Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Qinella]

Hello all!

I've heard that it's a good idea to bring a gift for the principal of the school at which you'll be teaching. I know the principal at mine is a male, and that's about all I know. Can anyone suggest a good gift idea? I was thinking perhaps a bottle of cologne, but I don't want it to be an offensive suggestion, or to be a scent he may not like.

If anyone has some thoughts on the matter, I'd appreciate it. Also, are there any other people I should bring bring gifts for?

And one last related question: I've picked up some little fun trading cards (Garbage Pail Kids) that I thought would be fun to pass out to my students. Is the practice of giving incentive prizes acceptable? If so, can someone suggest some other little trinkets that may be fun for the kids? Is candy or bubble gum appropriate?


Thanks in advance.

Qinella

[Swiss James]

whiskey is a safer bet for a gift, or some kind of liquor from your home country.

[Koreabound2004]

Save your money....get em a box of seaweed when you get here....Chances are they won't want or use anything you have brought from home....I am sorry I wasted money and luggage space on the things I brought.

[casey's moon]

[Qinella]

Okay, so whiskey and honey. Thanks!

[mindmetoo]

Smoked salmon is always cool. Exotic jams along with honey are neat.

[JacktheCat]

One caveat on the whiskey idea.

Koreans tend to only drink the expensive stuff; Johnny Walker Black Label, that sort of thing.

[whatthefunk]

I went with the honey. It was still on the bosses desk, unopened, a year later when I left. Save your money.

[casey's moon]

[tzechuk]

[Emu Bitter]

When I first came to Korea, many moons ago, 2 recruiters were involved, one in Melbourne & one in Seoul. The Seoul guy told me to bring 2 bottles of Scotch, one for the guy that met me at the airport & one for my director in Chon ju.
When I gave my director the Scotch he looked less than pleased, turned out he didn't drink. The recruiter in Seoul was not my favourite person after that(I was already a little dirty on him cos he complained in every conversation we had about my non-American accent)

[Grotto]

Want to give a safe gift that will knock their socks offf?

Bring a bucket of hard honey from back home, you know the kind that is creamy white. I had 6 one kilo buckets of Canadian clover honey shipped over and passed them out as gifts, they were amazed at how good it was.

Honey over here is ridiculously expensive and often tastes a little strange to me.

[mindmetoo]

[Koreabound2004]

Again, I say, just save your money and luggage space, you will need it. They didn't seem to appreciate any of what I gave them....multiple things...they actually protested when I gave it to them...I really wish I hadn't bothered.

[mindmetoo]