Korean Job Discussion Forums

[corroonb]

Hi,
I arrived a Incheon yesterday and I am still exhausted and overwhelmed even after a night of sleep, then good news is I don't start work until Friday. I'm aware of the difficulties of culture-shock and initial disillusionment when the reality doesn't match the Korea I'd constructed before I came and I was wondering if anyone has any tips from their experience on handling this stressfull period? Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks

[crazylemongirl]

I hated Korea when I first arrived here, however I'm now about ready to finish up my fourth year here!

First I think it's important that you perhaps try and find a niche here. Join some clubs (plenty around), restart an old hobby, to give you something that's just yours.

And journal a lot. It's a good way to get out a lot of your negative feelings, and you'll look back on it a few weeks or months and giggle about it.

Korea is a BIG adjustment, but if you can do it, then you can do anything.

[Bukowski]

1) Empty your mind as much as possible of any and all expectations that you had about Korea prior to your arrival (this will allow you to take things as they are).

2) Get off the Internet and make some Korean friends. You might really need to lean on them in the future.

3) Try to avoid making comparisons all the time. Again, take it for what it is.

4) The sooner you learn the basics of the language, the better (I am assuming you didn't study prior to your arrival, sorry if I'm wrong about that).

Best of luck to you,
AC

[Ya-ta Boy]

A common experience is for people to have a 2-3 month 'honeymoon' before the realization that life has settled into a routine and they freak out. Be prepared for that.

The other advice already given is great. Forget about preconceptions and making comparisons. Journal a lot. Someday you'll be glad you have a record of your first impressions.

Set up some things to achieve in the first few weeks so you have a sense of control of your life:

1. Explore your neighborhood. Locate grocery stores, hospitals, police offices, restaurants...

2. Start learning Korean...focus on NUMBERS and the alphabet. You will need the numbers first so you can pay for things, even though 'they' will hold up a computer to show you the numbers, knowing the numbers will help. Learning to read will give you access to restaurant menus.

3. Learn a few phrases, then branch out to speaking if you want to. Learn how to say enough to ride a taxi home.

Good luck and have fun.

[corroonb]

Thanks for the advice, it all seems like good common sense. I'm going to try to learn to read the language ASAP, as even shopping in a supermarket can be very confusing. But I feel much better after a night's sleep (I arrived yesterday evening after a 26 hour jounrney from Ireland). Is the Korean Culture Shock book any good?

[happygirl]

A tip that was given to me...

have someone at your school write in a small notebook that you carry with you EVERYWHERE

1. the address of your apartment
2. the address of your school
3. the name of your bank
4. the name and phone number of someone who speaks some English who is willing to help you with taxi drivers if needed.

Having my little book gave me such a feeling of security. No matter how lost I got I could always get back home. There had been times when I'd tried to tell the taxi driver and couldn't make myself understood. Whip out the book and no more frustration.

Another suggestion was to go to the bus stops close to home and write down the number of the all busses that stop there. Often i'll find myself in unfamiliar territory when I'm out exploring. I could use my book to ask if any of those bus numbers were accessible.

Even now, I still carry my little book because I've got so many "little gems" written in it.

[corroonb]

Good suggestions happygirl. Should I have the addresses written in Hangeul or in English?

[TheUrbanMyth]

Do you have your E-2 visa yet?

[Son Deureo!]

[brianthestrider]

I'm hardly in a great position to give advice as I've only just got here myself but I've managed to be positive everyday (apart from two) in the past fortnight so, for what it's worth, here's how I'm doing it.

1. Journal. It's already been said but it's a good way to get your thoughts down on paper and you'll probably find you're being much more positive than negative. It'll also be a nice thing to look back on.

2. Keep in touch with friends/family at home. They'll remind you who you are and why you came here in the tough times.

3. Get stuck into the teaching. Don't just do the bare minimum. Focus on getting better and you'll enjoy it more. It gives you something to put your time, energy and thought into.

4. Read. Read something good that'll keep you stimulated. Maybe you've brought a personal favourite over with you? If not there's a good bookshop in Itaewon that I can give you directions to if you need. Or even take you there, to be honest.

5. Explore. Keep busy. Use all your time. Go to random places on the subway. Get lost. Bring enough for a taxi home so you're never completely stuck.

6. Make contacts. I'm just over from Ireland too so if you look back over posts from last week you'll see a thread called "Irish Community" that I started and got a good lot of info from. I'll pm you after I write this too.

7. Talk to the Korean teachers. They'll help you with teaching and local information.

8. TO DO LISTS!!! These are my saviour! A few simple targets/aims for each day. At the end of the day you feel you're progressing and keeping your mind busy at the beginning keeps you from thinking too deeply about the tougher aspects of Korea.

Remember that moving to S. Korea does not change a basic rule of life - that there will be good days and bad days. Enjoy the good and take what you can from the bad.

I'm aware that the major shock/difficulty is still to come (I've heard 2/3 months mentioned) but that's how I'm getting by fairly nicely a present.

Brian

[SPINOZA]

I'm always the first to mention this because it worked well for me on those first 4 nights alone, truly alone, before I started work......if at all possible, go to Itaewon and go for a pint alone. There'll be plenty of foreigners and Koreans who speak English to chat to.

[brianthestrider]

Does anyone else not get really nervous and uneasy going for a pint alone? Or i it just me...?

[corroonb]

[crazylemongirl]

[brianthestrider]

Well maybe I'm a bit more shy than I thought I was then. I think it's being self-conscious. I'd be thinking, "won't people be wondering why he's sitting on his own if he's so interesting..." Will try it though, sounds character building