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MollyBloom
Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Location: James Joyce's pants
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 Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:39 pm Post subject: a few questions befrom I come to Korean on Wed |
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1. What is an appropriate gift for recruiters and school directors? I searched, but wasn't really happy with what I found.
2. can I take my thin, bamboo knitting needles on the plane or are they a weapon?
3.is pepper spray legal in Korea?
I think that's all for now. Thanks! |
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flotsam
Joined: 28 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| a few questions befrom I come to Korean on Wed |
Pardon?
On the needles question, just throw your sock over them and you should be fine. |
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MollyBloom
Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Location: James Joyce's pants
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry, I meant "Korea," obviously. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:36 pm Post subject: Re: a few questions befrom I come to Korean on Wed |
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| MollyBloom wrote: |
1. What is an appropriate gift for recruiters and school directors? I searched, but wasn't really happy with what I found.
2. can I take my thin, bamboo knitting needles on the plane or are they a weapon?
3.is pepper spray legal in Korea?
I think that's all for now. Thanks! |
Unless you give gifts to your TV repair man or the used car salesman there is no gift to give to your recruiter. He will be well paid for selling you to your hakwon. You did him the favor already (about a million won worth) by choosing him.
I would wait until Solal before giving a gift to your boss. If he is decent between now and then, Solal is the gift giving time. If he is not (and you don't get a gift from him for solal) then don't give him one either.
Remember that he is in business selling you. You are the product that he sells. To him you are nothing more than a commodity like apples to a fruit vendor.
This is NOT a relationship based on friendship and if he is a typical Korean, it never will be. Time to switch culture modes there girl.
Edited in after the fact:
Bring small gifts (pencils with flags or something on them), stickers, coffee mugs with local stuff on them, STICKERS for the kids. Bring many, many stickers. A trip to the stationary section in the local dollar store should fill the bill. |
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MollyBloom
Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Location: James Joyce's pants
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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| I thought it was appropriate to give something to people with those jobs when starting...I guess I was thinking of something else. What is the holiday you spoke of? |
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dimnd
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: Western USA
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject: knitting needles |
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a grandmother type on her way to Arizona on Southwest last month had knitting needles making things for grandkids on flight..got taken out of the tsa line and had to talk to people for a while while they searched her diligently..hence...the knitting needles on the plain is a big fat no no..
nothing longer than a pr of tweezers...
go to the TSA site or ur airlines site...I came over on United this week and they even rang my carry on bag through twice..and let me know they were doing so...no biggie...but no needles... |
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mrd
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: fluorescent-filled paradise
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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I found out from my recruiter that my future boss drinks.
In the airport before my flight I picked up a bottle of Johnny Walker Black for about $40 - in Korea its apparently pretty expensive!
Ignore what some of the posters say - I think a good impression and gifts demonstrate your good will. These same posters will say that Koreans view the relationship as more important than the contract - so a present will show them you are serious and not just wanted to "take" from the relationship.
D. |
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Pepper spray is legal here- my girlfriend bought it here and carries it with her. |
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flotsam
Joined: 28 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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| MollyBloom wrote: |
| Sorry, I meant "Korea," obviously. |
OK. Where you befrom anyway?
(Edit function always available...) |
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sock
Joined: 07 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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Call the airline and ask them about the knitting needles. I'm sure they would be best able to answer your question. Might be fine to stick them in checked baggage.
As for a gift ... most people here drink, and if they don't, their friends do, so any kind of alcohol is a popular gift. I brought some nice pen sets, around the $25 range, but they looked really nice. People will be happy with pretty much any gift you give them. Most of the time you'll get nothing, so don't put too much energy or money into it.
DO bring tons of stickers, maybe some small coins, and small cheap candies for the kids. They will appreciate it so much more. I went to WalMart and found a book of like 1200 stickers for $2 and it lasted maybe 6 months. I also brought some baby bottle pops and a few bags of cheap candy necklaces, 5 for $1 at home but I'm telling you I could have auctioned those things off for $20 apiece. Kids went nuts. And I am definitely the most popular teacher (not that that's necessarily a good thing). They don't have sour candy here, and I found it was a very popular item with the kiddies.
Anyway, bringing kids gifts will be far more rewarding for you than any gifts for adults. Worry about the kids. That's my advice. Just be the best teacher you can be. In time, you'll realize that harsh though it may seem, Ttompatz is right on the money. |
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MollyBloom
Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Location: James Joyce's pants
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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| The people I will be bringing gifts for are women. Any suggestions? Will the Korean women like the alcohol? I want to be professional. |
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Nambucaveman
Joined: 03 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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A gift for your new boss probably would be a good first gesture. I would pack the knitting needles in your checked bags. I think someone else already answered the pepper spray question.
NC |
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OiGirl
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:14 pm Post subject: Re: knitting needles |
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| dimnd wrote: |
| a grandmother type on her way to Arizona on Southwest last month had knitting needles making things for grandkids on flight..got taken out of the tsa line and had to talk to people for a while while they searched her diligently..hence...the knitting needles on the plain is a big fat no no.. |
Why is this a big fat no no? Because they questioned her (and presumably released her) for carrying something that was not dangerous?
I wouldn't carry my metal needles on (although my best friend has many times,) but feel it's my right to bring plastic or bamboo. |
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Natalia
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:22 pm Post subject: Re: knitting needles |
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| dimnd wrote: |
a grandmother type on her way to Arizona on Southwest last month had knitting needles making things for grandkids on flight..got taken out of the tsa line and had to talk to people for a while while they searched her diligently..hence...the knitting needles on the plain is a big fat no no..
nothing longer than a pr of tweezers...
go to the TSA site or ur airlines site...I came over on United this week and they even rang my carry on bag through twice..and let me know they were doing so...no biggie...but no needles... |
In New Zealand they let my (rather stupid) aunt get on the plane with a massive Maori knife in her carry-on bag. 
Then other times in other places I have been pulled aside for having a compact with a mirror.
Airport security is alarmingly inconsistent. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2006 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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Just buy something from the departure airport, like candles or decorative plates with your state/country emblem. Safe, generic gifts. Maybe some cultural snacks. I brought my current boss a bag of huckleberry tea and a photo book of historical North Carolina. Pretty basic stuff.
Also, women around the world love chocolate. Mmm.. chocolate. |
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