Korean Job Discussion Forums

[grandpa]

I am not the greatest Christmas shopper, so I am in need of ideas as to what to buy those at my school for Christmas.

What are you buying those are your place of employment for Christmas?

[WadRUG'naDoo]

Nothing. Why bother?

[Murakano]

nothing..I`m such a scrooge ...well I don`t expect anything from them either anyway (as it has been in the last 2 years in my school).

[AsiaESLbound]

I was asking someone yesterday what people do at work to celebrate Christmas like if there are office parties where gifts are exchanged. It's common for the boss to give bonuses and gimbap juice party right before their 2 major holidays which one is coming up in just 5 weeks from now, but Christmas doesn't mean anything more than the bling styling of it. I can't say I've ever seen gift exchanges, parties, and a bonus on a job back home either.

You can still do what you want if you feel inclined to do it.

[warmachinenkorea]

nothing

[northway]

Coal.

[Taya]

I may buy a box of cookies or something for the office on Christmas Eve,

I may get a Christmas card and chocolates for my co-teachers. I should get something for the principal and vice-principal but I doubt that I will.

[chellovek]

Probably nothing.

[DosEquisXX]

I bought a gift for my co-teacher. That was it.

She did a lot for me. So, I went through the effort and returned the favor with a gift.

[Morticae]

I've been thinking about it, I've settled on... probably nothing. Maybe I will bring something in for the office next week. I can't top the guy who brought in King Mandu 왕만두 to our office, though.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

I had a care package sent with some vitamins because they're cheaper in the west. I'll be giving vitamins to most, and some "natural" volumizing shampoo to my coteacher, who loves imported beauty products.

EDIT: I'll be getting some snacky things for the teacher's lounge, because the actual gifts are only for coteachers, a former coteacher who was a pleasure to work with, an admin girl I'm friendly with, and the P and VP.

[jrwhite82]

I think the best thing to do is get something food related you all can share together during break time.

Rice cakes, donuts, cookies, etc...

This makes it easier on you so you don't have to get too personal. And it includes everyone in your office. So that's always a nice thing to do.

At my office the teachers organized a "Secret Santa" which is also a good way of doing it, but it requires everyone to participate.

Edit: Christmas is just not a big deal in Korea like back in the West. Ask your classes what the kids are getting for Christmas. Most will tell you one thing. And that one thing is not a $300 video game system. It's more along the lines of something between the 10,000W to 50,000W range.

[northway]

[jrwhite82]