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Things to bring
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D.D.



Joined: 29 May 2008

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:31 am    Post subject: Things to bring Reply with quote

1. a good pair of sandals. You won't wear your shoes in the school and the ones the give you will be small and not so cumfie. I wear birkenstocks as they are great for my back with all the standing I do.

2. Bring cash- many people expect their 300000 and their airfare to be returned right away but it can take up to a month.

3. Winter jacket for and something like a fleece or a sweater to wear around in the school. The school can be too cold for just a shirt in some places.

4. Deodorant- bring like 5-10.

5. I use my small backpack a lot for carrying water and stuff to school.

6. I can't find many books here that I like so I wish I had brought more good books. I have found some good on my trips to Thailand.


Thats all I can think of for now.
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ChinaBoy



Joined: 17 Feb 2007

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've never worn sandals and never will. I wear shoes in the school.

Backpacks make you look unprofessional.

Books are heavy and cumbersome. Download txt files for free on the internet.
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bogey666



Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ChinaBoy wrote:
I've never worn sandals and never will. I wear shoes in the school.

Backpacks make you look unprofessional.

Books are heavy and cumbersome. Download txt files for free on the internet.


then you'll never work in my public school (or some others) where everyone else, students AND Korean teachers wear sandals - so why should an exception be made for YOU?? (it won't be!)


(and my school's sandals are fine although they bought me a special thicker, more comfy and wider pair and gave me those on my first day)

and I like my backpack and hate the look of man/business bags. I'll let my professionalism speak for itself in how I approach my job, not the bag I carry. The people that overly "dress for success" are SALESMEN. Pitiful.
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Bearach



Joined: 12 Mar 2008

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

1. I wore steel-toed Caterpillar boots every day, and I'm glad I did. My school was a warzone.

2. I changed �300 at the airport and it lasted maybe two months.

3. Bring clothes appropriate for the time of year you come here.

4. I stopped using deodourant when it was longer equal to the task. If body odour is an issue then this might be a good idea for you.

5. Good idea. When you come to Korea, bring a bag.

6. I brought two books, it was good to have some in the first few weeks. Bringing a lot sounds like a pain though, you can get them here if you look around.

Also, I'd suggest bringing an electrical socket adapter, and mosquito spray if you come in the summer.
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Chris_Dixon



Joined: 09 Jan 2008

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can even order books online, there is an abundance of english books if you know where to look.
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hochhasd



Joined: 05 Jul 2008

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

bogey666 wrote:
ChinaBoy wrote:
I've never worn sandals and never will. I wear shoes in the school.

Backpacks make you look unprofessional.

Books are heavy and cumbersome. Download txt files for free on the internet.


then you'll never work in my public school (or some others) where everyone else, students AND Korean teachers wear sandals - so why should an exception be made for YOU?? (it won't be!)


(and my school's sandals are fine although they bought me a special thicker, more comfy and wider pair and gave me those on my first day)

and I like my backpack and hate the look of man/business bags. I'll let my professionalism speak for itself in how I approach my job, not the bag I carry. The people that overly "dress for success" are SALESMEN. Pitiful.



I do not remember any part of the contract for a public school saying you must wear sandals. The sites ranging from recruiters to general all show dress shoes as required for the schools. They may not like you much if you wear shoes and they may prefer that you wear sandals, but I do not think they will fire you. Rolling Eyes
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DC in Suwon



Joined: 14 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There's also nothing in the contract that says you cannot rape your co-teacher. Does that mean if you do you won't be penalized? Give me a break.
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ontheway



Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

hochhasd wrote:
bogey666 wrote:
ChinaBoy wrote:
I've never worn sandals and never will. I wear shoes in the school.

Backpacks make you look unprofessional.

Books are heavy and cumbersome. Download txt files for free on the internet.


then you'll never work in my public school (or some others) where everyone else, students AND Korean teachers wear sandals - so why should an exception be made for YOU?? (it won't be!)


(and my school's sandals are fine although they bought me a special thicker, more comfy and wider pair and gave me those on my first day)

and I like my backpack and hate the look of man/business bags. I'll let my professionalism speak for itself in how I approach my job, not the bag I carry. The people that overly "dress for success" are SALESMEN. Pitiful.



