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charliebrown84
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: Daegu, South Korea
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 Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:32 pm Post subject: First year in Daegu and scared... |
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Hi everyone,
Just joined the other day, because I figured it would be good to get some insight on my future job. I've signed a contract with Andover School in Daegu and have about a month before I leave/start.
I did the initial research back when I got the contract and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then, just this week I do a check up and there is a blog that pretty much trashes the school along with the whole country. Now I know that this is just the reaction from one individual, but it still made me have an "Oh crap!" moment.
I just wanted to get a general feel on the area I'm going to and the blog made me feel like I was going into a WW3 battlefield. One of the stronger elements I got was a strong open racism to most foreign teachers and while I am prepared to deal with it, I don't know if that might cause me to hate this career path (which I've been leaning more towards within the past year or so).
If anyone out there could take the time to help out this pitiful first year with any advice about this particular school or what I should expect in general from the culture, I would be most grateful.
P.S. Sorry for the long post...  |
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asmith
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:49 pm Post subject: Re: First year in Daegu and scared sh*tless... |
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| charliebrown84 wrote: |
Hi everyone,
Just joined the other day, because I figured it would be good to get some insight on my future job. I've signed a contract with Andover School in Daegu and have about a month before I leave/start.
I did the initial research back when I got the contract and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then, just this week I do a check up and there is a blog that pretty much trashes the school along with the whole country. Now I know that this is just the reaction from one individual, but it still made me have an "Oh crap!" moment.
I just wanted to get a general feel on the area I'm going to and the blog made me feel like I was going into a WW3 battlefield. One of the stronger elements I got was a strong open racism to most foreign teachers and while I am prepared to deal with it, I don't know if that might cause me to hate this career path (which I've been leaning more towards within the past year or so).
If anyone out there could take the time to help out this pitiful first year with any advice about this particular school or what I should expect in general from the culture, I would be most grateful.
P.S. Sorry for the long post... |
It's a year. Just give it a try.
What blog by the way? |
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charliebrown84
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: Daegu, South Korea
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AgentM
Joined: 07 Jun 2009
Location: British Columbia, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| I wouldn't worry about how the blog bashed Korea, that's just one person's reactions as you say. Lots of people go to Korea and love it! Bashing your school would be a bit more worrying to me, however, if the person is bashing Korea so much...perhaps he (or she) is not the most well-adjusted individual anyways? It might just be them, not sure what to say on the school thing... |
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fraukoch
Joined: 25 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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Well now, that sounds promising, doesn't it? Just remember that it's only for a year - a mere twelve months - and anyone should be able to make the best of such a terrible situation for such a short time. |
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Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
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I'm no Picasso
Joined: 28 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: First year in Daegu and scared sh*tless... |
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| charliebrown84 wrote: |
One of the stronger elements I got was a strong open racism to most foreign teachers and while I am prepared to deal with it, I don't know if that might cause me to hate this career path (which I've been leaning more towards within the past year or so).
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If by "career path", you mean EFL teacher in foreign countries, then open racism is something you might want to get used to. Not that it's rampant all over the world. But a foreigner is a foreigner is a foreigner. Foreigners illicit strong negative reactions in some segment of the population everywhere.
Hillbillies come from all walks of life. You shouldn't let it put you off, though. |
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laoshihao
Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Location: I'll take the ROK, Alex, because that's where my stuff is.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:29 am Post subject: GalbiJim and others |
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Maybe you should try reading some of these instead. It will give you a more balanced view. Keep in mind the other blogger may not have been culturally sensitive or could have caused a lot of trouble for his school. Take everything with a grain of salt. I did not have the best year at my public school position, but I am not going to blame all of Korea for it. I'm giving it one more shot, hoping, coincidentally, for a certain position in Daegu, if it's still open. Remember one person's hell can be another person's heaven.
http://wiki.galbijim.com/Blog_Portal |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:07 am Post subject: |
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People who say korea sucks usually have a crap job or crap location....I can't say I've met someone who had a really good gig, but hated living here. It was usually both negative. Granted, Daegu isn't Seoul....but still a good city from what others tell me.
