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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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 Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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| livinginkorea wrote: |
Try playing volleyball twice a week! I was pushed into it all the time and finally I had to put my foot down. I get asked out a lot for thoese dinner and Soju functions but I went to about half to them. The other time I said that my wife was cooking and they respected that. Not like the volleyball! No excuse could get you out of that!  |
Ya, I'm not a big fan of the massive amounts of "forced" team building, social activities that happen in the work world of Asia. It happens sometimes back home too, but opting out if much easier (usually). Still, as one of the better volleyball players (and I am honestly not very good), I am pretty much force to play in all the tournies  |
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livinginkorea
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Location: Korea, South of the border
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| Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| livinginkorea wrote: |
| Try playing volleyball twice a week! I was pushed into it all the time and finally I had to put my foot down. I get asked out a lot for thoese dinner and Soju functions but I went to about half to them. The other time I said that my wife was cooking and they respected that. Not like the volleyball! No excuse could get you out of that! |
Ya, I'm not a big fan of the massive amounts of "forced" team building, social activities that happen in the work world of Asia. It happens sometimes back home too, but opting out if much easier (usually). Still, as one of the better volleyball players (and I am honestly not very good), I am pretty much force to play in all the tournies |
I was white so I had to be shown to all the other schools. I was crap at it so I just had to block and serve here and there while listening to the kyogam barking out orders in konglish! |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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I find the opposite is the case with me - between my middle school and high school I'm constantly getting invited / dragged along to stuff.
However, when it comes to getting accurate information, it can be a real chore, as I was reminded again with our grade 1 'camp' yesterday. If it's any consulation, the two younger English teachers at my school who've been here a shorter time than me are usually left even more out of the loop than I am. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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| crazylemongirl wrote: |
I haven't really had that problem, if anything I get too much attention. The adjumas at my school kind of mother me a bit and the Vice Principal is a lovely man who likes to practice his English and lets me practice my bad Korean.
To find stuff out I use multiple sources of information:
1. My minder
2. Other English teachers
3. The monthly planner on the board (bummer if you can't read Korean)
4. The schools instant message system (again bummer if you can't read Korean)
5. The Students.
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#5 being by far the best source of information, especially at the high school level. |
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Junior
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: the eye
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| Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| W.T.Carl wrote: |
| The only truely scary thing was the attention that the almost all of the young UNMARRIED female Korean Teachers showered on me. |
I get that too, however none of the selection available really push my attraction buttons I'm truly sorry to say. The best ones are already married...sigh.
Quote Laogaiguk/livinginkorea
| Quote: |
livinginkorea wrote:
Try playing volleyball twice a week! I was pushed into it all the time and finally I had to put my foot down. I get asked out a lot for thoese dinner and Soju functions but I went to about half to them. The other time I said that my wife was cooking and they respected that. Not like the volleyball! No excuse could get you out of that!
Ya, I'm not a big fan of the massive amounts of "forced" team building, social activities that happen in the work world of Asia. |
I actually got out of the forced volleyball with a doctors letter (was sick at the time).
HorangiMunshin
| Quote: |
| I tried raw whale meat, |
I would never do that- much of it is imported from Japan (who are busy depleting Australian whale stocks) or illegally fished in Korea. Many whale species are endangered but that hasn't stopped either country finishing them off.
mindmetoo:
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| If someone lower in the hierarchy invited you, that would bring great shame to the top dog. |
Thats true- the principal seemed stunned when i appeared and made a big fuss of coming over and forcing pork down my gullet. All 50 pairs of eyes were on me and the conversation immediately went into the "are you married/do you enjoy being single?" questioning. Only in Korea is one interviewed live in front of a wide eyed audience with the most personal questions. This no longer phases me and I shot back the same questions at the somewhat choked questioner. You have to laff.
-strange thing is I'd rather be left alone to do what I want I guess, but the idea that I wasn't even informed/given the option is rather disturbing. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Man some of you people have it rough at your schools! If I don't want to attend a dinner or play volleyball I just say so and the subject is dropped. |
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passport220
Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do province
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| Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 12:10 am Post subject: |
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Public school: are you ignored?
By and large yes. Praise be to God, Allah, Buddha or whoever is responsible. |
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adverge
Joined: 16 May 2006
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| Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 4:16 am Post subject: |
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When I was waiting to board the plane at JFK to Korea I witnessed an odd event.
There were no public announcements about the plane boarding but suddenly everyone got up and lined up and started going through the gate.
I didn't know if it was special boarding or if I had missed the announcement.
The strange thing is, I've seen this mass psyhic communication happen in other places in Korea as well.
Anyways, I work in a hagkwon and I get left out of events all the time because they tell the other foreign teachers and they're expected to tell me, but they tend to forget. Also, I'm the only female foreign teacher and the Korean teachers like the male foreign teachers better than me. |
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SirFink
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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| passport220 wrote: |
Public school: are you ignored?
