I have been quite depressed recently to be honest. Before leaving Korea I had no idea that returning would be such a challenge. If I would have known it would have been this hard, I could have put more efforts into finding a job while I was there. The main difficulty is thus work related. Or rater – it’s a visa issue. An easy way for a foreigner to work abroad is to teach English, and that would have been a perfect job for me in Seoul. The problem is that in Korea, regardless of the applicant’s English skills, she needs to be a native English speaker and have a passport from Australia, America, England or South Africa. And since I am Swedish, that is not an option for me.
After some research I have found that my only chance of obtaining a working VISA is if a Korean corporation would hire me. And because I don’t speak Korean, that is quite unlikely. However, I have always been lucky so I have not yet lost all faith. But, it is quite a depressive reality I am in right now. I don’t quite know what to do. Luckily my boyfriend’s English is not good enough to be reading this. He would be very upset if he knew that I don’t know when, if at all, I can return to Korea.
aww
don’t be too depressed. Things will always work out somehow. You said that that you might be interested in writing for magazines, maybe you could start off writing for Korean-English news websites? You wouldn’t have to write hard news, you could write on things which interest you e.g. fashion, night-life.
I hope you will be able to find a job that suits you
thank you – but the problem is that it is a lot more work for a company to hire someone who is not native eng speaker.
I don’t mind writing about all kinds of stuff – i have, after all, studied politics, economy, history, environmental sience and all kinds of thiings for years at university – so of course i am interested…. I have faith it will work out too. thanks for cheering me on!!
hey, have you been thinking about the work and travel permit?
Don’t give up!
You could stay in Korea for a least a year, go travelling, try various kinds of jobs, and perhaps, just perhaps you’re lucky enough to convince a company to hire you. Permantly…
Cheers, Nicole
i am quite sertain that there is no “work and travel permit” between sweden and korean – i think that i would have come across it somehow already if there was, and the embassy would probably have mentioned it too. Thank you though for being a support!
I have not given up – not at all. I was just suddenly shocked about the struggle i am now facing. But now when i have emotionally dealt with it – i am back on top and i have many friends in seoul who are all hiving me a hand in this. I feel very blessed in having so many fantastic people behind me:)
//Woori paula
Please Paula, be strong, you will find at the end!
Does anybody in Seoul who wants to learn Swedish?
maybe you can teach Swedish?! who knows?
Or maybe is there some swedish or english/American brands which are in business with Korea, so maybe they need somebody in Seoul…
Or, i have some french friends who works for websites in Korea.
Please don’t give up, i think you shine a lot there
Take care.
S.
thank you so much. I have decided to go back in August after all. Maybe on turist visa – I have been working quite alot over the summer and saved my money:)