If the job sucks, prepare to pull a runner....best part is, once your on the ground it's easier to find the good jobs...
If he isn't a jerk off, the school probaly sucks like he said...email him for advice and he'll likely give the lowdown and a few things to look out for....just make sure your prepared to leave from the get go.
I read some of that guy's blog...it seems his job is the source of his frustration....that and the fact that he'll be another unemployed writer on the dole back home in Scotland so he'll probaly stay here. 
EDIT: this guy is kinda of a idiot.....He even throws in the ol' "Koreans hate black people" stick...Being a black guy here, I can assure you that isn't true at all... white people love to try to convince me otherwise for some reason....  |
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charliebrown84
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: Daegu, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:37 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for everyone's advice. I did get an email from someone on here with a link to two other bad reviews and its too similar to just pass up... I can easily go back to school to get my Masters, so that wouldn't be a problem in dropping this contract. I do, however, have the visa in my passport so if anyone knows what kind of problems I may incur other than losing my diploma upon breaking said contract, it would be most appreciated. |
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fraukoch
Joined: 25 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:48 am Post subject: |
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| Ukon wrote: |
People who say korea sucks usually have a crap job or crap location....I can't say I've met someone who had a really good gig, but hated living here. It was usually both negative. Granted, Daegu isn't Seoul....but still a good city from what others tell me.
If the job sucks, prepare to pull a runner....best part is, once your on the ground it's easier to find the good jobs...
If he isn't a jerk off, the school probaly sucks like he said...email him for advice and he'll likely give the lowdown and a few things to look out for....just make sure your prepared to leave from the get go.
I read some of that guy's blog...it seems his job is the source of his frustration....that and the fact that he'll be another unemployed writer on the dole back home in Scotland so he'll probaly stay here.
EDIT: this guy is kinda of a idiot.....He even throws in the ol' "Koreans hate black people" stick...Being a black guy here, I can assure you that isn't true at all... white people love to try to convince me otherwise for some reason.... |
Could that be because whites have the privilege of being able to get Koreans' honest opinions of blacks whilst not in black company? Out of curiosity, do Koreans also express the view that white footballers must be prone to making stupid decisions on account of their ethnic background when whites are not present? |
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LaffertyDaniel
Joined: 30 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I read this guy's blog, and that Andover Academy does not sound like one of the better Hagwons, let me tell ya.
But you definitely have to take this guy's writing with a grain of salt. He's on a mad hate/superiority trip throughout all of his writing. Definitely not an objective, outside point of view (but what blog is?).
I actually think I have read other blogs that have been particularly hateful towards this Hagwon, though, so watch out! |
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iggyb
Joined: 29 Oct 2003
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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On the Visa -- it means you will not be able to teach elsewhere in Korea until that Visa expires ----- unless by some miracle you got the school to give you a release letter.
Getting a release letter is tricky in most situations, but with yours, having backed out just before going to Korea, it will probably be nearly impossible.
If your backup plan is to get an MA, however, that won't make a difference.
Good luck... |
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felton3
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Location: On your computer screen
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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I used to see the Andover vans picking up the students from where I used to work. If you are working in Siji-Dong, it isn't that bad. I can't speak for the working conditions, but the area is nice for quiet living; there is a lot to do if you are the outdoorsy type. There are many mountains to hike and bike.
The nightlife is good, but better if you go downtown into Banwoldong and the fire station district. The only drawback to that is that you will have to take a taxi back to your place; that will set you back about $8-10 USD. Good luck out there! |
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Theo
Joined: 04 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Ukon wrote: |
| People who say korea sucks usually have a crap job or crap location....I can't say I've met someone who had a really good gig, but hated living here. It was usually both negative. |
Yeah, I see your point. However, for five years I had lots of bad or disappointing job in China (loved the students) but I really liked living in China.
For me, Korea was a complete and total negative.
| iggyb wrote: |
| If your backup plan is to get an MA, however, that won't make a difference. |
Very true. |
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