Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BS.Dos.]

It's funny, since I arrived in Korea about 9-weeks ago, I've not felt at all homesick. I've settled into the groove and have been kept busy with my work and entertained in my leisure. So far, it hasn't felt or occured to me that I'm X amount of miles away from home in a far away country on a continent that I've never set foot on before. That is, until today.

Most lessons were cancelled today as the school were having their graduation photographs taken. This morning the boys (about 180 of them) at my high school were pictured in their classes with their various teachers. This afternoon, everyone was assembled outside on the football pitch for the final group photographs. All the teachers and staff were in attendance with the boys forming about 12 neat rows across the dusty pitch with the teachers stood facing the boys at the front. One of the 3rd graders then came to the front and shouted some instructions at his fellow pupils, all of whom then neatly and methodically executed a few military drills in unison before finishing silently and at ease. The Principal appeared, looking very much the Korean Princess Anne, desperately trying to appear regal and necessary, but succeeding miserably in neither. After a few moments spent wallowing in her drones reverential display of affectation, she began to address her docile minions. She spoke for about 10-minutes while we all stood motionlessly silent. All the while, the late afternoon sun hung awkwardly in the sky at eye level, forcing me to squint. While the Principal rambled on behind me, I remembered back to my own school photographs and how we were all encouraged to smile. Not so in Korea. The photographer glided around, snapping the expressionless boys at random, all the while, the Principal continuing her address. And then, when she finished, the same 3rd grader turned 180 degrees and, with a single command, all the boys bowed in concert, all one hundred and eighty, all at once and all to the waist.

It was funny, just for that one moment when they were bowing, it suddenly occurred to me that I was indeed, a very long way from home, not just geographically, but culturally too. Up until now, the Korean experience had largely passed me by, but this afternoon the true obeisant subordination of the country, for a brief second, hit me right between the eyes. It wasn't an unpleasant experience, far from it, despite the fact that these young men appear to have no spirit of which to call their own, I was struck by the simplicity and impressed by their comportment, but I was, for a brief moment, glad that I was outside looking in.

[Fishead soup]

I'm assuming your've seen the kids lined up in the push position and get whacked on the ass with a stick

[ceesgetdegrees]

Anyone who doesn't know the difference between principle and Principal should be fired on principle.

[BS.Dos.]

It was 17.30, home time, but that's no excuse really is it.

[anyangoldboy]

I've lived in Asia 21 years now. Love it here. I love feeling as thoug I'm Asian but not having to deal with the Asian stress

[pest2]

Just be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking that the rest of Asia is like Korea. Because its not. A few similarities and many differences.

[anyangoldboy]