Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rock]

There's been a lot of controversy over here on the Taiwan board about Korea vs Taiwan. Many here say the negative far outweigh the con's. Some over there are doing their homework and trying to decide, but it makes me feel like a heel.

I knowing this: the difference is not near as close, Korea being much more generous, the Taiwanese stingy. I found Korea to be like a home, 'safe and sound.' I find Taiwan to be like a garden where, choosing your desire is. a fungus.

They even think moles with hair growing out of them are pretty here.

[The Perfect Cup of Coffee]

I almost ended up in Taiwan before I came to Korea. Studied Mandarin at uni and had planned to continue in Taiwan and teach to support myself, but somehow ended up here in South Korea. Korea sure as hell ain't perfect, and there are lots of horror stories here, but yeah, I get the 'home' feeling whenever I leave for vacation and arrive back at Incheon airport.

Still hope to visit Taiwan though, what city are you in? I had a few jobs lined up in Taichung, near the West coast, but luck and circumstance had me land in Seoul.

[fusionbarnone]

That "home" feeling is so true.

Koreans are generally pretty cool and liberal. Apart from being careful not to let someone rip you off employment-wise through shrewd
manuvering, Korea has it's plus'. Unbelievably safe and not a battle-zone full of pick-pockets.

Incheon airport and the staff always seems welcoming.

I think Incheon is "sparkling".

[Rock]

PCC, I'm in Taipei, and I can tell you, this has been the Johannesburg(?) of my so-journ thus far. Meaning, it's a mecca-in-the making, yet like a pilgrimage, feel in the midst of things, cosmopolitan.

There's quite a vibrancy here too, an overwhelming influx of foreigners other than us, ie., Vietnamese, Philippino, Sri Lankan, Hispanic and Brazilian, just to name a few. But it makes you feel a sense of belonging and purpose. Most are astute speakers and learners of Chinese, no pie-in-the sky-save/spend-mindedness or sos, like ESL has been likened to in Korea.

But Korea gave me a sense of "home," which is the only word I can think of to describe my experience there. Never felt more secure and at ease, unlike here in Taiwan.

The reason I call these contrasts a "controversy," however, is because the issue has never really been settled. And it makes me mad. Some white foreingers here praise Taiwan, discrimminate against the Koreans-think they and the ESL teachers there are inferior-and make it seem that Taiwan is the hub of ESL. Personally speaking, I make about NT 60,000.00, which equals about $1,500.00, whereas in Korea my take was about $2,000.00.

Yet I don't want to mention 'making money' as the main factor, 'the only mainstay,' since I believe in living a well-rounded existence. I live by a huge riverside park-can go swimming in the river-have my own pad, feel the fresh air and bask in nature. Plus, there's a pretty high standard of living here. Yet you're much more challenged in Taiwan, and to some extent, it's challenging this job field.

This is the reason why I say this is "A Conroversy Worth Considering." Teaching ESL is becoming overly generecised here, Taiwan wanting to spread its paws. This has already caught on in Korea. Who hasn't but ran into a 'wet-girl/boy', one who's become self-taught at English, thinking ". . .and I should treat you preferentially. . .give you an apartment. . .pay you more than me?"

Actual encounter I experienced there. Here, in Taiwan, your not seen as worthy either. Matter-o-fact, your English ability is often quite suspect, must know grammar to a 'T', aren't given much leeway.

This is just to say, job security, self-worth, teachability, they all go by the wayside here. It's like a snowball effect in China: Humanity is just a number.

But I've never run into more people, including the Chinese, with whom I can converse with on a daily basis.