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Celial
2602 Posts
What common barriers would I have to expect? How can I approach them? Obv I'd need a bank account, I'd need a korean paypal account, an apartment and my computer. I know, looks like I'm not even slightly prepared to do a step of this importance, but I'd rather start brainstorming right now so I'm ready when the time comes....  | ||
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29 fps
United States5725 Posts
decisions like this are pretty big, so it's important to know why you're doing such things before actually committing to them (and later on perhaps regretting) | ||
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meeple
Canada10211 Posts
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Celial
2602 Posts
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CaucasianAsian
Korea (South)11586 Posts
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Chef
10810 Posts
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JohannesH
Finland1364 Posts
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Always
United States376 Posts
On November 23 2009 00:53 29 fps wrote: why korea and not somewhere else? what's your reason for choosing korea and not say... canada? decisions like this are pretty big, so it's important to know why you're doing such things before actually committing to them (and later on perhaps regretting) I think we all know why he wants to go to Korea  | ||
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Celial
2602 Posts
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phosphorylation
United States2935 Posts
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Ingenol
United States1328 Posts
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KH1031
United States862 Posts
The Koreans are pretty proud, and to a good extent - exclusive to their own kind. I think going there for a short trip to test the waters is probably a better idea. | ||
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omfghi2u2
United States831 Posts
Thus, you can make a good amount of money for relatively little. But like some others said, I would visit Korea. Monsoon season is SO fucking detestable that I was considering suicide. (joke) There is nothing more discouraging then when you have to walk from your house to the train in HOT rain while it is humid. | ||
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Japakazol
United States102 Posts
On November 23 2009 01:20 CaucasianAsian wrote: why don't you spend a week in korea first, and see if it really is as "cool" as you believe it to be. +1; I would recommend going on a trip there for even longer before you made a final decision (a couple weeks or a month). Consider whether the presence of professional starcraft will be enough to sustain your existence in a foreign land where you know no one, don't speak the language, don't have a job, etc... | ||
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Frits
11782 Posts
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Manit0u
Poland17535 Posts
![[image loading]](http://www.abc.net.au/tasmania/stories/Bill_Murra_m794923.jpg) Download, watch, reconsider. + Show Spoiler + I know that Japan is not Korea, but the basic idea remains the same. | ||
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Elroi
Sweden5599 Posts
About the difficulties: I don't know, never been in Korea  | ||
ArvickHero
10387 Posts
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Disregard
China10252 Posts
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YPang
United States4024 Posts
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Horiz0n
Sweden364 Posts
good luck | ||
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Snet
United States3573 Posts
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Horangi
Hong Kong226 Posts
On November 23 2009 03:21 Manit0u wrote: Download, watch, reconsider. + Show Spoiler + I know that Japan is not Korea, but the basic idea remains the same. love this movie... but anyways, live style between korea and germany is a huge difference... UK on the other hand would suit you more in live style imo ^^ | ||
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Zanric
United States66 Posts
Most of the barriers will come from yourself and how you survive in another country. It would help if you make friends easy. Learning basic Korean would help you tons in fitting in. There are a few Army and USAF bases on the Penn. so you will have an opportunity to make a few American friends. Chopstick use and possible Korean etiquette would be helpful knowledge. You could try making a few pen pals who are trying to improve their English. This can earn you a few contacts in good old Skorea. | ||
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Masamune
Canada3401 Posts
I'd say go on vacation there or something, but I'd stick with Germany any day of the week. | ||
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OpticalShot
Canada6330 Posts
So, in response to the OP, Korea is a great place to live for young people (not the best place for seniors, but that's another story) because there's entertainment everywhere. What you'll get less is exercise and sports (less public parks and park space in general, limited access to public sports facilities / overcrowding in public sports facilities) and what you'll get more is entertainment (like kareoke, PC cafe, pool, bars, clubs, etc.). As you might have guessed, language is the first and foremost barrier you'll encounter and will have to conquer. Learning basic Korean beforehand is definitely recommended; you should probably learn enough to "go through a typical day" (so stuff like "good morning", "where's my breakfast", "could you tell me where the washroom is", "thank you / your welcome / excuse me", "that's very impressive", "my name is ( ), what is yours / nice to meet you", "I am from ( )", "where is a nice place to have ( )", "[the name of the place you live] (so u can tell your taxi driver where to go)", etc.). Anyways, you'll probably learn a lot faster when you're actually there, but you must be able to speak enough before you go there. Income-wise, I heard that teaching English can get you a very decent income for relatively easy work. Some of my friends (who are university undergrads) have been teaching English as either part-time (while doing a technical co-op placement in Korea) or full-time (for the 4 months of summer), and they've all been satisfied with their language-related jobs. Depending on how lucky you get, you can end up with the TALK program (I think that's the name of it) which is like a formalized system for foreign English teachers to teach in Korea, and/or you can land a few private tutor jobs and teach rich kids and you'll get paid a lot. Taxes, I'm not sure how it works (I only lived in Korea until I was 9) but it's for sure a lot less than CA/US. Speaking of less taxes, you have to set yourself up for other "necessity of life" things like health care (you need some sort of health care card which makes you pay like 90% less on almost everything hospital wise - or in other words, without it, you'll be paying 9x more). Finding a place to live - that's not a problem I'm willing to comment on because I've never done it myself (farthest I've been away from parents is university residence, lol). Having a close group of friends is also important. It's probably easier to mingle with visible minorities there (as in non-Koreans) but because