| Living in another country has its ups and downs, as Aaron will tell you. Here, this American expat gives some tips on going to and living in Korea. He also talks about his jobs in Jeju City, his future plans, and some reasons why--in spite of its good points--Korea isn’t the place for him. |
 Aaron Fowles |
December 12 2006
-Where were you born?
Illinois, USA
-In which country and city are you living now?
I currently live in Jeju City, which is on the South Korean island of Jeju-Do.
-Are you living alone or with your family?
Alone
-How long have you been living in South Korea?
Four months down, eight to go.
-What is your age?
25
-When did you come up with the idea of living in South Korea?
I lived in Poland for three years prior to coming to Jeju. I wanted to return to the USA, but my bankroll was running a bit thin, so I decided to come to Korea to earn some money while teaching English. I came to Jeju instead of the mainland because I was hoping to escape the hustle and bustle traditionally associated with Asian cities. I lucked out; it's very peaceful here.
-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Easy enough. My employer did most of the consular work. I had to send her some documents (including my original diploma) and a few weeks later she sent me a number. I took that number to the Korean Consulate in Chicago and my visa was issued in two days.
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
Nope. It's standard in my contract.
-How do you make your living in South Korea? Do you have any type of income generated?
I'm an ESL teacher. There are literally thousands of ESL jobs available in Korea every year. I found my job on Dave's ESL Café (www.eslcafe.com). I didn't use a recruiter, but many people successfully use one.
I also work on the internet, conducting market research for a major firm. Basically, I scour the web for information for 5 hours per day.
-Do you speak Korean and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
No, I don't speak Korean. I can say "hello" and "thank you," but that's all I really plan on learning. I didn't really come here to immerse myself in the culture. One can operate without knowing Korean, mainly by pointing at pictures of food in restaurants. It's always a surprise because you're never really sure what you're going to get.
Perhaps my attitude isn't what you'd expect from an expat, but I'm not your average expat. Most people don't come to Korea just to earn money. I know many people who are here to experience the culture primarily and the money (which is pretty good) is just a secondary benefit. My motivation was different when I was in Poland, and I came out speaking rather passable Polish.
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I miss home dreadfully. Korea and I just don't mesh well. I feel my life here is very limited. I work ten hours per day (counting both jobs) and I come right home after work. Tuesday is bowling night and Thursday is chess night. On Saturday we play rugby or Ultimate Frisbee and on Saturday nights we go out to drink beer. Occasionally, we break the routine with a trip to a different part of the island or a jaunt to the mainland. Still, I feel cramped.
-Do you have other plans for the future?
Next year I'm going back to the USA and I plan to aimlessly drift around for a year before settling in San Francisco.
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
My boss provides me with a small studio apartment. It's a ten-minute walk from my job and it's cozy. Were I to pay for it, I think it would cost about 600 USD per month.
-What is the cost of living in South Korea?
Food is cheap but clothing and other amenities are expensive. Anything considered even remotely "Western" is absurdly expensive. A domestic brew (which is just as bad as American domestic brew) runs about 4 USD in a bar.
-What do you think about the Koreans?
They're stoic. Confucian, to be precise. They are very emotional people, but they don't betray their emotions to anyone. Korea is a very "come as you are" culture. Once out of high school, fashion is not terribly important. People piss on the sidewalks all the time. It's not terribly frowned upon. Nose hairs grow defiantly out of the nostrils. I find it hard to trust Koreans, as you can never be sure what they are really thinking. That is due to their mindset and their VERY limited command of English.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in South Korea?
Positive:
SAFE. I've not yet heard of something being stolen.
WARM. The climate on the island is quite moderate. It's December 8 right now and it's probably about 10 degrees Celsius outside. Not bad.
ECONOMICAL. I'm making good money.
CONVENIENT. One has access to western conveniences like McDonald's and Starbucks.
Negative:
LANGUAGE. Koreans do not speak English well, so if you want to have any meaningful exchanges you'll need to pick up some Korean. For some, though, that can be a positive point.
QUESTIONABLE EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES. There are countless stories of English teachers being sacked for no apparent reason. Combine that with the Confucian stoicism and stone-rigid faces and you never know if you're going to have a job the next day.
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in South Korea?
1. If you come here, travel light. Chances are good that you'll only be here for one year, so you don't really need your complete Harry Potter collection.
2. Research Research Research. Dig up as much information about your potential employer as possible. Google is your friend in this one.
3. Relax. It can be very stressful for the first month or two, but just relax. Let yourself be carried away. Do new things and keep an open mind.
4. Avoid soju (the local equivalent of vodka). It's cheap, but it's never free. You'll regret it the day after.
5. Swallow your pride. It doesn't matter how right you think you are, you are in a different culture. Koreans think differently than you do. They have a completely different foundation for their thought. Get over it.
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about South Korea?
1. Dave's ESL Cafe. Your one-stop shop for EFL information for Korea and any other country, for that matter. There is a special job board for Korea. (http://www.eslcafe.com)
2. My blog. I'd like to think that I give a nice perspective of life
on Jeju. I also have links to other Korea-based blogs. (http://afowles.blogspot.com)
