Korean Job Discussion Forums

canukteacher · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul, Korea

Sorry to hear that GEPIK is being so miserable. However, not surprised. I am not renewing, and must do a summer camp. I was also reminded by Hitler co-teacher that if I want my last day to be August 19th then I will have to work the holiday on August 15th. At this point I simply do not care. I just want to walk out of there knowing that I fullfilled the contract and will get everything that is owing to me.

They do not control your pension. It must be submitted to the National Pension Plan monthly. You go to their offices to arrange the refund. If the school has been remitting it and you are from a country that gets it back then it should not be an issue.

I know the feeling about family. I have not seen my 81 year old Dad for several years. It will be another few months now because I have taken a university job for September. At least with the new job I will have the time to go home, and actually spend more than a few days.

Good luck!

CT

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

livinginkorea · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border

plokiju · Joined: 15 Mar 2005

Wouldn't the mini-vacation back to Canada end up costing you about the same as what you'd get from your severance and pension? You might come out a bit ahead but for all the pain of 40 hours on planes over the course of 11 days it wouldn't be worth it (for me at least).

If I were you, I would either resign and forfeit the benefits, or stay and make 3 seperate trips. That way you could actually have some quality family time instead of zipping in and out while being jetlagged for most of the time.

I think if you try again with your director you should try to upplay the importance of family. Isn't it one of the foundations of Confucianism? Seems funny they'd want you to just sit around for weeks rather than be a good granddaughter and 'honour your family.'

Also, couldn't your grandfather stay a bit longer or change his dates? Grandparents are usually pretty understanding about these kinds of things.

andrew · Joined: 30 Jan 2003

.....

kermo · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:33 am Post subject:

UPDATE

(wow, never used that emoticon before.)

I sent a plea to the GEPIK administration last week, asking for unpaid leave so I could visit my grandfather and sister while they are in my hometown.
In the meantime, my other grandfather has been hospitalized with heart problems. The clock seems to be running down for both of them, and I can't wait to see them.

My co-teacher initially seemed sympathetic, and perturbed by my plight. He said that if the contract permitted, he would let me take leave. He contacted GEPIK, and was told that it was against their policy.

Just in case, I changed my vacation days and arranged to fly back to Canada for 7 work days, which 12 days total including a stat holiday, minus the two 24 hour flights.

So I wrote the letter, and apparently the administration contacted my co-teacher. My supervisor told him not to worry, the problem had been solved. He said that the school admin had decided I should stay.

I'm furious. I feel decieved, as if my co-teacher was just using GEPIK as a front to mask his own disinclination to let me go early. I would like to speak to him, and tell him that it wasn't right to interfere in the process, to let GEPIK make its own decision, and he could have consulted me before running my request off the rails.

I don't know enough about Korean culture to know how to handle this. My feeling this morning was that there was no point discussing it with him because everything has been decided for me. I smacked my forehead, and told him I preferred my original plan, but he just laughed.

I hate feeling this angry. I hate knowing that something so important to me (time with my family) is in the hands of someone who may not have my interests in mind.

I have changed my secret nickname for him from Sim the Inscrutable to Sim the Merciness.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

I think I would not be working there anymore...

All the hate you will fell for him for the rest of the contract will eat you up inside...especially knowing what he really thinks about you...

Get on that plane and go and stick it up his you know where and then come back as if nothing happened...

igotthisguitar

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

kermo · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:17 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the sympathy. I had some soothing chats with my parents last night, and we separated the issues into two topics:

1) Practical solutions to the situation

2) Emotional issues, such as "indignation at injustice," "ferocious devotion to family" and "discomfort with being helpless," et cetera. These feelings have largely settled down since yesterday, and will be much alleviated by attention to Topic #1.

I may still be too doe-eyed and naive about the parties involved, but I have written a letter to my co-teacher, giving him the benefit of the doubt (he mistook my Plan B-- go home for a quickie then come back-- for a solution).
In it I request that

A) GEPIK be permitted to resolve the issue of my early, unpaid leave, as we had previously agreed. If they say no, then at least I don't feel as if my supervisor has screwed me over.

B) If GEPIK is not to be involved, despite my letter and their reply, I would like to sit down with the supervisor, the principal and the vice-principal, and hear what they have to say. I cite a cultural need for direct communication and beg his indulgence. If they choose B, I'd like to have another Korean teacher there for translation purposes, because I suspect my supervisor of being a little selective about what he translates.

kermo · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:55 pm Post subject:

Good news!

I wrote a letter to my coteacher indicating that I would like to
a) hear what the GEPIK administration would rule about my request for unpaid leave,
or
b) hear why the school administration would deny this request.

I found out that GEPIK had actually agreed to my request, and placed decision entirely in the hands of the school. Hmmmm.

It remains only to convince the administration that I don't need to return from my scheduled vacation days to complete a mere 6 days of summer camp. It helps them out if I can move out early, since they have no place to put the new native teacher until the beginning of September.

Diplomacy and persistence seems poised to win the day! Very Happy

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Hey kermo,

I think you are one of the coolest and most intelligent posters on this board. Hope all goes well.

mack the knife · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: standing right behind you...

And she sings well, too. Wink

kermo · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 5:49 am Post subject:

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Kermo, I am glad that things are working out for you. You are right, persistancy and diplomacy seem to be the right way to go about dealing with Koreans, sometimes.

I've been following this thread but since I am not an English teacher and have never dealt with Gepik, I didn't have anything practical to offer... but I did hope for the best for you.

Sorry to hear that your grandfather is fading away... I hope that miracles happen and he lives longer than you expect him to. Take care.