Korean Job Discussion Forums

pdog · Joined: 31 May 2004 Location: daegu

Hey,

Anyone out there working at EWAH? My girlfriend and I were told today that they would be working usual hours which is until 10pm at night. No changes for Christmas Eve, or New Years Eve. We were told that all Ewahs were doing the same thing. Are there any of you Ewah teachers that were told the same thing, or are there some of you with different schedules that give you some time off the night of these two celebratory dates. I can't believe that all Ewah schools would be following this insanity. I mean I know it is Korea and things are not to be celebrated because having fun takes away from studying, but really! These kids have no christmas and isn't Korea mainly a Christian country these days? Or is it a fake brand-name many are wearing?

Please let me know what your schools are doing. Getting off at 10pm when you should be celebrating with family and friends is not fair. Respect? Not to teachers. Understanding? Not to the teachers.

Any recommendations?

Look forward to them!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Ye.... "I MEAN BAHHHHH HUMBUGGGG!!!

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Youre not in Canada.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Christmas and January 1st are not a big deal here. I know it sucks because we see Christmas as the biggest holiday of the year but they don't. Simple as that.

And when I worked for EWAH they did the same thing. Working to 10pm on Christmas Eve is just weird.

pdog · Joined: 31 May 2004 Location: daegu

Not in Canada... I know that... I didn't post a question about what country I was in. What do you think when many Koreans are Christian and they can't celebrate the holiday that is the basis of their faith. Education doesn't just come through the classroom. How many motivated teachers are there going to be on the 25th and 31st? How many motivated kids are there going to be on the 25th? What are the benefits?

IT"S NOT CANADA! NO SHIT! THATS A BIG REASON THERE IS A PROBLEM!

nasigoreng · Joined: 14 May 2004

i only work to 9pm on fridays because we don't have enough students for more classes .

I wouldn't have a problem working so late the day before a holiday if it's my schedule. It's just part of being an adult professional.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

pdog · Joined: 31 May 2004 Location: daegu

Buddhists get Buddhas birthday, the materialists get everyday (maybe some don't get Sundays), that leaves the other 33%unable to do something festive. Santa definitely aint coming here. By the way... the owner of my school is a serious Catholic and sees herself as a Mother Theresa character. Salvation to the materialist I guess... I'll have to ask her as we are sitting in our school at 10pm Christmas... or New Years Eve; if she's there. Might be at Mass praying for more students.

ThePoet · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 8:56 am Post subject:

pdog · Joined: 31 May 2004 Location: daegu

Dear poet,

you are not one, and good christ i wish you could know... i didn't think one would be so bellyaching that they had to go through something when the idea should be easily understood enough for one to understand that by saying the day before christmas was probably not meant to be expressed as the 25th... anyways a couple bottles of mokoli can do that to one... for i decided to celebrate in the materialistic holiday of get drunk and yell and "when in rome", or did I? Will I get taken to task by you because i am not in rome, or because that is not morally right of me to say. Now poet, I do understand that December 31st is not a religious holiday. Nonetheless, it is a New Year for those of us who follow the calendar that we grew up with. It has been a celebratory night for a long time and I guess you would think that the morals of a signed contract for a korean haegwon for each and every individual out there must come before one's beliefs? No one has ever been screwed by their employee before? I guessed not. Do you think that it is good to send kids to school for christmas eve... should I capitalize that for you? Christs birth or the christians decided birthday for christ, you tell me?

Before you profess such great knowledge and understanding of the worlds situations maybe it would be good to get to understand the aspects of different peoples positions. Would you be telling me that I am morally wrong to be considering telling you to watch your position while I am not considering the school's?

I believe it is wrong for you to see the New Year as a time for people to go out and get drunk and watch a number change. Morally irresponsible of you to label all people as hedonists on that day of the year. It is a time for renewal, family and friends gatherings. My girlfriend's cousin just had a baby. Christmas and New Years is a time to spend with your loved ones, not people that are consistently telling you how do things in a new way because, well, no reason, just because. Why harsh one up for one thing and then go and make yourself look like a bellyacher? That which you profess to dislike.

Loosen up buddy and have some fun. Life is a moral committment but yours is not the same as mine and mine is not the same as anothers. Like you like to quote from Oscar Wilde "To regret one's own experiences is to arrest one's own development. To deny one's own experiences is to put a lie into the lips of one's life. It is no less than a denial of the soul." Do not deny me my thoughts because you believe they are wrong... don't be mad because you are the belly acher you do not like. Look in the mirror.

It's okay to want what is right... even if it might not be boldly stated in your contract...

Blind Willie · Joined: 05 May 2004

I swear, the minute someone can make a crown of thorns that can be sold through PM, they'll make a fortune from this place.

mithridates · Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:39 am Post subject:

Why do American companies not give Korean people a week off in September for Chuseok or a week of in May to Japanese employees for Golden Week?

I know it might suck working Christmas Eve but don't forget all the other weird holidays you get in exchange.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I 8th the motion. You're not living in Canada or America. Deal with it or move home, slappy. It's not much of a holiday here. We're lucky to even get Dec 25 off (when it doesn't fall on a sat/sun). It's not a holiday in Japan or China.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I used to work late both christmas and new years eve back in new zealand., this isn't just a korean thing. If you wnat to celebrate christmas with your family then you should have sorted that oout before you signed a contract with your school.

Homer · Guest

Sorry pdog but you are missing the point here.

As many have said: you are not in Canada hence things are different.

Also, x-mas eve and more to the point new years eve are not the same as new years day and christmas.

Then, perhaps you should look a little beyong your Canadian nose and see what you are in a different country where x-mas is not a major holiday at all. New years is also not major as they truly celebrate on the lunar new year.

Back home pdog, Koreans do not get chusok off or the lunar new year when they are teachers....why should you expect something different. Oh wait, because you are a westerner...and of course you are worth more and deserve more.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

If the school owner is a Christian...then he understands. But...many people and business owners are also Christians and don't give or get the Eve off.
Remember..it's NOT your country. And I don't mean to sound facetious...but...no one forced you to come to korea and sign the contract.
A friend of mine teachers at a hakwon...owner is a Christian...(what is a Christian anyway...believe that Jesus is the son of God, etc) anyway...school owner has Christian statues all over the office, goes to church a few times a week, prays often,...and still a jerk I hear tell!
And..no day off for the Eve!