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Just wanted to share an old post I made after living in Korea for a few months. Those of you who have never been might enjoy it.
note: not sure if the videos are working on Facebook's new code, because I directly linked them. You might be able to right click save as an .SWF file, but I'm too lazy to change this.
So I've been in Seoul, South Korea for 3 months-or-so right now, and most people haven't heard so much as a word from me yet. I guess I'll try to recap these times as well as justify my absence. Hopefully, writing and documenting snippets of my life will become more of an ongoing trend; and I think it will be--moving from 0 to 1 is much harder than 1 to 2, and I'm getting 0 out of the way now.
Anywho, I live in the south west region of Seoul. Purists, Elitists, uber-Korean Koreans, etc. will all tell you that this isn't the "prime" area, but it depends on your view. Seoul's suburbs are generalized by their location in context to the Han River that flows through the lower half of it.
The Pacific is to California real-estate prices as the Han is to Seoul key-money (apartment entry) prices.
I live south of the Han (+5 KP points (Korean Pride (g0t r1c3!?^^) ) ) and am not terribly far from it's acid-trash waters. Most people would say that I'm in the boonies, but I hardly am. I'm 15 minutes from the most hectic location in the entire country, Hongdae. I'm also in a residential area where the average life-expectancy was yesterday. So if we do some quick math: quiet living + access to chaos = complete choice of lifestyle. Not too shabby. I'll be honest and say though that Gangnam (south of the river, east Seoul) is far better than this area, and I am a bit removed from certain landmark areas like Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, etc. But, to complain would be worthless. I'd say that 70% of the time I wouldn't trade living positions with people that I speak with. I'd say that 100% of the time, I wouldn't trade anything with them after that ...but I'll get to that in a moment.
Here's my Google Maps coordinates: 37.52566,126.883295
Korea is one of the most interesting places on Earth, to me at least. However, I don't believe that somebody could actually enjoy or learn to enjoy it without understanding its culture as a prerequisite. I've gotten a significant head-start in that regard by making friends with the few Korean kids I met at a private Christian middle school in Colorado. Our school had an ESL class, and back in 2001, Koreans were starting to exponentially flood to the US for their kids to learn native English. I didn't know anything about these kids, but somehow the game of Starcraft came up in conversation. I knew that Asians were typically better at, well, everything, so I had to test my hand at a battle with them. Surprisingly, I won more than I lost. I also won friendship, because apparently Starcraft skill is synonymous with worth as a human being. We used to bet each other stupid loot over after-school matches or start trading lunches because we had such different meals. I began to learn all the Korean words that I wasn't supposed to know and found out that cross-dressing guys in space suits put to hip-pop K-metal ballads were big business. I learned that their ramen was really spicy and that I sucked at math. All of these small epiphanies were mutually shared, though. They were curious about my culture, my style, why I didn't play Starcraft 7 hours-a-day, and how to meet girls without black hair. These stupid subtleties became something that I secretly enjoyed. Juxtaposed with my eccentric and over-zealous personality, I found the extreme nature of these kids to be something that I could simultaneously compete with, yet relate to.
From then until finishing university, I continued to meet more Koreans from abroad. It became easier and easier to make friends with them as I knew more about their culture. It became so easy after a while that I knew if I threw out "World Cup 2002", "Starcraft", "Nong Shim ramen", "H.O.T.", or said "바보" (Korean for "stupid"), I could make any Korean friend within 60 seconds or less. Later, I'd be the only non-Korean at parties full of students who were in America trying to learn English. I always laughed that I was the only American many of them knew. I also enjoyed being the one American that they all felt safe hanging out with. I knew them, so they didn't have to hide. If you know me well, you also know that I'm not one to hold anything back, so my willingness to be myself with them was also a welcomed surprise. Needless to say, when it came time to decide whether or not I could handle a job and live in Korea, it was not a big decision in terms of fear.
