Korean Job Discussion Forums

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I'm not really ready to go into tons of details in this post,

[Stan Rogers]

If you are indifferent and want to leave Korea, why do you care?

[jamesd]

I'm told by more experienced FT's that it's always good to have your principal on your side. Let others see you eat and drink with your principal so that other Korean teachers or staff won't be messing with you.

I never heard of someone being fired for not socializing with Koreans.

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[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

It can go against you if you don't attend school dinner/drunk parties. One time I had plans to see friends in Busan when the Daegu dictator decided to have a party. Of course, being told this as I'm heading out the door was typical. So, I apologized for the conflict and headed to Busan. The following week I was looking for a new job. No regrets

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[Skippy]

It's a game. More so in public schools. Many times it is not the work you do but the image you portray. Public schools and even some places like to portray themselves as a family or a community. In a sense it is a court and you are another courtier.

Take those quips as advice like "go along to get along".

Sometimes these things/events will be unfair and irrational. Others difficult to accommodate. I think one of the classics is the eating lunch in lunch room. Many school teachers are to eat together. But with foreigners problems come up - they do not like the food, or they can not eat the food for reasons like vegetarianism. Others, just want to get away for a time. Now some people can get away with not doing lunch (ha). Still for most the expectation is you will be there. The thinking is this if you are there you are part of the group, not there, you are not part. By not showing up you give the message of you do not care or even think you are better then everyone else. You build resentment. Never mind as a waygook you are already counted against, by further stepping away you make yourself more of an outsider.

Try to find a balance. Go to what event you can. Grin and bear it. Try to judge when something is worth doing and when you can skip. Learn the tricks. Go out for a drink, but have an excuse to go early. Find places in which you can volunteer or join in to build credit. For example if the school had a school event on a Saturday, but you made the effort to come even you did not have too. That credit will work of letting you go early on Friday or of a slide in another area. Hey Sam teacher did not come with us on Friday night but he was there for the school speeches so let this one go.

But if you are leaving and do not care - burn your bridges. Just remember a school can still make you leaving an easy one or a hard one.

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[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

[I-am-me]

If you have a public school contract, chances are slim they will fire you. They really need a good reason. Plus you are very well protected. Hagwon are a different story.

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