Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Awesomo]

I don't know yet, but I could be banned from EPIK altogether. It's a somewhat long story, but it's pretty unfortunate.

Here's the short of it:
Never been sick in the last 3 years before coming to Korea, but my weakness is respiratory stuff.

Anyway, I got sick with a sinus infection. The day that cleared up, I started getting tonsillitis for the first time in my life. I went to the hospital because I could barely speak or even drink water because my tonsils swelled up so much. Instead of giving me the proper treatment, they gave me a million pills and IV's that had nothing to do with my condition in addition to what I needed for my condition. This induced Hepatitis in me and they had to cut my antibiotic treatment short. Because of that, I spent an extra week in the hospital for them to watch the Hepatitis and a week later my tonsillitis came back. This is my take, anyway. Obviously not a Doctor here.

Long story even shorter:
I got sick with something and it got really bad. What should have been just maybe a week out of classes, turned in to 3 and a huge bill for me.

They let me go on teaching and don't tell me anything except on the second day at the very beginning of my illness they inform me that I could be fired if I stay sick too long.

Then it comes time to renew, I give an open lesson for the Gyeongnam officials to watch, a lady from my city comes up to tell me that she liked the lesson, it was good, but they had to run to another lesson across town.

I get news when I try to renew later that week that I'm not allowed to renew. My performance as a teacher is terrible, apparently. They've banned me from teaching because of my extended illness and are playing it off as "you're a terrible teacher."

They tell me that they will give me information on how to apply elsewhere, but that was long ago and I still have no received such information. The deadline for applying to EPIK has long passed and I have no idea how to re-apply to another public school in another province.

So basically, here I am.

Any suggestions? How do you go about re-applying to EPIK public schools in other provinces? Can I use a recruiter again? Can I use a recruiter for GEPIK instead? etc.

[oldfatfarang]

Sorry to hear about this. It's quite common for Korean schools to save face. I suspect you were dumped because you've been involved in a 'problem' that impacts negatively on Korea.

You could try other recruiters, or GEPIK. You'll definitely get a hagwon job, but would you want one???

Also, with your respitory health issues, you should question whether you should stay in Korea. In the end, you only have your health. Let's face it - Korea's air is dirty - and why would you risk your health for $20,000????


Good luck with your decision. If I got sick, I'd be gone in a heartbeat.

[Awesomo]

...

[Robot_Teacher]

Some newbies get sick for 3 solid months upon entering Korea or China their 1st time. I suffered 1 solid month of sickness in March and then a sore throat off and on during May and a runny nose in early June. This issue has been discussed so many times on Daves and needs to be communicated to Korea. I explained myself quite well and got them to understand what the heck is going on. I would guess you got better as you progressed into your year, but had a terrible start?

My answer is Korean or Asia region flu, cold, and other germs and bacteria are a slightly different variation Westerners immune systems are not yet adjusted and it takes time to adjust to the new environment.

It's not fair how Koreans often hold our short comings against us caused by their dirty environment our bodies not being accustomed to it as well as our reaction to what we see as rude and inconsiderate. It's nothing for them to be shamed of as the whole world is mostly a dirty place so they need to get off the pedistal of lying to themselves, but the germs in each region vary and it takes foreigners some getting used to. The illegal residential streetside trash fire smoke will really fox you out when you're already suffering upper respiratory illnesses. It's not fair how they'll often ignore the truth, lie about the truth, not discuss things openly, and put on a fake smile with a laugh rather than being frank about issues in many situations, but when you make it clear you know these sorts of things and communicate it, they have to acknowledge facts and stop the nonsensical chuckling, lying, ignoring, and communication avoidance.

Go ahead, be blatantly open about the truths and even attempt to translate it if they seem to lack vocabulary. While Babblefish is not totally accurate, it helps your point across when there is a language communication barrier. I used it to let students and Korean teachers know why I find it unacceptable to talk in Korean during class while I'm talking, push, shove, bud in line, and throw trash just any place while saying lies every other statement they make. The cultural differences do indeed need to be discussed more between us and Koreans in a constructive honest manner rather than it being allowed to be a barrier. Maybe we could both learn from each other rather than staying ingorant if better communication existed?

[CentralCali]

This is the last country I'd even dream of riding a motorcycle. Have you see how people drive their cars here?

[E_athlete]

Ive been told by my recruiter that EPIK gives out 16 sick days or something but from what I've heard on this forum Koreans look down on people taking sick leaves. Sorry to hear about your situation

[TheMeerkatLover]

Sick days are for 'serious' illnesses. Having something that can let you stand in front of the classroom isn't considered a real form of sickness. Bad colds, flu and other ailments are common here since the concept of presenteeism is extremely strong here.

One co-worker had her child's water leak a few weeks ago (she is 6 months pregnant) and the doctor said 1 month at home. No problem there at all. (They can't kill her unborn child to keep her at her desk) and that was considered a serious illness. (She is a foreign Spanish teacher)

I have the feeling your illness was exacerbated with bad physicians and you didn't try to mitigate the problem. If a doctor gives me medication I feel I don't need, I go to another doctor for a 2nd and 3rd opinion. It's your health, and very much worth your time.

I hate to say it, but by being 'chronically' sick in their eyes, you may have shown yourself to be unreliable and somewhat undedicated to teach no matter how you feel. I've seen this happen b4 and it is common to let people go for being 'too sick'.

Welcome to Asia.

Meerkat

[ekul]

If you're sick and want to actually get away with it either go to the doctors and get a note or go into school and look like death warmed up. I was too sick to work but I came in and just died at my desk. My co-teachers could tell I was ill and took my classes while I monged at my desk. It's a totally undesirable situation, you should be at home in bed but if you want to suck up to them that's the way to do it.

If you ever get tonsillitis just demand to have your tonsils removed, they are a waste of space anyway! I had three months off school when I was younger because the doctors were dicking around and wouldn't remove them.

[Awesomo]

Well, I didn't know any better with the hospital and most of the drugs that I took came in IV form, which I couldn't refuse, didn't know what most of it was, and couldn't communicate to any Doctors anyway. It was a huge hospital (Hanmaum) in the middle of Changwon and they must have 2 Doctors on staff that don't speak any English.

In addition, my Doctors demanded my hospital stay and as such I spent no less than 10 work days in a hospital bed being treated. One time I went home early because all they were doing was watching my Liver's progress and I had run out of money to pay them. I came in a couple of days later for the tests to make sure everything was okay.

They know I was genuinely sick and unable to teach.