Unfortunately, I am a severe minority of people who migrated here under those conditions. Most teachers here do not seem like they want to be here at all. They do not care whether their teaching job was here, or Japan, or China, or Uzbekistan for that matter. Many of them have a brooding, negative attitude about the culture here, and especially about everyone at their job ...yet they stay. If the students aren't annoying, then the staff is. Native Koreans aren't interested in making peace, and everyone is out to get them? Let me just definitively say here that they can shut the hell up, forever. Not only do they tarnish the reputation of foreigners on the daily, they make everybody around them absolutely miserable. I really dislike travelling to an area in Seoul called Itaewon. It's known as the foreigner district, and many ignorant teachers go there to co-mingle (get drunk) with other mindless Canadians or American GI's, who are pissed that they are in the army, alive, or some other emo logic. It really does bother me that the majority of people are like that here. I sincerely believe that it's their loss and nobody else's, especially not the Korean's. I came here not believing that foreigner mindset to be the truth, even though I had heard it said on the internet many times before when I was researching the experience here. It's all true. I know this because I have worked/work with some presently and see them in the street. Most foreigners won't even look up at you, and if they do, it's out of sheer terror because they can't even read Hangul and are completely lost. Luckily, my work situation is morphing. People who have a positive outlook on life always win, even though uphill battles are never fun. We will win though, I'm sure of it.
Subject switch.
I'm not exactly sure why (or how) Korea drinks more than most countries could with double the amount of time provided. The drink of choice? Soju. Originally, it's a carefully-made, distilled rice wine that was produced in the rural areas of South Korea with an ABV around 40%. Just out of respect, one of these days I'll find a traditional ajashi somewhere in the boonies to show me how it's really done. Today, soju is mass-produced, mass-marketed, available for about $2/bottle, ranges between 16%-22% ABV, and is essentially an un-distilled mess of corn syrup and ethanol found in literately every store imaginable. No specific age-group or target-market is singled out for soju, literately the entire country consumes it. To be honest, I know that nobody actually likes it. Certain occasions actually warrant a few bottles of soju legitmately, for example Korean barbecue or a night with close friends and food--any other setting is just an excuse to drink. That mindset is definitely a con for a budding beer elitist like myself. I didn't even realize how good I had it back in sunny southern California with all the microbreweries and imports. You could drink some of the top 10 beers in the world for $6/tulip glass. I can't even drink one in the top 500 here for anything less than $0 because it's impossible to find. Think Bud Light, but worse, and then make it cool and convince everybody that it's high quality. Fail. Anyway, I can't say I've ever been to a place where your pride can be measured in how many bottles you can keep down ...until Korea. Yeah, every place has their drinkers, but it's more than a past-time here, it's downright acceptable.
See exhibit A: here
Notice his shirt neatly folded next to him. You can't see it, but his shoes were also pristinely set net to him in a pair. I wouldn't be surprised if a passer-by did it for him. I promise he awoke with both his cellphone and wallet still in his pockets. Oh, and definitely don't miss where his right hand is.
Yeah, the video is funny, but that's not even the point. Nobody was paying attention to him or bothering him: a prime example of how anything-goes with Korean nightlife being acceptable and expected. I guess such a low crime-rate makes the even public cement look safe and comfortable.
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Okay, so I'm making this place look bad. It's not. It's just extreme. Everything that Koreans do, they do it 100%, no matter what it is. They will do ______ harder than you, with guarantee, but only if they care. What Koreans do not know about, they do not care about. Take a K-Pop show for example, it can draw 10,000+ fans to a show every single time, but a rock show could draw 1/20th that if they were lucky. Certain things are acceptable, and certain things are weird. I was in Hongdae a week ago where a dance flash-mob broke out right in front of me.
Flash-mobs are supposed to be surprising and out-of-place, but my reaction was more like, "Oh, there's a bunch of Korean's in hipster high school clothing dancing in unison in the street...
...I'm hungry."
Video
I went to the MBC Gaming Starleage Grand Finals last week, a Starcraft tournament where the final two players (ages 17 and 20) competed in a 12-year old computer game in sound-proof booths in front of 10,000 people. There were pyrotechnics, confetti, commentators, screaming and crying girls, and lots of rabid males in attendance. Another instance of Korean obsession and passion.
Pre-game show with K-pop singer IU
Commentators introducing the matches
Oh yeah, and just in case you get the craving to drink coffee with sheep like I do, you can always go to Nature Cafe in Hongdae: video
Now putting the oddities of this place aside, education is all something that we go through growing up. But in typical Korean fashion, it's nothing like normal. I currently teach kindergarten and elementary students. They go to school from 9:30AM-2:40PM and usually go to some sort of extra-curricular programs after that. Again, I said kindergarten. Once they reach 1st grade, they go to public school from 9:00AM-2:30PM and then typically to an after-school academy (called a "학원", or "hagwon") from 3:00PM-Whenever. By the time they reach middle school, their hagwon stays usually end around 7:00PM-10:00PM, and by high school, it never ends earlier than 11:00PM, daily. Most students have additional classes on Saturdays and complete homework on Sundays. The end result is that South Korea has the top scores in the world on their academics, but if a social-skill or self-confidence SAT were to be created, I'm sure that they would be ranked on one of the lower hanging rungs.
