| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
The Dude from Canada
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
|
 Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:07 pm Post subject: I need to know (for those with family here) |
 |
|
For those foreigners here and have a korean wife and kids, or wife and kids in general over here, and teaching English, I have an inquiry. You support kids through teaching English, but for how long will you do it? Don't you every worry about if you had to leave. How will you make a living? I'm not being insulting. I was just wondering, because I know it can be a hard transition when you go back to the west, and you realize there are few marketbale skills aquired over here. Even with a good education and experience in the west, after so long away it can be hard to get back into the market there.
If you are planning on staying the long haul, the question is are you doing yourself or your family any favors? It's hard to fit into a society like Korea being a foreign teacher and if your kids are mixed they wouldn't fit in well either. As well, this society looks down on hagwon teachers and foreign teachers in general because they are seen as 'lowly' for leaving the rich west and permanently settling in a developing country in a not very lucrative industry. And if you stay a long time, and your kids go to school here, people here would think you are nutty when most korean parents are trying to do the opposite thing.
It would be interesting to hear your take on this. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Sine qua non
Joined: 18 Feb 2007
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Got a lot of friends?
Got any friends? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
There are many people who have lived many years here enjoying a good life.
There's no shame in staying - or leaving. It's up to the individual family. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mehamrick
Joined: 28 Aug 2006
Location: South Korea
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:03 pm Post subject: What western food would you cook? |
|
|
| So your going to cook a dinner for a Korean family.. Western style.. What would you cook? Or if you have done it what did you cook? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
THe OP is a troll. Check out some of his other posts.
| Quote: |
Joined: 20 Feb 2007
|
| The Troll from Canada wrote: |
They don't really like any mixed people over here. But don't feel bad because koreans don't like anybody. The people in south seoul don't like people in north seoul, so it is a society of people who love to dislike. Before Hines Ward attitudes were a lot different, but due to koreans inferiority complex, he became a necessary champion in a country with no champions.
However, they don't hate mixed race people. They are curious if they meet you, but won't like their sons with you. |
| The Troll from Canada wrote: |
| If somebody is over 30 and teaching English in Korea, you can imagine that they are brain dead because that means that they have very little going for them. Of course, there are the guys who say 'i used to be a high level journalist or lawyer but i needed to get away from the stress so I came to korea.' But of course what it means is that they couldn't hack it in those lines of work. You won't see Bill Gates or Donald Trump in a kiddy hagwon any time soon will we? |
| The Troll from Canada wrote: |
| Doesn't it strike you as odd as how none of your students want to be like you. Most of them have dreams and ambitions and work very hard to prepare themselves for reputable professions. When was the last time a student said 'I want to work in a Hagwon like you?" What do the lot of you really want to be? Is this all that your life will entail? What do you want to do with your life? Do you really fool yourselves into thinking you are a real teacher and reaching out to korean students? I am just curious into what is the real mindset here, if I am so wrong. |
| The Troll from Canada wrote: |
| you guys can't even speak english well. it's the only practical reason you are here in the first place. korean people can now say that foreigners in korea are a useless bunch. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Nice summary Superhero. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
billybrobby
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: I need to know (for those with family here) |
|
|
| The Dude from Canada wrote: |
| I'm not being insulting. |
A little change of pace, eh? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ursus_rex
Joined: 20 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul, ROK
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Korean society is changing... in urban areas, I'm not certain mixed children will have as great difficulty as you might suppose.
That being said, I intend to stay here with my wife and child until at least middle-school, at which time my wife and I will make a decision to either stay or go.
I realize getting into the job market at home will be difficult at that time, and so, we are saving our money to prepare for that eventuality. By then, I'll be in my early 50's and hopefully ready for my retirement. Saving money while working in Korea is relatively easier than in Canada (my home country). The tax rate is much lower, and if one is careful, and puts that extra money into savings and investments, it is quite possible within a 15 year window to save a tidy sum for one's retirement.
