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UncleAlex
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
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 Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 7:30 pm Post subject: The Above Quote |
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I suppose one can encounter problems or trouble on account of foreign
societal and cultural norms and values, but the problems almost everybody
seem to face here are one's created by dishonest, abusive, and negligent employers.
When one reads the number of legitimate complaints by foreign teachers
against their employers and even Korean institutions on this site, he can
easily get the impression that it is the Korean norm to cheat, mistreat, neglect,
and ignore the foreign worker. I should have clarified myself in my initial
reply, but I was thinking in this vein when I posted it.  |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I wonder if it's the lawyer norm to recommend clients take dumps on the boss's desk? |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: The Above Quote |
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| UncleAlex wrote: |
the problems almost everybody
seem to face here are one's created by dishonest, abusive, and negligent employers. |
Complaints against corrupt employers are mostly legitimate.
It also helps if people know a bit about what they're getting themselves into before they come here. A greater understanding of Korea takes a long time and is usually only got after a few years here.
Typically a newbie here will unknowingly and unwittingly commit every cultural offence and faux pas here in the workplace. There is a whole range of western behaviors that are innocent to us, yet communicate lack of respect and laziness to a Korean. A build up of minor miscommunications that generate bad feeling are almost unavoidable.
Both sides are to blame for not trying to understand eachothers cultural norms. A Korean contract should stipulate: "This is only valid if you follow our cultural expectations and show respect/ good relations in our Korean way of doing things. If you don't follow this secret cryptic code that you couldn't possibly know about, we will take offence and try to take revenge on you while smiling to your face".
Just a minor example: I shook hands with a Korean guy yesterday.( He was surprised and complained that I was trying to hurt him- my handshake is a strong one). I had to explain that in the west men give a firm handshake as a sign of confidence and genuine good intention. the limp dead fish he proffered is usually a woman's handshake. This is just one tiny example of the MASSIVE potential for grievances to slowly arise in a country whos ways are the opposite poles to ours. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:28 am Post subject: Re: The Above Quote |
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| nautilus wrote: |
[. A Korean contract should stipulate: "This is only valid if you follow our cultural expectations and show respect/ good relations in our Korean way of doing things. If you don't follow this secret cryptic code that you couldn't possibly know about, we will take offence and try to take revenge on you while smiling to your face".
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And of course it would never do to actually study up on Korean culture BEFORE coming here (or in some posters' cases, AFTER). No no, far better to just whine and complain about every perceived slight. |
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