The pressure here is so great to perform that the suicide rate spikes immediately after entrance exam testing.
This doesn't only apply to academics, aesthetics are included. If you know where to look, you can find a plastic surgery clinic on every corner of Gangnam or Apgujeong, i.e. the Beverly Hills of Seoul. I spoke to a very beautiful girl who is an internet model for Korean boutique clothing stores. She told me (without me asking) that she recently had surgery, and explained to me that she didn't think she was beautiful. I was pretty confused by this. I mean, I think I have decent eyesight... Maybe not. But even if I don't, then apparently 4,000+ people that visit her Cyworld page every single day must not be able to see correctly either. Needless to say, vanity wins here. The staff at my school crumble at will when a mother calls up with an illogical and fickle complaint about something that cannot be fixed, but her husband is a rich and successful lawyer; therefore, it must be fixed. Abandon all protocol, this one is serious! ....yeah right. This place has some things going wrong for it, but it has some things that are seriously going right.
Korea knows how to work. They know how to work hard and they know the value of a job done well. When a no-name country bounces from bitter poverty to becoming a fierce economic superpower within 30-years, they are doing something right. They know how to study as well. Boasting the top scores in the world make me wonder how long lazy students back at home in the USA can prop up the country. Korea knows how to have relationships. There are a million restaurants to eat at and never will you see somebody by themselves. Friends call each other, invite each other, check up on each other... It's something that I feel like my home country has fallen out of touch with. Korea knows how to dress. I commonly feel underdressed unless I go out on a limb that teeters between metrosexuality and straight-up gay. When guys can wear bleached-out, torn-up skinny jeans, have huge and long hair, manbags, cardigans, vests, scarves, rings, earrings, etc. every day is like watching some Vogue runway show; except that I'm in a subway.
I don't even know where I'm going with this, but welcome to my world. I'll be posting positive things, negative things, weird things, beautiful things and writing about all the same categories as well. I try to record things or remember them as they happen, but the biggest things I see and feel I can't always write. When you live somewhere this different but do it through their eyes, you learn things that are difficult to re-type. You gain friends that you can't even explain why you are close, but you know you are. You eat dog, drink soju with eel bile, wash it down with fried eel spine bone, then look down the street for another restaurant as soon as you walk out. You check your watch, see that it says 1AM and sigh with relief because it's early. You mention Starcraft as a joke to any Korean male and you'll have a phone number within 10 seconds.
It's quite the place. If you know a Korean, ask them to take you to a legitimate Korean barbeque and just go for it. Eat everything you can, drink everything you can, and ask every question that you want to. If you don't know a Korean, just wear an H.O.T. shirt, because it's totally worth finding at least one. This place is commonly overlooked by China and Japan, but it absolutely shouldn't be. I can't say that I've felt that people are as genuine as they are here once you get past that outer shell, or defense. I grew up in a place where everyone asks about us and wants to be us. I'm an American and won't ever love a place more than that, but I've certainly lost interest in making disregard of other cultures a lifestyle. That choice began long before migrating here, but I think the move put the nail in the coffin for that type of thinking--it's too ignorant and selfish to be worth having pride in.
I was a finance major and I did it in 3 years so I could get out of the gate running. I've been out for a while, but I'm still running. I'm obviously not an English scholar or even a trained teacher, but this place is treating me very well as a guest while I figure these things out and give back whatever I can to them. Many a mother has a "smart daughter" that I should "really meet", and many a girl "wants to learn English" from only me, but we'll see if I can make it back alone, or at least in one piece.
-Andrew
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CA10824 Posts
i remember reading this on your fb
still a good read the 2nd time around!
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16927 Posts
Goddamn you're one hip son of a bitch :<
It's always interesting to read people's takes on other cultures. Great read.
(also add my on fb! lolololo)
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Pretty interesting to know more about my home country. Good read.
