Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

Out of the blue I got an email from a cousin I haven't seen since I was 10. She's 6 months older than me and our dads are brothers and that's where the similarity stops. I'm very white, blonde hair, blue eyes. While she's Maori-Spanish so has all these dark features. She left school at 15 and already has 4 kids. I went to unviersity and have no intentions of having kids in the near future, if at all.

It's so odd. She reperesents all these negative statistics you hear about, young mom, dropped out of school, kids to different fathers however I can see how happy she is from her email. On paper I have so much going for me and haven't grown into my own identity yet, I want to be more than what I am right now.

I left wondering who has the 'better' life.... and wondering why I am angsting about it.

[snowy32]

I completely understand your situation. My extended family are mainly uneducated people whose aims in life seem to involve having kids before the age of 20. My immediate family and one other family within my extended family are educated and look beyond NZ for opportunities in life. I sometimes send baby clothes to my cousins but I just don't have anything in common with them (except a bit of DNA).
I know I look down my nose at them sometimes but I do wonder if perhaps they are happier leading the life they do. I tend to overanalyze everything which can be a tad depressing at times...so perhaps ignorance really is bliss?? (yes, I know that sounds really snobby too).
Part of the problem with our generation (I'm guessing your around the same age as me) is that we are told that if we get an education we can do anything, aim high etc etc...blah, blah, blah and so we are never happy unless we achieve our goals (sometimes damn near impossible). I'm often envious of my grandparents who knew their position in society and didn't have to endlessly struggle to achieve 'success' because their success was already set out for them and not so hard to achieve.

[laogaiguk]

Ignorance is bliss.

This is true in so many ways and pretty much sums it all up.

[Junior]

Its kinda harsh, and i know what you mean.

Those who dropped out of school, did loads of drugs, got married young and then had loads of kiddies seem to be happier than the sensible ones who planned ahead, got an education etc etc.

I think we are told a lot of CR*P when we were younger. Some listen to it, others just go for what they want and are happier.

if you're like me, then your parents instilled a lot of bad programming into you from an early age, and it takes a lifetime to get over.

For example..

Manners! whats the point of having good manners? its just taken for weakness and people don't appreciate them.

broaden your horizons! Bull.Embarking on round the world travel is 99% more likely to wreck a persons prospects and leave them unemployable than staying at home and spending years working your way up the local company! broad-minded people are shunned because they're too threatening to the majority.

Wait til you're a certain age before getting married! What they don't tell you is that you have to let many great suitors go if you think they will always be around. Personally i should've married someone 10 years ago, but had "more important" things to do.

etc etc

[Ya-ta Boy]