Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jajdude]

Good stories D.D. thanks for those.

[cazador83]

This one time, a recruiter from Korea called telling me about this AWESOME job in a place called a "hagwon," with all these nice benefits and great working conditions! I trusted her...bad decision.

[lisac1983]

I was teaching English in a rural school in Si Saket, Northeast Thailand. One weekend I went to the Thai-Lao border to photograph some indigenous cave paintings when a storm erupted. It was nothing like I had ever seen, lightning strike after lightning strike. Anyhow, the rain was coming down with such ferocity so I took shelter in one of the caves to protect my camera more than anything. The cave started to flood, however, and the storm didn't appear to be easing any, so I ran to the steep narrow stairs that I had come down on but they had transformed into a gushing waterfall. I was in tears and didn't know what to do, so I climbed the waterfall on my all-fours. I was almost pushed backwards a couple of times but I managed to get to the top. Unfortunately several Thais died from the floods that day.

In Burma, I had made my way to the border at Tachelik, which was up until that day opened for crossing. I had US$10 left and was expecting to cross into Thailand to withdraw money from an ATM to continue my travels but was stopped at the border and told to go back. After an hour or so of trying to explain that I had no money left, my passport was taken from me and I was marched across the border by three scary-as-hell Burmese soldiers with guns to withdraw cash from the ATM. I was so nervous as they circled me whilst I punched my digits into the machine. They marched me back into Burma where I was forced to pay $600 for various flights to get out of the country before my visa expired. It was a nightmare.

I met a Puerto Rican dude in Java, Indonesia, who I had a friendly 20-minute chat with and politely exchanged emails with. When I went to check my email a few days later, I was confronted with emails from him that contained personal details of me that he must have researched. When I returned home months later I started getting phone calls from him even though I had not given him my number. I told him I didn't want him to phone anymore but three years on he still calls. When I hear his voice I hang up, but he is persistent and sometimes puts on different accents. I am scared that one day he will show up at my doorstep! Freak!

I also contracted Dengue Fever in Flores, eastern Indonesia. It was late at night when the fever and hallucinations started, everything was closed and there was no running water. I had no bottled water to drink and was sweating up a storm so I resorted to drinking the unsafe water from the 'mandi' so as not to dehydrate, which led me to contract a parasitic infection as well. It was the worst night of my life! I seriously thought I was going to die, if not from dehydration then from the thousands of rats that I imagined were nibbling on my limbs. Luckily, in the morning some local people drove me to Maumere where I stayed a night with a local family who took care of me until I could board a flight to Bali to be tested and treated. Months afterwards I was still suffering with bouts of the fever, but atleast I had water!

Aaah travel, it really is more glamorous in hindsight! At the time it is uncomfortable as all hell.

[Fishead soup]

Having to get on the next flight home to attend a Korean funeral

Igooooooooooooooo Igooooooooooooooooooooooo

[travel zen]

On a train from Jaipur to Mumbai in 2004.

I was walking to the washroom on the train when a ladyboy was walking from the opposite way. His eyes lite up and he wispered "Kal walla!" in a very excited and sensual way. I quickened my pace and finished up.

About 5 minutes later, he came by and asked for money while almost licking his lips and staring at me closely. I was trying to ignore him and was getting angyer. The other people in the compartment saved the situation by giving him money. He stalked off like a spurned woman and I knew there will be trouble.

I jumped on the top bunk and basically hid, because I knew there were more and this one was very excited to see me.

About 2 minutes later, there were about 6 of them asking my gf and the other passengers in our compartment for money. My gf didn't give, but the locals seemed to be scared and coughed up some rupees. I didn't want to get physical (and go to jail or worse) so I just hid. Passive, but I think I did the right thing

[tHEhERETIC]

I'm a total greenhorn, so you can all have a laugh at my expense. Korea is my first time out of the States, and this trip was my first time to any other country.

Planned a trip to Osaka/Kyoto for my week off, Lunar New Year's. No real problem getting from Seoul to Busan as I'd done it before. Boat to Osaka, not a problem. Good thing I bought my return ticket.

My Korean bank card did not work at all in Japan. I had plenty of funds on it, but only enough for one day on the American card. I used the Internet at the hotel on the first day to try to fix the problem, and that said that my Korean bank was affiliated with Sumitomo Bank, so I walk down the way to Sumitomo, go inside, and explain my dilemma. "We'll help you," they said, "follow me," and led me out onto the sidewalk and pointed me at Citibank.

I got a loan from a friend back in the States to get through the rest of my stay. When I got back to Busan they told me there's a Korean law, that my Korean bank account won't work in any country but Korea. When my Korean coworker called the hotel to ask if they'd take my card, they told her yes...because hers would have worked.

Let the laughing commence.