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Wow, this is a long blog. Tag for later read. Seems rich of contents though :D.
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NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
That was a really good read :D
I find it really hard to make friends here with anyone, but hopefully in the future that will change. I think it's mainly due to lack of confidence (and language skills) on my part (and also having weird/solitary hobbies that don't include certain things a lot of Korean/foreign people here my age seem to enjoy.) >.<
I've recently made friends with a Korean student from Sejong University (she approached me actually while I was cooking at home.) So, it's been a good experience learning how to approach friendship with a Korean girl, and improving my language skills whilst helping her to get more confident about having conversations in English.
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Awesome read. Very detailed. I can't wait to visit Korea someday
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Awesome read, definitely enjoyed it! Also is the picture you? How does one get beast hair like you?
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Thanks for posting the blog. It was a great read. Anyway you can upload the videos somewhere else? I can't seem to access them on FB.
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On March 23 2011 14:19 Empyrean wrote: Goddamn you're one hip son of a bitch :<
It's always interesting to read people's takes on other cultures. Great read.
(also add my on fb! lolololo)
where teh req?
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AHHHH this made me even more excited to go to Koreaaa. Thank youu! Please right more as you experience more Korea.
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I remember meeting and hanging out with you a bit at Blizzcon 08. Definitely struck me as an awesome guy, and this blog more than confirms it.
It's inspirational, and has me looking at my life and say to myself "what the fuck am I doing?" I'm not going to fool myself and say that I'm going to change things overnight or dedicate myself to things as hardcore at the Koreans do, but I can certainly pick up the pace a bit, I think.
Thanks for the read and insight on Korean culture. I've thought about teaching in Japan/Korea for a few years after I finish college, but I had decided I'd rather get into a Pharmacy program. I want to take a look at things again when I'm closer to graduating in a few years. Thanks again.
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Epic writeup. Always fascinating to learn about different cultures but especially Korea.
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United States5582 Posts
Very good read. Although I'm Korean myself and should know most of my own country's culture (but some things will still be unknown to me since I am a Korean-American), it's always interesting to see a non-Korean's perspective on Korea. I'm very glad to see that you don't adopt the "angsty English teacher stuck in foreign country that is out to get them" mindset that I always hear about; adopting a positive outlook on life will definitely save you from going insane and make you overcome many situations. Your background as you were growing up is also very interesting - it's almost as if fate led you to where you are now. The bit about Koreans doing what they care about in a hardcore manner and not giving a flying fuck about things they don't care about is totally true as well. The ultimate example of this? K-Pop fangirls. They are a fearsome bunch, and definitely not to be messed with.
Anyway, I just wanted to ask you two things:
1. Do you actually like your job as an English teacher? As in, do you think that it's just okay, or would you be able to stay as an English teacher for the rest of/most of your life? I always hear most people going, "Yeah, I absolutely love being an English teacher in Korea! I enjoy it so much!" but then most also go, "But if I was offered another job, I'd totally go for that instead." Do you feel the same way? That being an English teacher is simply a job that helps pay the bills and rent? Picking paycheck over genuine passion for what you're doing? Would you teach English for a few more years, maybe stay a bit more longer, or would you say that you wouldn't want to teach English for the rest of/most of your life and will switch to another job in the future? It's understandable that most people would choose the higher salary over staying at a highly stagnant job, but it seems that English teachers who are truly into what they do and are passionate about teaching students are rare. Part of the reason why I'm asking you this is because I am also aiming to become an English teacher that really wants to help students improve their English in Japan, and am hoping that I can stay in the business for a very long time instead of jumping ship and treating teaching English as a temporary job, like what most other English teachers do in foreign countries.
2. What do you exactly mean by "I can't say that I've felt that people are as genuine as they are here once you get past that outer shell, or defense"? My curiosity has been piqued, I would greatly appreciate it if you could elaborate on this point.
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:/ Can't see the videos :[]
edit: Really nice read!
How did you get your job btw? From some ESL program?
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all of the videos are private!! ahhh! T_T
edit- i want to add you on fb too!~! lols what's your fb? =P
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16927 Posts
On March 23 2011 14:32 Quesadilla wrote:Show nested quote +On March 23 2011 14:19 Empyrean wrote: Goddamn you're one hip son of a bitch :<
It's always interesting to read people's takes on other cultures. Great read.
