Korean Job Discussion Forums

newbieteach · Joined: 20 Mar 2012

My husband and I accepted positions in Seoul. We spoke with several current teachers and did research and it seems that the school is very well rated by all so we feel confident about the school.

My husband and I are scheduled to fly out on or about June 15th and the couple we are replacing finishes their contract on July 1st. We are supposed to be taking over their housing unit. However, during the two weeks that our employment overlaps the school wants to split my husband and I and put me with a single current teacher and him with another single current teacher.

I really don't want to live with a stranger for 2 weeks in their 6x6 foot second bedroom and share a shower with them. At the same time, I don't want to lose the position or give a bad impression by making my request to live with my husband (either in temporary housing or our own unit) those two weeks non-negotiable.

According to our most recent status update from the recruiter, the school has already submitted our documents to immigration and we are awaiting our visa numbers.

Since this temporary housing issue seems to be the only thing *wrong* with the school, should I make a fuss about it or just suck it up and live separated from my husband for two weeks?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Modernist · Joined: 23 Mar 2011 Location: The 90s

Got to help out the fellow Chicagoan! Just be prepared for the fact that you are going from one of the world's most beautiful cities, to one that, uh, isn't.

Anyway. You need to tell them that the whole room-sharing routine isn't going to fly. There are cheap love motels all over Seoul, and all over every town in this country, actually. My school didn't even know I was coming until the day I arrived. They obviously didn't have an apartment ready. So, they put me up in a love motel [complete with sex toys in the vending machines!] down the road for a week and a half or so until something could be arranged. If I were you, I would just tell them you expect individual OR couples housing for the FULL duration of your contract, which is standard language for everybody. They are just trying to be cheap as usual. Think of it this way, your supposed 'roommates' are almost certainly counting on you to object and save them from 2 weeks of horrible awkwardness.

You need to establish that you are not a doormat. They have invested in getting you, it will be some decent trouble to replace you on short notice. So don't be afraid of being fired. Don't ask, tell. You expect them to honor the provisions of the contract, including single or couple housing ONLY, for the FULL DURATION of that contract. Don't make a fuss about being separated from the husband. You in a motel and him in a different motel for 2 weeks is a LOT better than both of you with bunkmates.

Do this now, stand up for yourself against their penny-pinching, and save yourself a lot of trouble down the road. Don't be a doormat. You aren't their friend or a cultural representative or any of that BS. You are a contractor here to do a job for money under agreed terms. They must keep their terms as you must keep yours, and NOTHING more. Do the job and get the money and the hell with the rest of it.

NYC_Gal 2.0 · Joined: 10 Dec 2010

I'd request a love motel. You are entitled to single or couples housing, but the couple option is only with your partner�not a stranger. Politely state that you "don't feel safe" living with a stranger. Request alternative housing with your husband.

Squire · Joined: 26 Sep 2010 Location: Jeollanam-do

You don't want to be in a situation where your husband is in with another woman. 'When the cat's away the mice will play' and all that

Zyzyfer · Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 8:53 pm Post subject:

Love motel. They start at 30 bucks a night or so if the school really drags their feet over it, so you can just spring for it yourself if absolutely necessary. It's funny as hell how they are even considering the idea of separating a married couple for two weeks, and you should remind them of the fact that it sounds really stupid - well, phrase it a bit more gently.

rowdie3 · Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Location: Itaewon, Seoul

I would not accept that at all. As other posters have said, it would be horribly awkward for all involved and sets the precedent that the school can do strange things to you whenever they want to save a few dollars. Not cool.

Consider yourselves to be professional adults coming over to do a professional job. No professional in any other field would be expected to room with random strangers, so why should you?

I would refuse flat out. Love motels are cheap and will do for a week or so. If the school is not willing to do this, I would take that as a sign that worse is to come from them down the road and start looking into other schools.

luckylady · Joined: 30 Jan 2012 Location: u.s. of occupied territories

meanwhile newbieteach is saying "what the hell is a love motel? and why do I want to stay there?? porn toys? huh??"

don't wory newbieteach - love motels are just the slang term for the multitude of cheap but often really great hotels all over Korea. they all have fridges and microwaves, often huge tvs, some even have great jacuzzis or at least decent bathrooms.

the term "love motel" - something to do with having a tryst with your lover, is all.

and yes, your school should put you and your hubbie up in one; if you cave this early, you can pretty much bet your gonna have a difficult year, so don't do it. be firm but polite.

and enjoy the room Very Happy

ontheway

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

OP ignore ontheway, he's the waygook equivalent to an uncle tom

i'd tell them either love hotel of no go, that is an absolute deal breaker

Troglodyte · Joined: 06 Dec 2009

Have they described the places that they want to put you? Are you sure that you'll have your own room? If not, then you're more likely to be sharing a one room apartment with someone. They could very likely just put a mattress or fold up cot in the room for you to use for the 2 weeks.

Have you been in contact with the teachers that you'll supposedly be shacking up with? Are they ok with this? Do they even know about this? Don't assume either. You could end up arriving, being taken to your temporary accommodation and a few hours later your new roomie arrives and asks who they hell you are and why you're in her apartment because no one told her about you. (I speak from experience.) Talk about awkward.

It also seems odd that a current teacher would even agree to letting a stranger stay with them, just to help out the school. If they person is starting or finishing a contract and there's overlap with the incoming/outgoing teacher, maybe it would be in the contract. Mid-contract... never seen it. Employers ask, but that's your home. You don't have to let them. I can't see anyone else agreeing either.

If the school has already put in the documents for the visa issuance numbers then you'll be in a bit of a fix because immigration won't issue you another visa until the first one expires or is cancelled (not sure if you can cancel it yourself outside of Korea). If not used, then it will expire in 3 months.

newbieteach · Joined: 20 Mar 2012

Thanks for all the helpful responses. I ended up telling my recruiter that we didn't feel comfortable living with complete strangers and that we want to live together per our contract.

Ontheway-
I did not know about this shared housing issue until after we signed our contract and sent our documents. I've been exchanging emails regularly with the teachers we will be replacing and they just mentioned it to me. I had two interviews/conversations with the school and no one ever mentioned it to me prior to finding out through my own investigation.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on how the school responds.

Thanks again.

ontheway · Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 10:37 am Post subject:

cedarseoul · Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Location: nowon-gu

Were I moving to Korea for the first time as a bachelor, I would share. Whatever, it's not that big of a deal.

Were I moving to Korea for the first time with my SO (which I actually did back in '07), I would flat out refuse to share. We're in this new adventure together--and we're not going to spend our first weeks in separate apartments.

If you're concerned about avoiding conflict with the new boss, write an apologetic e-mail and stress that you mean no trouble, but you're nervous about being apart from your spouse. If the school is as "well-rated" as you seem to think it is, they should spring for a compromise.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

newbieteach · Joined: 20 Mar 2012

Well, my recruiter just called and the school agreed to provide us with our own private temporary unit. It's going to be a studio, but we will not have to live with anyone else and we will only be there for 2 weeks until we get our permanent unit.

Thanks for all the help guys! I was so worried that this request would jeopardize our jobs, but the school was very flexible about it.

See you all in Korea! Very Happy