Korean Job Discussion Forums

[driftingfocus]

(This is from my blog, so bear with me on the length.)

I have had almost a constant headache since I got here, and I'm not sure why. It sometimes goes away for a couple hours at a time, but then it comes back. It's not a bad one, just kind of a low-level constant dull ache, just enough to be irritating. Maybe it's because of the residual jet lag, but I don't know. Being here in general is a constant low-level stressor, so I think that it's probably a combination of things.

The primary stressor is not being able to understand people when they are discussing me. I am always the last person to know what is going on, if I ever am actually informed at all. Most of the people speak minimal English, if they speak at all. My English teacher at my first school has a very difficult time with English, so even when she translates, it's often unclear just quite what she is actually saying. But the main stressor within that is that at least 4 times a day, they change what I am supposed to do, and they wait until the last minute to do so. Not only that, but when they motion me to come with them, they rarely tell me what is going on.

Take, for instance, yesterday. Last week I had been told that all this week, I would be working at the Office of Education, which equates to basically twiddling my thumbs (i.e. surfing the internet). So, I didn't prepare any sort of lesson plan, even one for introducing myself. When I got there, they sat me down at a desk in the teacher's office, and let me use my laptop. After about 15 minutes, a group of 3 people, none of whom speak more than a few words of English, come in and motion for me to come with them. I get up and they continue to motion me down the hall (Which is something that happens all the time and that I find somewhat demeaning; I know how to freaking follow someone, people. I'm American, not retarded.) until we get to a new room. Inside the room (which looks like some sort of conference room), they say "supervisor" and "principal" and gesture to various people. I say hi, shake hands, bow, etc, and then they take my arm to ask me to get up. They motion for me to go back to the teacher's office, where I once again sit down at my laptop.

Five minutes later, they come tell me (which is to say, gesture) to pack up and come with them. They take me out to the parking lot, and a woman who can speak sliiightly better English tries to explain that I am going to go to my Monday middle school. I say that no, I had been told I was to stay here. They say, no, you should come with us. I give up, as they're basically speaking to me in Korean at this point, as if I understand what they're saying. I shrug, and follow the woman to the car. She drives me through the mountains for about 20 minutes, and we end up at Middle School #2, where I teach on Mondays. I get there and they take me to their teacher's office, and sit me down at a desk, and motion for me to use the computer and say (heavily accented) "use the internet?". I show them my laptop, and say "my computer. can I use it?". They nod and wander off, leaving me to my own devices. Ten minutes later, someone comes by my desk and introduces me to the English co-teacher I will be teaching with. She speaks English, but not very well, and with a very heavy accent. They show me my schedule for the day. I have a class from 9:55 to 10:40, and then another from 11:00 to 11:45. Then a two hour(!) lunch, and another class from 1:55 to 2:40.

When the time for my first class rolls around, I get up to head to the classroom about 3 minutes before the bell should ring. They motion for me to sit down, and say I should wait until the bell. The bell rings, and me and the co-teacher get up and walk to class. We get there, I spend about half an hour introducing myself and answering the kids questions, and then I help the teacher with dialogue. I think that at least at this school, most of my job is to work with the kids on vocabulary and pronunciation. I'm mostly a pronunciation parrot for the co-teacher, but I don't mind. Just means less work.

The rest of the day goes by mostly uneventfully, until I get back from my last class. No fewer than three people come up to me at my desk and say "at 5:00, you go to Office of Education". I nod and say OK. At 4:00, someone comes to my desk and says "you should leave now!" in a somewhat cheerful voice. I say no, I am supposed to wait until 5:00. He wanders off and comes back ten minutes later with a woman, and they repeat themselves. I repeat myself as well. They wander off AGAIN. Finally, they come back a third time and repeat themselves again. I get up and go over to my supervisor and gesture toward them, and he says "yes, you go with them". So, they drive me back to Jindo-Eup (the main town on the island), and say "apartment?". We stop at a light near the bank I need to go to, and I say "you can leave me here. I need to go to the bank.". They say "apartment?". I point at the bank, then to myself, then to the bank. They seem to understand. They pull over, and I get out and walk over to the bank. About 30 seconds later, they walk into the bank, and say "we help". I sigh inwardly (the bank has English signs, and they know the words "change money", so I don't really need help), but say "thank you". I eventually get my remaining $55 of American money changed into about $58 worth of won. We get back in the car. She says "apartment?" and I say "sure", just to finally get home (it's only a 5 minute walk, and I like to walk). When I get there, they say "help with apartment?" and I say "no, I don't need help". They pause, and chatter at me in Korean. I shake my head and say "I don't understand, sorry.". They again say "help with apartment.". I again say "no". I start to walk up to my apartment, and they follow me. There's not much I can do about it at this point, so I give up and show them my apartment. The one good thing is that the man went down to the gas station around the corner and came back with more heating oil for me (they gave me only like a gallon, my first day). The woman and I make some basic attempts at communication, through gestures and my dictionary. Eventually, she shows me how to use my washing machine, and shows me how to turn on the heat, even though I say that I know how it works. Eventually, she sits down on my bed and says "sit.". I sit down, and she motions at the pile of photos I brought. I show her the photos, and when she's done, I get up and start to say goodbye. She doesn't seem to understand and has me sit down again. Commanding me around my own apartment was a little weird.

