Korean Job Discussion Forums

[buster brown]

As you said "forced fun is not fun," but this is a case of "when in Rome." Don't peg me as an apologist, but I think this is intended to be a fun, team-building activity. I personally despise these things where you're up on stage doing something you're totally uncomfortable with...but as long as everyone in the school is doing it and the foreign teachers aren't being singled out, I'd probably just pick a song we could all sing and then do it. On the night of the dinner, it would be a big deal if you were all sitting there eating, drinking and partying it up but ended up being the only group who didn't do something on stage. I also would refuse to spend money on a costume, but it isn't a big deal to put together a song or skit and then perform it at the party.

I say suck it up and do it. You'll likely be all liquored up and it will be a big hit among your colleagues. If you end up not doing anything, it will be resented by everyone else and look like you're setting yourself above the group...and might actually lead to more demanding work conditions.

[koreatimes]

[cayce23]

I have no worries about losing the job. I have three months left on a contract renewed for 2 years total.

This is not a team building activity in the least. It's an entertainment show for our crazy, narcissistic boss. Last year, he rented a karaoke machine for the holiday party just so he could sing in front of us and hear how awesome he was (he wasn't.)

And yes, I know the Korean teachers hate it as much as we do. But they're happy to be carpets to be trampled upon constantly.

My main problem is the extra 5+ hours I'd have to be at work practicing while my co workers argue in Korean about whether to say "holiDAY" or "HOLiday." In one week, I'll have to be there 50+ hours a week anyway, and I'm not keen on starting early, especially since they won't even give us a one day break for Christmas. If I could get out of that, or they would be more efficient, I'd demean myself in order to avoid tension.

[jamasian]

-_- No Christmas Day break even? I was with the

[drydell]

[Draz]

[Steelrails]

A) Don't Go.
B) Get 3-4 groups going and have your boss vote on the best one and winner gets cash (might have to do a side bet). Make lemons out of lemonade.

[Son Deureo!]

Refusing to go to and perform at the company Christmas party is not going to win you any friends, but the forced rehearsals seem excessive to me as well. I'd say tell them you have something prepared already and that you and your foreign coworkers are practicing on your own time. Come showtime, sing a Christmas carol or two that you already know well.

Going to war over this sounds like it will probably be more trouble than it's worth. The party probably won't be much fun, but at least you'll get some free food (and booze?) and a story or two to tell.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[I'm With You]

This is cult-like behavior.

Just say no if you don't want to do it.

[itistime]

Don't be a lil beach. Say, 'NO'.
Is it really that hard?

[Julius]

[duke of new york]

I would just do the stupid little performance. It's not that big a deal, and it's not really anything more than you might be expected to do once or twice a year at a job in your home country, especially if you're an elementary school teacher. Seriously, if you think back to when you were in elementary school, I'm sure you can remember your teachers doing things like this that, in retrospect, it's probably pretty clear they didn't really want to do. And every office has stupid waste-of-time parties and events you have to go to occasionally when you're supposed to be off work. It's something we all have to deal with.

I wouldn't go to the practices, though. It's not OK for them to ask for that much of your time off the clock. Just make up something else you have to do at that time.

[Draz]

[thunderbird]

get so drunk ur passed out, cant sing then