Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chrisbacke]

So my best friend (yes, really my friend - I'm already here and I'm a guy) is seriously interested in coming to Korea to teach. She is 6+ months pregnant, and plans to give birth in the States before coming over here a couple months later. I've known her for long enough to know she'll get to where she wants to go and do what she wants to do - it's just a matter of how.

For all the nay-sayers, sarcastic kinds, or pessimistic people, please find another post to comment on. I'm looking for serious, well-meaning responses, thanks in advance

If there are any other mothers that teach in Korea (whether married or single), I'd like your help on how you managed mothering and teaching, where you found good deals / bargains on baby stuff, whether you hired a daycare / babysitter, and other (positive) advice / feedback.

Thanks a lot! Chris

[IncognitoHFX]

Babies need a stable, consistent environment. Coming to Korea and working at _______ hagwon is not a stable, consistent environment. Some places will fire you / not pay you / drive you nuts at home and at work baby or no baby.

Coming to Korea and getting on with a decent public school (that you CHOOSE FOR HER for *beep* sakes) would be okay.

Maybe find a nice, quiet area and make sure the apartment is good. Needs a daycare.

It is do-able, but it all depends on the area, the availability of resources for the baby, and the quality of the job. Also, will she be living close to you? Or someone else who can help her? Naturally, that's really important.

I'm no expert but I do have two friends here who might be doing this, so I've thought about it.

[TheUrbanMyth]

Does she have a university degree?

(This is a serious question...a degree is required to teach in Korea legally).

If she does and has a clean record...(no criminal charges) she should be fine. But she's going to need daycare which can be quite expensive...it cost a friend of mine 500,000 won per month.

[maddog]

Sorry, but

She is about to give birth and she wants to come to Korea to spend 8 hours a day with other people's kids.

I'm a bloke, but I've known enough women who've had kids to know that raising a child is very tough, especially at the beginning.

There are so many things that just don't go according to plan when one comes to Korea.

For the sake of her childs welfare, not to mention her own sanity, I think she should stay put.

MD

[chrisbacke]

TheUrbanMyth: she's as qualified as any of us - graduated with a History Degree and is certified to teach in American public schools.

IncognitoHFX: I think she'd do well at a public school, but how / where does one find public school jobs? Any suggestions on websites / places to look? Most of the ones I've seen are recruiters filling hagwon positions - she's actually MORE qualified to teach than most of us are. I'd probably help as I could, but where she gets on would be important.

maddog: she's my best friend, and was with me every step of the way through my getting here. I know her well enough to not get in her way when there's something she wants to accomplish. At the risk of trivializing, she's not about to let having a child prevent her from teaching / going overseas... I've questioned her sanity a couple times but got nowhere with her.


Thanks for the suggestions / feedback Keep em coming!

[shaunew]

I have an 8 month old son. If not for the family ties here from my wife it would be hard. Daycare is the huge problem.

If the baby is in daycare, it will speak Korean. The mother better learn Korean to communicate with her child.

Baby clothes and food here is very expensive. If she is using formula that is a big expense. If she moves to baby food. In Canada for a jar it costs 59 cents, in Korea 4,000 won for two.

Then there is the racism that the child will face if she decides to stay here long term.

It will be a tough go, but if she wants this then she will do it and make the most of it.

[Quack Addict]

Bad idea. With no support system here in Korea the mother and baby are in for a hard time. Your telling me she can't make any money in America? And Koreans will be like, "where's the father?" I have a 10 month old. My wife stays home and takes care of the kid. We have a hard time with just the two of us. Long nights, high price of diapers, food, clothes, etc. Think twice about this move.

[steroidmaximus]

I'd advise she wait at least a year or two before coming over. She won't have the extended network of friends and family to help her, and the language and culture differences should be seriously considered. If something goes wrong at work or what have you, what happens to the baby? Also, I'm pretty sure most daycares won't accept a child only a few months old, and most of them only run until about 6. That eliminates hogwon work and privates for her. It's a tall order for both mother and child, and although she believes she can handle it, I'd suggest she wait at least a year or two. At least then they've got their sleeping patterns down a little more, can walk, etc. In fact, the more I think about it, coming over with a baby only a few months old by yourself sounds terribly irresponsible and not very far thinking.

[mateomiguel]

if people can get abandoned at the airport by their hagwon director for being too fat, then it might be possible for this girl to be abandoned at the airport for having a child in her arms. I think even the slight possibility of this happening would be enough for her to abandon the thought.

[boatofcar]

I know a single mother that works for a public school here, but her child is around 10. I would think a newborn would be much more difficult to handle.

[xingyiman]

For those of us who have taken care of infants...how many times during that first year do they get sick? I'm sure the hogwan owner/director would be thrilled about the prospect of a mother taking off many days at a time to care for her sick child. Could cost her a job and then where would she be? What about finding a doctor who speacks enough English that can communicate to her what is wrong with her baby? Lots of things can happen during those first years.
She needs to stay home, take care of the kid, and put her life on hold until she gets in a better position. You really need someone to help you in those first few years and thats when there are two of you.

[maeil]

[hugekebab]

Single mothers need a support network: fact of reality.

Korea will provide nothing in terms of support, your friend will be leaving that network behind her.

Ignoring some of the latent sexism in this post, I will say that it will be bloody incredibly hard for her, my god, honestly I could not imagine how hard it would be in a foreign environment (and one as difficult as SK) with bosses that generally do not care and will not take into account your home situation. As long as you make her realise that she ain't going to get any concessions from her employer, they arent going to want her to take days off here and there every time the baby is sick etc or theres a child care issue.

I think its totally and completely unrealistic, sorry.

[xingyiman]

[ds_fan]

to be fair man, you should know well nough yourself, its not a good idea as its stressful, frustrating and takes the engery out of you. the work environments are a gamble and are dodgy at best. i wouldnt want to be the father if i knew the possibilities of what could happen. that said, if she wants to go, try get her into the same area as you, you can help her out and she at least would feel better knowing she has someone to drink with etc at weekends. ps, where would the baby be staying while shes out working for 8 hours a day? Some Korean place? wtf