Korean Job Discussion Forums

[takemeaway]

I am really considering leaving my school. I began last Monday, have already begun processing my ARC, and have not gotten paid salary/settlement/flight reimbursement yet. I don't mean to sound like a princess and do not need to be convinced to stay, but I am not happy in this location and my roach infested apartment. I'm usually pretty flexible, but this is just not the experience I was looking for. I would prefer to be somewhere else. I have also not yet resigned my contract with new start date as requested when I arrived. My head co-teacher has left for one month and she was the one handling everything for me. The principal does not speak English. So, my questions are:

Since I haven't fully settled in, do I really have to give 30 days notice?

What are my chances of finding another job (I'm assuming hagwon) without going home? I've read some really old posts about a letter of release, etc. but not sure if all of that still applies, especially since my documents are at immigration and they're still processing my ARC. Not to mention, my school is being funded by the local govt, not GEPIK. I don't know if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Gorf]

Unless you have another full set of docs that are valid and ready to go, your chances are nil.

[takemeaway]

Even the FBI check? I've heard talk of transferring visas, or being able to cancel and do a visa run for a new one.

I actually have a new FBI check on the way that I sent off almost 2 weeks ago. I have with me my original diploma, sealed transcripts and copies of everything else. What more do I need?

[koreatimes]

[takemeaway]

Thanks for the advice. The thing is, they're already aware of the roach problem and know it's a major issue. It's quite disgusting. I have photos. Everyone knows my business now, even some students have heard from my co-teacher, and I keep getting, "I'm so sorry to hear that." I would take full responsibility for it, but it's obvious this was a pre-existing problem.

Anyway, would it be absolutely terrible if I stop coming by the end of the week? I feel like the longer I stay, the worse it is for the kids if I plan on leaving. I don't have a bank account yet and would assume I'm not going to get paid for the days I worked. I haven't been reimbursed for my flight here yet, so I wouldn't expect that either. I thought this would be the best time to back out.

[AsiaESLbound]

If you honestly don't like your situation, but you can afford to fly away to go do something else you'd rather be doing, I say... GO FOR IT! If only I had the money to go seek greener pastures... Remember, with the work for Westerners in the far East, it's never about you or us, it's solely about them seeking advancement for new economic wealth through learning the ways of the West. In an employers market, standards of our work/living conditions will only continue to decline.

[ttompatz]

[jacksthirty]

Is the apartment the main reason for you wanting to quit? Can you ask them to put you in a motel while they 'sort it out'? If translation is the issue, then give your co-ordinator a ring. I know they don't wield any power but they might be able to provide some translation.

[Setaro]

Buy some roach traps (available from all good convienience stores/super markets) while the problem gets sorted. Stop being such a primadonna. After all the effort you go to in order to get here, you're gonna walk after a week due to a fixable problem?

[ThingsComeAround]

Wow. Really? After one week you want to leave your school?

You are a princess. Instead of trying to work it out, you want to stop showing up to work but get money (flight reimbursement & move-in settlement, salary)? Is this your first job?

[Airborne9]

PM me the name and location of the school if you are going to leave I know about 4 or 5 people who are in GEPIK but cant renew and want another job.

[TheUrbanMyth]

Here's what will happen.

They will be quite angry.
You will not get another job at a public school again.
You will have to pay back your airfare.
Most hakwons are going to want to know why you left your job (the roach apartment won't cut it as most of them don't provide much better).
You will have to get a new visa as P.S don't give letters of release (as a general rule).


You could always do a runner to avoid re-paying the airfare, but then you'd have to shell out the money for a ticket back home and if the school reports you to Immigration for failure to repay the airfare, you may not be allowed to come back to Korea.

It seems it would be less expensive all around to buy some roach traps doesn't it?

[thegadfly]

Roaches are very common in Korea, and can be gotten rid of pretty easily, safely, and inexpensively through the use of boric acid, available at any pharmacy (yak). If you write "boric acid" on a piece of paper, in English, the pharmacist will be able to get it for you (assuming he/she doesn't already speak English well enough to understand you -- pharmacists often do).

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=207770&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=2666716

...just a couple of the numerous "how to get rid of roaches" threads.

You can fix that part of the problem yourself within two weeks, if not sooner, for under 2,000 won (presuming you would need more than one box of the stuff).

As for the rest -- personally, I would say to just give up on Korea. If this minor hiccup has you ready to throw in the towel, a REAL problem would devastate you.

I'm sorry, but roaches in an apartment when you move in is a fact of life, in certain geographic regions. In the southern states in the US, it is common, and everywhere in Korea I have been, it is common. I have not yet had a place WITHOUT roaches in Korea, when I first moved in, but haven't had the roaches stay for more than a week. Currently going on 9 years roach-free in this place, but had a lot of the little buggers my first night in....

Anyway, I would suggest for your own good, and the good of everyone you would/will inconvenience by your running, just run once, back to your home country.

[plchron]

if you wait a month, you will be paid in full (flight + first pay check + settlement). Some schools pay faster, but almost all pay at the one month mark in one lump sum.

if the roaches are the only thing ask them to call an exterminator if you can't handle it yourself. Especially if you are a girl, most of the other korean teachers will bend over backwards to help you.

[alwaysgood]

Sorry to hear about your roach problem. I assume you are in a concrete building though, which leaves you much better off than wood. Getting roaches out of a wood house is next to impossible. Concrete is not so bad. This isn't something to quit over.