(also add my on fb! lolololo) where teh req?
What? :O
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Good read.
Haha, I remember you mentioning your dumbass coworkers when I chatted with you for a bit at the TL meetup last year. I agree with most of what you said about foreign teachers in Korea, I get the feeling that a lot of the complaining and negativity comes from people who were never really cut out to live in a foreign country in the first place.
I don't understand how people can dislike it here when there is so much awesome around you every day, but perhaps I'm kind of biased...
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If every foreigner in Korea were like you, I would welcome them with open arms. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth.
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This blog inspired me to ace my test tomorrow. No kidding lol
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On March 23 2011 14:22 NeverGG wrote: That was a really good read :D
I find it really hard to make friends here with anyone, but hopefully in the future that will change. I think it's mainly due to lack of confidence (and language skills) on my part (and also having weird/solitary hobbies that don't include certain things a lot of Korean/foreign people here my age seem to enjoy.) >.<
I've recently made friends with a Korean student from Sejong University (she approached me actually while I was cooking at home.) So, it's been a good experience learning how to approach friendship with a Korean girl, and improving my language skills whilst helping her to get more confident about having conversations in English.
Having this insane "f everything, let's do it" attitude got me so far there. Missing sleep and taking risks, I met people from way across the spectrum, constantly. By the time I left, I was eating at hole in the wall's, hearing gf/bf rants, making friends that knew 0% English, getting into top clubs for free in VIP, playing in a metal band etc. etc. just because I had relationships. People will get hit by cars for you after hardly no time, pretty amazing to see dedication like that without so much cautious research like we do here in the States.
On March 23 2011 15:13 Tomken wrote:
:/ Can't see the videos :[]
edit: Really nice read!
How did you get your job btw? From some ESL program?
Go on Craigslist for the Seoul region, get ready for your head to explode. Though, I think at this point there's better ways to do it all, that's sure a start. And, ESLcafe.com will give you enough reading for ages. Watch out for foreigner scum, though.
On March 23 2011 15:18 Empyrean wrote:Show nested quote +On March 23 2011 14:32 Quesadilla wrote:On March 23 2011 14:19 Empyrean wrote: Goddamn you're one hip son of a bitch :<
It's always interesting to read people's takes on other cultures. Great read.
(also add my on fb! lolololo) where teh req? What? :O
Friend request! fb/andrewmarksmith
On March 23 2011 16:18 Raii wrote: This blog inspired me to ace my test tomorrow. No kidding lol
I like this. If I could always hear positive results of my writing, I'd probably do it or post it a lot more often.
I'll get back to this more later.
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Please do post more later. I'll be anxiously awaiting on a foreigner's inside view of Korea.
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Pretty cool, great to see someone enjoying another country so much.
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Netherlands45349 Posts
You know I have been wondering about the Korean study(or Asian study in general) attitude, I am asian myself but I am totally spoiled western, so I am terribly lazy. I ponder how they can spend so much time on their studies, it is no miracle that they are well educated and very smart in general. If only I could do the same.
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good read^^ very interesting views and background u have there..hope u go to TL meet in april!
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Good read. Would be sick if you shared these videos with everyone.
Have you met any of the people that 'relevant' TLers usually meet once they go to SK? Like Rekrul and the bunch? Or were you not attracted to their lifestyle to begin with? Seeing how you've had no problem socializing I assume you don't value foreign company at all while in Korea.
What do you think about their life choices and could you possibly live a life like that?
Do you have any future plans involving Korea (I would be upset if I didn't get to utilize all that experience)?
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JIJIyO
Canada1957 Posts
Hey handsome, great read.
Just wondering are you still with the girl that you were with from back home? I remember you asking if there was a chance to still be with her, but Rek and Atom said no chance.
Write more! I really like your writing style.
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Very good read. I don't know what it is about the country and culture, but despite my qualms with certain social standards, I've taken a great interest in the country. From my perspective, society is shallow as fuck and uncompromising, and I really don't like a lot of what that entails, but at the same time... they get shit done.
I'm looking forward to visiting I hope to meet-up with a lot of you still over there!
