Korean Job Discussion Forums

[captain kirk]

Yeah, I dunno what it is about this place but it's very live for the moment, live for money, live for family. Being part of the very much machine of the hagwon, when you stop to look at it, is disappointing. One could do better than go through the motions for appearances to make everyone happy. Because it takes a lot of energy. Just being at work, putting the go on.

And, what does it amount to in the end that's 'YOU'. That's something only you could have done, your particular style. It's a job like a bumper car ride at an amusement park. Or working at a carnival putting kids onto rides making sure their safety belt's fastened.

Your value, your genuine value is only seen by the children you teach. If you discount kids, like most people do, you can't take their appreciation seriously.

At its best haggie work is being connected to the love of life of delightful kids. That sound Sound Of Music-ish but it does happen. I think that's what it's about. But management and the dictates of the mothers make for hoops, paperwork, office politics on top of the energy needed to meet the kids on their own, energetic ground.

Adults discount children as knowing nothing but if you see people soul-first and not mind-first then there are less barriers with children. I mean there's a whole room of open people having a moment with teacher as leader. This does happen.

I wanted to get off the haggie ride and be a buddhist monk. But, amusing to say, that didn't work out. I appreciate the longing to do something that means something. Be respected. By society. Do you think hagwon teachers and foriegners (who take a moderate wage teaching children) are respected? On the other hand, who gives a damn what anybody thinks. One can achieve mental poise and make a go of a basically good situation. We Westerners are rugged individualists anyway.

By taking the volunteer route you have status. You choose to be there. You are from a more advanced country. Here in Korea you're from a more advanced country but are generally not welcome. Are paid moderately well but generally resented, distrusted, looked down upon. But you're making money. Who's to say the volunteer situation isn't same old same old.

It's hard to bond with the adult groupthink in Korea re; foreigners.

What's life without a bond?

If you respect kids, like no-one does, really, then you can accept their appreciation of your efforts and feel like your job is worthwhile.

[Demonicat]

Ok, as promised more.
The thing is that once you get there you see how things really play out. Entire cultures in Africa are collapsing as warriors become beggars. Various mission groups come in and by their mere presence turn the youngsters to the west. The kids rarely go to the actual west, but more and more frequently the leave the village.
Do the projects work? Usually not. I won;t lie to you, when I was in the corps- out of 180 volunteers in Mali doing an average of 2 projects each, I heard of ONE sucess. Everyone else got f'd over by cops, locals, or in my case...cobras (ate my entire rabbit ranch, seriously sucked).
Would I do it again? Yes, I've looked into VSO and considered it deeply. Why do it if it doesn't work? Because its fun and you meet people. Honestly, I went in the corps about changing the world, and I left a hardcore captialist. You probably will too. One other thing, in case I left your mouth bitter. The locals love for you to come. You bring lots of money. That stipend of yours invariably gets spent in local establishments and its alot of money. I made $224 a month US and lived quite well. One further note, its dangerous but alot safer than you probably assume. I did leave a bit early due to medical reasons (clinical malnutrition) but most people do well.
Oh yeah- language teachers are as important as agriculture teachers, more so. The indiginous people have been successfully farming that area for thousands of years- they got that s--t. English is new and gives the youth a chance to make money outside of the community,