Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Arthur Fonzerelli]

Snow is forecasted throughout the night and into tommorow.

Will you hogwons and universities cancel classes tommorow?

[prairieboy]

Doubtful. Classes will be on as usual. The reasoning will be along these lines:

Some of our students live nearby and will be able to walk. We cannot risk making these parents angry, so classes will run as scheduled. But if no students show up for the class, you won't get paid eventhough you made it to work.

This is what happened at the last hogwon I was at when we had a snowfall like this one.

[Bulsajo]

5&1/2 years in Korea and I only ever had half a day of classes cancelled by snow (End of Jan 2000 I believe it was), and even then it totally took me by surprise (and Mr. Murphy came calling that day- I had already booked the day off!).

[djsmnc]

No way would classes ever be canceled for that. If you fall on some icy stairs and wind up in the hospital, they may cancel your classes, and you'll eventually be criticized for it. Probably have a meeting where they discuss pro-rating pay deductions for the days you missed....

[diver]

They will only cancel classes if your director comes up with some crazy (ie: Korean) idea that he can make more money off of the snow than he can from the students. You, of course, will not have a day off. You will have to go outside and collect snow for your boss. You will have to keep it in your apartment. You will get fired when the snow melts.

[kangnamdragon]

You will also have to shovel the snow in front of the academy.

[Mr. Pink]

Why would a hawgwon be cancelled? You see the kids in the afternoon when the snow is cleaned up.

I was hoping my high school would at least cancel first or second class.

No such luck, but I do enjoy looking at the snow from my comfy office.

[VanIslander]

I think that if even 5 cm of snow stayed on the ground, the parents on this Korean island would keep their kids home.

When my students talk about snow they refer to either ski resorts or almost mythic blizzards. A few of them have gone skiing or snow boarding up north while others say they are scared of snow, probably because they only see snow when T.V. news shows its ill effects.

This subject reminds me of the reactions of Vancouver residents to a light snowfall: they're overblown, from the perspective of those who've lived in Winnipeg or Montreal. In Canada, a school in one region may not close classes until there's 40 cm of snow and -40 C, while a school in another region closes when there's only 10cm and -20 C.

I think I live in a Vancouver-like region of Korea.

Rain is the better indicator. During the Monsoon season, parents DO keep their kids at home when the streets are flooded, though my director doesn't close the hagwon until the first class is less than half full.

[Juggertha]

I canceled my adults in the morning. Didnt need them killing themselves driving there.

[peppermint]

Further evidence that my new school is great. I was supposed to go on interview duty at 3:30, just got a call saying that that is cancelled, as are the kids classes. Still have to teach adults at 6:00 though.

[Alias]

Classes have been cancelled at my school here in Daejon. This is a record snowfall for March.

[crazykiwi]

mine too, ecc, orange and some other hogwans have all cancelled. told my boss if you want to pick me up ill make it. like hell im gettin in a taxi in this weather. a foot of snow here at the moment. what a nice way to spend a friday....down the pub ..laterz

crazy

[rudyflyer]

at 10AM the main streets around me were fine, side streets were a bit slushy. Now everything is melted

if it looked like this in Ohio we would of had school

[peppermint]

well, down south where I am, there were cars stuck everywhere, and the snow was around 25cm deep, with shopkeepers shovelling (dustpanning ) the snow from their walkways onto the street.

[desultude]

Well, I am jealous. Its just cold rain down here. I love snow. And I really love stay at home and watch it out the window snow days.