Korean Job Discussion Forums

Modernist · Joined: 23 Mar 2011 Location: The 90s

Aw, all of this 'flattering' discussion about me and I missed the most heated part of it. What can I say, had a writing project I need to finish this week.

However, I at least need to make an effort here.

So...yes, I do in fact think Korean food is DISGUSTING. The caps are an important part. Today, for example, my school had spicy squid soup with compacted egg and what looked like a purely brown tomato on the side. That, people, is the definition of. If you would eat it and be happy, then I pity your stomach. I personally find it amusing that Koreans [and many foreigners too, apparently] care so terribly much about what I eat. I never cared particularly in America if there were Mexican immigrants who only ate Mexican food. If they don't like American food, hey, their loss. Why is a similar attitude so objectionable here? Oh, I know. It's because Koreans and their apologists know the food sucks and thus are sensitive about the subject. Sorry that I don't particularly concern myself about their pride.

Although I am always charmed when TUM takes the time to do a post search on me, I should also note the quote about 'money, women, travel, money...' etc was taken out of context. Those aren't MY motivations, I was listing what others on a thread about long-term residents said were THEIRS. Mine isn't so complicated--only money. I think I've noted I have zero interest in the women here. And traveling is an incidental bonus, nothing more.

As for my nominal professionalism, well. I suppose if the Korean PS system actually EXPECTED such, or even made any kind of space for it in their teaching environment, I would have reason to be concerned. But....well, I think we all know the truth here, don't we? And as for what the schools think, I teach about 300 kids over nine grades with 3 CTs every week. Not all of them like me, I'm sure [I sure don't like all of them] but I'd welcome a survey on whether they think I'm a good teacher and want to keep me around. Been renewed so I guess that's something.

AND, for the record, I DO eat Korean food at lunch at the one school, since it's free. The other one wants 4500 a day from me, and for that price I could be bringing something I actually WANT to eat from home. So I do. I don't concern myself wondering if the students are offended. Didn't you ever read that study that said most people are thinking of themselves most of the time and don't notice YOU nearly as much as you think? That can be about tripled for teenagers, you know.

FINALLY. For RK12, again. Perhaps I could save some won on my weekly kimchi purchase if I knew Korean. Wait. Well, I got some nice grapes and apples the other day for 5K apiece. Maybe that's a ripoff but I can live with it. Do I expect them to speak English? Yep, actually I do. If not, there's gestures or I go someplace else. Worked fine so far for nearly a year. Why should I change? And I'm NOT an immigrant. Like edwardCF said, I'm a contract worker and I'm going home. And again, I DO NOT CARE about how the 'Korean on the street' feels about me. If I'm showing sufficient 'respect' for the so-called culture or not. If they don't want foreigners here then they should talk to their legislators. It's a democracy. And they can drop English from their PS curriculum any day they want. I'm here because THEY ASKED me to come. Hell, they paid a recruiter a fair bit of money to find me. I have fun for and with my kids, I am deferential to the CTs and VPs, I make nice every day to the people I meet. And I do my job. That's what I agreed to in exchange for my pay. NOT learning Korean, NOT eating the food, NOT caring about the supposed culture.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

cwflaneur · Joined: 04 Aug 2009

Modernist, good riposte. I'm completely in agreement with regard to your relationship with your employer etc. You're a guest worker and all this bleeding-heart crap about being unable to properly do a job unless you have some sort of wonderful interaction with the native culture is a load of tripe.

But I would say that having a certain amount of receptivity and open-mindedness does lead to a more enjoyable stay in the country. For example, of the friends that I've made in Korea, the three that I like the most are Koreans, and they completely defy all the negative stereotypes that are (mostly) true about most Koreans. Maybe I'm lucky but I wouldn't have made these friends if I had been determined to not have a good time here. The same applies to the food. Yes, I'm sure that the food they give you at your school is crap, but traditional Korean cuisine does have a few dishes that would pass muster with most palates. Nangmyeon is quite refreshing in summer and samgyetang is full of flavor, and I don't think I've yet met anyone who dislikes the galbi (and who isn't a vegetarian). I had seollengtang for the first time the other week: if you had told me "ox-bone soup" was good beforehand I might not have believed you, but it actually is. I wouldn't have discovered this 'positive' side to the food if I had been determined to stay away from Korean restaurants.

And honestly, you should have set aside a couple of hours to learn Hangul (literally, no more than three hours). It does make life occasionally more convenient even if you don't learn the language.

Mind you, those are things that just benefit me. I don't regard this as having any moral relevance to the work I do.

The arts scene is limited, but I take in what I can and enjoy it. As you rightly say, the architectural environment is abysmal and it does reflect badly on Koreans and their sensibilities. I try to stay inside during the daytime because the ugliness is more depressing in daylight than during the neon-lit evenings.