Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Corea]

This is one of the funniest threads I've read in a long time.

They didn't give me a pot! I wasn't sure about the water!! They didn't care about me like a human should!!! - So I left after 2 days. Oh, and I have 135 IQ and have owned my own business.

Come on - this can't be an actual person. But assuming it is, here's my advice - you are out of the country, and should probably never come back. Korea, and perhaps living overseas in general, does not sound like it is for you. No need to pay any money back - enjoy your internet business, and forget this ever happened.

[ewlandon]

[EZE]

I agree with the other posters about paying back the airfare. However, if pension and health insurance weren't in the contract, don't pay it back.

[Los Angeloser]

[earthquakez]

To be fair to Tremault, many first time teachers in Korea are dumped in a one room when they're jet lagged, told in sometimes barely comprehensible English where the school's location is if the one room is not next to or very near the school, told not to drink the water, and the only real info they're given is what time they start teaching the next day or Monday if they're lucky enough to come in on a Saturday.

When they do go to their workplace (if they can find it and usually they don't have a phone as it takes time to get a phone in Korea and their home model might be incompatible with Korean telecommunictions), usually they aren't introduced to their co workers.

In western countries it's normal to be introduced to your co workers but in Korea the hierarchies always come into play - even young Korean teachers I saw enter my public school for the first time were basically treated by most of the other teachers as if they didn't exist. At home we often have welcoming events and in schools it doesn't matter your age - you will be introduced to everybody from the tea lady to every teacher to the head of the school.

That in itself can be a big culture shock for westerners from usual workplaces. I think the OP felt this badly. The native English co teacher's behaviour rings true - too many ungracious, self centred NETs in Korea since about 2009 onwards. Too many.

It's also unfortunately usual in Korea for no orientation whatsoever at your actual workplace. I got on with it as I've worked abroad for quite a long time but for the first timer it is disheartening not to get information. What do you expect? A Korean in a UK or American workplace is likely to get told excactly what they will be doing or most of it. Koreans in Korea are disorganised, the most disorganised people I've ever worked with.

Again this is a lot to do with hierarchies. Korean culture discourages incentive and making decisions on your own especially in the workplace, even when you can. They always have to defer to somebody above or refer something on even when it's not necessary.

Every NET friend I had in Korea complained about the empty photocopier syndrome - time and time again there was no paper in the teachers' room copier but nobody including those who had used up all the paper, were prepared to restock the machine. Even after they'd emptied it. Koreans do not take the initiative on many things small and big, and I am sure this is what alienated Tremault so much.

He or she obviously didn't have the mindset most of us got quickly in Korea - no direction, no help, I'll just have to do something and too bad if it's not the right thing. Some people can't do that or aren't used to passive obstruction whether it's deliberate or not. As for the lack of materials etc - people should really bring materials with them or read some books before they go to Korea. Even if they've never done any kind of teaching in their life, they will be paid to be an English teachers so they need some self preparation.

However, I do have to chuckle at some of the posters here in the past who have declared that we all have to 'pay it forward' and leave the incoming NET with everything including little gifts and food to welcome them. I have never and that's never, found anything left for me wherever I travelled to work in Asia. I had to start from scratch or be told to pay the outgoing teacher in Japan or Taiwan money for their belongings in the apartments I took over.

As somebody who gave away a lot of stuff for free before leaving Asian and other countries I worked in, I found the other teachers' attitudes mercenary but didn't let it ruin my life. I also made sure I told the people whose apartments I was taking over that I would pay a certain price for their secondhand goods but if they were asking too much, I would be happy to pay for my own new ones.

I never got one yen for any goods I had in Japan and I had to put the rest out in the garbage and pay for the privilege. In Korea my first public school job put me in a one room in winter with no bedding except for a sheet on the bed and a pillow. I had to walk around to find one of those bedding shops after a freezing night. It's just the roll of the dice in Korea and tho I sympathise with Tremault, Korea is not for people who can't deal with Korean apathy towards foreigners, hierarchy, and disorganisation.

[alongway]

[liveinkorea316]

The recruiter cannot threaten you to pay the airfare.
If you don't pay you can still come back to Korea.
Immigration is not interested in contractual disputes between you and the school so the recruiter was just trying to scare you. Your ex employer will take half that money from the recruiter because they provided you - a failed employee. That's why the recruiter is threatening you. Just wind.

[nicwr2002]

Sounds spoiled to me. This is the real world and not some college orientation where everything is spelled out for you and they hold your hand through all the steps. People say that some of us are being too harsh, but you have to ask yourself, would you do this in your own country? I just hope you don't burn bridges like that in your home country or you will have a hard time finding a job.

[nicwr2002]

Sounds spoiled to me. This is the real world and not some college orientation where everything is spelled out for you and they hold your hand through all the steps. People say that some of us are being too harsh, but you have to ask yourself, would you do this in your own country? I just hope you don't burn bridges like that in your home country or you will have a hard time finding a job.

[young_clinton]

[everything-is-everything]

[rollo]

My understanding is that the debts collection has been handed over to Guido "the animal" KIm. the most feared of all Korean debt collectors.

Joking ,but you robbed these people who gave you a job. You cost them the airfare, and other cost and they may have lost students because of your dishonesty.