol-soaked goodbye dinner with the owner and a couple co-teachers, I found myself muttering, "I don't want to leave."
I have wondered each day since I gave my notice, how long it will take me to return. I like Korea. The people, the food, the country and all that it offers. Korea has a vital 'snap' to it that is lacking in the west; Korea has a spirit about it that seems wanting back home. It is hard to define. There is a certain substance to the people here which I find very attractive. Last night after class, a student I taught took off her necklace, gave it to me as a gift, smiled and said 'thank you'.
I am not sure if I will return; I am going to work on my doctorate and that will most certainly provide new directions and offer new opportunities, but I will think of Korea always (and yes....I am hoping they do well at the World Cup ). |
Define 'The West'. I hate how people make these broad, sweeping generalisations. 'The west' is a big and varied place.
And I find it quite the opposite. I find Korea is lacking that something that makes a place interesting to live in. It's like living in a big, culturally-void vacuum. |
I concur and I would futher add that anything Koreans associate with their "culture" to be (for the most part) negative in human nature, i.e. lying, corruption, cheating, etc. |
Gotta love how you make xenophobic, bigotted and ignorant judgements on a whole culture....especially since by your own previous admission in other posts you don't even try to understand it.
So when are YOU leaving? Remember if you stay in a culture that is lying, corruption and cheating, you are condoning that behaviour. But then that's probably why you are here. |
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peony
Joined: 30 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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some people have ugly ugly attitudes for sure
yes its been said a million and one times but if you hate it that much, you really shouldnt be there
to the op, i think korea gets into your bones, i left 3 years ago and sometimes still long to be back |
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Satori
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Location: Above it all
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:14 pm Post subject: Re: Goodbye Korea |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| Remember if you stay in a culture that is lying, corruption and cheating, you are condoning that behaviour. |
While I agree with the general thrust of your point, the above is simply not true. I can live in a place, for my own reasons, and not condone aspects of the culture. My presense here is not automatic endorsement of the culture. |
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Lemonade
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: Goodbye Korea |
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| Satori wrote: |
It is an extremely vivid cultural experience to live here. It's vigorous and compelling dispite some hardship and inconvenience. |
That's YOUR opinion. Not everyone agrees.
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| Only the excentric and hardy stay a long time |
Either that or they are deseperate, drunkards with no other life. I'm sure there's plenty of excentric and hardy people who leave Korea. There's a lot of excentric, hardy people all over the globe. You don't have to live in Korea....
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| and long timers, whether you click with them personally or not, are always interesting and unique characters. |
"always?" I don't think so. I met far more interesting and unique "characters" back in America who are from all over the world. I find people here to be rather boring (to say the least) in comparison.... especially the "long timers."
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| Korea gets in your bones, it has "flavour". That's why I stayed five years, and will no doubt return... |
So this is what my colleague meant when he said, "Korea really messes with your head. People who stay for a long time get really messed up."
[/quote] |
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