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Rae

Joined: 10 Oct 2007
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject: HELP -- Calling in sick & getting the 3RD DEGREE! |
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I called in sick, which never happens. I've made the mistake of going to work when I was really sick before and was given attitude by my main co-teacher for not having an real lesson plan (I changed it last minute into a game because I'd cough for an hour after just talking for a few minutes) and the reasons for doing somehow got lost in translation.
I hurt my back recently, by chance it was 2 days when we had a class excursion anyway, so it wasn't really an off day. I was given the Monday off as well but I came to school anyway.
So on Sunday, I call in sick. All is good. Finals is mostly over and no real instruction is being taught by anyone anyway. I'm staying with a friend and minding my business being sick and get an email asking "Where are you?". Apparently my principal and VP are worried about me and sent my co-teacher over to check on me. I was sleeping all damned day and only checked the email at night. (I have no cell phone).
I email her back saying a friend is looking after me and I'm getting rest. This morning she says this:
Hi,
I am relieved you are feeling a little bit. Did you go see the doctor?
I think you'd better go to the hospital first. If you let me know where you are I'll come by your place to see your health condition.
And please tell me where you are. In X town or in XX town? And who cared for you?
If you let me know I'll tell my principal more in detail.
And this is my duty.
WTF is this shit about? Seriously? Am I 12? I'm about to not answer just in spite! I only have the end of December until I GTFO anyway and in really good terms with my school and everyone there but I am sick and tired of being treated like an infant with no personal space whatsoever.
Is this common? Is this really her duty to know every stinkin detail about me -- even when I'm sick? Are they just checking to see if I am really sick? Not everyone is treated this way ... or are they?
Advice please. |
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Kenny Kimchee

Joined: 12 May 2003
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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Two things:
a) Koreans never call in sick, even if they're on death's door.
b) If Koreans are sick, they will always go to the doctor, even if it's for something for which there is no cure (e.g. common cold).
Bottom line: If you want things to go smoothly for the remainder of your stay here, go to the doctor and get a note. |
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samcheokguy

Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: Samcheok G-do
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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I suffer from insanity when I'm sick. I showed up at school ill and proceded to make crazy agressive advances towards the social studies teacher and fall on the floor. all in about half an hour. Then I poured coffee on myself.
-They let me go home early. You might try this. |
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VanIslander

Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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After calling in sick, shut the ringer off your phone and don't answer the door.
Seriously. That is the only way here. |
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espoir

Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Incheon, South Korea
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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Yea I've called in sick twice here in the past 3 months.
The first because I lost my voice from a cold, which I had for over a week and continued to come in up until it would be impossible to teach an english communcation class due to being unable to speak.
The second time I had food poisoning and wouldnt dare position myself more than 10ft from the toilet.
Both times they constantly asked me if I went to the hospital and why i didn't go (I will only go to a hospital if an appendage is hanging loosely and I'm covered in my own blood). Then I had to sign a waiver stating exactly wear i was. It all seemed far too extreme and unnecessary. But then considering in 3 months my buddy has taken 8 sick days because he didnt feels like working, I can understand things a bit more. |
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Jandar

Joined: 11 Jun 2008
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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Seriously ignore the email.
Say a bunch of mi an ham ni da kinda crap when you get back to work.
If your back is hurting you should go to the doc, get a perscription for something.
You don't have to take the meds.
The only thing good for a back injury is bed rest.
Is this a public or a hagwon? |
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Koveras
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Hi,
I am relieved you are feeling a little bit. Did you go see the doctor?
I think you'd better go to the hospital first. If you let me know where you are I'll come by your place to see your health condition.
And please tell me where you are. In X town or in XX town? And who cared for you?
If you let me know I'll tell my principal more in detail.
And this is my duty. |
Almost word for word what I got over the phone when I called in sick last friday, only I stayed in my own bed. I don't see why I should go to the doctor when he would just recommend bed rest and inbuprofin anyway. I didn't go. When I came in on monday I was still a bit sick - I think they took that as proof enough because they haven't bothered me about the note I didn't get.
edit: I hate the fake concern and the "I think you should..." shit. |
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Rae

Joined: 10 Oct 2007
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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I just got up a few minutes ago ... still have a bit of a fever. I check my email and got another message (BTW I never responded to the first one she sent this morning). This one says:
Hi,
I reported your email written about your condition to my principal. He was upset that I didn't know where you are. If you don't feel well you can take a rest under the name of sick in leave. But my principal should know where you are, who cared for you, what cure you got to the doctor. Being based on co-teacher's duty, I need to know how many days you must be cared.
As soon as you see this mail, call me back, please.
Bye.
I'm seriously over it. I know I'm gonna get shit for this and my original plan was to get back to school ASAP but after this bs, I'm thinking of prolonging it just to make it worthwhile. I work hard at my school, attend all the events, and normally come in when I'm sick with the cold. I know this is probably a cultural thing but I can't help but feel offended. I hate being made to feel like a teenager again trying to explain to my parents. This is ridiculous. |
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Underwaterbob

Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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I absolutely despise the go-to-the-hospital-for-every-minor-malady attitude that is prevalent around here. No matter what you have or have done to yourself they will give you a shot in the ass and a 9 day prescription.
Seriously, I went in once because of some horrible reaction to breathing in cold steam from my humidifier and another time for fucking up my shoulder snowboarding. Minus the X-ray for the shoulder injury they both resulted in a shot in the ass and a 9 day prescription.
I'm sure you could go in with a malignant tumor hanging off your face and they would give you a shot in the ass and a nine day prescription. |
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Rae

Joined: 10 Oct 2007
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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Jandar wrote: |
Seriously ignore the email.
Say a bunch of mi an ham ni da kinda crap when you get back to work.
If your back is hurting you should go to the doc, get a perscription for something.
You don't have to take the meds.
The only thing good for a back injury is bed rest.
Is this a public or a hagwon? |
I should have reread my original post. I meant to say that a few weeks ago I had a back injury - but now I have the flu. The back injury was bad. They came to my door and took me to get acupuncture. I was driven once, the rest I went alone. I was only gone for 2 days although they OK'd me for the following Monday but I promised my kids a special Halloween class. I should add that those 2 days I was out was during my school's fall picnic. So I basically just missed out on fun, not classes.
I work at a PS. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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Gotta love how they throw around "hospital" when they just mean 내과.
"You should go to hospital."
"Oh motherfuck am I going to die?" |
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joshuahirtle27

Joined: 23 Mar 2008
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:33 am Post subject: |
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Underwaterbob wrote: |
I absolutely despise the go-to-the-hospital-for-every-minor-malady attitude that is prevalent around here. No matter what you have or have done to yourself they will give you a shot in the ass and a 9 day prescription.
Seriously, I went in once because of some horrible reaction to breathing in cold steam from my humidifier and another time for fucking up my shoulder snowboarding. Minus the X-ray for the shoulder injury they both resulted in a shot in the ass and a 9 day prescription.
I'm sure you could go in with a malignant tumor hanging off your face and they would give you a shot in the ass and a nine day prescription. |
HA! I was constipated 1 day and they told me to go to the Dr. I said," or I could drink one of those fiber things and have a crap" I was sent to the Dr. took a bad reaction to the drugs which caused listlessness, fatigue, and nausea and resulted in me missing 2 classes anyway.
I didn't take the rest of the drugs the Dr gave me (for obvious reasons) and downed 2 fiber drinks. The next day I was happier than a pig in horse manure. |
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itaewonguy

Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:49 am Post subject: |
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I dont think avoiding them is the best way either..
talk to her on the phone or email, tell her you are sick , and where you are , tell them you will be back on the date...
the girl is just doing her job! she needs to report to the director...
also leaving the school in the dark about when you are coming back is not so cool either.. YES they treat you like a child what ever! this is korea remember! they are cool with you having sick days, they just want to know when you are coming back..
At least you will get paid.. I didnt take a sick day for 1 year. and took 2 back to back, I was allowed 3 per year by the way... the director decided to not pay me for those two days missed!
SO I QUIT that job and told him he was a COCK SUCKER and walked out.. oh I took two sick days because my wifes father had just died that night, so I called in sick from the road that following morning as I needed to take my wife to her home town to be with her family .. the schools answer was, well thats not a sick day!
and thats not your problem!
thats your wifes problem!!!
we dont pay you for those two days!!
mean while the two new teachers who had been there 4 months and the other 2 months had already taken 4 sick days between them and were paid for them.. ohh they had alittle cold.. I had been there 2 years, worked with the director 4 years, recruited 10 teachers for them for FREE!! and then she pulls that shit!! I saved her 10 million won on recuiting and countless part time teachers, and she pulls that over 450k!!
WHAT EVER!! her answer was, its not me its my husband, he takes over now... so I went head to head with him for 2 hours on the phone for a couple days at a time..
I HATE KOREAN WONJUNGNIMS! so I have never worked again in a school |
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Hanson

Joined: 20 Oct 2004
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:15 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
they are cool with you having sick days, they just want to know when you are coming back.. |
In my experience, they most certainly are not cool with it... |
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Lukychrm42
Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Cheonan
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:42 am Post subject: |
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joshuahirtle27 wrote: |
Underwaterbob wrote: |
I absolutely despise the go-to-the-hospital-for-every-minor-malady attitude that is prevalent around here. No matter what you have or have done to yourself they will give you a shot in the ass and a 9 day prescription.
Seriously, I went in once because of some horrible reaction to breathing in cold steam from my humidifier and another time for fucking up my shoulder snowboarding. Minus the X-ray for the shoulder injury they both resulted in a shot in the ass and a 9 day prescription.
I'm sure you could go in with a malignant tumor hanging off your face and they would give you a shot in the ass and a nine day prescription. |
HA! I was constipated 1 day and they told me to go to the Dr. I said," or I could drink one of those fiber things and have a crap" I was sent to the Dr. took a bad reaction to the drugs which caused listlessness, fatigue, and nausea and resulted in me missing 2 classes anyway.
I didn't take the rest of the drugs the Dr gave me (for obvious reasons) and downed 2 fiber drinks. The next day I was happier than a pig in horse manure. |
Why the heck did you tell your school you were constipated?? |
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