Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lostone7]

I am frustrated and just want to vent����..

Ok, to start off with. I am in culture shock! I have been here 3 � months in this little town. I have met the one other teacher here. He is nice but 50ish and has his own life. So I don�t know a Soul here. I did get my bro to join me in Korea so that has helped. However, he is about 1 �hours away from me and the last train from here leaves five minutes before I am done teaching. So we hangout on Saturdays sometimes���. But, he absolutely dislikes it here so negative vibes abound. Here is the deal I am educated enough to know I am in culture shock but I am still really really feeling the effects. The one Korean teacher at my school dislikes Americans so she avoids me at all costs. I feel so isolated! I did the get involved thing I am taking Hapkido and kumdo�� they are fun but I really just give out free language lesson to the kids���� Don�t get me wrong I like everyone in the classes they are super nice but no real contact. So I have been feeling like a baby! I mean I am comparing EVERYTHING to home. This isn�t the first time I have lived abroad it�s just the first time I have felt this way.

I have been on a few �dates� if you can call them that! The girls had zero interest in me just wanted to �English speak.� I am frustrated as all hell. I have always in the past made a ton of friends wherever I went. I have friends all over the world. I just cannot get use to the��. sorry we are not the same age so we can�t be friends thing. I am pretty outgoing I talk to everyone. Ok, I guess one of the issues is my �look� it�s always been a good thing just not here. I am athletic not short and in pretty decent shape been lifting 15 years or so and I have really short hair. I am getting told �No Solider� all of the time when I try to talk to people. So I guess I need to grow some dreads = )

After all of my emotional upheaval my school, which I have bent over backwards for now ..I, think fired me? Gave me a month ? not sure really I will get back to that. I guess I just need to tell someone because I have to keep a positive attitude for myself and my friends back home��� really can�t let them know. They all thought I was doing a dumb thing moving here. I am already tired so don�t want the I told you so from them. Anyway, here is the rundown of my 3 � months.

First, I had a �good� job by society standards and I made very good money in the states. I have two years teaching at a university, a master degree, volunteer work with intercity gang kids and my job was directly working with some of the worst delinquents I have ever seen I mean offenders. So I guess I thought I was emotional prepared to be in Korea.
Anyway, I wanted something different! I worked on salary and put in more hours than I would admit. Gave up any semblance of a life for my job two cells and I kept getting promoted. Anyway, I looked where I was at and figured I could live and teach abroad for about 3-4 years and wouldn�t hurt my career at home. SO I prepared and prepared I looked at contracts for several months until I thought I found the right school. I then bought the right cloths, laptop, ipod and read everything on Korea I could find. I turned down offers, because I wanted a couple of things. Money wasn�t my biggest concern I did well at home. What I wanted was NO NO NO mornings a 30hr work week i.e. 6classes a day M-F in a relaxed atmosphere where I could take Hapkido, kumdo, travel around my area, learn Korean and make Korean friends. So to get this I took a job with low starting salary. As long as my Student loans are covered and I can eat I am good. Anyway I though I found it. The last teacher had been here for 4years nice pictures of the apartment��the apartment is really nice. I didn�t re-sign my contract with my job in the states and here I am.


Day one was perfect, until I stepped foot in my first 13 year old class of delinquents, umm they chucked things at me cursed me out to my face in Korean and one little brat smacked me for talking to him. That one I threw out of the class and got the director. I was then scolded for not having better control. But in truth, I used to really like my director they were super kind to my face. But, after the scolding they actually kicked the brat out of the school so I thought that they would be supportive. Once I figured out that the old teacher was married to the daughter of the director and she was the only Korean teacher. I knew it would be a bit tough for me to win over the kids and his opinions of the job were biases��.but ok. I have for the most part except for the 13 year old delinquents got thing going well�..but, one of my good students told me that the old teacher had �much trouble too� and that the director was always yelling at them the brat students that is. Anyways I figure I am flexible, they loaned me a scooter that was super nice and the directors wife is very sweet� like a mom = ) I figured everything would be ok. At first it seemed to go well. Then I was approached about working at the public school in the mornings 3 days a week. I really really didn�t want to, but they were so nice and they said it was good for the school, Oh and yes it�s on my ARC card. So I am working 40hrs a week more than I wanted but less than home. SO I agreed, then Saturday came up NO NO NO that I didn�t agree to. They said they were disappointed but I did need some free time.

Ok, all of this I can deal with, month one I get extremely sick! Barely could function and after two day and some witch doctors in the area��� they said no more time off children had to see the foreign (trained pony) teacher, They would say oh oh you look sick��.but try to talk more, Strep throat and dropped 20lb in 8days could barely eat or stand etc. �..but talk more! Oh and because I was sickly pale and lost weight they said sick is good! you look more handsome��..I finally just went to Seoul without their �permission� and got checked in the hospital for three day��..Luckily for them I guess it was a weekend so I just missed Friday. Anyway, after I return I get the scolding and the disappointed your irresponsible speech. Ok, ok still thinking positive rolled with it. I then asked about my medical����oh foreign teacher don�t want it to expensive� I asked because I dropped some coin at the hospital. I said I did want it �.so the reply was well it�s 16% of your pay if you want it. Ok, so I deal no medical insurance, still respecting this culture���and in truth I still think they are nice people and like them� weird I know. Then month one payday no pension and tax is 5%���. OK, still a little unhappy about the sick thing so was not pleased with this! I swear did they really think I stepped foot on a plane without knowing the tax, pension and medical rates!!! They did see I was displeased and the brought it down to 4% because I was so nice! So they will jack me less��..Ok still positive still trying.