By and large yes. Praise be to God, Allah, Buddha or whoever is responsible. |
What? You're missing out on weekly volleyball games, sitting on the floor of a restaurant until your feet fall asleep while eating boiled pig fat and gristle, on endless conversations you don't understand a word of, and all those shy, giggly unmarried teachers making brief eye contact with you only to burst into blushes and more giggles. |
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Francis-Pax
Joined: 20 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: Public school: are you ignored? |
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| Junior wrote: |
How well do you get along with your co-workers at your public school? I have about 35 staff at mine. I didn't realise I was doing so badly until by chance i walked into the staff room to do some photocopying this afternoon: the entire staff were having a dinner for the start of term, to which I'd been obviously left out of. Shock horror! They made a big fuss of dragging me in and forcing food down my gob, ashamed that I'd been overlooked.Left out of the loop!
I don't actually mind I suppose, as lengthy dinners exchanging pleasantries in Korean is not my thing. My Korean is enough to stick with basic conversation - but its an effort really because only two of that number speak English. Its probably an uncomfortable effort for them too I guess.
I always greet everyone and make some effort to speak a little Korean to them but it just seems that unless you go round to every one of the 6 staff tea rooms, bend over backwards and throw yourself at them on a daily basis, then the lone weyguk just falls into a routine of sticking with 2 or 3 coworkers and surfing the internet. maybe I should go on some exxagerrated charm offensive?
Great that all the kids love me, and that I have genuine friends outside of school.. but..hmm.
Hagwons have it over public schools as far as social life goes. In any given hogwon you not only have at least 2 wayguk co-workers, but a horde of K-women teachers who all speak English constantly and everyone works in one staff room, and mostly get along. Any thoughts? |
I have had two very different experiences relating to this topic.
When I worked for the Seongdong-gu Office of Education in Seoul, the schools I worked for did not include me in anything. I felt like a real outsider.
When I worked for an elementary school in Ilsan, as a participant in GEPIK, I was included in everything. In fact, I found myself having to decline invitations because they were cuting into my personal life. My last job at a public school was excellent as far as being included in the life of the school goes, but there were other problems.
I work at a university now. It's a totally different ball game now. I don't have to really socialize with other teachers. I have a much more free working envoirnment. |
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rickhorton44
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:05 pm Post subject: public school life |
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At my school i'm an anomaly. People don't really bother me, and i don't bother them. I was invited to the post 1st semester weekend soju fest, which I promply declined. Having been told at 12 that the bus was leaving at 2 that friday, weighed heavily on my decision as well.
I was included in sports day though. Got to play soccer vs. the other teachers. I guess my school doesn't have one of the volleyball teams I hear so much about.
I only talk to my 2 co-teachers that are forced to sit in on my classes (but they get credit like they are teaching), and another former KATUSA soldier who happens to be by the photo copier.
I am isolated in the language lab and get around 2 visitors per week here (besides the one outcast 3rd grader who comes everyday).
You can't have a middle road. Either you have your privacy and aren't invited, or you have to be involved in everything. i personally value my free time more than being included in a few meals/sports event occasionally. |
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Rteacher
Joined: 23 May 2005
Location: Western MA, USA
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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The Korean teachers and administrators at my quasi-public (over 50% are privately owned but are still under the control of the education ministry...) high school are all friendly with me - partly because I often bring in some fruit or ice cream that I give to them. However, I've made it clear that I have a restricted vegetarian diet so I don't join them for meals or snacks that I'm not sure don't contain meat, fish or eggs...
When I worked at a hogwan, I noticed that some of the Korean teachers would on the spur of the moment decide to order some particular food for a birthday party or whatever, and they'd all chip in to pay in advance. If a foreign teacher weren't there when they made the order it's not reasonable to expect to be invited ... |
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tiger fancini
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Location: Testicles for Eyes
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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Seems to me like it depends very much on the school itself and the staff that work there. Most of the teachers at my school don't speak any English, and the few that do have nothing in common with me (ie they're female, in their late 30's+, and don't tend to socialise if it involves speaking English). However, I know many people in public schools have completely different experiences so I guess it depends on the staff group at your school.
Badgering does work though, today I recieved a copy of the school schedule for the rest of the year after much nagging. The good news is that the Wednesday of Chuseok week will be a holiday for our school!!
And I also agree completely with Yu_Bum_Suk, the students are the best source of information about happenings in the school |
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inspector gadget
Joined: 11 Apr 2003
Location: jeollanam-do in the boonies
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| I am pretty much left to myself, which is great wouldn't want it any other way. I am however always invited and not forgotten when it comes to teacher functions. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Rteacher wrote: |
| The Korean teachers and administrators at my quasi-public (over 50% are privately owned but are still under the control of the education ministry...) high school are all friendly with me - partly because I often bring in some fruit or ice cream that I give to them. However, I've made it clear that I have a restricted vegetarian diet so I don't join them for meals or snacks that I'm not sure don't contain meat, fish or eggs... |
It does help to establish a sober, button down personality. That gets me out of a lot of late nights. "I'm a sober responsible teacher. I wake up in the morning and I'm in bed by 11 pm." |
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