Korean Job Discussion Forums

Songbird1979 · Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Location: Back in Oz, onto Korea Jan 06

Hey all,

Things haven't worked out in Changwon as planned- I arrived as planned on the 20th, then would you believe it, I had an accident on Sunday, dislocated my knee and was sent home on the Tuesday following!

Be warned where you step- I stepped kind of wrong- I thought the floor was flat (in a hotel building in Changwon) but no- there was a slight step coloured the same as the floor. I stepped as normal then twisted my knee. I have now lost my job (the school was helpful and understanding though and put me back on the plane home with lots of assistance), no income and who knows how long, or IF I will head back to Korea. Perhaps I will stay in Oz instead........

Very depressed but just wanted to warn everyone- and DON'T forget insurance whatever you do!!!!!

dulouz · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Uranus

Thats a sad story! Were you on crutches? Did it hurt like a ...? Thats rough. You lost mobility, comfort, cash and a job. Do you feel like suing someone?

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

Sorry to hear about this...must have been serious to have need of going home....

I worked at a school in Europe and a Canadian came over to help us with the 3 month spring semester...He was so happy, gungho...

He taught 2 days, then Sat. went out with a student paragliding...He broke both his hips on landing....was really screwed up (no pun intended) and flown back to Vancouver for further surgeries....

So consider yourself minorly lucky......good luck

DD

canuckistan · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:56 am Post subject:

A teacher I worked with snapped his achilles while playing basketball. Went back to Canada for surgery and recuperation. Then got right back on his horse and went over to Korea again.

Chin up!

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Wow, what a bummer, but as Canuckistan says- chin up!

VanIslander · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:18 am Post subject:

I injured BOTH ankles majorly in a fall, plus ligaments to the knee, paid a 300,000 won hospital bill, took my crutches and hobbled to class, sitting down with both feet propped up while teaching.

Seven weeks later I walked my first city block nearly normally, though downstairs still took baby steps.

That was yesterday.

I've taught through the injury (why not? not a physical job, what else to do, only getting the class room and home each day was excruciating, took taxis and help climbing stairs) largely because my director wanted me to keep working even though I was injured (got one week off with pay though).

Many hagwons like mine would gladly take a hobbling legless native English-speaking teacher over the alternative (nobody).

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

10 days into my job in Prague, I was hospitalized and had my appendix removed!! I was "in hospital" (had to use BE there! Laughing

) for a week. Thank heavens my insurance had kicked in at that point...and the school was VERY understanding...considering it was a 4 month contract!

Songbird1979 · Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Location: Back in Oz, onto Korea Jan 06

Yes it majorly sucks that they sent me home simply because of this Evil or Very Mad

. I have no pain now only some swelling at the knee (I'll be off to to hospital here soon to get it assessed, but I actually took the cast off this morning myself (was only a half cast), nothing broken, only limited mobility because of the swelling but I'm sure that will go down again when the doc drains it again.

I don't think I will come back to Korea in the near future- I have lost so much money on this I feel bitter....will try for work here. And yes I am seriously considering suing the hotel it happened in- everything I lost because of their stupid damn step, but I don't know how I can, being a diff country.......

What really sucks is that I was still on a tourist visa when it happened, was planning to go to Japan this weekend to pick the work visa up- so really I couldn't try to get compensation from the school either for breaking the contract (which was signed and I did everything, coming over and all). But they paid the airfare home so that's fair enough.

Lemonade · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: South Korea

canuckistan · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:09 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't waste my time trying to sue a hotel in Korea.
"Factor X" happens to all of us at some point. Look at it this way, the interregnum you were forced to take could have saved you from getting whacked by a car in Seoul some time later in your stay for example. Things happen for a reason. That kind of stuff.
What's important is that you're not permanently ginked up. A simple setback. Forget the past, move on and revel in the cool things in life. The universe may have just been sparing you from worse.

Asiablue · Joined: 15 Jan 2006

I am very sorry to hear you were injured, and in such randon sort of way. Though I am very happy to hear your school helped you out and helped you get back home.

All you can do now is heal up and return to Korea, to work at your old school or some new school. I recommend you get a letter from the school detailing what happened. This way you can show something to your next school and give this sad story a positive ending. Your commitment got you here and such a letter would help you find a new job.