Directors daughter leaves, new Korean teacher, avoids me at all costs��..ok I�ll deal. They say some student�s left after ummm the two teachers who were there for 4 years left��..which is always going to happen when a completely new staff come on that�s just business��� but it is all my fault!!�. Delinquent class, I finally got control over but I have to be tyrant to get them to do anything�� I mean anything they are still so nasty to me. Just two classes and I have become fond of the little ones and the older ones so I just do the best I can. Then this ummm grrrrr lady joins my adult /HS/College class also my absolute favorite class to teach. anyway she is a teacher somewhere looks me in the eyes and says I am 38 after asking my age�..she waits for me to be in awe of that I think�. Then tells me I don�t know anything and to teach this way etc�. after class she grabs the director and wow I get scolded again not teaching right�� So, I have done everything I�ve been flexible respectful etc. So, Friday director comes in wont look at me and yells at the kids. Then is on the computer looking at other resumes of foreign teachers. So after my last class, he is gone Korean teacher says we need to talk��..oh yea everything I hear is through an interpreter director doesn�t speak any English. She says a couple of the students quite because I am a bad teacher and they let that go because I was new . how nice of them���. however, today another student is going to quit because they don�t learn anything in my class�I am told��this little delinquent has thrown my books out the window but hey he is quitting because he is such a serious student and I suck so much. I get compared to the last teacher everyday ummm 4years married to daughter ��..I am sure he was better at teaching them than me�� ummm 3 � months grrrrrrrrrrrrr I so frustrated!!!!!!!!!! is becoming very difficult to stay positive. So after I get told I don�t work hard enough, teach well enough, am entertaining enough��.. I asked about the resume thing with her and the director she quickly try�s to avoid it but���not this time. Ohh were just thinking about becoming recruiters that�s all��. No eye contact, fidgeting �..signs of lying etc. So, I said ok if you�re going to find a new teacher because I am not what you need ok but, I would like notice I think that�s fair.

Oh on a side note I think the director is not happy because I wont buy the old teachers and his daughter 3k car��..

Today, phone rings directors daughter from overseas yep more of the same��.but she is nice did I mention that��.tells me I have 30days�..because parents are calling and complaining and 15 student have left because of me���if I count right I only see about 5-6 missing and there in the delinquent class and we have had new one come who love me���..grrrrr just venting now���. So 30days��because I am so bad�� I say ok I need a LOR so I can get another job���� DAMMM IT I have never ran from anything so I will do at least a year here���grrrrrrrrrrr she then says you don�t want to work harder? I say I am open to anything please tell me what I need I am ok with feedback. I do have a few years of teaching���.And have always loved it��so she will call me Monday morning to tell how I need to behave for the month etc. then she says you have 30days��� so either I�m fired�� and I just got paid!!!! And they want the month to get the plane ticket back and jack me for a deposit or its some weird threat either way I just want to leave����.this and culture shock��..I really hate my life in Korea now���.I so wish I would not have come

Ok, I just wanted to vent���.I am a bit pissed off and drunk��� I figured writing this was better than going out and smashing the first person that says no soldier to me or yells hello, nice to meet you, good bye in my ear all at once����

Alright thanks

[butlerian]

If you're getting treated unfairly, leave. Then come back, get a new visa and job in a public school. Not all Koreans are the same - for example, in my school, I have the opposite problem in that many teachers - who are much older than me - want to go out drinking with me every night! You just need to find the right job and co-teachers.

[babtangee]

Yeah, small town job is a bad idea for a single dude.

I'd tell them, "YOU are firing ME. I am NOT quiting. YOU therefore shall have to eat the costs of airfare, NOT I. OTHERWISE, I want medical insurance TODAY. By law you should have given it me. And I am calling the tax office to ensure my tax is being paid correctly. And here is my Letter of Release forward dated to the day you are dismissing me. Sign it."

They're not nice people. They've got problems, like everyone else, and they're choosing to blame them on you. They don't know squat about teaching. They're just being sycophants to every teacher/student with a gripe. That's natural in the hagwon business, but the fact that they bother you with that garbarge clearly indicates that they are not nice people.

They wanna sack you, fine - there are plenty of jobs in big cities you can take. But don't let them penalize you for their discontent. I doubt you're a terrible teacher, and even if you were, they have no right to rob you of the airfare.

Are you getting paid overtime for working at the public school?

[huffdaddy]

Dude, you're getting screwed bad. Where to start? Health insurance isn't 16%. Taxes aren't 5%. How much are they paying you for your OT (I doubt enough)? Check your contract or post it here. They shouldn't be able to deduct your airfare if they fire you.

