Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

My city government (who pays my wages) has decreed that I'm the lucky waygook who gets stuck going to jeju on a 'culture trip' this winter vacation. Wooohoo. Can't hardly wait to be stuck with a huge group of teens for my vacation...

[thursdays child]

You seem to get all the extras?!

Do you get any other vacation time?

[ilovebdt]

[crazylemongirl]

I don't know how I lucked out on this. My minder doesn't understand why I would want to turn down a free trip to Jeju.

However

a) I don't want to go to Jeju.
b) Will be there with kids.

I see the trip as work, and as such I want something in return for time lost on one of these 'field trips.'

[SuperHero]

Come on you're going to the Hawaii of Korea what more could you ask for.

[Paddycakes]

Are they paying you extra for this?

Are you doing this in lieu of a winter camp?

Are the other FT's getting the time off while you go to Jeju?

If you're not interested in renewing your contract, you could just make up an excuse why you can't go or use up your remaining sick days.

If you want to get pushy you could even remind them that it's probably illegal for you to work at a location outside the school.

When I was in EPIK many moons ago this actually became an issue at immigration. They told me that I couldn't work at a visiting school because based on immigration policy I could only work at one place. But we convinced them to turn a blind eye to it as my contract was almost over.

In fact, if any of you want to f*ck EPIK up and give your provincial office administrator a headache, you could probably report them to immigration. You're only allowed to teach at one location my friends. It doesn't matter if you're hired by the local school board. Most EPIKs are working illegally and don't even know it.

[hogwonguy1979]

just make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen and your bikini

[schwa]

That just sounds like an overzealous & uninformed agent, paddycakes. MoE has a lot of leeway with immigration & epik contracts are written to permit multiple venues. I have discussed this specifcally with immigration & its a non-issue to them. As long as the extra workplaces are authorized by the school district.

We dont need more misinformed FT's shouting "illegal" at their supervisors.

CLG's situation is a little different as she's a private hire but I'm sure public school field trips fall well within the umbrella of legal school duties.

As for her getting saddled with a "privilege" she doesnt want, I wish her the best in wiggling out of it.

[Incognito]

CLG,

No wonder you are miserable at your present location. You don't know how to say "no!" I realize this is a little off topic (I don't want to resurrect the "Nobody give me a gun" thread) but I fear you are going to be miserable in any working situation until you learn the magic word.

[jacl]

Well, if you do go (and it sounds like you are going), f*ck the dog while you're there. Make it a vacation.

[sarahsarah]

Yeah, I'm lucky too! I get to go on a teacher's retreat over new year's weekend.

Wouldn't these people rather spend it with their families? Apparently not.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

My middle school teachers are going on a staff retreat to Jeju-do. Unfortunately I'm going along on a retreat with the high school teachers to some freezing place smack in the middle of Korea. Just what I'll do there when they have various workshops remains to be seen.

[crazylemongirl]

So today my school wants a copy of my passport for this trip. However I'm in the process of re-newing my passport so I don't actually have a passport to copy to give to them for another week.

As the deadline for paperwork is tomorrow, I'm unable to go.

Hmmm looks like koreans leaving everything to the last minute has worked out very much in my favor.



The reason I couldn't say 'no' is that a group of students that I coached won a compeition back in october so that's the reason I got on the radar.

[Hobophobic]

I thought you held 2 passports?...NZ and CDN....

[xtchr]

Why do you need a passport to go to Jeju-do?