Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nautilus]

So I'm already perspiring and its only 9 or 10 am. It feels like one of the hottest days of the year so far.

Quite predictably, the principal has decreed that there is to be no aircon allowed... ostensibly to save the school money.
(Even though this is a govt. funded public school and making a profit is hardly a priority.)

But this phenomenon has been typical of every school I've worked at or even been a student at.
Whats going on here? is it just that top dog sees a unique chance to make everyone feel his authority? Or is it that all those brand new fancy airconditioners, like so many new school equipment, are for decoration only and the logic is that if someone ever uses them, they might get dirty and not look new anymore?

[soviet_man]

In 2005 worked at a hagwon (YBM ECC) where the aircon could not be turned on until class began, not before.

Then in like September of that year, before the weather actually cooled down, the director came removed all the airconditioners entirely from the classroom walls. It was like a sauna. What on earth he did with them, I'll never know.

[CentralCali]

A week or two back, my school's principal read a directive from the BMOE: "Due to the high cost of fuel, air conditioning will not be activated at the schools."

[spliff]

Actually, today is quite bearable. You should try teaching in the Thai countryside.

[KYC]

Agree...it is hot but the temp is bearable. We do have fans in the classroom.

I taught in November & part of December without heat. I'm in northern Gyeonggi.

I bet I will teach through July with AC. I bet I will teach my camps (in August) without AC.

I also have no AC at home. It sucks..but what can ya do..

[shantaram]

I took my classroom outside and taught them in the shade beside the school office when the air-con was switched off last year.

[Draz]

The classrooms are too hot. The office and cafeteria are too cold.

My house is still fine without AC. I think my place is maybe set up so it won't be needed. Maybe. I'll find out.

[globalgirlk]

I had this roommate that would not tolerate a fan in the bedroom so therefore I ended up sleeping on the couch with a small fan...fandeath or the "noise"...

[WoBW]

They do seem to have some totally hare-brained policies with respect to aircon and heating.

But take comfort, people. I taught in a number schools in Bangkok that had no aircon. There were 50-60 students in a class and we had to wear long-sleeved shirts, ties and dress pants. Coupled with that was the fact that all the doors and windows are open to let some air circulate, so you also have to compete with the noise of the traffic etc. outside.

Tight fitting undershirts were a must. That might sound counter-intuitive but you really didn't feel any hotter, and your dress shirt didn't get wet sweaty patches, which doesn't look good. That undershirt used to peel off with a distinct slurp when I got home though. I swear by Nivea for Men roll-on. Still smelled fresh after 12+ hours out in the tropical heat. Drenched a handkerchief everyday from mopping my brow.

[nicholas_chiasson]

Most of the world has not discovered the joy of air-con. It is something that large windows, fans, and NOT HAVING SCHOOL IN THE SUMMER was designed for.

[it's full of stars]

Air is on but windows and doors are open.

[Mr. BlackCat]

At the beginning of summer I was at a dinner with the teachers in my staffroom and the Principal. They started telling him that I needed AC for the summer in the staffroom. I interrupted and said I'd be fine with my fan. One teacher whispered to me, "please, just don't worry about it". The next day they installed an AC unit in there. Whenever they want to turn it on, they ask me several times if I'm hot, I look hot, you must be so hot, until I finally just give up and basically give them permission to turn it on.

I never had AC back in Canada and it's not that hot here now. I try to be somewhat environmentally friendly if I don't really feel like I need it. In the classroom, yes. But I can survive at my desk.

[Mr. Pink]

I guess I have become spoiled. I won't work without air conditioning if the heat is over 25 degrees inside the classroom. Sure a fan might help, but why should I have to wipe the sweat off my forehead constantly and have huge pit sweats just to save the school a few bucks?

Please don't compare Korea with Thailand...if I wanted to work in a tropical country I would know what I was getting myself into. Especially a 3rd world tropical country. Korea is developing, they put very nice air conditioning system inside the schools...why the hell waste that money if not to actually use it?

[Bigfeet]

I'd show up for work in a wife-beater and running shorts.

[Hyeon Een]