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+ Show Spoiler +On March 23 2011 15:12 Spica wrote: Very good read. Although I'm Korean myself and should know most of my own country's culture (but some things will still be unknown to me since I am a Korean-American), it's always interesting to see a non-Korean's perspective on Korea. I'm very glad to see that you don't adopt the "angsty English teacher stuck in foreign country that is out to get them" mindset that I always hear about; adopting a positive outlook on life will definitely save you from going insane and make you overcome many situations. Your background as you were growing up is also very interesting - it's almost as if fate led you to where you are now. The bit about Koreans doing what they care about in a hardcore manner and not giving a flying fuck about things they don't care about is totally true as well. The ultimate example of this? K-Pop fangirls. They are a fearsome bunch, and definitely not to be messed with.
Anyway, I just wanted to ask you two things:
1. Do you actually like your job as an English teacher? As in, do you think that it's just okay, or would you be able to stay as an English teacher for the rest of/most of your life? I always hear most people going, "Yeah, I absolutely love being an English teacher in Korea! I enjoy it so much!" but then most also go, "But if I was offered another job, I'd totally go for that instead." Do you feel the same way? That being an English teacher is simply a job that helps pay the bills and rent? Picking paycheck over genuine passion for what you're doing? Would you teach English for a few more years, maybe stay a bit more longer, or would you say that you wouldn't want to teach English for the rest of/most of your life and will switch to another job in the future? It's understandable that most people would choose the higher salary over staying at a highly stagnant job, but it seems that English teachers who are truly into what they do and are passionate about teaching students are rare. Part of the reason why I'm asking you this is because I am also aiming to become an English teacher that really wants to help students improve their English in Japan, and am hoping that I can stay in the business for a very long time instead of jumping ship and treating teaching English as a temporary job, like what most other English teachers do in foreign countries.
2. What do you exactly mean by "I can't say that I've felt that people are as genuine as they are here once you get past that outer shell, or defense"? My curiosity has been piqued, I would greatly appreciate it if you could elaborate on this point.
1. Yeah, I actually enjoy teaching. I never set out to be one, but the last couple of years have lent themselves to that cause. Now, I can definitely say that I enjoy teaching older students than younger, but honestly, I used the job to go to Korea. For most teachers, they don't care about Korea and only about the money. It's the same to them as China or Japan. There is a slim group that picks Korea specifically. They are your friends (if they don't like anime).
I'm still teaching now, but college aged students from all different countries. I'm enjoying myself a lot. I'm teaching 30 hr/wk part time and using the income to float myself while I work on a startup company on the side. I'm actually good at teaching, which is a bit sad because it's not necessarily my passion.
2. There's a general shyness or coldness that most Koreans have at first. Whatever you do to get past that, you'll discover that they tend to be the opposite. You actually get called too much, talked to too much, and will be almost annoyed by how much people can want from you once you're friends. It's a bit funny, in that way, but pretty true.
On March 24 2011 00:53 thehorsebecomesking wrote: Good read. Would be sick if you shared these videos with everyone.
Have you met any of the people that 'relevant' TLers usually meet once they go to SK? Like Rekrul and the bunch? Or were you not attracted to their lifestyle to begin with? Seeing how you've had no problem socializing I assume you don't value foreign company at all while in Korea.
What do you think about their life choices and could you possibly live a life like that?
Do you have any future plans involving Korea (I would be upset if I didn't get to utilize all that experience)?
Haha yeah, I know them all. I guess I'm kind of a weird breed. I'm fascinated and drawn to the depths and seek out extreme things. My personality is really intense, so it allowed me to pull multi-club 11AM nights and keep my head on. I could hang with Rek and the rest and still do my own thing in regards to my choices--I didn't feel obligated to live up to the legends written on this very forum. I've woken up in love motels and still had dignity. Rather than trading seed, I've traded secrets and actually found out about pasts and emotions. I think I'm just fascinated with the Korean people because I can relate so much. Rather that just watching what people do, I always want to know why.
To be honest, I could and couldn't life a life like that. I personally struggle with looking at things from an non-moral standpoint and that makes Korea the grayest of places on earth for me. I dabble in all, and never commit to anything fully. I won many friends and experiences, and more are waiting if I choose them. I honestly have no idea what I will do with all of it. Sometimes, Korea is actually hard to reflect on because I can't properly get out all of the things that I experienced. If I try, there's no way it could properly have been received. Koreans can't even explain a lot of the things that actually just, are.
On March 24 2011 08:26 JIJIyO wrote: Hey handsome, great read.
