Korean Job Discussion Forums

helly · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Location: WORLDWIDE

OK, I know this is petty but I'm feeling a bit slighted and wanted to get it off my chest....

Today is my birthday and I'm sitting at work with no mention of the event. Now, in normal circumstances, this wouldn't be bothering me. My wife treated me to dinner last night and woke me up this morning (along with our son) with a nice song and gift. My mother called me from the states, friends have been well-wishers.....

But here's the stinger(s).....

1) The company I work for has had 2 other birthdays in the last 2 weeks, including one yesterday. On both occasions, the adminstration manager has walked around the office with birthday cards for all employees (myself included) to sign.

2) The topic of birthdays came up with my boss on Tuesday. I told him that I would not be able to join a company dinner tonight. He asked me why and I told him it was my birthday. He said, "I wouldn't go either." And then he told me that Thursday (yesterday) was his birthday.

3) The same boss had to leave the office early yesterday (his birthday), before I could wish him his due congratulations. When we had our brief meeting this morning, I made point of mentioning that I wasn't able to say "Happy Birthday" yesterday because of his early departure so I said "Happy Birthday" today. He said "thank you." That's it.

Petty, yes, but just really lame.

peppermint · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2003 12:36 am Post subject:

sorry man, but Happy Birthday! Maybe you should go to Bobsters birthday bash at Yellow tomorrow night and all the ESL folk will help you guys celebrate. Cool

The Bobster · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Same thing's been going on at my office. I have a month till the end of the contract so I guess there's no percentage in it for people to be nice to me, huh?

Well, I haven't made any big deal about it coming up, just mentioned it to one other colleague here - but the boss knows when people's birthdays are and I seem to recall that the other foreign teacher had a dinner thrown for him, which annoyed him because he didn't want any big deal at the time.

I don't think a whole lot of people will be making it out to the gathering at Hongdae this weekend, but that could be better in some ways. When we've had great big mobs show up for these things I often didn't get a chance to speak more than a few sentences to half of the people there and nothing at all to the rest.

Sure, come on out, we'll buy each other beers.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=9950

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

schmooze and network in the office more.. be more willing to party with the office... Happy birthday.

justaskdan · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Location: Me in Pohang - Oct 20th

Happy Birthday!

helly · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Location: WORLDWIDE

Ahw, shucks, guys. Thanks.

OK, the secretary just handed me a gift certificate. So the "system" didn't forget.

desultude · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2003 1:11 am Post subject:

happy Birthday!

I have a mid-summer birthday, and everyone is usually gone somewhere on vacation. It was a real bummer when I was a kid, now I just collect e-cards.

The Man known as The Man · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2003 9:12 am Post subject:

Happy Birthday!

Seoultrader · Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Location: Ali's Insurgent Inn, Fallujah

Errr...dude...he doesn't like you.

Happy B-day Laughing

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

It's nice to feel the ice behind the facade to keep it real. You didn't over-extend to put the bosses interests in the fore. A slip up/bad play in the face game. You didn't stick out your lips far enough and quick enough when his butt was in the spotlight. You're a plebe for that? Always were. When I came to my job the previous teacher left behind a lot of stuff, like she left in a huff, her feelings hurt (she was relieved early). Including a page of notes which described her experience the last seven months. One point was, 'the boss and I are equal'. I think you're behaving like a 'rugged individual', if you ask me; bravo! But in the Korean network it's 'hustle into position; have you bowed yet?'. Happy birthday, fellow culturally misunderstood rugged individualist. Let's pound chests, ugh!

Hyalucent · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: British North America

I just want to wish Helly a happy birthday. Smile

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

Haha.

Helly is a hell of a guy. I worked with him the year before all that hell happened. And I'm pretty the hell sure we had a hell of a time.

Happy B-Day, Helly.

rocklee · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul

Happy birthday dude!

ps. Mine is next month 22nd Wink

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Of the things in this world I truly hate, office birthday celebrations are right up there next to papercuts and shotgun blasts to the knee. I would thank my lucky stars if they forgot my birthday.

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

Yeah, I don't like forced birthday celebrations, on the other hand if the company gave out certificates as presents, then I'd definitely would want them to celebrate mine.