Jobs!
Quote from: James89 on March 06, 2015, 11:28:55 AMQuote from: druzzrug on March 05, 2015, 09:45:00 PMWhile it isn't quite as much money as I was making in KoreaGood luck buddy, but I think it's a terrible mistake to move back to a more expensive country and earn less than in Korea. You're happy though, so glad it worked for you.Korea is what you make of it.Prison is what you make of it. Having chemo is what you make of it. If someone is naturally inclined to not like something they're probably not going to be able to make much of it.This is spot on point. I hate winter, thus I left Canada and moved to SE Asia. I needed money and came to Korea, I live on an island in the very south, it doesn't get Canada cold by far. The winters are similar to Vancouver's. I still have friends back in Canada that complain about the cold all winter long. I tell them to move. They won't for a number of useless reasons that can all be boiled down to "I'm afraid to crawl out of my velvet lined rut." The say 'you have to make the best of it'. I did. I made the best of it. I left. I'm never going back. Whilst most of them think I am very brave to have done what I did, I think they're cowards for accepting the lives they have even though they don't like them. I'm not brave. I just wouldn't accept their reasoning of making the best of it. If you hate winter, why live in Canada?
Quote from: druzzrug on March 05, 2015, 09:45:00 PMWhile it isn't quite as much money as I was making in KoreaGood luck buddy, but I think it's a terrible mistake to move back to a more expensive country and earn less than in Korea. You're happy though, so glad it worked for you.Korea is what you make of it.
While it isn't quite as much money as I was making in Korea
Quote from: Rusty Brown on March 06, 2015, 04:51:10 PMQuote from: James89 on March 06, 2015, 11:28:55 AMQuote from: druzzrug on March 05, 2015, 09:45:00 PMWhile it isn't quite as much money as I was making in KoreaGood luck buddy, but I think it's a terrible mistake to move back to a more expensive country and earn less than in Korea. You're happy though, so glad it worked for you.Korea is what you make of it.Prison is what you make of it. Having chemo is what you make of it. If someone is naturally inclined to not like something they're probably not going to be able to make much of it.This is spot on point. I hate winter, thus I left Canada and moved to SE Asia. I needed money and came to Korea, I live on an island in the very south, it doesn't get Canada cold by far. The winters are similar to Vancouver's. I still have friends back in Canada that complain about the cold all winter long. I tell them to move. They won't for a number of useless reasons that can all be boiled down to "I'm afraid to crawl out of my velvet lined rut." The say 'you have to make the best of it'. I did. I made the best of it. I left. I'm never going back. Whilst most of them think I am very brave to have done what I did, I think they're cowards for accepting the lives they have even though they don't like them. I'm not brave. I just wouldn't accept their reasoning of making the best of it. If you hate winter, why live in Canada?
To anyone thinking of going back home, you'd better have a decent gig lined up before going. If you're attitude is, "well...screw Korea, I'll get a decent job when I get back home." Brother, are you in for a surprise.
What makes it miserable is probably mostly due to focusing on too many negatives rather than doing new things, going with the flow and emphasizing the positives like my first 2 or 3 years here. But to answer your question more specifically: Probably the lack of general social etiquette, last minute decisions and lack of communication, decisions that make no sense (sounds vague but most veteran foreigners will know what I'm saying when you can only describe some things as "because Korea"), the whole hierarchy thing and people with power and old people acting like dicks because they can, loud, emotional public outbursts and adjusts making scenes on the street, the perception that foreign people have no personal boundaries, the acceptance of racism and gender inequality, constant talk of culture culture culture culture culture culture, constant comparisons to my home country in every conversation, pushing and spitting, sheep mentality, and just the overall stifling feeling of the culture and how everyone seems to be doing the "face" thing rather than being genuine (most people are just at a distance and quite fake, theres just a few genuine Korean friends I've made and it seems like they are all well travelled and are sick of the cultural stress here and have escaped from the brainwashed attitude that a lot of people have). Now, you can make a long list of good things about Korea too, and counter everything above I'm sure - but these are just some of the things that begin to stand out more and weigh on you after being here for too long and losing the motivation to really explain them away and focus on positives. Are there things that I could do to keep improving my experience here? Yes. But it seems that when I travel outside of Korea at this point things just feel so much more relaxed, genuine and normal in terms of interaction with people that things feel more and more stifling when I return. I have many fond memories of Korea and enough positive bonds that it would be hard for me to leave, but its definitely time to head off somewhere new or at least take a long long break.
As a place to live, in my opinion, Canada stinks. The weather is horrible. The people are generally unfriendly...
I despise winter, but if I learn to ski, winter will become enjoyable? No man, I don't think so.
QuoteWhat makes it miserable is probably mostly due to focusing on too many negatives rather than doing new things, going with the flow and emphasizing the positives like my first 2 or 3 years here. But to answer your question more specifically: Probably the lack of general social etiquette, last minute decisions and lack of communication, decisions that make no sense (sounds vague but most veteran foreigners will know what I'm saying when you can only describe some things as "because Korea"), the whole hierarchy thing and people with power and old people acting like dicks because they can, loud, emotional public outbursts and adjusts making scenes on the street, the perception that foreign people have no personal boundaries, the acceptance of racism and gender inequality, constant talk of culture culture culture culture culture culture, constant comparisons to my home country in every conversation, pushing and spitting, sheep mentality, and just the overall stifling feeling of the culture and how everyone seems to be doing the "face" thing rather than being genuine (most people are just at a distance and quite fake, theres just a few genuine Korean friends I've made and it seems like they are all well travelled and are sick of the cultural stress here and have escaped from the brainwashed attitude that a lot of people have). Now, you can make a long list of good things about Korea too, and counter everything above I'm sure - but these are just some of the things that begin to stand out more and weigh on you after being here for too long and losing the motivation to really explain them away and focus on positives. Are there things that I could do to keep improving my experience here? Yes. But it seems that when I travel outside of Korea at this point things just feel so much more relaxed, genuine and normal in terms of interaction with people that things feel more and more stifling when I return. I have many fond memories of Korea and enough positive bonds that it would be hard for me to leave, but its definitely time to head off somewhere new or at least take a long long break.Sorry for the late response but thank you so much for the detailed answer. I feel the same about the practiced "etiquette" here at times as well. Thankfully though not all people are the same and of course there are mannered people here. It is definitely what you make of it. QuoteTo anyone thinking of going back home, you'd better have a decent gig lined up before going. If you're attitude is, "well...screw Korea, I'll get a decent job when I get back home." Brother, are you in for a surprise.Cereal it sounds as if you are trying to discourage people from going back to their home countries to purse a career. Now you may want to stay here and continue esl but not everyone here is in it for the long haul. Some may wish to go back home and open a business, go to graduate school, or do something that they may not be able to do here. Yes, it would be best to have something lined up but that is quite difficult to do while living over here. Heading back home without another path lined up is most common for those going home. The opportunities ARE out there you just have to look for them.
QuoteYes, it would be best to have something lined up but that is quite difficult to do while living over here. Agree 100%. A lot of folk say, 'make sure you have a job to go back to when you get home', which would be ideal, but obviously a lot of companies require interviews in person. The best I could hope for would be lining up interviews.
Yes, it would be best to have something lined up but that is quite difficult to do while living over here.
Agree 100%. A lot of folk say, 'make sure you have a job to go back to when you get home', which would be ideal, but obviously a lot of companies require interviews in person. The best I could hope for would be lining up interviews.
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Topic: The grass is definitely greener on the other side! (Read 3442 times)
