Korean Job Discussion Forums

daveweave2 · Joined: 08 Dec 2008

[quote="IlIlNine"][quote="jvalmer"]The smoking issue is pure BS. There is something else that they don't like about you, but won't tell. If you're a man, smoking is really a non-issue in Korea.[/quote]

This seems closest to the truth here... if the OP is male.[/quote]

I agree the male teachers in my school smoked like chimneys always outside together smoking. I was lucky I guess seeing the posts on this board did two contracts, Korea and Asia are not very logical. Just get another job and tell them you will not renew, I always had an easy time getting a job while in Korea. Even if you don't smoke another problem will pop up that's the way the culture is.

wishfullthinkng · Joined: 05 Mar 2010

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

nathanrutledge · Joined: 01 May 2008 Location: Marakesh

Why'd you even admit to it in the first place? Foreigners all look alike, I'd go the route of "I don't know what you're talking about, smoking??" If someone brings it up again, tell them you want to see pictures, cuz this smoking guy MUST be your twin...

I don't see this as some big mind game, power grab, whatever. And even if it is, so what, you only want another 6 months. Appease them, it's not a big deal, IMO.

and DAMN YOU OCULISORBIT, I WANTED TO MAKE THE MARIJUANA JOKE! :::angrily shake fist:::

enchoo

Sounds like one of your bosses are taking his personal problems out on you.
Just get a new job; they are not worth it. Tell them to kiss you A**.
If you give in then they will make more outrageous demands.
I know this from personal experience with another issue.

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

Just lie...reasoning with people will get you nowhere.

offtheoche · Joined: 21 Mar 2007

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

When I was a kid, I used to eat these candy smokes.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/3677272688_5cbb7a3cbe.jpg

It had powdered sugar, so you could pretend to be smoking. Get a bunch of those and hand them out to your students Laughing

NYC_Gal 2.0 · Joined: 10 Dec 2010

I loved those! My mom forbade me from buying them after I got my first "pack" though. I quickly moved on to red hots and everlasting gobstoppers.

Kaypea · Joined: 09 Oct 2008

I think that since you didn't pull the "it wasn't me" thing (which would've been really easy, I think), you have to say that while you appreciate their concern over your health, and that you're considering quitting smoking (if that's true), you are not required to quit smoking any more than you're required to lose weight or change your hairstyle. Be really respectful, but insist that you don't have to quit smoking.

It's hard to understand what they really want. You said you don't smoke at the school anyway, so there's no way they can prove/disprove you're smoking anyway. You can say whatever you want: you can keep smoking and say you quit, or you can quit but say you still smoke.

ESL Milk "Everyday · Joined: 12 Sep 2007

I guess I just assumed the OP was a guy.

Yeah... sometimes it isn't a double standard with foreigners as much as it's a man/woman thing. I haven't seen any women smoking in public since I got here... except, as was already mentioned, foreigners and prostitutes. If Korean guys see a white girl smoking in a bar, they will assume she is a Russian prostitute.

This is one of those things that isn't going to go away any time soon.

methdxman · Joined: 14 Sep 2010

Is it just me, or it this just what we call a "non-issue".

The facts:

1) You want to renew really, really badly.
2) They are giving you an option to renew.

What you should do:

1) Say you will quit smoking.
2) See if they renew you
3) If they don't renew you, you obviously know that they weren't going to renew you anyway.
4) If they renew you, you're happy. Try to not smoke in front of anyone.

I mean you're leaving Korea anyway.

What exactly is the problem? You just said you don't want to have to go to another hagwon.

What's more important, your pride or the job? It's simple man. If it's your pride, just walk away, if it's your job, then suck it up.

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

If you don't smell like smoke, then just tell them you already quit. If your contract finishes in two months, they're going to want to get you under contract soon. Get the contract signed and proceed to smoke as much as you damn please.