Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Taryn1]

I have a friend who wants to come with me to teach in South Korea. Is there any advice you could give her. She functions very well and has always been able to work full time since I've known her.

Please advise.

T

[oldtactics]

You're going to need to be more specific.

Social anxiety? Manic depression? Body dysmorphia? Bipolar?

It's a tough call because some hagwons could use medication as a reason to not hire someone, or to cancel their visa - EPIK might discriminate less, but putting a first time teaching in a room with 40 middleschool boys probably wouldn't be smart for someone with anxiety issues.

[Taryn1]

This friend of mine is schizophrenic, but functions very highly and does not have anxiety with kids. I think she would be fine. How do you feel about it?

She has always worked full-time for 20 years.

T

[NYC_Gal]

Not the BEST idea, as the stress of moving to a new country with a different culture could trigger some sort of episode.

[northway]

Doesn't it ask about past and continuing psych issues on your visa application?

[Taryn1]

I could see maybe what you are saying, but this friend of mine makes friends very well and would feel at "home" with her new friends, plus she would have me.

T

[northway]

[Taryn1]

They have psychiatrists in South Korea that hold confidentiality and they would hopefully have a hospital she could stay in if she did need to go there, but I think she would be fine.

The person who previously replied -- my friend has never taken illegal drugs. I'm not sure why you mentioned this. Please explain....

T

[Globutron]

You *think* she would be fine.

That's where the problem lies. Nobody knows that she *will* be fine.

You say she gets on with friends well but what about not getting along with a boss, or all the staff, or all koreans. Or the apartment is terrible or one of the 95,000 things that can and do go wrong. Missing home. I've had lots of friends who thought they were vagabonds only to find themselves in tears wishing they could go home.

A new foreign teacher here had been planning on travelling for years and now she's done it, she can't handle the fact that there is no christmas vacation and only 6 days in the entire year we get off. She can't stand that she works 9+ hour days with no break, or that she gets told off when she does something wrong, etc etc.

Some massive things can happen to you moving away from your comfort zone. Not that I know the details of skitz.

[Taryn1]

My friend has worked for 20 years in the business world and has learned a thing or two on how to work with a boss and co-workers for that matter. She might have a problem working overtime everyday, but I don't think that happens in the public schools.

T

[NYC_Gal]

But your friend does take drugs, legal or not. She'd have to write on her medical form any drugs that she is taking. If she leaves them out, they'll show up on her medical exam. If she puts them on, they'll want to know what they're for. She should look into a different country.

[northway]

[BreakfastInBed]

I wouldn't advise your friend to come. In fact, I'd actively discourage her. Maybe she'd be fine. Maybe. Living and working here, especially the first year, can be a real mind f@*# some days, even for the most level headed and open minded. Plus, she'd be working with children. If anything DID happen... I'd rather not think about it. Hell, even if nothing happened, if parents found out about her little problem she could find herself in the center of a very ugly situation very quickly, one with repercussions that could extend far beyond her personal affairs and potentially affect a great many people living and working here.

She will be left unsupervised, in a position of responsibility, with classrooms full of children. This is not the same thing as working in a business environment with other adults. My personal belief, call it prejudice if you like, is that a diagnosed schizophrenic should not work with children. True, I can imagine exceptions to this, but Korea isn't one of them.

[schwa]

I commend you for wanting to be supportive of your friend but I second everything BreakfastInBed wrote.

"They have psychiatrists in South Korea that hold confidentiality and they would hopefully have a hospital she could stay in if she did need to go there." Honestly, you could count on a ton of bad ramifications.

Do your friend (& yourself) a favor & encourage her to stay where she's comfortable & functional.

[Louis VI]