Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Plume D'ella Plumeria]

I've been thinking about this for awhile and reading CLG's post about her grandmother (and my condolences go out to her - I experienced something of the same when my mother died) made me sigh and add another reason to the list of why it may be time (for me) to leave Korea.

Yes, they really can be a bunch of heartless creeps when it comes to distressing situations. After I told the vice-principal that my mother had just died, he cheerfully informed me that his own mother was in her late nineties (much older than my own mother had been) and still as agile and spry as ever. Something I really needed to hear.

One thing that has been disturbing me of late is the frequency here with which promises are given and then suddenly out of the blue, withdrawn. I have experienced this on my own on several occasions and it seems like a day doesn't go by when someone is posting on here about a broken promise, somehow, somewhere. It's like a little kid giving you a toy to play with and then deciding that he wants it back and snatching it away.

Is this just some sort of culture clash? Are promises not meant to be kept? I was raised to believe that promises were meant to be honoured. Are promises viewed differently over here? Does any long-timer have any insights on this? I've got to admit...I'm completely flummoxed.

Sorry if this is turning into a rant, but please bear with me. What's up with the money thing? Constantly cutting corners to the point where safety can be compromised. Not repairing broken things or even keeping things maintained. Why do a disturbingly high proportion of teachers have to fight at the end of their contracts to get monies due them? I'm beginning to believe that hakwon owners are the most tight-fisted people on the planet.

And now, we're in the middle of crackdowns and tightened regulations. That's all well and fine; not to mention long overdue. Hopefully, it will get the riffraff out. But it's bound to mean jumping through all kinds of hoops and inconvenience and I'm just not sure it's worth it.

I followed with some interest the thread about Taiwan. I've lived and worked there too. I'll be the first to agree that Taiwan has its problems, earthquakes, steamy summers and dodgy buxibans among them. But it also has some pretty good aspects as was mentioned, and all in all, I found living there far less of a headache than I do here.

No decisions any which way at this point. I'm just wondering if anyone else feels this way. I guess I'm just kept tired of Korea and of feeling that I have to constantly justify myself.

[Badmojo]

I always had the impression that Koreans are going to do what they want. At the end of the day, contract notwithstanding, what we think notwithstanding, they're going to do as they please.

Severence pay? No, I don't feel like paying you. Insert excuse here.

Your father died? Be back here in under a week.

Today I've decided you're going to work illegally at another school. What, you have a problem with that?

I'm sorry, you're gone next week, I don't care if the contract says I have to give you 30 days. Goodbye.

I don't know why there's such a bad record in this country, but there is.

Look, there are good schools and bad schools, but regardless, we're probably always going to end up on the short end of the stick here.

[desultude]

[Grotto]

Part of the problem is: misery loves company. People like to hear that they are not the only ones going through a tough time or having difficulties.

That being said and out of the way.

A little bit of of a screw over can undo a hell of a lot of good will. Ohh my boss is great..my boss buys me furniture..my boss takes me out to dinner...my boss gave me a bonus...that can all be undone in a heartbeat.

Your boss is nice and treats you well can quickly be turned into my boss is an a-hole of the n'th degree.

All it takes is being screwed over at the end of the contract...something I really dont think Koreans understand. Yes there is the whole confucionism aspect of it and it does clash mightily with western culture...but I am sure that many Koreans who dont think they have done anything really wrong would be quite surprised by the anger and vehemence of the people they stepped on.

Koreans seem unable to grasp long term consequences for the most part. Ohh we screwed you over thats okay you are out of the country and we can screw over the new teacher any day now. They wont find out not realising that we have the phone numbers of the apartments we lived in for a year and can call the new teacher to rant to. We have the addresses of the school and our apartments.

Korean people dont view foreigners as being equal to a Korean.