I do not remember any part of the contract for a public school saying you must wear sandals. The sites ranging from recruiters to general all show dress shoes as required for the schools. They may not like you much if you wear shoes and they may prefer that you wear sandals, but I do not think they will fire you. Rolling Eyes



There are public places and of course, private homes, where you must remove your shoes and wear slippers, sandals, or your stocking feet in order to enter. If your school is one of those places and you wear your shoes and refuse to remove them, it is quite probable that you will be asked to leave on the spot. Instant termination. And no Korean court, judge, labor office official or whatever will support you.

An event I witnessed will clarify. On one occasion, a very drunk Korean man entered a small shop where customers were required to remove their shoes and where I was shopping. The man was loud, abusive, kicking and pounding on things. The proprietor called the police. When the police arrived, they did nothing but talk to the man and ask him to leave, until it was pointed out that he had not removed his shoes. At this point the man was arrested.
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hochhasd



Joined: 05 Jul 2008

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think you are going a little over the top comparing a crazy customer to what your dress code is before being hired for a position that does not mention having to wear sandals by the recruiter or the person you interview with. Rolling Eyes
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DC in Suwon



Joined: 14 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

hochhasd wrote:
I think you are going a little over the top comparing a crazy customer to what your dress code is before being hired for a position that does not mention having to wear sandals by the recruiter or the person you interview with. Rolling Eyes


Maybe because it's a custom/part of culture. It's probably not something they'd even consider putting in a contract. You have toe fungus or something? Very Happy
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madoka



Joined: 27 Mar 2008

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

bogey666 wrote:
I'll let my professionalism speak for itself in how I approach my job, not the bag I carry. The people that overly "dress for success" are SALESMEN. Pitiful.


I generally have a great retention rate because my students realize how much I help them. However, I realize that looking professional also makes an impression, regardless of my teaching abilities. I think I once lost a student (an older woman) because of the car I drove! She came out of the parking lot in her Jaguar and saw me in a Maxima, then had a dismayed look on her face. A couple of days later, she cancelled our appointment. After that incident, I make sure to go to appointments in my MB or Lexus. As one student put it, you wouldn't want your surgeon to be driving around in a Corolla. It's stupidly superficial, but I've had a handful of students who did make note of what I drive and how I dress.
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Capo



Joined: 09 Sep 2007

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

this time round i'm bringing bacon and venison, just hoping they don't get confiscated! maybe muesli too considering the extortionate price of the department store varieties
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D.D.



Joined: 29 May 2008

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

madoka wrote:
bogey666 wrote:
I'll let my professionalism speak for itself in how I approach my job, not the bag I carry. The people that overly "dress for success" are SALESMEN. Pitiful.


I generally have a great retention rate because my students realize how much I help them. However, I realize that looking professional also makes an impression, regardless of my teaching abilities. I think I once lost a student (an older woman) because of the car I drove! She came out of the parking lot in her Jaguar and saw me in a Maxima, then had a dismayed look on her face. A couple of days later, she cancelled our appointment. After that incident, I make sure to go to appointments in my MB or Lexus. As one student put it, you wouldn't want your surgeon to be driving around in a Corolla. It's stupidly superficial, but I've had a handful of students who did make note of what I drive and how I dress.



You wouldnt want your surgeon in a Corolla but a teacher would look quite normal in one.

Man what a stupid post this was. As if the lady cared that a teacher was not driving a Lexus. Let me look in our parking lot at school. Oh wow there is only one Bmw that belongs to a teacher who is married to a Dr and is also very superficial.

The rest are driving things like Matiz, Sante Fe and Sonatas- must be a bunch of bums.
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nomad-ish



Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: On the bottom of the food chain

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

next time i'm bringing some crystal light juice packets (suggestion from another poster), soup packets, stuffing mix packets, and more shoes.

i wouldn't worry about bringing school sandals, you can find them easily enough here (the black and white striped ones) and they only cost about 3000-5000 won. unless your school is really dirty/cold, i think it's a good idea to wear them
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bogey666



Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone

PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Chriiiiist.

madoka, that was funny. I know there are people like that, but I won't be living my life based on their "assumptions". I refuse consumerism, period.

as to sandals.

no it's not in your contract, and no they won't (probably) fire you over the matter, but why on Earth would you fight that stupid and insignificant battle? never heard of the saying "choose your battles wisely"?

it's also a great way to "start off on the right foot" (NOT!)
I'm sure your Korean bosses will think of you highly. (NOT)
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