Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bixlerscott]

While this is somewhat a trivial amount of Won, it is indicative that I could suffur serious problems later on if I do not establish a good working relationship after having tried in vain. Sure they need me, but I want to be wanted and liked for good reasons and money is not it. I have sensed the director was disappointed with what she paid to have flown over here since day one, making me feel awkward as can be, though she is not constantly hating on me. My foreign co teachers and head teacher feels that this is bunk for me to be treated this way. Your advice please.

Yep, I got hit with the 60,000 won Xfer fees on utilities when moving. When I asked my director(tactful and respectful of course, but direct to the point), her reply was, "becuase you wanted to move. Why didn't you ask me about this last week? Didn't vice director already explain this to you?". I was like, "you were not around last week when I looked and vice director did not explain it, she said to take it to you and it was not my choice to move on account of no heat all winter and mold making me sick. Being that the school will have this apartment for several years to come, I feel I am being penalized and the deductions were a little high."
When I told vice director about no heat (landlord refused to fix) all through January and February (not in a complaining or negative manner) and then the mold making me sick for 1 1/2 months straight, she decided to move me 2 weeks ago, so I moved and I like the new apartment, got over my sickness, and feel fine physically now.
Today, I told my head teacher that if I am wanted here, I should be treated fairly (all other foreign teachers get free paid days off and no extra deductions) in friendly spirit otherwise it should be decided whether the school wants to take a financial loss on me on account of disliking me. I am very punctual, have high work ethic, not mean, not rude, very respectful all the time, not fat, not old, and willing to do my contract to the end to the best of my ability. Since day 1, I have sensed I was not wanted for the person I am or liked, but kept just for financial reasons. This makes me feel very awkward as can be. Think square peg shoved in round hole. I feel very saddened and yet I am not fat, ugly, rude, nosey, and am a good respectuful teacher, albeit not the best on account of lacking experience. I know the best advice is to just keep coming and doing my job, but this awkwardness is making me miserable and I need to come to a resolve the correct way as I just need to be liked sincerely by my employer and to do my job to the best of ability and enjoy being over here.

[poet13]

60K? Finish your contract and move on. The money is irrelevant. For the other reasons you described I would complete my contract and try again somewhere else...
Good luck.

[ilovebdt]

How long have you been there?

ilovebdt

[Bukowski]

It sounds like you might have already nitpicked yourself into a big hole.

First off, the fact that you had these housing problems and couldn't get them resolved in "normal" fashion says something (often what isn't said is more telling than what is). Moving sounds pretty drastic to resolve the issue, but why would you even complain about the moving fee? You should have gladly paid it.

You have been ill, which is never a good thing for an employer.

Instead of playing the me, myself, and I gig, focus on your students and making people appreciate you for what you have to offer (not what everyone has to offer you or you feel you are entitled to).

I don't know you, but I have met those like you. If I were your employer, I might feel the same way.

It's not all about you! It's about your students and your employer. If you get that straight, your problems will be solved.

AC

BTW, I'm not sure if the slap in the face worked or not. What do you think?

[EFLtrainer]

Bukoski, you are way off. The OP didn't mention complaing about anything but the housing. No heat in the dead of winter? You think that is trivial? Please. Your comments are absurd.

OP, ignore the poster above.

However, that said, your repeated reference to feeling on the outside probably is a personal thing. A more positive vibe might help. There is probably something you are doing that is pushing things the wrong way. Watch the other teachers and how they handle things. The HOW is very important. Subtle things can make a huge difference.

[butlerian]

[laogaiguk]

[Bukowski]

[Bondrock]

how old is old and how fat is fat? making those two points are insulting to many teachers here.

i used to be fat, but i lost almost 25 kilos. i am not a better teacher because i am thinner. also, i find as i get older that i am a better teacher.

i have no sympathy for someone complaining about 60 bucks.... especially after the fat and old comments...

