How has your attitude to Korea changed?

Thanks for the response. The jobs I'm seeing pay more than low 2s. More like low 3s, but I also know there's quite often paid overtime at universities to boost the salary. My wife will work as well, and should make about the same. Unfortunately cost of living in the UK is just sky high right now. For example, we're paying about £1000 a month for our 2 lil uns to go to nursery 3 days a week. Its madness.

We're looking at South Seoul/south Gyeonggi, to be near family. Plan is to live with her family for a few months to find our feet, then depending on the housing market and whetehr we've settled in an area, either jeonse for two years then buy, or buy right off.

I know it's not perfect, but as I said I think our quality of life will be higher in Korea than the UK.

Low 3's is acceptable if there is overtime and opportunities for extra teaching.  Also if you're wife can work sometimes or even part time, that can help.  Real estate in Seoul will require a very high income and even many parts of Gyeonggi.  But if you can live further away from Seoul it will let you save on that front.  But I would say combined income closer to 6 mil to have a crack at some decent real estate in Seoul for a newer family aprtment maybe more.  If you don't mind renting with high rent and a mdoerate deposit or a high deposit and low to moderate rent, that can work too.  As for the UK, I don't know much about it but hear London is a nightmare.  If a uni with a small town in the northern part of England is cheaper, that may be your best bet assuming same salary.  I think you do have your heart set on here and it can be made to work.  Living with your wife's folks for a few months until you get on your feet is the best plan. 

Only sysadmin can ban accounts / IP addresses (although apparently lvl4 mods can delete user names and accounts?).

Speaking of, I just deleted comments from this particular thread because there were, like, a dozen reports on here, and it looked very similar to the kind of threads that caused several people (who were not involved in the arguments directly) to leave the site last semester. 

Please remember that this is a professional site and to keep flaming to a minimum.
Keep in mind that if a comment seems to be targeting you, it might sometimes be better to flag it for moderation rather than replying to it.

Apologies if the censorship seems excessive, but I think the topic subject is interesting, and felt that returning the thread to topic was preferable to locking it or whatever.

  So, maybe it is time to focus on conversations about the topic at hand.  BTW, I heard you had Corona.  Hope you are feeling better.  (I had the Omicron? in the spring.  Not terrible but not great either.) 

Thanks.
It was alright. A week of 38.x temps, and headaches.
Nobody else in the apartment caught it, which was great, and justified all the pretty inconvenient precautions we took to make it that way.
Got a lot of reading done, and did a lot of house cleaning. Gonna wait another week or so (just to be super safe) and then start hosting stuff again!

oh man!  I got a fun personal message sent to me from the 77 himself but then he blocked me before i could respond.  It just hurts my feelings so much. Like a spirit with unfinished business. Ghosted by the king

oh man!  I got a fun personal message sent to me from the 77 himself but then he blocked me before i could respond.  It just hurts my feelings so much. Like a spirit with unfinished business. Ghosted by the king

Throw it up.  If he sent it, it's fair game.  Hilarious that he sent it and then blocked you.  He wants to have the last word.  What a little kid. 

Throw it up.  If he sent it, it's fair game.  Hilarious that he sent it and then blocked you.  He wants to have the last word.  What a little kid. 

i guess im just happy to be part of his signature now.

back on track though,  I got here a long time ago, and it was a lonesome place originally. Im glad to have found a niche in a special place that allows me ample time to explore. Ive seen most of what Korea has to offer, from the beautiful east coast beaches to the mountains in the north. The island pocked south and the muddy tidal waters along the west. I have no use for big cities so i prefer to spend my time exploring the quieter areas. Theres a beautiful lake area and river ive been meaning to get to called Okjeong Ho  (옥장호). I'm happy to be in such a lovely country with some peace and quiet between the chaos,.

i guess im just happy to be part of his signature now.

Thanks, I didn't even notice he had changed that.  I'm glad I finally got added to the list.  He's really throwing a days long tantrum.  I like how he was on here on Saturday and Sunday calling a load of people here losers that have no life. 

back on track though,  I got here a long time ago, and it was a lonesome place originally. Im glad to have found a niche in a special place that allows me ample time to explore. Ive seen most of what Korea has to offer, from the beautiful east coast beaches to the mountains in the north. The island pocked south and the muddy tidal waters along the west. I have no use for big cities so i prefer to spend my time exploring the quieter areas. Theres a beautiful lake area and river ive been meaning to get to called Okjeong Ho  (옥장호). I'm happy to be in such a lovely country with some peace and quiet between the chaos,.

Sounds similar to what I like to do. I explored a good bit of Korea in stint 1, especially the mountainous regions as I love hiking. Any places in particular you'd recommend? Pleasant suprises? I am excited to get back exploring. TIA

Korea is a good place to be, if everything works out for you.

I think that could apply to most anywhere.

i guess im just happy to be part of his signature now.

wait, im up on there too  huh, i always thought i took it kinda easy on him compared to the rest of you guys

wait, im up on there too  huh, i always thought i took it kinda easy on him compared to the rest of you guys

Well, call me wangtta!

the fellowship of the 'trolls'

When hangook is still in the know and replies in his signature even though he said he blocked all the haters.

Question- What's the waygook.org policy on parody accounts?

