Korean Job Discussion Forums

Mody Ba · Joined: 22 May 2003

To all the new EPIK 'orientees"....good luck at the upcoming "orientation' Laughing

Mody

adventureman · Joined: 18 Feb 2003

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Keep an eye on the big picture.

The lectures range from marginally informative to laughably irrelevant & some will require extraordinary measures to keep awake through. Really, its such a mishmash of stale recycled stuff that the effect, ironically enough, is quite disorienting. Its also a fairly accurate mirror of what Koreans themselves endure when they take compulsory seminars -- form comes first, useful content comes in a distant 2nd.

All the other stuff -- a general aura of confusion, last-minute changes, a sense of being herded around, silly rules best quietly ignored, kowtowing & rote smalltalk with officials, stifling humid heat, a truly mixed bag of participants, etc. Well, welcome to Korea. Orientation, in hindsight, really is a microcosmic crash course.

It passes quickly enough. Your best bet to up your learning quotient is get to know others there who have spent some time on the ground in Korea, & pick their minds about practicalities. Hang with the half-full vs the half-empty crowd. Dress a notch above casual -- the Koreans will notice. Get out & have fun during your downtime.

Orientation does in fact ease you into Korea. You get a good dollop of how things work within the relative comfort zone of western companionship & some recognizable food in the cafeteria buffet. Soon enough youre pretty much on your own in a land more different than you might expect. Its an adventure, man. Subsequent adjectives are up to you.

Mody Ba · Joined: 22 May 2003

Yeah,you can tell Schwa has been "through" orientation..and also that he has taught in Korea.His comments are very true and humerous, too. Pretty good advice ,too.Yeah,you can survive "orientation".Probably the worst parts are the boring lectures(most of them) and the stifling heat.But come fall(and then winter,God help us!) and most people will NOT be thinking about the stifling heat anymore.

Show up for orientation? I would really like to,but Mr.Ba is sort of personna non grata around KNUE these days,so I do not want to twist the tiger's tail too hard. Sometimes they just fail to see the humerous side of things.. Soju?Well, Mr.Ba is on the wagm right now.But maybe a glass of milk(!!??? Laughing

) and a piece of pie...
So,anyway,good luck,and it is an adventure,because you never really know what to expect. MB

Mody Ba · Joined: 22 May 2003

Not "wagm"...although without soju(and no coffee,either!) sometimes I think I AM on the "wagm"! Smile

adventureman · Joined: 18 Feb 2003

Mody Ba · Joined: 22 May 2003

What does AMISH have to do with it?If you are referring to my nom-de-post, Mody Ba, it is NOT Amish.(And it is not my real name either,if you haven't guessed)
Jejudo, eh? Rolling Eyes

Well,all I can say,is have fun down there! It might be a bit,uh crowded. Laughing

adventureman · Joined: 18 Feb 2003

Mody Ba · Joined: 22 May 2003

I am not that straight laced.I do drink, but I am on the wagon for a few weeks..Do not smoke, though(ugh!)
Yeah,good luck in orientation.The showers.The heat.The lectures.Miss C.
Mody Ba

Mody Ba · Joined: 22 May 2003

August 17
Let's see...I believe "orientation" begins August 18,right? Rolling Eyes