Job Discussion Forums

joe-joe · Joined: 15 Oct 2003 Posts: 100 Location: Baku, Azerbaijan

Schmooj dearest

As promised I will give you a quick first impression of starting a job with the BC, albeit I'm in Baku and you're off to Seoul. Basically everything was well organised and we were paid everything up front, and we were helped with flat hunting, (I got a decent flat within 3 days of arriving). On our first day we were shown the ropes, then on the second day we started teaching. So I would think you won't have any trouble whatsoever settling in once you arrive. They are very helpful, and I'm sooo glad I'm working for such a professional organisation, (at last). Do feel free to contact me if you want any further info

Joe-Joe

unchi pants · Joined: 20 Dec 2003 Posts: 64

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Unchi, I hear what you are saying and I take some solace in it... but honestly, you don't know my situation. I tell it like it is though you only have my word to take for it.

There honestly will be some students we will be in contact with for years to come and there honestly will be students who speak of me for years to come. I know this because it is how the students I inherited spoke of their previous teachers and because I have been through quite a lot with some of my students both in and out of the classroom. Our school is small and very close knit.

I think it's been the "out of the classroom" stuff that has made the friendships worth keeping.

Of course there are many who will not miss me... but they too are unlikely to forget me. I tend to leave that kind of impression on people - both for good and for bad - no real middle ground. Wink

unchi pants · Joined: 20 Dec 2003 Posts: 64

Just out of curiosity, what's the population of where you're living?

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

60,000 give or take a few.
School population is around 170 students and I've taught about 80% of these at some time or other.

Deborann · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 7:00 am Post subject:

It's pretty hard to forget someone with a green face and hair.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Hair?! That's not hair! It's a cabbage... and FWIW, I don't usually wear it in class.

nomadder · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:45 pm Post subject:

You never know. The Japanese tend to have short memories and live in the present so you don't know how long they'll stay in touch. I read this on another thread somewhere. I suppose sentiment is not a big part of the culture.
Once you're no longer of use they tend to forget. You'll probably hear little to nothing from most of them. Of course there are always exceptions.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I disagree. I found that if you become close with a Japanese person, they are friends for life. Some of the closest ex-students I have (from Canada) are Japanese and I've taught a lot of different nationalities (70+).

nomadder · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2004 2:37 pm Post subject:

Japanese students(from Canada) Wink

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I taught them in Canada. Better? Wink

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Knackered. Day trip to Tokyo. Company medical for health insurance. Lasted all of 20 mins each. Took the whole day to get there and back.

Glad they paid Cool

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Got my certificate to enable me to get a working visa at the Korean consulate today. Really starting to sink in now. SOme classes I have taught for the last time. Next week is my last week at this job and almost every day I'm out for lunch and dinner with someone.

Packed 17 boxes some of them very big.

Soon be into single figure days...

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:25 pm Post subject:

Smooch,

Good luck in your venture. I'm sure you'll be fine. :cry:No crying:cry:

LA

PS how are you gunna move so many boxes?

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

THanks LA.

Well my lovely new employer pays for upto almost US$4000 of shipping for me. I'm actually doing the shipping via the post office. In Japan, if you have a large amount of stuff, you give their English helpline a ring and they come round to your door and get it. Nice and easy.

You should have seen how much stuff we chucked out and we aren't taking any furniture at all. I have no idea how we ended up with so many boxes.