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Article - Interview with Mr.Brooks of CLLC, Canada

Mr. Brooks, a Canadian living in Korea reveals his adventures and success in an exciting interview with hogwan.org.

Want to do more here in Korea? Need some ideas? .....read on.

As my first interview in the 'Successful people' series I would like to go through some basic introductions. My guest is Mr.Garnet Brooks

Intro: Where are you from, where do you live now, and how long have you been in Korea?

GB- Hi, well I am from Nova Scotia, Canada. I lived in Incheon near Seoul. I had been in Korea since 1997, nearly 6 years. Now I am back in Halifax running CLLC.

1) What was your primary reason for coming to Korea?

GB- I had no primary reason for coming here really. All I knew was that I wanted to come to Asia. After university graduation I went to Singapore for a few months where I played rugby and used as a base for other travel until I wrecked my shoulder playing rugby and by then I had been in contact with a friend from home, who told me a bit about work in Korea, so I sought a recruiter out and got a job. Everything was backwards, he sent me to Korea with no visa, and no nothing at all. I didn't care though, I liked the ambiguity and excitement of it all.

2) In your opinion has working at a University opened up more doors than say working at a Hogwan?

GB- Well, that depends on what doors you are talking about. A person who keeps looking will always find doors to open for themselves. As for your CV, a university job definitely looks good. You even get higher pay for more years experience working at a university in many cases. They are tougher jobs to get, many require graduate degrees and experience, and knowing someone always helps. Working at a university makes this easier as far as having a consistent environment and program for research and also the time to be able to work on a graduate degree if you want to. Most universities will have you work less hours than most hogwans. But not always the case, and in Korea as most of us know Anything is possible. Also, most universities have better vacation time, I get nearly 6 months each year paid holidays. My experience has also provided me with a chance to teach at a Canadian university this coming summer.

3) How can foreigners get ahead here?

GB- I think that foreigners must become resourceful. Meeting people, I mean local people and people who have been here a long time and know answers to questions that you have or will be able to give you answers before you even think of the question. I have a large circle of friends both foreign and Korean. And they extend over much of the world now as people have come and gone from here.

But as far as getting ahead, financially, use your contacts. Many foreigners can make a lucrative income through extra or private work. I have seen some bring in well over 5 million won each month. Others, such as yourself have set up businesses. I am also in business now. I just launched an internet company which is a U.S./Canadian based business site that sells a combination program I called The Method which includes personal development, money making, business starting / planning, and even provides ideas. Basically if you want to make more money, anywhere from a few extra bucks to thousands, we provide the tools and ideas as well as motivation and support you need to keep on track. This applies to home business, automated business, internet or offline traditional business. Our business is finding ways to generate income for our customers, and showing them that they can do whatever they want.

Other people have set up hogwans as well. There are many obstacles for foreigners setting up business in Korea, but resourceful people find ways of cutting that red tape.

4) What great memories do you have from Asia in the last 6 years you have been here?

GB- I think that one of the greatest advantages of living in Asia is the things you can see and the memories you can make. Everything from the people you meet, experiences you have both good and bad, they are all wonderful memories. Some of my most pleasant memories are, of course meeting my wife (obligatory mention, with all sincerity), the friendships I have made here have proved to be among the truest ever. And the traveling, living here means that you can travel around to different countries quite easily and cheaply.

One of my most memorable travel experiences was on one of my trips to the Philippines. I went with a group of foreigners and locals to Mt. Pinatubo, which is a huge volcano on Luzon island (the main island). We took a 4 wheel drive for a few hours then hiked for the last 5 hours to the top. When we got there you could not imagine the pristine beauty we witnessed. The crater below was a crystal blue lake, 600 meters deep. All around us was green leaves and new vegetation since its great eruption in 1991, with the lahar piles still huge and vast (lahar is the volcanic ash). As we were hiking up to the volcano the lahar was piled in huge mountains on either side of us, and was beautiful to see and walk among. When we got to the top we actually climbed down in to the crater and swam in the magnificent lake. The water was refreshing, and smelled and tasted of sulfur, as you could imagine, being a volcano. I could not describe in words the feeling and now 3 years later am still in awe of that trip.

I have countless memories and hundreds of photos of the many Asian travels I have done. I highly recommend taking advantage of this and traveling to other countries when you are in Asia. I have been to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Japan, China. And several times to each place, as well as been to most places in Korea. I love being here in Asia, there is so much to do and see, and live!

5) You have been involved in many sports here in Asia, can you elaborate on that for me?

