Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jonpurdy]

I agreed to make an appearance to Saturday's Sports Day since my school has been good to me and not been unreasonable with anything. However, I just found out that the male teachers have to come in at 6am to start setting up.

Now, I have no problem coming in after 9 or 10 but 6am is crazy (even for me). How can I get out of coming so early? (ie. what is a plausible excuse to use that ensures they believe me and I don't lose face?) Thanks!

[Easter Clark]

Too late. Either you show up at 6 or you don't show up at all...but since you already accepted it wouldn't be a good idea to not show up at all.

You'll probably have a good time afterward, though!

[Seoulio]

[Easter Clark]

Responsibility. Get some.

[oskinny1]

[lifeinkorea]

I went to the first one, and they saw I did nothing. So, they never asked me again. When a new teacher was hired, they had another event going on but they told my co-teacher we didn't have to attend. Seems like they just want you to give an initial visit. After that, you aren't expected to attend. Stand around, don't fall asleep, and help the students when they are ordered to do something. It will look good to the parents seeing you working with the students and you won't stick out like a sore thumb being the only foreigner and racing with parents

[Cerulean]

Another option is you could say you'll be there and then when you are late say you slept in.

But then again, showing up and helping the fellow guys out might score brownie points with them. It helps to be liked and get along with everyone.

In situations like these, I ask myself how good is my school and how much do I want my contract renewed.

[Seoulio]

[wesharris]

[Easter Clark]

[Seoulio]

[Missihippi]

How about offer to stay late and help take down the event? (what goes up, must come down) Say that you are staying with a friend in (insert obscure gyeonggi city here) on friday night and you can't make it in that early.

[Bloopity Bloop]

[Easter Clark]

So OP, what are you gonna do?

Sorry these other bozos are hijacking your thread...but not everybody has the reading skills of a 5th grader.

[jonpurdy]

Thanks for all the responses.

The issue is not just coming to Sports Day. I agreed to do an event (running a race, which will take like two minutes) at around 11 or 11:30am. So I figured I'd come in around 10, hang out, run the race, then head out.

I didn't mention this before but I'm teaching at another school at 1pm (until 5pm) and it's paid so I must do that. I just wasn't expecting to be asked to come in at 6am. That means I'll be awake at 5:30, at school for five hours, then have to head to another school and teach for four hours.

I should mention that most teachers still don't know that I don't work on Saturdays, through no fault of their own. So I guess he sorta though I'd be in anyways.

If I wasn't working another school afterwards I could go home and rest. I just don't want to be tired for the other school where I'm actually working and teaching. Also, I'm not going out and drinking the night before, that's not the issue. I planned on sleeping early anyway so that I can be rested for Saturday. I just need my sleep.

I guess I could go for 6am, set things up for an hour, go home and sleep, then come again at 10am for my appearance, but that seems like a hassle. This is not ideal. I could also man up and just come in at 6, stay, and be exhausted after that day. Tempting, but I hoped I could make it a bit easier on myself.

Seulio, your excuse of being in another town (such as Busan) is a good one. I might use that, thanks!