Thanks, good to know! That must be new.

Norell: How long does it take you to read and learn a new language? Say, 3 months? That’s when this post was written and in 2010.

Outsiders assume that the obvious is easy and “basic”. In actuality, when you’re an expat, the simplest things are no longer simple and nothing is “basic”. It’s a new twist on life and only an expat will understand this. If you read my Just show me Pictures posts, you’ll get sorta a drift but not the entireity. Most expats need their coteachers for everything from setting up bank accounts, filling out their Korean tax forms, and a ton of bureaucratic forms you never knew or don’t understand. You just arrive in Korea with your freshly learned Hangul .. great- now you can read a food menu, but you still won’t know the foods you’re reading. I took a fair amount of Korean language classes during my time! You’re assuming to know lot about me without having been there or knowing all the facts. My time there I cherish, but it was not easy.

@Gi: I had a crappy start with but many things made me decide to stick it out… the fact i knew I was going through a culture shock sickness, which most all expats go through. I wasn’t the only one. … secondly, the fact it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live/work in Korea and whatever emotion I was going through is always going to be temporal and influenced by my outlook and perspective, but that experience/memory of living abroad will be forever… third, the fact I’d gotten myself that far and no one else in my friend zone had accomplished a feat like that. Living and working in a country outside your own via work visas, doesn’t come easily and it’s not every day you’ll get to experience a foreign country from a first hand POV. It’s a privilege and a blessing and an adventure. Of course, being an expat you have to realize, you will go through those mood swings often, because Korea (or anywhere else) is not your country and what takes you one step in your country will take you several in another. I’m glad I stuck it out– out of all my decisions and travel memories, this is one that I’m extremely proud of… it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Don’t let a short term feeling/fear/doubt/disruption psyche you from holding onto a dream.

How are you guys surviving? Holding up? The depression has gotten real and I’m trying so hard to hang onto the positive, the kindness, and the patience of others. (I realize now that I’m hanging onto things externally..) I want to leave, but also find myself not making that call yet. I do want to see this through but .. I don’t know what I’m trying to say. I guess maybe I’m just reaching out. What was it that made you decide to stick to “My survival and getting out of this funk with Korea rests solely upon me now.”

@Amanda: Thanks Lady! I appreciate the link!!!!! (BTW- I just found your comment. Somehow it tangled in my Spam filter? Thanks for posting!

Poor Poor Chris!! I think you should just wear your facemask February through June, period.

Thanks Christo. Hooray for you! Glad you remembered you were not Korean & pulled your “waygook card”. Fighting! (if you haven’t heard it yet, you will) I can’t believe yr apt fiasco is carrying on another week after you finally moved to a new place! “Dynamic” is not what I would call it at this point & you’re def. one of the people that gives me comfort as well. Coincidentally, I pulled my 2nd waygook card today- I was direct w/ my CT about my feelings toward her & why…I initially a bit loud too. I’ve been holding off on labeling my situation here, but its time.

As travelers, we try our best to “be open, sensitive & respectful” to the cultures we enter,..we give people a chance for change & when they don’t, we find ourselves fighting disappointment, anger & depression…amidst culture shock. It’s all very fatiguing. What you said in your blog
about your experience of Korea being, so far, a one-way street in the give/get department; unfortunately, it’s my experience so far too. Some EPIKers are treated w/ welcome & worship by their CTs/schools; then, you’ve got “the neglected” whose bubble burst the day they arrived to a crap situation & found no welcome, support or guidance extended. All you’re given is expectations for WORK, which you must also “work” to figure out… it’s like attempting to read instructions written in Hangul… w/o a translator! Cant wait to read your next blog to hear what went down. chuckle.

http://web.kma.go.kr/eng/weather/asiandust/timeseries.jsp?area=0&stnId=143&view=1

To see a expat-friendly warning guide, go to http://www.korea4expats.com/

On the left hand side, i think, should be a yellow-dust warning indicator thingy

HTH — Amanda