Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hagwonnewbie]

Just wondering how much time other people spend with their co-workers.

[ursus_rex]

How about just a simple "No" somewhere in the poll. I don't hang out with them, but I don't think they're "tossers" either. I simply believe in keeping work and personal life separate... I put "rarely" in the poll accounting for work related meetings/dinners and stuff.

[nate2008]

I know everyone is different and has their preferences, but if you are one of those people who is only going to be here for a year or two, I think getting to know your coworkers is a huge plus.

For example, I'm with EPIK, and once or twice a week, I will go out with some of the male teachers at my school. Not only are they all in their early 30's (I'm 23) but also none of them are English teachers. They speak extremely broken English, but if they all work together they can communicate quite well. They're always great fun to hang out with and go drinking with. As a result of hanging out with them, my Korean has gotten a lot better, and their English has improved by leaps and bounds, although this is just an added bonus to our friendship and not the primary reason for it. Not to mention the fact that since I'm younger they never let me pay for ANYTHING. I get free booze and dinner once or twice a week. I now also have somebody to eat with in the lunch room rather than just eating with my one boring woman coteacher who is in her late 40's. We talk a lot in school as well.

For people who would say "I'd rather spend that time with foreigners." Well, fine, but in my case, none of my foreigner friends live within walking distance of me, so I pretty much only see them on weekends. Being friends with my Korean coworkers gives me people to hang out with during the week.

Seriously, if you are going to be working with these people for the foreseeable future, why not get to know them? It really makes the experience in Korea more complete.

[Clockout]

Not outside official school dinners/outings.

Wish I did though. Some of the younger teachers would probably be fun.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[I'm no Picasso]

Spent five days out of town with my co-teacher visiting just about everyone in her family. We all go out every now and then just on our own for coffee, dinner or a movie. But most of them are married and have very busy lives otherwise. Mine's quite busy at the moment as well. But it's good to just spend some time with them every now and then. I'm at a great school, with great co-workers. And I only look forward to getting to know more of the better now that my Korean is picking up as well.

[wallythewhale]

Why wouldn't you try and get to know your co-workers? You're in S. Korea, live a little.

[Goku]

As someone who's worked many jobs.

I try to maintain distance.

In the majority of my previous jobs I had made friends with a lot of people in the workplace. It has it's benefits, but there are also problems with making friends wih co-workers.

1) someone gets close to you and treats you as a friend. Then sooner or later you'll end up telling them something in confidentality and it spreads and gossip ensues etc etc. That's one scenario. Vice Versa they could tell you something, and you could forget and blab it off. (luckily in Korea, not a big problem for the weigook saram)

2) they will get you involved in some kind of dispute or uncessary issues. They will ask you to "back them up" even if it's damaging to your reputation, career, or even your principals. I had one guy ask me to back him up saying it was A-OK to take pencils and paper from work so it's only natural that CD's would be ok too.

3) Sometimes depending on who you are, the more they know you the less they like and they start treating you like a friend instead of a co-worker. If you ask for something professionaly, they cant seperate out what needs to be done and what's asked like a friends favor. I had this problem as a manager when I was friends with my suboordinates. I learned the terrible disadvantages to having friends.

Now these are all situational. But I prefer to prevent these issues from ever happening. Frankly, I get tempted to act very nice and buddy with my co-teachers but I resist and keep it professional.

[iammac2002]

...

[Grantasmagoria]

Nah. Went out a few times with them for dinner and visited at temple. Great ladies but I really have nothing in common with them besides work.

[Carla]

Sometimes, if we got along pretty good. Usually I was better friends with the ones who had spent some time outside of Korea.

[greasypeanut]

only the younger ones when they have free time.

[martinpil]

[zipper]

[seonsengnimble]