Korean Job Discussion Forums

bundangbear · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: www.youtube.com/bundangbear

Greetings!

I just arrived in Korea this week. I have taught in Japan and in the US, where I am from. I have read so many horror stories and such on the net, that, despite what many of my pals who are here had told me, I believed what people were saying: Korea sucks, all hagwons suck, and don't go. Well, I beleive that could not be further from the truth, based on my first week. This is so much better than working in Japan, and everything is all strawberries and new appliances. (Literally and metaphorically.)

I think most people who post stuff like "This life sucks" do have bad situations, but most people who have good situations don't post anything. People love to vent, but when things are going well, who needs to vent to the support group known as Dave's?

So, I landed, and was greeted at the airport. My apartment had all new, as in in-the-box-new TV, VCR, microwave, rice cooker, kitchen ware, stereo, bedding, and there was even the next days breakfast in the fridge--jam, milk, bread, apples, water. I work 4 hours a day, 6 days a week, and the owner of the school is really cool and friendly. I get 2.3 million. All the other teachers are great. I asked for an advance of 500,000, and I received it the next day. The job is in a really nice and modern area of Bundang, near Samsung Plaza.

I know this sounds too good to be true, and if I were not living it, I may be skeptical, too, especially after all the horror stories out there.

How did I get this job? I did my homework. I had friends who advised me, and I only accepted a school that met ALL (not some--all) of my criteria. I spent 6 months broke and living with my family doing this job search, and it was worth every second of it. I DID NOT USE A RECRUITER. I TALKED TO THE SCHOOL DIRECTLY. I suggest you do the same. And the school asked a lot of questions about My teaching style and my experiences. (Yes, this school would probably not have hired me fresh out of college--they want teachers with some ESL experience.) Id they show so much concern about the kids, then they must care somewhat about the teachers. In my case, a lot.

I honestly hope this helps some of you out. There are good places out there: do your homework. Thanks!

Imbroglio · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 3:22 am Post subject:

I like hearing good news... good for you!

Harvard Material · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

Does sound nice bundangbear. Does this school have a name?

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

sounds good, well done. I'm interested to hear your impressions after a couple months (hopefully still good).

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

I hope the majority of jobs are really like this.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I'd be willing to bet BB works next to Chorim station and lives in an office-tel on the other side of the Lotte Dept store, am I right BB?

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

bundangbear · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: www.youtube.com/bundangbear

Yes, after a few months my impression very well might change. Ok, i'm charmed a good bit by Bundang, but I'm on a visit to a buddy that lives in Songtan, and this area is SOOOOOOOO sdifferent from where I live. Yup, all Korea is not Bundang. A lot of it is poor and depressed and the people are more pushy. But I haven't even seen a cigarette butt on the street yet in my neighborhood.

NOPE. I live a short bus ride or slightly long walk from Seohyeon Station, where Samsung Plaza is. I've been to the Sunae Station area around the Lotte Dept. store and it is soooooooo much more run down and crappy than my neighnborhood. It's the nicest neighborhood i've ever lived in. I come from poor, working class (pulp and paper work is family--does anybody know how crappy that work is??) family, so i'm not trying to brag or BS, I'm just sharing my own shock and amazement at my great situation with all you out there.

Granted, things change, and I'm a pretty bi-polar kinda guy myself, but, ya gotta admit, when you're on the high end of the bi-polar thing, life is as grand and wonderful as it ever could be. And just a month ago I was slaving my ass off and living paycheck to paycheck teaching 8 hours a day with an evil boss and I got yelled at if students didn't renew thier contracts--this was in Toride, Japan. And I lived in a closet and slept on the floor and it cost 20 dollars toi take a train one way into Tokyo. Anyhow, thanx for listening....

pundang pear...uh, pundang bear...bundangbear

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

nateyb · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 5:19 pm Post subject:

have to agree with Eamo on Sunae. It is pretty much the same. I work in Sunae and it is great.

BB, you have a good job, and keep it!

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I can't complain too much so far. I have a healthy dose of skepticism but hagwons remind me a lot of the dot.com world which I worked in for 4 years. No one plans, no one takes responsibility. Happens in American, happens in this Korean gold rush too. The point is to just let much of this roll off of you and keep going. As long as they pay on time and pay what I was contracted for...

And did any of us come to Korea for an easy life? I came partially for the challenge. After spending 4 years being paid to surf the internet, it's nice to be back in a job where at least I feel like I've earned my salary at week's end.

bundangbear · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: www.youtube.com/bundangbear

Ok, Ok, I was totally talking crap about Sunae. Lotte is a wonderful department store. Samsung Plaza is a charmer, though, isn't it?? And, my neighborhood is a good bus ride from Samsung Plaza, slightly up the hill, and a bit removed from the chaos of living near the station. I still think it's the nicest place I've ever lived, and among the finest neighborhoods in all Korea. It's Bundang-dong, Bundang-gu, as in the Bundang neighborhood of Bundang ward.

shawner88 · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Man, cry me a river. Boohoo! Get a grip...oops wrong thread...