Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jessie-b]

I just touched down today and my new boss (after telling me not to use the word "CRAZY" around Koreans) dropped me off at his brother's place for a couple of days. He comes in a few hours later without knocking, sees that I'm bleary eyed and need more sleep (OBVIOUSLY!) and decides to put off going to the school for a few more hours. He sits down on the bed like he expects me to lie down right away, then goes into the bathroom and brushes his teeth loudly and disgustingly with the door open. THEN he takes some clothes from the closet and changes behind this curtain thing and then asks me where his comb is. WTF???? Oh did I mention that this was after he asked me why I wasn't married and laughed with his brother at my shrug. .. I honestly wouldn't mind him asking me in a work environment, I've been taught to expect his reading DAVE's, but I feel unsafe here and don't know if I should be worried. Will he be taking showers and changing here???
I'm really uncomfortable and freaking out and want to go to a hotel.

[Banana Bender]

I would running not walking to the hotel you could find. It is going to cost you 30 - 40 thousand won, ( hope you have some money with you ) but atleast you will get some relaxation.

Staying in a Koreans house in that situation is the pits.

BB

[badfish]

also if you are really that uncomforatble and have the feeling that you are not going to enjoy your stay there AND you don't have your work visa yet but were planning to go to Japan to get your work visa you could just say thanks but no thanks youve decided not to take the job, get to a hotel and suss out a new job on here, where you'll be able to check things out first before signing anything, since you're already here.

Hope things get better for you

[tiger fancini]

Not an ideal start. I would seriously be thinking about whether I really wanted to work for this guy. Why is your accommodation not ready yet? When will it be? And does your contract mention anything about sharing a bedroom/bathroom with your boss? I'm sure you can do better than this.

[crazylemongirl]

No she doesn't have enough to bolt as is the OP of this thread.

OP. Do you have your visa yet?

[jessie-b]

Actually, I do have enough to bolt, as I was able to procure some more greenbacks before leaving. And I will be bolting immediately. If you guys think this is weird too, it must be.

[laogaiguk]

Hey, I read it just now. I would get out of there. I also noticed you are low on money. You can go to Jimjilbangs (sauna places) and actually sleep there for between 5 and 10 thousand a night until you find another job or he gives you your own place. There might be nothing to it, but if I were you, I wouldn't stay there.

Do you guys agree with the jimjilbang idea???

[dulouz]

Bail immediately, don't feel bad one bit.

[Son Deureo!]

This is exactly the kind of situation that leads us to recommend that you bring extra cash with you. Good for you for having found a way to get it.

Get out of the brother's house NOW. Stay in a goshiwon or a sauna if your boss won't get you your own place to live.

If you do not have your E2 visa yet, just bolt. You can have another job in a week.

If you already have your E2, refuse to teach a single class until your boss has your apartment ready. Your apartment is part of your compensation package, there is no excuse for not providing you with a safe place to live.

What city are you in, BTW? We may be able to give you more specific advice about where to go and what to do next.

[jessie-b]

I'm in Jeonju City. I don't have my Visa yet and I have to wait a couple of weeks for my degree (It's being sent here).

[gang ah jee]

[billybrobby]

Are you going to be living at the owner's brother's house for a year?? If so, I'd walk away from that situation.

As for the guy's behavior, he seems like a typical Korean dude. Not knocking or respecting privacy, expecting you to work all the time, brushing his teeth at midday, asking rude questions, laughing at odd times. It's all normal. It sounds annoying but not disturbing. The changing clothes thing is weird part.

Maybe you're getting a bad vibe from the guy, and sometimes it's important to follow those intuitions. But Koreans can really weird you out until you get used to the culture. So far, you haven't described any really creepy behavior.

To me, the main thing is why hasn't this guy gotten you some housing?? I love Korean people, but I think living with a Korean family would drive a person up the wall. And housing is just a basic thing that all companies provide for full-time teachers. Demand it.

[billybrobby]

[jessie-b]

Ok, so this is just a normal disrespectful guy? Ugh. He said I'll just be staying here for a couple of days but honestly I won't be able to sleep here thinking about the changing and teeth brushing and the teddy bears and lace pillows everywhere. I don't think this is the bro's apartment at all. A woman definitly lives here. Who is she, where is she, why didn't they just tell me that?
I'm going to have the boss drive me to a jeogwan(?) as soon as he returns. And since I don't have my visa I'll have some time to bail if the job is bogus. Thanks...

[gang ah jee]