[ChinaBoy]

from what I understand from the OP, since he is not "fat, ugly, or nosey", he is a good teacher and shouldn't have to pay the money

something tells me that someone who thinks this way obviously isn't giving out the whole story (or perhaps just the parts that he sees with his blinders on)

[oskinny1]

I agree with the OP. Fat and old people suck. They shouldn't even make the same amount of money as someone as beautiful as me (and the OP) does. This will help the fat people as well since they won't be able to afford all those Krispy Kremes and the old people are just going to die soon anyway, what do they need the money for?

[butlerian]

[yingwenlaoshi]

Oh, please. I'd be down their necks screaming at their hearts.

If you pansies would let something like this slide in order to be treated nicely, I feel sorry for you. It's not the money, it's the point.

I guess being a man would mean putting up with the mold and no heat for 2 months and accepting the moving fee.

Someone said runners and fake diplomas have an effect on the way we're treated when in fact this kind of attitude is really where the problem lies.

Perhaps the OP has a lot to learn about how to deal with people, but at least she's doing a better job than you little babies who cower at the sight of the owner.

[bixlerscott]

Oh man, you guys sure ate this one up quickly in 3 hours flat. I should not had mentioned this here as you really would have to be working here to completely know the situation as to form accurate opinions of me and the situation. From now on, when talking about things like this, I will keep it in my circle of people that know me and therefore, can better advise me. Of course, it's about what I have to offer and offering it I am. You have to give to receive. It's not a bad school, just a little dodgy as most are due to it being a for-profit business. I am sure the majority are at least a little dodgy, if not down right bad as compared to this particular school. With these hogwans, just as with any business dealings, you have to stand up for yourself in a tactful and respectful, but concise manner or they will walk all over you which is why my co-teachers told me talk to the director. For if you do not address a problem early on, but not push it too far, a problem grows. This I know from experience.

Before going to the director, I spoke with my head teacher and foriegn co-teachers who agreed instantaneously that this was hogwash and I should address the issue. I am not going to push the issue any furthur as it was only 60,000 won since life improved for me after the move and I would rather finish my contract than to screw it up for the school and myself.

As for meeting people like me. (what am I like? impossible to completely know on a computer) Becuase this is a text messaging board, it's impossible to judge me like that until you have met me in person or know me. I mentioned the wrong facts about me such as not being fat and ugly, too subjective.

Work ethic, teaching ability, what I have to offer the kids, how organized I am, professional development (none) to perform very well, protecting my employers interests as to protect my own, and the quality of human relations means everything to me to offer the most to my students and employer, achieve job satisfaction, and be a well appreciated and valued asset to my students, my school, my director, and to my peers. As for what my peers do differently than myself, nothing I can see as I already observed this closely since day 1 so I would how I should behave. They just come in and do thier jobs and have small talk with the Korean teachers, each on a unique class schedule, live thier own lives, and go home, just as I do for we are all individuals out to get a piece of the world. Each of our situations are uniquely different just as each Korean students' schedule is original and each person is not judged equally or fairly. (too bad it isn't so) Why I would be treated less fairly than my peers is beyond me and a real put down is the logic here of this post when I know I am not bad for this school or its' students. This 60,000 won is irrelevant to what the issue really is, just the physical indicator (their already was behavioral indicators since day1) of a human relations problem with the director which I knew was present since day 1, despite my efforts to make it right. I was not given a chance to be liked from the get go as when I met the director for the 1st time, she was disappointed with what walked in the door, what I believe is, due to the fact the previous teacher (fired) I replaced was horrible had rubbed off on to her in light of her judgement of me. A real put down to be compared to failed situations in the mind of the decision maker, but manager types often do this in business situations so I will just have to keep doing good, what I know is right, and prove that I am not like the teacher I replaced through fullfilling my contract each and every day till' the end. And eat a few losses while I am at it.

Thanks for all the responses my fellow foreign teachers and Koreans reading this site.

[Fresh Prince]