Comments for Once A Traveler http://onceatraveler.com Running and traveling across the seven continents Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:01:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on It’s Not Korea I’m Leaving by noe http://onceatraveler.com/its-not-korea-im-leaving/comment-page-1#comment-4490 noe Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:01:57 +0000 http://onceatraveler.com/?p=2040#comment-4490 Scary indeed and something worth thinking about now. Scary indeed and something worth thinking about now.

]]> Comment on Korean Students: Things Are Never Looking Up? by Mack Reynolds http://onceatraveler.com/korean-students-things-are-never-looking-up/comment-page-1#comment-4484 Mack Reynolds Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:37:13 +0000 http://onceatraveler.com/?p=2029#comment-4484 That is a bit sad, but it's also the culture. They do so well because that's how they are raised. Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers, talks about all kinds of cultural norms and how some things can be attributed to cultural history. I mention this because there's a segment in the book talking about why Asians are typically good at math. Very interesting, but the book doesn't show how sad Asian students can be because of their rigorous schooling. That is a bit sad, but it’s also the culture. They do so well because that’s how they are raised. Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Outliers, talks about all kinds of cultural norms and how some things can be attributed to cultural history. I mention this because there’s a segment in the book talking about why Asians are typically good at math. Very interesting, but the book doesn’t show how sad Asian students can be because of their rigorous schooling.

]]> Comment on Korean Students: Things Are Never Looking Up? by noe http://onceatraveler.com/korean-students-things-are-never-looking-up/comment-page-1#comment-4468 noe Mon, 29 Aug 2011 06:47:12 +0000 http://onceatraveler.com/?p=2029#comment-4468 Luckily it seems I am one of those few whos given complete control this time around. Working on a syllabus now. Luckily it seems I am one of those few whos given complete control this time around. Working on a syllabus now.

]]> Comment on Living in Korea by the Numbers by Turner http://onceatraveler.com/living-in-korea-by-the-numbers/comment-page-1#comment-4463 Turner Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:22:23 +0000 http://onceatraveler.com/?p=1990#comment-4463 Really? With your blog, I thought you'd be an institution by now. Anyway, I'm out in the countryside in an 11-pyeong apartment, so rent is probably only 500,000 (covered by my job). Wired home is just that; I sent the money to my American bank account from a KB bank and used it to pay off my credit card. Really? With your blog, I thought you’d be an institution by now. Anyway, I’m out in the countryside in an 11-pyeong apartment, so rent is probably only 500,000 (covered by my job). Wired home is just that; I sent the money to my American bank account from a KB bank and used it to pay off my credit card.

]]> Comment on Living in Korea by the Numbers by kushibo http://onceatraveler.com/living-in-korea-by-the-numbers/comment-page-1#comment-4462 kushibo Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:12:53 +0000 http://onceatraveler.com/?p=1990#comment-4462 Wow, that's kind of a lot. I agree it's not <i>that</i> hard to save money (I managed to save in a bit over five years enough for a substantial down payment on an old apartment), but with things more expensive than before and pay scales a bit stagnant, I wasn't sure how this played out. Can you be more specific with the "wired home"? How much is rent, etc.? What kind of place is it? (Sorry if this is covered elsewhere, but I've so far only been an occasional visitor here.) Wow, that’s kind of a lot.

I agree it’s not that hard to save money (I managed to save in a bit over five years enough for a substantial down payment on an old apartment), but with things more expensive than before and pay scales a bit stagnant, I wasn’t sure how this played out.

Can you be more specific with the “wired home”? How much is rent, etc.? What kind of place is it? (Sorry if this is covered elsewhere, but I’ve so far only been an occasional visitor here.)

]]> Comment on Korean Students: Things Are Never Looking Up? by Tom http://onceatraveler.com/korean-students-things-are-never-looking-up/comment-page-1#comment-4453 Tom Sun, 21 Aug 2011 06:34:34 +0000 http://onceatraveler.com/?p=2029#comment-4453 Eurgh Obama needs to stfu when he looks at the Korean education system and he should actually look at the facts - Korean kids score well on MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS that they're prepped endlessly for. Anything involving thought or opinion and they fail miserably. My kids have almost no free time. When they're not at English hagwon, they're at math, science or history hagwon. Their weekends are spent doing homework. This is ten year olds we're talking about. The Korean education system is seriously flawed - Koreans are great at replication, but not innovation. Look at Samsung vs Apple's recent case - Samsung copied the iPad, then demanded to see all of Apple's future plans so as to avoid "making the same mistake again" - HA! Nice try, Samsung. Kids don't have time to be kids here, and as such Korea is raising a generation of spoiled brats who's parents make up for the lack of free time by buying them and letting them do anything that they want. Even the Korean teachers comment on how little respect many of the students have, and they all put it down to the kids having no free time. Eurgh Obama needs to stfu when he looks at the Korean education system and he should actually look at the facts – Korean kids score well on MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS that they’re prepped endlessly for. Anything involving thought or opinion and they fail miserably.

