Korean Job Discussion Forums

Keepongoing · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Location: Korea

My mother died a few years back and I did not get back in time, but did attend her funeral.

waynehead · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Location: Jongno

No, thankfully, but I worry about it.

chevro1et · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Location: Busan, ROK

My grandmother passed last summer about 3 weeks before I went home for vacation. Went to the grave site and had a family gathering while I was back.

JJJ · Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul

That's why I try to get home at least once a year. Took me almost 30 years to get along with my old man and mom and now I appreciate both of them more than ever. Funny how you realize they were a lot smarter than you gave them credit for when you were younger.

I go home to see them so if, in the future I get that call, I won't have any regrets. I saw them during my vacations and everyone was happy.

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

My grandmother died in February, but I didn't go back for it. I'm from Pittsburgh, and getting to there from Suncheon can take over 36 hours of travel time.

It's not that my grandmother wasn't important to me, it's just that I wouldn't have been able to get the required time off to get there and back.

If I lost an immediate family member, like a parent or a brother, I'd go back of course. Actually, I'd probably quit my job and go back for good, because there's no way I'm going back for the funeral then coming back to my job as English monkey. I'd be an emotional wreck, of course, and dying is not an easy thing: there are bills to pay, accounts to close, property to distribute, and all kinds of paperwork that I'd be responsible for. It makes me feel like a bad person from time to time knowing that I'm so far away and that if somebody dies I can't be there for the family and I can't help out with all the, um, business of death.

Zantetsuken · Joined: 21 Dec 2008

My younger brother died while I was over here....he was only 24,,,,so that really sucked

blurgalurgalurga · Joined: 18 Oct 2007

My aunt and my granny died slowly and horribly while I was here. It sucked.

SHANE02 · Joined: 04 Jun 2003

My grandmother died last year. I had a boss who was nice enough to let me go back for a week and attend the funeral. I'm so glad I did.

bluelake · Joined: 01 Dec 2005

The first year I returned to Korea, in 1989, my older brother died. I couldn't get back for his funeral, and I also couldn't grieve here, so it was really hard on me. My grandmother died back in 2002, although she was almost 101, so it wasn't too much of a shock. Still, receiving "the call" has to be the one thing I dread most, especially as my folks are both 83, so it's probably going to be sooner rather than later. As someone else mentioned in this thread, I visit home once a year, plus I talk daily with my folks on Skype; I always make sure the last thing said is how much I love them.

VanIslander · Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject:

my dad died last summer

my hagwon director said my job will be waiting if I decide to return (only waygook on staff) so i said thanks and said I'd be back within three months, which turned out to be just enough time to settle things back home, process the will, sell the home. i returned and finished out the last seven months of my third year at that hagwon, appreciative of the director's consideration. i even helped find my replacement.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

warmachinenkorea · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

My Great grandmother, who helped raise me, was very sick and my wife and I were allowed to take our vacation early so we used our summer vacation and went home. She passed while we were there. However, I kinda wish I hadn't gone home because I found out my Dad is back doin' drugs again and this time it's bad. He has been goin' hard for a months and no one has bothered to tell me and I talk to my family about once a week. I keep waiting for someone to call and tell me he is dead. It's life I guess.

bluelake · Joined: 01 Dec 2005

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

Lost my mom to lung cancer last year.

I was able to bring the family out to be with here 3 times that year... but it still didn't feel like enough.

English Matt · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

My dad and gran died over the same weekend just before Christmas. I couldn't afford the flight back home that close to Christmas, and my family were all sick with flu at the time so it just wasn't really possible or a good idea to go back for the funerals.