Only sysadmin can ban accounts / IP addresses (although apparently lvl4 mods can delete user names and accounts?).

Speaking of, I just deleted comments from this particular thread because there were, like, a dozen reports on here, and it looked very similar to the kind of threads that caused several people (who were not involved in the arguments directly) to leave the site last semester. 

Please remember that this is a professional site and to keep flaming to a minimum.
Keep in mind that if a comment seems to be targeting you, it might sometimes be better to flag it for moderation rather than replying to it.

Apologies if the censorship seems excessive, but I think the topic subject is interesting, and felt that returning the thread to topic was preferable to locking it or whatever.

can I flag a profile for directly calling me a loser and poor?

on every thing a person posts, it includes a passage about me being a loser.
it just hurts my feeling so much.  its causing me such distress.
this person was just given a month long ban, then the first thing they did when they came back was call me a loser.
im crying.

can I flag a profile for directly calling me a loser and poor?

on every thing a person posts, it includes a passage about me being a loser.

Um, I'd think so, yes.
If it's a no go in a comment, I'd assume the same would be true for a sig.
I'll see if I can get it removed (I don't think I can do it directly, as us mod noobs can't edit profiles in any way).

Question- What's the waygook.org policy on parody accounts?

It depends on how funny they are. 
But seriously, if one really offends you, you might be able to shut it down by talking to the right folk.

What a good idea Marti! I forgot that there were two of you for a time. Perfect timing if anyone wanted to try 

I was thinking of starting up one...

And in the spirit of fair play, I encourage 'Fake DeMart' to return

It goes in phases.

Of course in the beginning I went through shock for days and weeks, I didn't know how to operate here at all and wondered if I'd made a mistake.

Then I went through a honeymoon period for some months in which nothing bothered me, everything was fascinating.

By year 2 I started to leave behind Itaewon, bars and socializing exclusively with other foreigners. I started to find my niche with pursuits and activities that provided long term interest to me in the country. But I was still mostly uncomfortable around Koreans.

Then the angry phase lasted several years, in which I was usually annoyed by Korean behaviour. The  stares, every little cultural difference and microagression got under my skin. I could not stand the apparent racism and rudeness.

Gradually I started to have more Korean friends than foreigners. Started to feel more  at home.

Now, years later, I feel much more settled and enjoy being here a lot. I like Koreans, I have a general appreciation for their old fashioned politeness and adaptability. I think the younger generation shows great promise, they are a versatile people and I can see a whole lot of ways in which Korea is better than the west.

You stayed several years after being annoyed?  I was in a blur my first year and still had some magic the second as I discovered new interests, etc.  I think all the free time from schools and education offices not being strict gave me time to travel, cycle, hike, etc.  Left after my last class and little desk warming, extra days off, etc.  So, it was great.  I seemed able to date quite a bit though women kept it discrete.  But I noticed after 2 and a half years to 4 years or so, it seemed the racism was stepping up, the micro aggressions, etc.  The cockblocking, dirty looks, etc.  It got to the point by 2010 though I was living in a bigger city by this time that I was ready to leave.  I was almost getting into fistfights and I did start yelling at some people quite a bit and flipping off folks.  I didn't seem to notice the racism as much when I first came.  Maybe the Korean media was stepping it up with lots of fake news about foreigners and Free Trade and beef.  Not sure but it really ramped up by 2009 and 2010, though it had been around earlier I later heard.  (Apparently some veterans told me the racism ramped up by 2002 and elected Noh Mun HYun on anti Americanism but this was before my time.) 

But as soon as I was ready to finish my contract and leave, I got sent to the best school I ever got sent to.  We started getting sent to one school for 2 or 3 years.  So, I went to this middle school which treated me well and as an equal.  No racism.  Teachers all very nice and supportive of each other.  Principal was a former English teacher who really liked me.  We always went on trips together the whole school renting a bus on a Friday or an exam afternoon and we always visited some unique spot.  One Saturday we went up to Paju English Village and explored a nearby art center.  Best school I ever had.  2011ish?  So, I renewed.  Principal practically begged and kids did too.  I went to some decent schools after this though not as good as this one.  Then started going to multiple schools again.    I was close to leaving because I had enough even though it was good money at the time (compared to now).   MY schools have been decent though I did have a rough year recently with some hard core contract obsessed teachers which were annoying.  Most Koreans on the street are nice enough or indifferent.  I don't sense much racism anymore.  Only down side is the pay and sometimes the job can be too strict or micromanaging (well for many) compared to the past. 

Korea is a very different country in 2022 versus 2006 that's for sure.  Some pros and some cons.   It was cool being in the countryside and being "rare" .  As I started to pick up some Korean, I'd bike in the countryside and some older Koreans would talk to me in Korean.  Sometimes, even biked in a village (Maeul) and they'd be sharing food and would motion me over.  We had to chat in Korean.  (No smart phone translation then.)  They were surprised to see this white guy pop up and speak some basic Korean with them.  It was really cool.  Great memories.  I really miss that.  It is easier now as so many know English or some basic English words.  Combined with simple Korean and smart phone translation, it is much easier to get things done and communicate now.  This was like 2008 and 2009.  The good old days and the bad old days at the same time....

No....don't think of the children!