My kids have almost no free time. When they’re not at English hagwon, they’re at math, science or history hagwon. Their weekends are spent doing homework. This is ten year olds we’re talking about.

The Korean education system is seriously flawed – Koreans are great at replication, but not innovation. Look at Samsung vs Apple’s recent case – Samsung copied the iPad, then demanded to see all of Apple’s future plans so as to avoid “making the same mistake again” – HA! Nice try, Samsung.

Kids don’t have time to be kids here, and as such Korea is raising a generation of spoiled brats who’s parents make up for the lack of free time by buying them and letting them do anything that they want. Even the Korean teachers comment on how little respect many of the students have, and they all put it down to the kids having no free time.

]]> Comment on What the US Debt Crisis Means to Me by Andrea http://onceatraveler.com/what-the-us-debt-crisis-means-to-me/comment-page-1#comment-4428 Andrea Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:07:44 +0000 http://onceatraveler.com/?p=1997#comment-4428 I dream of the day we get to return to the US (I've been living overseas for six years and miss family and friends) - but I'm pretty afraid of what the US may look like when we finally do return (probably in 2-3 years). I read The Economist too and keep up with what's going on - you've put it really well here and I just wanted to let you know that I share your fears. Good luck with your homecoming and I look forward to reading about how you go! I dream of the day we get to return to the US (I’ve been living overseas for six years and miss family and friends) – but I’m pretty afraid of what the US may look like when we finally do return (probably in 2-3 years). I read The Economist too and keep up with what’s going on – you’ve put it really well here and I just wanted to let you know that I share your fears. Good luck with your homecoming and I look forward to reading about how you go!

]]> Comment on Here’s to Another Two Months by Mack Reynolds http://onceatraveler.com/heres-to-another-two-months/comment-page-1#comment-4424 Mack Reynolds Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:20:10 +0000 http://onceatraveler.com/?p=2015#comment-4424 that's cool man. i have a friend who's teaching english over in korea. she actually speaks the language but has to hide it from her students. she's funny. good luck getting with the eat your kimchi team. that mouse was pretty well drawn. graffiti: bridging cultural gaps. that’s cool man. i have a friend who’s teaching english over in korea. she actually speaks the language but has to hide it from her students. she’s funny. good luck getting with the eat your kimchi team. that mouse was pretty well drawn. graffiti: bridging cultural gaps.

]]> Comment on My History with Alcohol by Erin http://onceatraveler.com/my-history-with-alcohol/comment-page-1#comment-4423 Erin Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:21:13 +0000 http://onceatraveler.com/?p=2004#comment-4423 Haha, I'm going to have to hear that impression of Mr. Mackey sometime. I had no idea you had those views of drinking, but now that I think back, I do remember you turning down drinks at a Madrigal party. I've never felt pressure to drink. Even with group of people who are going out for the sole purpose of drinking, if I abstain, I never get weird looks. Yeah, people get stupid the more they drink, so it's maybe not as fun, but I've never felt as though not drinking was not an option. Haha, I’m going to have to hear that impression of Mr. Mackey sometime. I had no idea you had those views of drinking, but now that I think back, I do remember you turning down drinks at a Madrigal party.

I’ve never felt pressure to drink. Even with group of people who are going out for the sole purpose of drinking, if I abstain, I never get weird looks. Yeah, people get stupid the more they drink, so it’s maybe not as fun, but I’ve never felt as though not drinking was not an option.

]]> Comment on What the US Debt Crisis Means to Me by danielle http://onceatraveler.com/what-the-us-debt-crisis-means-to-me/comment-page-1#comment-4419 danielle Sun, 07 Aug 2011 03:36:02 +0000 http://onceatraveler.com/?p=1997#comment-4419 I'm right there with you Turner. My contract is up the first week in November and I've decided to go home too. My mother wants me to stay in Korea because of the bad economy, but my boyfriend and I both cannot handle the idea of teaching at a hagwon anymore. The hardest part of leaving will be knowing that we won't know the next time we'll see a decent pay check. I'd much rather try to make it back home and fail, only to come back to Korea and teach again, than to extend my contract and not know whether or not I could have survived at home. Great post!! I’m right there with you Turner. My contract is up the first week in November and I’ve decided to go home too. My mother wants me to stay in Korea because of the bad economy, but my boyfriend and I both cannot handle the idea of teaching at a hagwon anymore. The hardest part of leaving will be knowing that we won’t know the next time we’ll see a decent pay check. I’d much rather try to make it back home and fail, only to come back to Korea and teach again, than to extend my contract and not know whether or not I could have survived at home.
Great post!!

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