Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Shauneyz]

...and I've got no reply from my director (or at least the person from the school that I've been talking to for the past month) in regards to what to expect upon arrival...insofar as "we'll be picking you up at the airport," or "take a cab to the school, located at this address," or "here is my number to call if a flight gets delayed."

I e-mailed him last Friday night with my flight information, when I'd be arriving, etc. Is this reason enough to start worrying?

Regardless, I'll be in the ROK soon enough...thanks for all the help thus far.

[eamo]

This is just your first experience of Korean planning style.

They'll put together a last minute scramble to pick you up and sort out your apartment. Hopefully.

[Shauneyz]

Well that, actually, is pretty reassuring. It's good to know that being unorganized is the plan...as long as I know that that's the plan.

[Underwaterbob]

Yeah, last minute changes and complete disorganization used to kind of tick me off but now I know it's par for the course and I think I prefer it this way.

[Captain Marlow]

take a phone # if you have one... but, echoing the previous posters, this is pretty much how it works... just hope you don't get picked up and immediately taken to begin teaching classes upon arrival... you'll most likely be taken to the school and introduced to everyone, then taken to your apartment (or hotel if they still haven't gotten your apartment sorted out)...
i was met at the airport by a cabby with a sign reading "scotty" and was taken to a love hotel and put into a room... next morning, at 8am, the human resources guys from my school showed up and waited for me to get ready to be taken to my school... it worked out well... just smile and change into something with a collar (if you are a guy) before getting off the plane... first impressions mean a lot...

[BS.Dos.]

In the words of Willard, the first ESL'er in Korea:

"Never get off the plane..." & "The horror. The horror...".

Don't panic. You'll (probably) be fine.

[Pooty]

Expect more of this last minute-fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants-never-plan-for-anything-ever-even-if-our-lives-depend-on-it B.S. for the entire time you deal with Koreans. They will never change, it seems to be hardwired in their DNA.

[R-Seoul]

It probably means they've hired someone else, don't bother catching the flight.

[sojourner1]

You should have a phone number. Give them a call.


The classic last minute treatment usually carries no bad intentions; just ill planning. It can tick you off when it's not in your favor though.