Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Marlboro]

Thanks man, i think i saw that place yesterday.

[rocklee]

The Hi-Mart is ok if you don't mind paying for convenience.

Otherwise, Yongsan is the best place to get your electrics.

How about the online stores like gmarket and stuff? Do they deliver for free?

[eastcoast]

So, I'm dealing with the Global Education Center English Village(Seo-gu) and my recruiter is Melodie from Footprints. The school wants me there between the 4th and 6th of August. I sent Melody an email this morning, requesting the school's address...for the Google earth thing.

So, just now she calls me, looking for a decision. I asked her if she got my email...she seemed very disorganized and didn't know what the address was. Then she gave me a big lecture about "going to all the trouble to find out what the address is...then, you might not even come!"

Are you for real? This didn't seem like a major request - it's a new school, so I can't even request to speak to other teachers!

I was leaning toward taking this job, despite the dormitory living, etc. just because it's my first year, I'm gonna have my gripes either way and I'd be there THIS WEEKEND. (I've been excited)

I guess the least important relationship in the entire situation is with your recruiter...as long as you get what you want...but it just seemed sketchy.

Dorm living=very little privacy, but I do well in social settings, and like the idea of having other expats around for exploring, etc. Any Dorm experience out there?? Or comments on Seo-gu?

[rocklee]

Ah, footprints.

How much are you getting paid to work at EV?

I'm doing the dorm sharing thing and its not pleasant I can tell you.

[eastcoast]

Thnks for posting.

I am offered 2.2/month...is dorming that bad?!! Does it depend on who you're sharing bathrooms with, or are there other aspects I need to consider...overall privacy, etc.

[Milwaukiedave]

If they are not willing to get the information for you, then forget them.

Really it's not that difficult to get off their lazy butts to help you a bit.

The other thing with shared housing (especially dorms) is very very limited privacy.

Think about it this way:

Your getting paid 2.2 per month (I don't know what experience or background you have), but they are saving quite a bundle putting you up in a dorm. I don't know if they feed you as well, but really your not getting paid enough to deal with all the potential problems.

I'd really think twice about it.

[Marlboro]

Rocklee - Could you post the web address for Gmarket? i know exactly what kind of laptop i want, its just getting it across..

Thanks in advance.

[Ben Glickman]

EastCoast-

I believe Melody sent you a link to Seo-Gu- Incheon, the district where this organization is located yesterday. In case you didn't get it, the link is: http://www.seo.incheon.kr/eng/index.jsp. If you have further questions, contact me directly.
Ben

[DCJames]

Incheon has many factories and most of the people who work there are blue collar types that are not as sophisticated as people who live in Seoul.

Personally, I wouldn't want to live there.

[rocklee]

[rocklee]

[PaperTiger]

I hope you don't envision Incheon as being somewhere where you might have access to vast areas of undeveloped natural beauty...in fact, if you enjoy that sort of thing, you should look into another country entirely. Incheon is composed mainly of rocky, muddy shores that are no doubt encrusted with industrial waste from mainland China and anything that oozes out of the Han River. In short, it's about as scenic as Gary, Indiana or Newark...most of Korea is.

Also, count on rubbing shoulders with the creme-de-la-creme of the shipping industry...hope you like Russian sailors.

Just to save yourself a lot of unecessary misery, DON'T COHABITATE WITH TOTAL STRANGERS, people who allow themselves to be thrown in with their coworkers are just asking for trouble. How often have you ever worked with people you would also live with? It's a lotto you will most likely lose in a big way.

Property value isn't exactly at its pinnacle in Incheon, so these people are either very cheap or they don't really have any money to begin with...or will claim that they don't. Both are quite common among these English schools. If they don't have the cash or common sense to give you decent housing, just imagine what else they won't want to spend money on (national insurance, pension, your utility bills, paying you on time).

Working outside of Seoul should be a hard sell, they should be busting their skulls trying to give you every reason to distance yourself from other foreigners and the various amenities that working in Seoul would put a mere subway ride away from. If you work or Kimpo or Incheon anticipate at least a 30 minute bus ride to the subway terminal and then at least a 45-minute ride just to get the first stop anywhere near Seoul (Yeongdong PoGu Office). I did it my first year and it blew chunks, for that and so many other reasons.

[Marlboro]

[LateBloomer]

[rocklee]