I recently received a message from a former colleague who is currently based in Korea. He’s Korean but had been in Japan for a few years before returning to join a start-up a couple of months ago. The reason for his message was that his company is looking to hire and the position is similar to what I had done previously at Google, so he asked if I was interested in it.
The position is based in Seoul and frankly, I really feel like trying for the position. Mainly because it’s based in Korea. Not that I’m a fan of Korea or K-pop, but more so that I get to experience another country, another culture. If anything, I didn’t enjoy my trip to Seoul last May. Largely because I hardly got the chance to interact with the locals. When I visit a place, I don’t care so much about great food or great scenery; I care more about being able to interact with the local people. In Seoul, it’s like every other shop has a foreign staff who can speak either English, Mandarin or Japanese, I barely got the chance to feel I’m in Korea.
It’s been 7 years since I first set foot in Japan and I no longer feel like I’m overseas. Occasionally, I’d imagine myself on a holiday here, and that hearing Japanese on TV is something new. That makes everything fresh. But the metaphysics consultant in my family (my sister) told me that the water element is too strong in me, that I constantly desire to try new things and this instability causes people around me (mainly girls) feel insecure (visit tulipaxanadu.com if you’re interested getting your fengshui or life read). And if I continue pursuing things like that, I may never get married. But since this potential move also means I’m trying to avoid getting into a relationship as well, perhaps my sister is right. I may never get married.
My contract with the current company is about to end but it is most likely going to be extended, and there are also plans to get something else started with a friend, but the Korea opportunity remains very attractive to me. The other option for me is to request for a 3-month break from work to further my Korean language classes in Korea, which might satisfy my desire to live in a different country and experience something new. We’ll see how things work out.
If I do move, my readers might change to a group of Korea-lovers. But I enjoy my relationship with the current existing group of readers who never make offensive comments or try to stir up trouble on this site. Thank you for being nice.
As a lover of many things Japan and Japanese, and also a Kdrama lover, I promise to stay nice and not stir up trouble. I will keep lurking. Ganbateh!
Haha! Thanks!
I always thought that being strong in water element meant having a terrible temper (imagine the strong waves) and being talkative (some say argumentative) …
Oh ya, anyway I always thought of Koreans as a whole seem to have relatively different temperament from Japanese (read: feisty vs mild) . But it will be interesting to find out how u adapt in a different culture. Good luck in your choice! 🙂
Thanks Gwyneth. I’m not so sure about the details but my sis is certified so I guess I can believe what she says. But I am quite talkative =/ Whether I actually move there for work or not, I’d definitely like to study there even for just a month.
Please continue to write even if you move to Korea. I like your blog and have been following it for years.
Thanks a lot, whale!
Hi, I’m yet another Singaporean reader who found your blog via searching for information on a ESL career abroad. I’m in my late 20s, feeling like I need a change and want to live overseas. Like you, my work experience so far is also in the media industry. Thank you for your posts and for taking the time out to respond to comments.
I was also wondering if you know anything about teaching ESL as a Singaporean in countries other than Japan. Because it seems like Japan is the most (and only?) realistic shot that Singaporeans have at an ESL gig abroad. I know Korea is definitely not an option because they require someone to have a Big Seven passport to even apply for a teaching visa. I’m not sure about places like Taiwan or China or even Eastern Europe…do you happen to know anything about the outlook for a Singaporean in those places?
I don’t want to invest the time and money on doing CELTA when I might not end up with that many viable overseas teaching options, and might opt for going to a coding bootcamp or something instead since that’s another seemingly solid option for finding overseas/remote work.
P.S. Just so happens that I just returned from a holiday in Seoul and I totally get what you mean about not feeling like you were really in Korea and wanting to seek out some locals to speak with. But I would still recommend working there if you can. I really enjoyed the feeling of having the great outdoors easily accessible alongside the convenience of a modern city.
Hi Kafka,
Your name reminds me of Shishido Kavka. *random comment*
Anyhow, on the possibility of Singaporeans teaching overseas, I have to first admit, I don’t know a lot of Singaporeans teaching overseas outside Japan regardless of the actual number there is. Nevertheless, a friend with whom I did the CELTA did teach in Beijing for a few years after the course. Of course she’s moved on to doing some other work now, but that means it’s possible. A distant relative of mine owns several English language schools in China and once asked if I was interested to teach there. I turned it down because I was already planning to come to Japan. Some many years ago, the Ministry of Education of Hong Kong was recruiting English teachers in Singapore with TESOL or CELTA to teach in public schools in Hong Kong. So, that’s about as much as I can offer regarding teaching overseas for Singaporeans.
But just because you don’t know anyone who has done that doesn’t mean it can’t happen for you. There has to be the first person to do it, right? And then the others will look at that first person and think, “Oh, so it’s possible.” It all boils down to if you want to take the risk and try to be that first person, or that few people. When I was doing the CELTA though, the English instructors did casually raise the idea that it might be slightly difficult for non-Europeans to try teach in Europe or get any other job for that matter, but the reason is not because we’re Asian or Singaporean. The reason is surprisingly pragmatic: because it’s a much easier process to hire people with European passports than someone without. Still, you see lots of non-Europeans working there. Even more so, now that UK is preparing to exit the EU, the process to hire them might not be that different.
When I decided to pass on the JET Program and head straight to Japan to directly find a teaching job, I didn’t know anyone who already did it this way. There could have been some already, but I didn’t know any. That was the reason why I took the CELTA. To increase my chances against the common idea that I’ll be up against the Caucasians who stand better chances by virtue of being white, I had to have something that place me above these unqualified people who just come here to have fun. But CELTA is not a guarantee, yet if it increases my chances to get what I want, I will do it. And it has worked out well for me so far. If you feel going for a coding bootcamp or CELTA or anything else will get you where you want to be, I’d say go ahead.
And thanks! I’ll think about the Korea opportunity.
Can I threaten to boycott your blog if you move to korea? LOL. Just kidding. Personally, the only thing I like about Korea is their food. But I can see why its an enticing offer to you (and for me, start up environment sounds amazing!).
Maybe you just need to meet another water element and you two can go try amazing new things together all over the world? 🙂
I partly like to shock people so if I do go, I’d just go quietly and suddenly change my status to “Moved to Korea” and watch how people react.
I like that perception! Instead of trying to control that water, might as well let it all out eh? LOL…
For the time being, I’ll listen to my sis, because she’s so far been right about things that panned out for me. Unless a water comes along and sweeps me off my feet.
:'( i`ll be so sad if you do indeed move to Korea. I have been lurking around your blog on and off since late 2012, looking for articles and inspiration as i am also pursuing a dream to live in Japan. I am now one and a half years away to obtain my Degree before i can try for an English teaching job in Japan.
With that said, I hope you do find what you want in life (be it moving to Korea, staying in Japan or returning back to Singapore). In the mean time, please don’t stop churning out all this interesting tidbits about Japan life while you are still there 😀
Thanks for starting up this blog and for being an inspiration to those who want to live in Japan. Every time when the going gets tough i recall one of your earliest quotes which always gives me strength: “It took me 7 years to fulfill my dream of living and teaching here. Don’t give up on yours.”
It’s funny how people tell me my entries inspire them to pursue their dreams but these same group of people, like yourself, probably don’t realise that your comments also inspire me to continue writing. You also remind me of what I wrote in the past because sometimes even I forget how I started out and what my thoughts were.
Thank you Dixon, and everyone who has ever read and/or left a message here.
I’ll try to keep your footprints on this site around as long as I can by continuing to write.