GB- I founded an International Soccer team here in Incheon, the Incheon International Red Dogs. We have had players from several countries all over the world, of many different ethnicities. We were always welcoming players and were a founding member of the first International Soccer league in Korea, the Super Sunday Soccer League. We have participated in International tournaments in China, The Philippines and other countries.

I also played ice hockey with a bunch of other Canadians every Tuesday and Thursday at a local ice rink in Incheon. As far as other sports, before I came to Korea I was in Singapore playing rugby, I also run with a running/social/drinking club called the Hashhouse Harriers, which are in nearly every city of every country in the world. I have participated in Seoul, Philippines, Malaysia, as well as North America. They are a great way to meet fun people and share many laughs. I had started playing ultimate Frisbee here at a grass field in Incheon (I mention that it was grass, because it is tough to find in Korea)! And finally I have been training in martial arts, as many do in Korea. I have achieved black belts in Hapkido (2D) and Taekwon-do (1D).

Whatever your interest, you can find something to do in Korea.

6) As this website is related mainly to the ESL industry in Korea; what is your overall opinion of the industry here...be honest!

GB- I feel that the industry is young here and I have seen many improvements in my time here. The general level of teachers has improved lots. More and more are staying longer and have more experience and education. Most universities, at least in the Seoul, Incheon area are hiring the ones with the experience and qualifications. Hogwans are becoming more respectable and honest, as are the laws that protect foreigners here. I think that the industry in Korea has had a bad rep for a long time, for good reasons, caused both by the foreigners who created the bad rep on their side as well as the Korean owners who also caused trouble, but I feel that for the most part it has improved greatly and is a good place to work now. Korea is really opening up and becoming a good place to work and live. Some people, however, will not like anything, anywhere, only you can dictate whether you like it here or not in the end.

7) What do you think of the influx of young foreigners to Korea ...especially those who do nothing but complain and run home early?

GB- As I said, some people love to complain. We have problems at home as well as in Korea, as we would everywhere, but that is life. Problems let you know you are alive, they make you stronger. As Anthony Robbins said, "the only time you will be problem free is when you are dead and buried." (or something along those lines). As for those people, maybe they just need to get out and meet some people, I know it has worked for me and tons of other people I know. I always invited people I ran into to join one of the many things we were involved with in Incheon, and every city has a group, or many groups of people to hang out with and get involved in something with.

8) How has Korean lifestyle affected you personally?

GB- I am living a life I am happy with. When I was in Canada I was a student, but really bored with Canada. I love to travel there and visit my family, but I love the lifestyle of Asia. I love the food, the relationships, using another language daily, traveling, learning. I am close with my in-laws and participate in all Korean customs and rituals with them. Has Korean lifestyle changed me? Sure, but people change I just changed and grew with different experiences then I would have if I'd spent the time in Canada. I came here when I was 22 and now am 31, right out of university, so I lived all of my post university adult life in Asia. I actually had reverse culture shock the first time I went back to Canada on vacation, that was weird.

9) You, like myself are married to a Korean citizen....did you have trouble accepting Korean beliefs in comparison to Canadian ones? (i.e.: work ethics, social customs, etc.)

GB- Well, I think my wife loves that I also cook and do housework. We live a life that is both Korean and Canadian. We understand and accept each other for our differences and similarities, there is a reason we ended up together, and are very happy at that. I don't like everything about Korea, and the same is true about Canada and the US and just about anywhere. There are things I like and dislike everywhere, as there would be for everyone. The troubles, or dislikes just vary from place to place. I didn't have any trouble accepting any customs though, even the ones I don't like, in the interest of expanding myself and being humble to my host culture I have done things that I did not fully understand or appreciate and went away with a broader sense of understanding. I now felt that I have a deep understanding of Korean culture. I also speak Korean, as my wife and I use Korean only in the home, as we have for the last 5 and a half years. Until recently she didn't speak any English other than the basic, she is learning now though.

10) What would you say to anyone thinking of coming over to Korea?

GB- I would say, do it. This way you never will have to ask yourself, "I wonder what would have happened if I had of?" Just do it.

11) What do you wish you had known before you came?

GB- Nothing, I love the adventure and the fact that I have learned so much through experiencing it every day here.

12) I have chosen to live and work in Korea as you have; I came in 2001 and will probably work here for some time. Do you think there are a high number of 'lifers' here in Korea?

GB- Yes, as you are here longer you meet and stay with them. I have many close fiends who have been here as long as me or longer, and I am meeting more all the time.

13) Even though English is taught in public and private schools here, can you stress the importance of learning Korean?

GB- English is still quite limited among many Koreans. Survival Korean is necessary, and very easy to learn.

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A hearty thanks to Mr. Garnet Brooks for taking the time to answer my questions, and allowing me to post this interview.