Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hank the Iconoclast]

As everybody knows, I just got married and I have an F-2 visa. My current situation is thus, I teach at a public middle school in Buyeo. I want to leave but I want to do so at at time that is more favorable in case I want to get into the uni or public school racket in a city.

I told them, that I would stay until March (perhaps longer) if they would give me two weeks at the end of my contract as was planned if someone normally re-signed. My co-teacher asked and I was denied by the Office of Education and I was told that I need to think about the students as a guilt trip by my co-teacher. Never mind the fact, that I haven't seen my father and sister in 11 months. I guess family doesn't matter if you are a native teacher teaching in a public school. We don't have families since we decided to teach here.

Needless to say, they can find another teacher mid-contract in November like they did with me.

Was it unfair to ask for my vacation in the middle of the school year? I know that Dome (former poster)did and didn't take no for an answer. I feel like I should have gotten this. It would have been better for the students and they could have gotten a new teacher in March. Feeling a little bit betrayed because I have always tried my best, studied to be a better teacher and did everything to the best of my ability.

[Otherside]

The end of contract vacation (home leave) is for teachers who renew for a full year, you would be signing on for an extra 3-4 months yet you still want the full 2 weeks home leave?

I agree, it would have been nice, but it's a bit of an unreasonable demand. Perhaps you could have reached a compromise; 2 weeks unpaid leave, 1 week paid leave, a couple of extra days during the winter vac to visit home (which isn't that far in advance) etc.

Looking at my school's schedule, we have 9 weeks of class from the 1st of November till the 28th of February. So to ask for 2 weeks of vacation in exchange for 7 weeks work seems like a pretty tough sell.

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[Ramen]

You should've just renewed for the whole year and resigned (with proper notice). This way you are guaranteed 2 weeks renewal leave.

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[Ramen]

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[ttompatz]

Actually, it is GPOE policy to give the home leave in either the summer break period (in addition to the paid vacation) or during the last 2 weeks of Feb.

It doesn't surprise me that a November break was denied. You have 2 choices, reschedule your trip/plans or end your job, take your trip and find a new job on your return.

You were planning to move anyway so there are no real impediments to either option.

.

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[Hank the Iconoclast]

Update:

I have been hammering out the negotiations for my vacation which I need to attend my wedding reception in the States and a transfer to another area in the province.

I was told by the coordinator for native teachers, there would be a position that I could transfer to after I finished my year in Buyeo. Before that point, I was planning on going elsewhere. Since I wanted a bit more stability and a stable position, I thought this was a good idea.

As the time of my contract is coming to an end, I wanted to find out more about the position. She told me that the position was no longer available and she was looking for something else. She said she made the mistake but offered no other options. I waited a little while longer and got no answers.

The coordinator just continued to ignore my emails and phone calls. When she did answer, she would just give me a half answer with no content. She would say that she's working on the matter and basically ignored me.

This is when I contacted the Chungnam Supervisor about the matter. He had a meeting with the Buyeo supervisor about my situation and I found out the answer today.

They came up with this brilliant scheme of giving me nothing of want I want except the vacation which is already guaranteed in the contract. In exchange for taking this vacation, which is in my contract clearly, I would have to re-sign in Buyeo for 16 months. Not your standard 12 month contract but 16 months instead.

In conclusion, they wanted to keep stalling everything so the only option they could give me was staying in Buyeo for 16 months. I have an F-2 visa and there is no way I am going to take that for an answer. Crooks.

I had a wonderful year here in Buyeo and I am not going to let these people sour that for me but it baffles me. Anyways, it's time to move on to somewhere else in Korea.

[Ramen]

Instead of win-win situation, Koreans always strive for lose-lose situation. Sparklin'.