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Alan_Partridge
Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Location: in the posh part of town
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:45 pm Post subject: feeling belligerent... |
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...'cos the korean staff from cleaners to teachers to bus drivers to receptionists all got chuseok gifts, but not one western teacher.. (there were nine of us at last count, but we seem to be dropping like flies...)
...we're feeling slapped in the face (and we were REALLY looking forward to 6 months supply of spam...)
sorry, rant over (for now...) |
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mercury

Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Location: Pusan
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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| hey..............just bake a chocolate cake..........I supplied the recipe...........and forget about the world outside! |
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cruisemonkey

Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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| "Spam Spam Spam Spam" |
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Mashimaro

Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: location, location
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:34 pm Post subject: Re: feeling belligerent... |
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| Alan_Partridge wrote: |
...'cos the korean staff from cleaners to teachers to bus drivers to receptionists all got chuseok gifts, but not one western teacher.. (there were nine of us at last count, but we seem to be dropping like flies...)
...we're feeling slapped in the face (and we were REALLY looking forward to 6 months supply of spam...)
sorry, rant over (for now...) |
They work longer hours and have much more stress for less pay.. give them a break |
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VanIslander

Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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You aren't Korean and don't celebrate Chuseok.
It's like being offended that your Jewish co-workers aren't asking you to light the Minora!
Take mercury's advice: bake a cake (if you can find an oven!)
There are so many things more worthy of being bothered by. You have to let the little things slide off of your back like water off of a duck's otherwise you'll become a general malcontent with unrealistic expectations.
I have a very nice director who doesn't give me Chuseok gifts. It's nothing personal. |
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Bulsajo

Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
You aren't Korean and don't celebrate Chuseok.
It's like being offended that your Jewish co-workers aren't asking you to light the Minora!
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I'd say it's more like your boss gives everyone on the payroll an Xmas present except for Wang- the Chinese guy in the mail room- because he might be a Buddhist. I.E. it's a total cop-out. But if you're in a hagwon you should be neither surprised nor disappointed by this. |
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VanIslander

Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Bulsajo wrote: |
| I'd say it's more like your boss gives everyone on the payroll an Xmas present except for Wang- the Chinese guy in the mail room- because he might be a Buddhist. |
The Hanukkah analogy is more apt. They don't see us as one of them or as part of their nation just as Jews don't see non-Jews as being one of them. From their perspective anyways.
Trying to compare Chuseok in Korea to Christmas in the West is like attempting to put a square peg in a round hole. Jam, jam and get frustrated if you'd like, but it looks puzzling to others.
Bulsajo doesn't have that problem because he lives back in Canada now.
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| But if you're in a hagwon you should be neither surprised nor disappointed by this. |
I agree in a non-cynical sort of way. |
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djsmnc

Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
The Hanukkah analogy is more apt. They don't see us as one of them or as part of their nation just as Jews don't see non-Jews as being one of them. From their perspective anyways.
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So I've been making rice cakes, deep frying zucchini and thanking my dead uncle for nothing?? |
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margaret

Joined: 14 Oct 2003
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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I was relieved not to get any gifts because I don't want to have to give any. I don't think anybody in our school got them except some of the parents gave the directors some fruit. I'd rather just get my own stuff than exchange gifts.
Margaret |
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VanIslander

Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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| djsmnc wrote: |
| VanIslander wrote: |
The Hanukkah analogy is more apt. They don't see us as one of them or as part of their nation just as Jews don't see non-Jews as being one of them. From their perspective anyways.
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So I've been making rice cakes, deep frying zucchini and thanking my dead uncle for nothing?? |
Quote of the week! |
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Bulsajo

Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
Bulsajo doesn't have that problem because he lives back in Canada now.
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I was in Korea for 5 Chusoks. VI you can make whatever excuses you like but I will tell you this much- in my experience, and the experiences of friends, the crappy places to work found excuses to exclude you, and this includes Chusok. The decent places will give all staff Chusok presents. Where I am now doesn't change this.
We should start a poll- I'm as curious as anyone on this.< | |