Just wondering are you still with the girl that you were with from back home? I remember you asking if there was a chance to still be with her, but Rek and Atom said no chance.
Write more! I really like your writing style.
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United States5582 Posts
On March 27 2011 13:24 Quesadilla wrote:+ Show Spoiler +On March 23 2011 15:12 Spica wrote: Very good read. Although I'm Korean myself and should know most of my own country's culture (but some things will still be unknown to me since I am a Korean-American), it's always interesting to see a non-Korean's perspective on Korea. I'm very glad to see that you don't adopt the "angsty English teacher stuck in foreign country that is out to get them" mindset that I always hear about; adopting a positive outlook on life will definitely save you from going insane and make you overcome many situations. Your background as you were growing up is also very interesting - it's almost as if fate led you to where you are now. The bit about Koreans doing what they care about in a hardcore manner and not giving a flying fuck about things they don't care about is totally true as well. The ultimate example of this? K-Pop fangirls. They are a fearsome bunch, and definitely not to be messed with.
Anyway, I just wanted to ask you two things:
1. Do you actually like your job as an English teacher? As in, do you think that it's just okay, or would you be able to stay as an English teacher for the rest of/most of your life? I always hear most people going, "Yeah, I absolutely love being an English teacher in Korea! I enjoy it so much!" but then most also go, "But if I was offered another job, I'd totally go for that instead." Do you feel the same way? That being an English teacher is simply a job that helps pay the bills and rent? Picking paycheck over genuine passion for what you're doing? Would you teach English for a few more years, maybe stay a bit more longer, or would you say that you wouldn't want to teach English for the rest of/most of your life and will switch to another job in the future? It's understandable that most people would choose the higher salary over staying at a highly stagnant job, but it seems that English teachers who are truly into what they do and are passionate about teaching students are rare. Part of the reason why I'm asking you this is because I am also aiming to become an English teacher that really wants to help students improve their English in Japan, and am hoping that I can stay in the business for a very long time instead of jumping ship and treating teaching English as a temporary job, like what most other English teachers do in foreign countries.
2. What do you exactly mean by "I can't say that I've felt that people are as genuine as they are here once you get past that outer shell, or defense"? My curiosity has been piqued, I would greatly appreciate it if you could elaborate on this point. 1. Yeah, I actually enjoy teaching. I never set out to be one, but the last couple of years have lent themselves to that cause. Now, I can definitely say that I enjoy teaching older students than younger, but honestly, I used the job to go to Korea. For most teachers, they don't care about Korea and only about the money. It's the same to them as China or Japan. There is a slim group that picks Korea specifically. They are your friends (if they don't like anime). I'm still teaching now, but college aged students from all different countries. I'm enjoying myself a lot. I'm teaching 30 hr/wk part time and using the income to float myself while I work on a startup company on the side. I'm actually good at teaching, which is a bit sad because it's not necessarily my passion. 2. There's a general shyness or coldness that most Koreans have at first. Whatever you do to get past that, you'll discover that they tend to be the opposite. You actually get called too much, talked to too much, and will be almost annoyed by how much people can want from you once you're friends. It's a bit funny, in that way, but pretty true. Thanks for replying to my questions! I don't blame you for using the job to go to Korea, because honestly, most people do, and it's one of the easiest tickets to be able to go live in a foreign country. I also know that most English teachers only care about the money, which disappoints me, because I want to be different from them. (And it's not even that much of a high-paying job with a crazy salary anyway!) The thing I'm most scared of is trying out the experience and finding out that the job is not actually my passion/doesn't fit me at all, because I really want to help out the future generation. But since there are plenty other jobs out there that can help me interact with the younger generation as well, I guess it's alright if I don't stay as an English teacher for a long time.
And I see your point about most Koreans. Some people I know are definitely like that, which is pretty amusing. I hope that the startup company you work at will become more successful and become a daebak, and wish you the best of luck in life!
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again i have to commend you for your good looks.
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3861 Posts
Leona says hi. She's leaving Dean this month.
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On March 23 2011 15:39 phosphorylation wrote: If every foreigner in Korea were like you, I would welcome them with open arms. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. Truth
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On March 28 2011 12:02 lilsusie wrote: Leona says hi. She's leaving Dean this month.
Don't tell me things like this... 어려워.
Actually, can you get her 카카오톸 ID?
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