Korean Job Discussion Forums

edgeworth · Joined: 26 May 2009

I've been offered a contract in which the apartment is "in the school building."

Is that common? Has anyone here done it, and if so what was it like? I'm concerned about having no degree of separation between my work life and private life, but the rest of the contract is EXACTLY what I'm looking for.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

it could be dorm-style - is it a high school? or even a middle school?

you definitely need to ask for pix AND speak to the foreign teacher there now; if there is any kind of hesitation or issues regarding either - take a pass.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

What kind of institution is it? I live 'on campus' but it's in a house the school owns on property they've bought up. It's actually great but I sure wouldn't want to have to live in the actual school building.

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

Sounds like they've cleaned out the broom cupboard. Do you really want them knowing your comings and goings?

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 7:29 pm Post subject:

To actually live in the school building would be a 'deal breaker' for me - no matter how good the rest of the contract.

It's a giant 'red flag'.

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

I briefly worked at a hakwon where my apartment was a couple floors higher in the same building.

The main problem was that it was really a three-bedroom apartment with large living room and kitchen, and I - as the only occupant - was expected to pay the huge utility bill. If I heated the place to a comfortable temperature it cost me over 100,000 won per week.

I negotiated them down to my paying 50% of the heating bill, but because the insulation was so bad utilities still cost way more than a studio apt.

On the other hand, it was nice having so much living space - including a balcony.

edgeworth · Joined: 26 May 2009

It's a Wonderland franchise in Eunpyeong for elementary and kindergarden kids. I don't know the specifics yet; this is just what my recruiter has told me. I have an interview with them tomorrow morning.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 2:36 am Post subject:

edgeworth,

'Google' Prisoner of Wonderland and get back to us.

ingroup_vice · Joined: 23 May 2009 Location: Kangnam

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

My old school had a separate wing for visitors & teachers visiting relatives to stay in. I lived there for three months. It was quiet, & very convenient, but had no washing machine or large fridge. I disliked having to walk into town in the rain &/or snow, to get my washing done, but apart from that, no complaints.

WoBW · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Location: HBC

I worked at a school in Mokdong that occupied a small 4-story building; reception on the 1st floor, classrooms on the 2nd and 3rd, and on the 4th floor was my apartment and the teachers' office. My apartment was a huge 3 bedroom place that I had to myself.

Advantages: convenience, obviously. I walked out of my apartment, took 5 steps and I was in the teachers' room. Especially nice on freezing winter days. Also, I didn't have to pay any bills at all, and that includes cable TV and internet.

Disadvantages: I did feel that when I walked through reception to get up to my home the Korean staff were looking to see what shopping I was carrying, or whatever. On the other hand, a few times when my girlfriend stayed the night there were already some Korean staff there when I saw her out in the morning. Nothing was ever said about this, and rightly so. I'm an adult, and if I want my girlfriend to stay over then it's none of their business as long as I'm descrete about it. It's not as if I was playing tonsil tennis with her in the reception area - I just walked her out of the building and said goodbye.

It was a bit creepy when I went out late at night. i had to go down past the dark empty classrooms and dark emply reception. I was literally the only person in the building at night and for most of the weekend.

A couple of times - on a Sunday, say - I quickly went from the apartment to the teachers' office to get something from my desk in nothing but a pair of shorts. I didn't expect anyone to be there, only to walk into the office and find the school president in the office. I didn't sweat it: I simply smiled sheepishly, said "Oh, hi." got what I needed and disappeared back into my apartment.

wesharris · Joined: 10 Oct 2008

I live on the fourth floor, in the sticks. It's ok. But, the apartments rather small. There are 10 of us, and we all can be quite nosey at times. So, if you have private business. Tell no one.
That sort of thing.
_+_+
Wes

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Sector7G · Joined: 24 May 2008