Korean Job Discussion Forums

[partyjunkie101]

Hi guys,

I arrived in Seoul on 25th May and have been relying on a friend who lives in a small room residence at one of these famous co-op residence. Upon arrival I was informed that my apartment is still not ready. However, the school (public) has emailed again to say that they would like to see me today (31st May) in order to be introduced to my co-workers and principle. Thats fine. Although, they also want me to begin work the next day even though I still don't have a bed.

I haven't slept well on the floor and im still living out of the luggage bag. They said I could move in to the new apartment today but it'll be empty. Should I have to start teaching under these current conditions or should i insist on waiting until the apartment is ready? Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks

[winterfall]

Your contract says the apartment should be furnished. I've had a friend, who's school didn't have the apartment ready and stuck him in a love motel for the first 2 weeks. The way he described it, that was pretty bad.

Talk to your school and gently tell / ask them to provide an alternate until the apartment is how it's supposed to be.

[northway]

Love motel>friend's floor. I would demand that they get me a room if they don't have the apartment ready, assuming you arrived on the date they asked.

[Canadian Saja]

The same thing happened to me at both of my jobs here in Korea (I'm in my second year). Both times they put me in a love motel until my place was ready. It wasn't so bad and at least you get all the amenities.

Tell them to put you in a motel until your apartment is furnished.

[sadguy]

when i first got here 4 years ago, my apartment wasn't ready and they offered to let me stay at the school.... that sounded very weird to me, so i said no. the co teacher let me stay with her family. i was there for a week and it was my first week in korea so it was kind of a cool experience.

the coteacher at that school was really really nice though and she kind of makes every other co teacher i've had since look like crap.

anyways, i'd suck it up and just go teach, but would demand better lodging.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

When I first got here, my BOE put me up at a nice hotel with full room service while my apartment was being furnished (which they'd had months to do.) I came off peak, but right when the H1N1 scare started. Because it was only me, they had more funds to spend. I had a choice of being quarantined at the hotel for a week, or moving into my place the next day and promising not to wander far. That quarantine week was awesome.

[Weigookin74]

[northway]

[SeoulNate]

I will second that. I have never stayed in a dirty love motel in Seoul. Well, not intrinsically dirty anyway.

I have stayed in a few dozen over the years in the 30,000 won price range and they have all been pretty nice.

The only dirty motels I have stayed in that are in Korea are usually in poor beach towns and the motels are not so much dirty as they are old.

[jjgirl]

Definitely demand they put you up in a motel! It is standard procedure, and most schools will go far to keep their foreign teachers happy. It costs a lot more money to get a new one

[WoBW]

I stayed in a motel for a month in my first job. I quite liked it. At least it was cleaned every day. The only downside is have no washing machine so unable to do laundry properly. Still, you can easily handwash yer skids and socks in the bathroom sink and take shirts to a laundry.