The situation is quite different, of course, if one is here for the short term. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ilovebdt
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Location: Nr Seoul
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: I need to know (for those with family here) |
|
|
| billybrobby wrote: |
| The Dude from Canada wrote: |
| I'm not being insulting. |
A little change of pace, eh? |
Must be a slow day.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I was just wondering, because I know it can be a hard transition when you go back to the west, and you realize there are few marketbale skills aquired over here |
If one sees one's self as having a long term future in teaching then quite obviously a few years of experience teaching are, er, marketbale....or if one aspires to do post-grad with the wads we get here (as several posters that spring to mind after 5 seconds' consideration have done) then obviously experience in Korea can be very useful. I'm gonna follow one or both of these aforementioned options, so I'm all right Jack, as are you in your IT position....with your fluent Korean.
| Quote: |
Even with a good education and experience in the west, after so long away it can be hard to get back into the market there.
|
It can be hard if you don't really know what you want to do. If you know what you want to do and know how to do it, I fail to see why it would be any more difficult than working a different job in the West and making these same changes.
| Quote: |
| If you are planning on staying the long haul, the question is are you doing yourself or your family any favors? |
If you're married to a Korean, you can do privates and double your money. You can do privates and make a packet illegally anyway if one so wishes, although I wouldn't dream of breaking the law. I'm sure such an income would be modest by the standards of your IT position, with your fluent Korean, but the notion that earning 4m per month after deductions is not doing one's self any favors requires more thought.
| Quote: |
| It's hard to fit into a society like Korea being a foreign teacher and if your kids are mixed they wouldn't fit in well either. |
This is debated. Many expats with wives and kids report positive experiences. But I'd definitely take your word for it and completely discard the views of those with relevant experience.
| Quote: |
| As well, this society looks down on hagwon teachers and foreign teachers in general because they are seen as 'lowly' for leaving the rich west and permanently settling in a developing country in a not very lucrative industry. |
Sorry to hear this has been your experience.
And your use of 'developing country' is suggestive of someone unqualified in high school geography.
| Quote: |
| And if you stay a long time, and your kids go to school here, people here would think you are nutty when most korean parents are trying to do the opposite thing |
MOST? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
esetters21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
| It's obvious to me that the OP is not just a troll but a loser. He/she tries to stir up some kind of drama with meaningless posts. Get a life already! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Homer
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
Good work superhero....
Troll indeed and he/she/it/the thing almost never responds to his troll=posts...
Must be too busy running around the sewers of where he lives and hiding from the sun.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
leebumlik69
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Location: DiRectly above you. Pissing Down
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
| SuperHero wrote: |
THe OP is a troll. Check out some of his other posts.
.. |
I agree. Maybe he's getting paid by Alyssa. I'm pretty sure I'm about ready to leave this forum and never return 'Dude from Canada'.
I've been wondering why I waste my time here anyway. I'll use it only as a necessity from now on!
If I stay in Korea, I'm not going to be happy about some other 'Dude' belittling my life or my choices, EVEN if the worst case scenario of kids not being accepted and having no money occured.
Why do we have to listen to people who don't want to be here and should leave?
In a way, I hate the severance system. It gives people like the Dude an excuse for hanging around and annoying everyone. If they weren't waiting for a bonus, what reason would they have to remain.
And don't get all bothered because you don't think of yourself as a teacher. I guess you aren't. If you jump around all day at Super Mega hagwon above family mart, that's not my fault. I teach. I realized here that I don't want to have to entertain kids. I just want to teach. If you feel the same, then try for a better job in Korea and radically change your attitude or leave.
After today, I won't use this forum again unless it's a necessity. I wanted to stop using it anyway. Thankyou for making my choice easier. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
The Dude from Canada
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| hey superhere. what do you have against me? All of you for that matter. I'm not a troll, I'm speaking how it is. Most people in korean society have exactly the same thoughts. How would you respond to a korean saying the same thing. 'D'uh, that korean is a troll.' |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
blynch
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: UCLA
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
the rats are at it again (showing their detective skills)...
bonne nuit... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
