Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MissT]

One day I poured myself a big bowl of cereal and milk, and little ants floated to the surface�� ICK! I bought ant traps right away, which worked a little, but from then on I just made sure to put everything in big ziplock bags.

[Danny]

Mine started as a bit of a nightmare - I had one floor of the hakwon given to me (not as big as it sounds) - it wasn't cleaned when I arrived, no pans, washing machine or TV until I asked- there was a bit of a smell on my first night there - I pulled back the bed from the wall the following morning to find an egg - which was definately passed its sell by date!

I embarked on a cleaning mission the very next day - I found, after pulling the fridge away from the wall, five huge scuttling roaches, and also a piece of moldy bread under the sink.

I've now been a resident in the gaff for seven months, its regularly cleaned by me, (haven't seen any bugs for a bit thanks to throwing down those roach poision thingys) got my posters up etc, so now I quite like it - but god when I first saw it I was almost in tears.......

So I think some good advice would be to actually try living in a place before you decide that it isn't acceptable to you, no matter how bad your first impression is!

[JongnoGuru]

[just because]

I must say that the housing my current school has given me is awesome...i am very very happy...the view is amazing, i was shocked, it doesn't feel like I'm in korea. Reminds me a lot of Japan the neighbourhood i live in, just so peaceful.

New everything......a double bed, air conditioning,even a rice cooker plus a water cooler...i couldn't be happier.

All cleaned spotlessly, there will be no problems with bugs
Thanx guys

[Kimchieluver]

JB
I like your old avatar better.

[OiGirl]

[pegpig]

[OiGirl]

[Derrek]

To all newbees:

Housing is one of the key reasons why I suggest that everyone come here first before signing a contract.

All of my housing arrangements have been good, because I was picky about taking a job that offered good housing. I make it a priority to see the housing before I sign. As an example I've cited before, one employer had an ad online that bragged about the "spacious 3-bedroom apartment" offered with the contract. I demanded to see it, and found it a roach-infested craphole -- bugs crawling all around. One of the three bedrooms was the size of a phone booth! The other two were not much bigger.

My current housing is excellent, all things considered. The utilities are a bit high, but that's not the school's fault. They let the other teachers choose this building, and I don't fault them, either. The others around here aren't much better for utilities.

I would like to move to a larger apartment, but they signed a 2-year deal. I even offered to pay the amount over and above the cost to get another room, but it's an inconvenience for them to switch me at this point, which I understand.

[Smee]

Ah, yes, but if we could afford to come to Korea, we wouldn't come to teach English in Korea.

Out of curiosity, are the foreign teachers in a school assigned to the same building? Sometimes they live in dorms, I guess, but I wonder if the schools rent whatever's vacant around town, or if they've reserved entire floors.

[JacktheCat]

Usually hackwons just rent the cheapest place they can possible find somewhat near the school. The apartments they rent\buy for teachers are generally the ones Joe ajoshi and his family wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole like basement apartments or apartments over a business.

Public schools on the other hand tend to offer somewhat better and bigger digs as the money is coming from the government.

Also, if you're a lazy shit like me, you can always hire a cleaning ajuma to come scrub your place spotless for less than 35k won.

[just because]