Korean Job Discussion Forums

[boss penguin]

fully: adverb 1. to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely;
furnished: adjective
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose.

I'm working at a public middle school. I'm the only and first NES teacher at the school.

On the first saturday of my first week in Korea the school's financial advisor, a Korean English teacher and I went shopping to outfit my apartment. I was afforded the following items: mini fridge, single bed - with sheets and a pillow!!, microwave, washing machine, table, chair, rice cooker, iron. sweet.

What I wasn't given: ironing board to iron clothes on, plate to eat rice off of, glasses to drink water from, utensils/chopsticks to eat food with, pot to cook food with, pan to fry things in, drying rack to dry clothes on, and basic kitchen items such as a spatula, scissors, ladel... the list goes on.


Last weekend I went to E-mart and made the necessary investments required to live.. and the cheapest of everything too. On monday I brought my contract to the financial advisor, along with the reciept, and asked for some assistance with the items purchased.
Unfortunately for me, the school said it would be 'impossible' to compensate me for the 'extra' items I bought.

Then on top of it they tell me my shirt is wrinkly, and I look tired. Excuse me?

And I've been a good teacher too, coming in on Saturdays, hosting English classes for school administrators/teachers who wish to learn their English all of which isn't required.

Now I fear that they don't understand the concept of reciprocity, and I'm bitter.

Ideas? Thoughts? Opinions? Comments? Concerns?

[mishlert]

Try again, and if they say no then just smile and go to your class.
Time will pass and they will forget about it, but you won't when you decide to have a moving out sale and sell everything that you bought, along with the items that they bought

It's true that revenge is a dish best served cold.

[zappadelta]

[passport220]

One tip is seek out the local 1,000 won store. Everything in the place is 1,000 won. The ones I have been to have a good selection of household goods. A lot of the stuff is of marginal quality but will hold up for the duration of a one year contract.

I am curious why you did not go to the school administration to seek a solution to the problem before going to make the purchases on your own. I agree the basics that you described should have been provided. However, it seems the administration should have been given a chance to solve the problem in a way that fits into their program.

For me some basics that you described where missing but then other nice extras above and beyond where included. I considered it a wash and just purchased some basics on my own and did not seek reimbursement.

In the end I would advise against petty retribution. Just laugh it off and move on. Not a question of right or wrong, just don�t trip over the small stuff in life and let it ruin your experience.

[ChuckECheese]

Life is all about give and take or take and give. If you find someone just like to take and don't give. Drop the Saturday crap and just stick to the requirement on your contract.

You're not there for the popularity contest and you're there for just a year.

Finish your contract and move on to better gig. You'll find one sooner or later.

[xCustomx]

Didn't you receive 300,000W to outfit your place? I thought that was standard with most public school jobs. Also, I wouldn't recommend selling the things they bought since they are probably taking 900,000W out of your first 3 months as a security deposit. If you sell their stuff, good luck getting your money back

[kimchi story]

[spliff]

^^ Right that's what the 300,000 is for.

[oxfordstu]

That's crazy. They should have bought all that stuff for you. A few teachers took me to E-mart on my first day and did the same thing -- but also bought a bunch of stuff like pots and pans, utensils, glasses, plates, bowls, etc. And everything was top quality. The bill came to over 700k. Guess it just depends on the school.

[zappadelta]

Yea, the 300 is a settlement allowance. You shouldn't have to spend any of that on your place if you don't want to. It's for moving expenses from one city to your current one, beer, and things like that.

[mrsquirrel]

I got most of my stuff paid for by the school.

Then got the settlment and bought my own luxury items.

Contract is very clear as to what you get. No mention of other stuff. It's a bonus if they get it for you.

They aren't getting my blender back.

[spliff]

And, you gotta figure the OP's the first teacher at his school so the apt won't be furnished as if there had been teachers before him.

[Mosley]

If you got the settlement allowance, don't biatch-just buy the other basic stuff you need.

On a side note: a lot of newbie teachers in Japan find their apt. supplied with jack sh*t and the contract more often than not will not oblige the employer to provide anything.

[pkang0202]

At the end of my GEPIK contract, it states exactly what the school pays for and what I have to provide.

The school should have given you 300,000 won to cover things like plates, dishes, cleaning supplies, etc....

I spent about 700,000 won when I moved in because I had to buy everything. Toothpaste, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, tissues, plates, dishes, cups, pots, pans, etc...etc...

At least when I move out, those items get to come with me. Tell your school that everywhere else (GEPIK, EPIK, SMOE) provides 300,000 won to buy those expenses and you would like the samething. Bring in a few contracts that show it, high light it, and show it to them. If they see that its a common thing to do then you won't have a problem getting the money.



Also, if you look tired and your shirt is wrinkly just tell your school you are still adjusting and that you haven't had much time to get settled in.

Personally, I refused an ironing board and an iron. It would just take up space and I would never use it. I just go to the laundry/dry cleaning place on Friday afternoons and hand them all my dress shits and suits. They usually have it ready by Sunday night.

Dress shirts are only 1000won each to dry clean.

[boss penguin]