Around this time, the man gets a call on his cell phone. When he finishes, they chatter, and she says "you go to office of education tonight". I am highly confused. I try to express this. Eventually she says "supervisor come here (to my apartment) at 8". I make what I felt was a somewhat weirded-out expression and say "ok?". Then they leave. I collapse on my bed and fall asleep at 6:00. Around 9:30, my doorbell rings. I open the door, and it is not my supervisor, but in fact the co-teacher for my main Middle School (the main school I teach at) who speaks quite good English. She says that my supervisor was not coming, and she brought me food because she was concerned that I would not be able to navigate the grocery store (again, I'm American, not retarded, but the sentiment was appreciated). She helped me cook some rice to go with the food, and then left when I was done eating. One of the things she brought was something that looks an awful lot like Spam. I couldn't *not* eat it, because it would have caused her to lose face to me, which would have been rather bad and awkward. So, I grilled it, in an attempt to make it a more palatable texture. I thanked her and said it was great.

Afterwards, I went to bed around 10:30, and woke up today around 5:30am.

We'll see what today brings.


Is this normal?



*Note: I'm not complaining, really. They seem like they're trying to be helpful, but the lack of information is far more frustrating than I had realized. Plus, I was not informed until I got here that I would be teaching at 7 different schools, on a 2 week rotation. I have 800 students. In some ways, it's not bad, because every day is something different, but I might have chosen a different position if I had known.

[jellobean]

Actually, this doesn't seem too bad for a rural district that has probably never had a foreign teacher before. They seem to be trying to help you. As usual, the right had doesn't know what the left hand is doing, but if you are lucky they will catch on. As long as they are driving you everywhere you need to go and providing you with things like fuel oil (which most people have to buy themselves) is a good thing.

Some folks might say otherwise, but your best bet is to accept their attempts at kindness and try to create good relationships. (Eating the spam was the right thing to do.) Eventually they will learn that you are American (not retarded) and let you do things yourself.

There are many worse things than co-workers that want to help you too much.

[Zaria32]

Yes, it's spot on... And virtually everything you report falls into one of two categories:
1) They were trying to be helpful (Koreans tend to be over helpful, but it's very kindly meant)
2) They were exhibiting normal lack of organization..

It WILL get easier, but they will never give you much advance notice of things, and will think you VERY weird if they ever understand that you want advance notice...

[KYC]

new in Korea? That's not a nightmare....

They seem pretty helpful actually...wish my cts were like that when I first arrived!

[mrsquirrel]

Pretty much.

could be worse.

They could have dumped you in bum-fuk-dong on your own in the mountains with no shops and left you to rot for the night.

Be grateful they are trying.

[raketbaler]

Good read, keep them coming, thanks.

[cruisemonkey]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

It could be so much worse. I am, however, so happy that I only work at one school and that my only master is my (kind if clueless) principal.

[driftingfocus]

[driftingfocus]

[Stormy]

I'd be a bit pissed off about the job situation too, although, as you say, there are pros & cons.
As for them wanting to look at your photos & help with your apartment - I think they sound like they just want you to feel welcomed and they are interested in you. I can't see what the problem there is. She helped you cook food & then you comment how awful it was....sounds a little ungrateful.
I know when you first arrive things are confusing and new & at times frustrating, but to be honest with you your co-staff sound quite friendly. Presumably the reason you're here is at least partly to experience a different culture & way of life. Enjoy it.
(btw things pretty much remain confusing & at times frustrating!)

[Atavistic]

I would edit the school names out of your original post.

[spirit2110]

Welcome to Korea.

[driftingfocus]

[crusher_of_heads]