Korean Job Discussion Forums

Sheri · Joined: 09 May 2003 Location: Korea

Hi there,

Hoping you can help me out, I'd really appreciate it. I'm in my 4th month of a year contract in the middle of nowhere. Visited Seoul last weekend I want to move there. In my contract if I give one month notice and leave after 6 months, I do not have to re-pay airfare. However, the owner of the school purchased a return ticket. Any suggestions? Also, will schools not want to hire me given these circumstances? I like my students & school but there is nothing to do here... What is the best way to handle this? HELP, please!

Many thanks,
Sheri

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

if you like your school and students, and the only reason you want to leave your contract after four months is 'you have nothing to do there', is that the school's fault? unless you get so 'bushed' that you develop a twitch in one eye, why not settle down and complete the JOB you agreed to complete in full? there are lots of teachers 'in the middle of nowhere' in korea. some rent every video in the local videoshop. some get a motorcycle and tour the countryside. 'seize the moment' changes of heart upon observing the grass grows greener in Seoul is not going to be welcome news to your boss. he has a business to run and you are his investment. it's only a year. you won't DIE of lonliness. hell, with the right attitude, you might be 'born again'(into who or what nobody knows!). I'm sure, since your boss wants you to stay, he would help you licence a motorbike or enroll in a taekwondo class or whatever it takes to help you get the most out of your stay 'out there in the boonies'. Seoul has bad air, and is generally a more wicked, corrupt megopolis than the friendly country nook in which you have been lucky enough to nestle. do you not see the glory of spring emerging about you this fine, sunny sunday afternoon? you won't see that in seoul! life is what happens when you are thinking about something else. in which case going to seoul won't help! save your money, go another eight months, THEN go to seoul. thus a statue of you will be placed in the village square in YOUR honour.

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

The schools have no honor. Do not expect this from Koreans. The have no concept of it....in their minds "You" must do the right thing, but for them it is not always neccessary. Trust me, they do think differently than you or I, they will seem very nice and everything is going great and then bam, you are screwed.
The point is this....DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU AND DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SCHOOL, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DOESN"T CARE ABOUT YOU!

Canuck · Joined: 05 Apr 2003

Bellum, yer a fool. Some schools have no honor.Just like some teachers are drunk fools. In this case, if Sheri left because she is bored, she would be the one without honor. She signed a contract and she admits that the ONLY reason she wants to go to Seoul is because she is bored in her small town. Sounds like a childish thing to do. Sheri signed a contract, she gave her word, and her school is treating her fairly.If they weren't Im sure she would give a good reason for wanting to leave. Instead she says she likes her school. Its HER fault that she went to a small town. The least she could have done is looked at a map of Korea to see where she was gonna end up. She could have done a search on the web to check her new town out. She did none of that. Now shes crying because shes bored. Boohoo.

Sheri, Seoul isnt so great. Its dirty, polluted, crowded. The people are wound up and stressed out. I lived in a small town when I first came to Korea, and then I came here to Seoul. I make it a point to get to that small town where I lived before, every month. Infact, getting out of Seoul at least once a month is a priority for me. Take advantage of your situation.

Stunted Wookie · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Sound Studio

I gotta support Captain Kirk on this one;
Some excellent suggestions to deal with the humdrum of smallsville life....
.....
I think the most rewarding experience comes with sticking it out with a school for the full term. Sure it can be a pain sometimes...but the grass (or concrete) is not always greener on the other side of the fence for sure!

If the school is decent and you want to enjoy the big city lights...take weekend tours and make each trip an adventure. I live in the city and would gladly switch places with you!

All schools are not the same...nor are all scools bad, we just hear about those ones more often Wink