of rigorous English education there (as you could have guessed from the high demand for foreign English teachers), many Koreans around your age could be decent at English too and they will be eager to have a native speaker friend. Being open to new friends is good, but do keep your senses keen and look out for possible scams and frauds and thefts and whatnot, being a foreigner makes you more vulnerable to those because you're not used to the culture and the language. Understanding the Korean culture and the current trends will also be a big part of "fitting in". When I was in elementary school in Korea (wow that's now more than 10 years ago...), we used to make funny jests in crude English whenever we saw a tall (and supposedly American) foreigner. Small stuff like that you'll have to understand that kids are kids... A few differences I can think off the top of my head (from my personal experience): 1) Multiple spoons going in the same stew/pot = acceptable. Don't act disgusted, because they'll think you are too close-minded about Korean culture (yes the large leap of logic). Nowadays though, I think Koreans know enough about western culture to understand some differences. 2) Holding hands with a member of the opposite sex = big deal, giving a hug with a member of the opposite sex = big deal, putting your arms around a member of the opposite sex (even for taking a picture or something) = big deal. I was so surprised when I first came to Canada because those things were so... liberal here, lol. Actually, again, what I remember is like 10+ years ago stuff, maybe the young generation have caught up with it. If anything, you've always got TL to ask! I'm sure there are a lot of English-speaking Koreans here and you know you can trust TL on just about everything. | ||
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Celial
2602 Posts
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phosphorylation
United States2935 Posts
To add to your post: Although Koreans can seem xenophobic, temperamental, and rude to foreigners, most of them -- I firmly believe -- are at the core rational, good-willed, passionate, and willing to truly open up to anyone. | ||
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251
United States1401 Posts
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pubbanana
United States3063 Posts
On November 23 2009 05:23 Masamune wrote: Why do people decide to completely uproot for their life for starcraft? Like I understand Idra and Ret wanting to go there to become progamers, but if you think moving to Korea is cool because you've always wanted to ever since your first VOD or whatever, then you've most likely lived a very sheltered life. I'd say go on vacation there or something, but I'd stick with Germany any day of the week. What do you mean "stick with" Germany any day of the week? There are several aspects of both countries which are VASTLY different and in some areas the quality of living is actually higher in Korea than in Germany. I think if you like Asian culture and prefer to have things on a smaller scale and much more readily accessible, then moving to Korea from any Western European country would be a good experience. | ||
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keepITup
251 Posts
Could you get by? I'm sure people here will tell you that you can. But your going to be missing out on the majority of the culture there if you can't speak their language. | ||
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kaizenmx
United States110 Posts
Drunken middle aged men will most likely randomly harass you on busy streets One of many Asia's dangerous traffic If you don't speak a lick of korean, people will ignore you most of time culture shock, culture shock, culture shock. | ||
lilsusie
3861 Posts
You will need a passport + either 1) a place of employment validation or 2) a Korean with Korean ID number to verify you. As much as being a teacher for your first year might be a good way to settle in (you'll have a Korean teacher to help you out with things, settling in, find an apt, save some money, find a good network of friends via other English teachers...) please don't come to be a teacher if you don't want to teach. We have enough of those idiots. Come if you are willing to adapt to our culture, come if you want to have an experience living AS a Korean, not a German IN Korea. Having said that - If you are of German citizenship you can't even come teach anyway.  So far, the 5 Germans who have stayed here with me have all LOVED Korean food so I'm gonna generalize and assume that you'll be ok. Get to know some people first via craigslist or ... I dunno, some teaching websites such as daveseslcafe.com before coming. It's pretty tough when you don't know anyone. | ||
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PH
United States6173 Posts
You're going to be completely marginalized in Korea as a foreigner. It'll only be worse if you can't speak a word of their language. | ||
NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
Paypal isn't supported in Korea (most people wire money via their bank accounts to pay for online purchases.) , you cannot get a korean bank account as a foreigner unless you are sponsored by a company employing you in Korea (aka. Teachers are sponsored by their schools.) and if you want a decent sized apartment be prepared to fork over a minimum of 700,000won 'key money' deposit. (Although you can live in a one-room tel like I do without putting down any key money beforehand.) I don't mean to sound negative or to disuade you from coming, but Korea is pretty strict about visa law (especially over the past few years.) so if you're not eligable to teach you're going to need to have a reliable and steady income if you want to live here for more than a couple of months whilst you're on your first tourist visa. I don't recommend making the leap straight into living here - as others suggested why not come for a holiday and see if you even like it here first. It's *very* different from Europe (I'm British so trust me when I say this.) and it can provoke love/hate feelings depending upon what you're looking for in an overseas 'home.' | ||
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Pengu1n
United States552 Posts
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Celial
2602 Posts
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Ao_Jun
Denmark396 Posts
As you've already made up your mind i'll keep it short. Living/working in a country and being on vacation (Even if it's for an extended period like 6 months) is pretty different. That said - what's the worst that can happen by moving there? you go home x months later and an experience richer. | ||
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snowbird
Germany2044 Posts
an easy way to find out if living there suits you is to sign up for a language course at any university. it'll be about 900 euro for 3 months. you'll get a student visa and foreigner id that'll qualify you to get a bank account. you go to language school mo-fri 9-13, and in the afternoon you do your internet marketing stuff. you can do that for at least 1.5 years without worrying about your visa, by then you should know if you like it or not. but you will need some sort of steady income so I guess you should work out your internet marketing career before you make the move. | ||
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Foucault
Sweden2826 Posts
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