Get your papers in order (resume, diploma, transcripts) and start your job search now. You're in country, so you can actually check places out. You've got a place to stay (I'm assuming your bro will put you up, if need be) as well.

Get their termination in writing so that they can't string you along waiting for another teacher. If need be, make a run to Japan to activate your tourist visa.

As they say, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. There are good schools out there and you'll be much happier when you find one. Consider yourself lucky to get out of a bad situation.

[Captain Corea]

babtangee said it right. Listen to 'em.

[kermo]

That's a nightmare. In my family, our motto is "Don't let the turkeys get you down." These owners are certainly turkeys. Roast 'em, and be on your way. Good for you for trying to roll with the punches. Hopefully this termination will open the door to much better things.

[AliNZ]

Culture shock sounds an understatement!

it is difficult wading through some of the stuff here - and the lies, of the lies!!

I am currently looking for another job too - my hagwan is closing ...

have you found another job yet?

[Son Deureo!]

Let them fire you, they're doing you a favor. It couldn't possibly come at a better time, either. Universities are hiring now for the new spring term, and you are more than qualified for uni work.

The isolation of small town life in Korea can be rough on pretty much anyone, but the way your hogwon is treating you is inexcusable. It's not your fault, they may blame you but don't you dare blame yourself.

Stay strong.

[poet13]

Hey OP. You sound less like you have culture shock, than you are having trouble with being abused. Many people come to Korea and DON'T know about things like tax, medical, pension..etc. You did, and depsite it being wholly unfair, you have bent and bent and bent, when many people would have broken. Good on you for that.
My suggestion. Get yourself squared away and find another job. You know approximately when your end date is, so if you have a little cash on the side, pick a new start date one or two weeks later. That will give you time to file any complaints you may need or wish to file, visit some of this beautiful country (despite the naysayers, i believe it really is), and get yourself a new E-2 visa.
Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[Lostone7]

Thanks everyone!

I really do appreciate it! I do feel better today��.ok maybe a bit hung over but copious amounts of Soju I guess can have that effect��.= ) I think what really upset me the most was my pride��it is a little bit inflated at times lol I have never been canned or threatened etc. So It really hit my pride/ego a bit. You are all right in truth I know they were not as nice as I would like to think. I just think everyone should be given the benifiet of doubt ���but, on the other end of that I don�t forgive or forget. So thank you I will use you advice ��..I think they are the ones in the end that are really going to have issues��.I don�t think they will have it easy in trying to replace me.

I was thinking about the University gig��.Not sure how to go about it where and how do I look? Any advice will be welcomed = )

Also, just for the record I do not hate Korea or Koreans at all I just am a bit frustrated with my situation. I also, like the country it is beautiful and I have me some very nice Koreans for sure. (disclaimer)

I think Monday the director will find my patience and flexibility has limits and I now have reached them. I will take the LOR with me and even if it�s a threat I will get it signed and tell them in a month if its better I will return it lol then I will look for new spot! My biggest worry is where to look���. It took me 4 months to find this spot��.I think every blacklisted school on these sites offered me jobs lol� so it is a bit nerve racking.

I really really appreciate everyone�s responses and good will!!��If there anything I could ever do please just ask.

[kermo]

I found my university just by having a friend call them up and ask them if they were looking for anyone. They were surprised and happy to hear from us! It's a little outside Seoul, so they were really having trouble attracting people (advertising in Korean-language newspapers only, for a start), but the department is terrific, the students are lovely and I have no complaints at all. I don't have a Masters, but I do have a Bachelors of Education, and experience in and out of Korea.

The easiest places to find jobs will be outside of Seoul, and there are sometimes half-a-dozen colleges/universities in one city, so opportunities abound. Happy hunting.

[riley]

Like everyone else said, it's not culture shock. You went through an ugly situation. To look on the bright side, they've given you a chance to find a better job in a bigger city. That's good, right?

[Lostone7]

Thanks Kermo,

I sadly do not know any koreans who could call around for me =(
If someone wants to help? make calls, interpret etc. I would be willing to pay........... I think in my case a university gig would work well.......even though lol I do like the kiddies lol who would have thought that would happen lol

Side random thought .........lol.........never wanted to have childern EVER.....but, now I thimk with the right girl...... why not lol.........my friends at home would have a heart attack over that statement lol
for some reason I just enjoy those little rabbid puppies...... but did take a couple of weeks for my blood presure to get back to normal lol

[oldfatfarang]

Chin up mate. Everyone has trouble adjusting to Korean 'business practices'. Sounds like you got a very nasty introduction though. You are white, and you are bright. Get paid, and give them the finger. The world is literally your oyster.

Just learn to say "No!" That's "No!" Again, "No!" Got it, "No!" Sometimes you will have to say this many times to your Director before he realises you mean "NO!". Saying "No" in Korea also means standing up to people who think they are higher in the social hierarchy than you. You will find that trying to be Korean, and playing the respectful/hierarchical game, will be seen as a weakness to be exploited by many Directors with forked tongues.

And don't worry about the hair. I have 'monk hair' and I walk around town and teach in a baseball cap (that cuts down on the intimidating stares). Good luck mate. There are some good jobs in this country. I hope you find one.

[babtangee]