Have you ever fancied living and working in Korea? If so, this months guest post is for you!
It comes from Tom Stockwell, a 25-year old Brit (27 according to Korean age – don’t ask, he says!) who has been teaching English in Daegu, South Korea, since June 2009. Ever since Tom had his nose stuck in an atlas from a young age (he was a strange child), he’s wanted to travel the world and I’m excited be able to share his story of how he made his travel dreams come true by moving abroad.
When he’s not teaching, Tom can be found eating copious amounts of Korean barbecue (and swilling it down with equally questionable amounts of Korean alcohol) and planning trips to faraway places around his meagre vacation time.
You can read more about Tom’s adventures in Korea at his blog Waegook Tom, which includes information on living and teaching in Korea, as well as twitter and facebook.
Thanks Tom!
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What Made You Want To Move Abroad?
Well, like a lot of people, I was hit by the recession. I was working for a finance company, which then got taken over by a well-known bank. The bank then proceeded to fire half the employees of the department I’d been aiming to move to for over a year and put a freeze on recruitment.
Bummer.
A few months prior to that. a relationship that I was in for two and a half years fell apart, and naturally I was wanting a change – I’d always dreamed of travelling the world, but my debt prevented me from doing so.
How Do You Support Yourself Living Abroad?
Like most western expats living in South Korea, I work as an English teacher. My job is 3pm to 8 or 9pm, Monday to Friday, teaching kids who range in age from 6 years old up to 16 years old.
As an expat, you’re also prone to landing things such as TV work, too (I’ve been on Korean television three times now!) Plus, I did some modelling work – thankfully those pictures have been lost on the internet forever. The Old Spice Guy doesn’t have to worry about his job any time soon.
What Have Been The Easiest And Hardest Parts Of Living Abroad?
Everything here being super cute helped with settling in, too. You feel safe when even the cakes smile at you.
As for difficulties – organisation is an issue. In my workplace, common sense can often go out of the window – I won’t get told about a class I have to teach until ten minutes after the class has begun whilst I’m in the middle of dinner, and it’s a miracle if I find out the next month’s schedule more than two days in advance. For a planning geek like myself, this can be seriously frustrating!
Christmas decorations are left up here all year round, too. I don’t think Korea’s quite grasped the concept that Santa only does his rounds in December. Or maybe they’re hopeful for a mid-year visit?
What Advice Would You Have For Anyone Thinking Of Moving Abroad, And More Specifically Korea?
I’ve read blogs online that have disparaged South Korea and painted the whole country in a negative light, based on their own less-than-stellar experiences.
Yet, these stories all have one thing in common – lack of research. One stemmed from a person coming to Korea on a “semi-legal visa” – I’m sorry, what?!? Other people simply forget to do the common sense things – ask current expats what the working and living conditions will be like.
As for people moving abroad in general, being open-minded is also another thing that goes without saying, really. The people who have the worst time in a new country are the ones who constantly moan about there being no Taco Bell or complain about people not being able to understand them when they speak in English, even when they speak re-al-ly sl-owwww-lyyyy. It makes me want to bang my head against a brick wall sometimes. Or bang their head.
What Are Your Travel Plans For The Future?
Argentina – steak. Japan – super fresh sushi. Greece – everything. Perhaps there’s a pattern developing here…
I’d especially love to visit Malaysia, as my mum lived there when she was a teenager and I’ve heard so many fascinating stories about it – the Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant Chinese and Indian districts, and the alarming frequency with which geckos dive-bombed into their morning porridge.
Maybe I could do without the geckos.
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Thanks for posting this up Nicole, it’s much appreciated! Also, I just realised I used the phrase, “any time soon” a fair bit haha! Have a great weekend 🙂
Great post and I’ve long been interested in teaching in Korea – since I visited there while teaching in Japan, and reinforced after I taught heaps of Korean students here in Australia. I think I’d really enjoy it – but it’ll have to wait a couple of decades until my little boy has grown up!
No worries, thank you! : ) Haha, well anytime soon is a good phrase!
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it Amanda. How did you find teaching in Japan? I’m right next door, but have yet to visit.
By that time, Mandarin might the the lingua franca of choice – better start studying those Chinese characters!
Thank you for this great post. Greatly appreciated. I gone to Korea when I’m 5 year’s old, but this post realized my childhood days. Any ways enjoy the week end there!!