Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Adventurer]

Well, my manager was extremely friendly yesterday. It was nice. He seems like a decent guy. Korea isn't home, but there is beauty to be seen in any place even if it's not your home, you sometimes don't understand it, sometimes don't understand the place, embrace whatever good you can of it whether it's always having super bank transfers at KB, which I do, the nice servers at most of the restaurants you go to... It's funny when you recognize the girl at Popeyes, because you go there so often and you smile when you see her and she smiles at you, because you are so familiar...

[Its just a ride]

I tried an new activity with my middle school first graders and after the third try they understood! We played the game several times. They had fun and learned something. I got paid and enjoyed it at the same time.

[kiwiduncan]

I went to Gwangju on Saturday and helped a bunch of cool Korean environmentalists clean up a section of the Yeongsan river (a symbolic protest against the grand canal).

When we got back to Yeosu we visited the home of a mountain bike riding, eco-friendly high school geography teacher. We sat cross-legged on the wooden porch of his 70 year-old house, looking at the spring flower filled courtyard while enjoying makkolli, kimchi and fish. Their house has mud and log ceilings and fruit trees in the courtyard - supercool.

[cbclark4]

I ran into my Principle while shopping at the local super market.

We went to a bar and had a few beers together.

[poet13]

My wife and son and I went out for sam gyup sal on Monday evening. We go there about 3 times a month. It's always 29,000 won. This time it was 0 won. Some random group of young people (early-mid 20's), had paid our bill because the girls thought my son was cute.

(Be draggin' that boy everywhere now. He is SUCH a babe magnet!)

[spliff]

In Canada?

[Hank the Iconoclast]

I was dragging a red couch from the garbage to the the front of my apartment complex, when a young kid ran up and helped me carry it. I was floored by that, so I gave him 1000 won so he could buy some ice cream.

[Colorado]

After my first class today, my co-teacher said "The students enjoyed your lesson."
It wasn't much, but hey, I'll take what I can get.

[yetanotherSarah]

My director surprised me today with a new button down shirt. Fits awesome too.

My coworker's adult student is a dentist and she cleaned my teeth last week and did a second treatment this morning. She did a great job and refused payment. She may be waiting to cash in on the cavities she found though. Still dental work is the nicest gift I've gotten here so far.

I better pay it forward, this kinda stuff doesn't happen everyday.

[Atavistic]

Go to leave work early today to do a bank transfer. I sat down the the first thing the woman said was "You do taekwondo, right?"

She remembered me from three months ago, apparently.

Like usual, I didn't have to show proof of income or my passport, and we chatted for about five minutes before another woman came out of a nearby room and marveled over my Korean. That woman actually knew where my home state is.

Made me happy.

Oh, and then I found 10,000 won on the ground in the subway station.

[Mi Yum mi]

All my classes are on the 5th floor of the same building (cha-ching) and I take an elevator up. Nobody got one when I was trying to get off today. I was surprised. One stupid girl with a large bag ran out and whacked me with her bag by mistake. I guess it's impossible to have a perfect day here

[rsmm0224]

I like it when the egg-toast lady remembers I want HAM and CHEESE ONLY on my sandwich. hmmm, I should go get one.

[Adventurer]

Well, some more positive things. All of a sudden, I was near the vending machine trying to get myself a cup of coffee from the machine, and this kid taps me on the back at the school. I turn around, and he says "Teacher" and then he bows to me. I thought that was very nice. I really do like my Korean students. I even have discussions with them.
I had a talk with some of them about Japan, and I got them to say "I don't like the history of Japan, but I like the people". It's rewarding to see the kids really trying to listen and learn. That's a joy. And, you know, we hear about all this xenophobia, but so many of the kids cherish their foreign teachers, and many of them will appreciate us when they grow up. We are important in a way beyond just teaching English.

I also liked listening to my doorman listening to English. He wants to learn English. I am not sure how far he can get on his own.

[ms.catbc]

My school got me a guitar for my classroom

i am overjoyed. I take it home with me every day.