Korean Job Discussion Forums

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

i understand that sometimes people forget to mention things, but why is it that no one ever tells you anything until the minute it's about to happen? for example, schedule changes, i want to know about them at least a week in advance, i don't think that that's unreasonable. or why is it that people always wait till you're leaving to tell you about the papers you have to fill in, eventhough they could have told you in the morning when you had time. my current school is a million times better than my first h3llhole, but if anyone in canada tried to run a business the way most hagwons seem to be run, they would go under in a matter of days.

ghostshadow · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Location: Seoul

I think it's the Korean education system... They are not really made to think but to memorize numbers and letters and so forth. They really do have a hard time getting things organized and keeping it that way... I'm thinking it's a culture thing.

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

whatever it is is irratating. i hate how i'm a lazy/stupid waygook just because i want advance notice on things...

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

apparently i can't spell today. sorry.

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

Definately a culture thing... they never plan.

There is no such thing as preventative maintenance, either.

lepid gecko · Joined: 28 May 2004

yep, eventually i just thought, well, if you gonna throw changed last-second time-tables at me, then you'll get the best teaching i can do accordingly, which is not always great. it has happened so many times, and always more so during school vacation.

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

They do plan for some things though. The teachers at my first hagwon couldn't believe that we were going down to Kyongju without a reservation for a hotel. They thought we'd be sleeping on the streets. Book your flights months in advance. Follow the tour group plan. They just don't seem to plan when it comes time for anything important in our eyes. And even if they have planned something they tend to eye us with suspicion for wanting to know what the plan is even when it directly involves our well-being.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

It seems to me to be an issue of respect. Power lies at the top here and holding on to information is a form of power. No need to respect those lower on the ladder.

I've had a series of different bosses here in Korea, and all of them have been the same in this one habit. It is frustrating and stress inducing.

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Yes, I think that's very valid. It wouldn't work the other way would it?

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Some interesting comments here.

Yes, interestingly enough, this problem also occurs in neighboring countries such as Taiwan and Japan.

I also agree with Gollom:

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

lepid gecko, I looked at your "joined" date and saw that it was May, 2004. I think that this "non-communication" is the hardest thing that new foreign teachers have to deal with. We're so used to being given advanced notice about schedule/policy/ANYTHING changes, that the Korean system of "We'll tell you when you need to know...or maybe not!" is VERY frustrating!

If you want to keep your sanity, you've GOT to let this issue go. EXPECT that no one will tell you anything. EXPECT that your schedule will change at the last minute (especially during summer and winter vacations). And EXPECT that everyone will be suprised that it bothers you so much! You're NOT going to change Korean thinking by getting upset or angry. Just resign yourself to the fact that you're having a "cultural experience" like you've never had before!

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

Yah. You'll learn that Koreans are just that way.

You'll also learn not to buy anything "used". Koreans beat the hell out of stuff and generally don't get rid of it until they must.

Koreans don't often buy used because of this. In case of used cars or motorcycles, the shop buys them or gets them on trade, shines them up, and sells them pretty much as-is with no fixing or putting money into them at all.

You generally get crap.

lepid gecko · Joined: 28 May 2004

ajuma i appreciate your feedback, but you're a bit off the mark. I've been here over a year and expect all of this and then some. i do go with the flow, and i agree that there is no use in fighting it...it's actually become a bit of a joke between one of my co-workers and I, new schedule change? yes only today. happens a lot.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

lepid gecko Sorry! Actually, I was directing my remarks to paperbag princess. Must have been the late hour (couldn't have been the beer! Wink

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SweetBear · Joined: 18 May 2003

So how do you guys react to this other than being pissed off? Do you use counter measures? Just today I was in this situation myself and simply refused to go along with some after work activities. It caused some major drama. I've been here a while and up until now have just gone with the flow. I've been left wondering if it was worth it to make a stand.