Korean Job Discussion Forums

[philogirl81]

I'm (Finally!) leaving my spot at a wonderland in the next few weeks. After this, I am going to Dharamasala India to teach nuns English and to study (again) for the bloody gre's. No one at work, except for a foreigner teacher, has inquired as to where I am going or what I am doing after I am finished. I have been told that I am going back to America. Told, not asked. I am supposed to tell the kids that that's where I am going back.

I feel uncomfortable lying to the older students about where I am headed. I plan on telling them that I am heading to India and the reasons why. I have asked why I have to tell them that I am going to America, and I get the 'no answer and stare down', or the "It's the Korean way".
Am I missing something? This situation seems odd to me in a variety of ways. The only solution that I have is that everyone thinks I am leaving because I can't handle Korean society, not because I am sick of teaching nine or ten classes a day. After I told a few people I was going to India, they went back to "she's going to America". Do they not believe me? Or is it to unintelligable for my co-workers that there are more than three or four countries in the world that one can travel to?
Sorry for the long post.
On a side note, I will miss some parts of Korea (not all) and wish that my hogwon experience had been better. Don't work for Wonderland!! I did have a charming time on occasion and was able to take some splendid photos. Not all was lost.

[cbclark4]

Yes, India a little south of Chicago as I recall.

cbc

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Well, if I had another job lined up I'd be telling the kids I'm going to work for the competitor because Wonderland is such crap.

[Bear256]

It's cool if you want to go to India and teach nuns but it is a shame you will always base your Korean experience on your time as a prisoner of Wonderland. I worked my first year at the Pyungtaek Wonderland and have spent the last 3 years working at a small rural elementary school. The difference is greater than day and night. I have a lot of freedom to improvise my teaching, never worry about being paid, work waaaaaay less classes (I had to work 165 classes at Wonderland before hitting OT) and none of the mommy called to complain about.......stuff you get in a hagwon.

Good luck in India and tell the children what ever makes you feel right about yourself.

[Mosley]

What a load of crap. Tell them the truth.

[mateomiguel]

Why don't you focus an entire class on India. "repeat after me, class. I'm going to India." "We like India." "There are elephants in India." "No, Sun, its El-EEE-phants."

They might get the point after one hour.

[Pak Yu Man]

Tell them whatever the hell you want to tell them. If you want to lie, then lie. Don't do it cause your tool of a boss wants you to.

[philogirl81]

"Yes, India a little south of Chicago as I recall.

cbc"

There's an India, Illinois?

I found out the reason why I can't say where I am going. Because "The parents won't like it". Whatever.
I feel bad that I am basing my experiences on Wonderland.
I'm just so burned out and sick of the drama that I am not willing to give it a go again. I might come back to Korea after some much needed time off.
I have never worked for people that act like such children and have such disrespect for another human being.
Thank you all for the advice and the chance to bloviate and complain once in a while. It works out better than drinking every night.

[Unposter]

Dharmasalla rocks!

Christian or Buddhist nuns?

[simpleminds]

Tell the kids the truth. After all, the haggie wants you to tell the kids you're going back to America so they can flag you about 'quitting' because you 'couldn't handle the culture'. You tell them about India, you're making the bosses lose face. You lie, and you lose face.

So let them lose face.

[hubba bubba]

I think it goes something like, "India is a dirty country (dark skin people), Teacher goes to India, teacher dirty. Hagwon hires dirty teacher, hagwon dirty. Mother sends child to dirty hagwon, family dirty forever, ancestors very angry." Sounds about right for Korean logic.

Either that, or they have no idea what an "India" is, and just assume it's a place in America.

I'd get a map and tell my kids. F the wongjang.

PS, anyone else see the irony of KOREANS being racist against DARK SKINNED people? Uh, hello? Pot, kettle......

[shantaram]

In my experience Koreans just don't like India. Never mind the fact that Buddhism came from Bharata. Why don't you teach them that? Might be a nice change for them, instead of learning about how big Korea really is (3 Kingdoms Era) and what a hero their suicide bomber in Haerbin was.

[poet13]

Tell them the truth. What's Wonderland going to do? Fire you? I like the idea of basing a class around India....if you have that freedom.
If you ever want to come to Korea, I would endorse what the other poster said. Small rural (public) school.

[philogirl81]

I'll tell my classes that I am going to India. The head teacher and my co-teachers will just tell them that I am going to America anyway. I'll make all the kids write in their message books "Jennifer Teacher went to India. They have good food. I like India. I want curry and a mango lassi, please"
Actually, that sounds like an excellent idea.
Working in a hogwon has been a pretty demoralizing undertaking and I cannot wait until I am free of these judgemental high schoolers.
Nine days left!!!!

[Octavius Hite]

Off topic, I know, but WHY THE HELL ARE PEOPLE STILL SIGNING CONTRACTS FOR THESE SLAVE DRIVERS??????? I came here in 2003 and even then the word was out on these people, use the google button on your browsers boys. For the love of god!