Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jweeke]

apartment is tiny, dirty, and full of furniture sized for a much larger place. it's depressing!

approached the school (private/public elementary school) with the problem. through translator, budget guy responds saying they could remove the furniture, and i could replace it at my own expense.

i said i'd rather take the stipend.

they said i can't: if i wanted the stipend i'd have had to tell them when i signed the contract, and now i'm stuck in the apartment or i can find a new place to live on my own.

frustrating. if i had known the apartment would be like this i would have taken the stipend, but i don't see how i could have known.

do i have the right to the stipend now, or do i have to deal with living in this place for the next year?

[jrwhite82]

Most contracts (including publice schools) say that you can't change once you've chosen. The school is locked into a lease with the apartment building, so them backing out now could cause some major expenses.

Ask for them to at least send a cleaning crew in to give it a thorough scrub down.

[bobbybigfoot]

quit. Solves problem.

[jweeke]

@jr

yeah makes sense. not sure if it makes a difference, but their contract on the apartment began (and expires) in october so if i had opted for the stipend they probably would have had to cancel the contract anyway.

[PRagic]

jrwhite82 is probably right on the money. What you could do is tell the school that you will pay the real estate fees 'PokBe' associated with getting the crap apartment unit on the market and let to someone else. Also tell them that you'd pay the fees to find a new place and cover the move.

If the place is that crappy, the fees shouldn't run you too much, and you could furnish your own place cheaply if they won't throw you a bone on the furniture.

Worth a shot.

[nathanrutledge]

Remember, there is a housing crunch right now. Everyone is betting the market will crash and are renting instead of buying. Getting a place on your own could be tricky/expensive. Don't say or do anything that could force you out of your place until you are POSITIVE you can get a better deal. Last thing you want is to find out that your shoebox costs more than what you want to pay and are stuck in an equally depressing place for more money.

[jweeke]

good points. didn't know about the market issue.

don't suppose the 'hard to be a good teacher when my living conditions are oppressive'-card gets much play here, huh.

[thegadfly]

[PRagic]

Too true. My unsurpassed, vast knowledge of chicken hoffs was obtained largely because I couldn't stand the first place I lived my first year.

[Quack Addict]

Don't shave. When the school asks you to shave say only when they fix your apt situation.

[murmanjake]