[traveler2005]

Ican totally agree with you. I am definitely leaving here after summer vacation. I read all the posts with people getting screwed, and think there is no point in wasting my life in a country that I am completely depressed in. I have had some problems, but none so large as some postings. I guess I just think that Koreans don't appreciate the sacrifice we made to come here. They are not interested in life outside Korea, or in giving foreigners equal opportunity. For instance, they stopped issuing foreigners international debit cards. Also you have to have your contract to wire money home. Every one has their own views on Korea. However, most of the people I meet that work here don't like it. Some stay for the money, but usually that is the only reason why. Also, when people break their contract, it really sucks that they can't give notice, because they know they will get screwed out of money. I was looking at the Taiwan info too and it sounds better to me too. After being able to travel to other parts of Asia, they sound much better to me.

[Plume D'ella Plumeria]

"I assume you mean all or most Koreans."

Let me just clarify that for you Ms. 'tude. I mean a good many Koreans who "are calling the shots" to quote from the Guru in one of his responses to CLG's post. You might just wish to go back and re-read that post and its responses, yours included.

My brush is no bigger than anyone else's and considerably smaller than many. Like you, I have been helped on several occasions by kind-hearted Koreans. Those kind-hearted Koreans, however, are generally not the folk in charge of things.

[rapier]

Don't worry plume, most people have reservations about being here, even the ones who've stuck it for years.
The thing is that Korea doesn't come to you: you have to make an effort to enjoy it here. Its entirely on your own initiative.

[Plume D'ella Plumeria]

You're probably right, rapier. It's probably just burn-out talking.

[desultude]

[turtlepi1]

Did you just join the board to tell us you were leaving Korea?
It hasn't even been two weeks yet. Mind you it sucks being somewhere you don't want to be...so in the end do what is right for you...

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

Plume: I understand where you are coming from. Despite some of my ranting posts of late about Korea, I am very fond of this country and the many great memories I have here. However, I too feel the "burn-out" that you mention and feel that a temporary change is in order to maybe shake up the closed perception about Korea that's been closing in around me. That's why I'm going back to the U.S for schoolt this August. I don't think you should look at going back home or to another country as a "failure", but as a way to rejuvenate yourself and build more experiences. I've been writing some real negative crap about Korea lately (having been screwed by my last boss, blah, blah) and I think that going back home for a while is a good way for me to appreciate the fine aspects of Korea, because I know that I'm going to miss it.
You sound like maybe you need a break away from Korea too. The beauty about Korea is that you can always say goodbye to Korea for a while, and then come back, because there still be plenty of jobs. And if you never want to come back to Korea and find somewhere else that is better suited for you....so be it!! Korea is not for everyone.
Good luck...whatever you decide to do

[lastat06513]

You know, I sometimes have the feeling that I get fed up with being here. Sometimes, I feel that this place peeved me off enough to pack up and go.

But what keeps me here during times like those?
I wouldn't want to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing that I couldn't hack being here. I don't want anyone to know that I can get sick and tired of being in a place that looks down so much on other people.
So, when I do stick it out, I know it is worth it because of all the praise I get from my students and the staff I work with.

I have a saying; The sun will always shine tomorrow
I am beginning to live by that now.

If you go to a rose garden, sure...most roses are going to have thorns. But those thorns are there to protect them against others that want to hurt them. But if you look carefully, you might actually find a rose with little or no thorns.

Now think of korea as a rose garden. It is pretty to look at, but difficult to touch. But after being in it for a while, you find you can't let yourself go

Thats my thinking at least.

[rapier]

[turtlepi1]

Sorry Plume D'ella Plumeria

mis-read your join date...thought it was JUNE 1, 2005

Still a newbie but not the two weeks I was envisioning.

[some waygug-in]

I second Grotto's comments about some Korean bosses who will screw you over and then think they have done nothing wrong.

My wanjong (definately not nim) owed me 2 months wages + severance and was actully surprised when I told him I was not going to sign on for another year of this crap.

Really, some of these guys have no clue what they are doing.

Sure, he saves money in the short term, but he's definately going to have trouble finding another teacher.

Don't work for Hyundae Interpretation/ language institute in Gim hae if you want to get paid.