Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kyrei]

After quickly skimming the Spotting a Runner thread, it occurred to me to create a thread of our first day in Korea stories. Let's see how long this can go on...

I arrived on July 5th, 1993 at Kimpo Airport, approximately 4 PM (Toronto - Vancouver - Seoul). I cleared customs and got my bags, no problem. I went into the reception room to see a sea of identical faces but no one there for me. I borrowed some coins to use the phone and called my school. My foreign director answered. I said, "Okay I'm at the airport..." and he said, "Good, when will you arrive in Korea ?" "No, I'm in the airport in Korea, now." "Oh... umm... do you have a pen and paper?... Good, write this down... minbyoungchulohagwonkangnamyeok... got it? Now get into a taxi and say that to the driver. Oh, a grey taxi, not a black one. Leave your bag in the taxi and come on up, we'll pay for the ride."

Trying to be open-minded I protested a little, but agreed. Hour + ride into the city and got there safe and sound. The director led me to a yogwan to stay in and left, saying I would start the next day. I turned on the TV, saw there were three channels in Korean and one blurry one in English - AFKN. I decided to go out for a walk and see the area, maybe hunt down a beer or something. I went into this small pub and as I walked in, every face turned to stare at me... classic. Right out of the movies... I sat at the bar and the bartender showed me the photo-copied menu. The beers were listed in Korean and English, so I choose a "Budweiser", being the only one I recognised. He then pointed to the bottom of the menu (all in Korean) and made an inquiring noise. I said, "No, just a Bud please." Rather angrily the bartender pointed to the bottom of the menu and tapped the paper. I sighed and said, "NO, just a Bud please." Disgusted, the bartender plopped some popcorn on the bar in front of me and I happily drank my Bud, oblivious to the whole "anju" concept. Then the room DJ played "An Englishman in New York" just for me. I felt all warm and fuzzy.

I went home after the beer and slept. And that was my first day.

[shaunew]

My first day in Korea was June 2004 on the 23rd I think. I was picked up at the airport by a teacher and taken to the school. It was pretty bad but the people were nice. I was then taken to a love motel and told to sleep here and come back to the school at 8 am for training, All night I heard koreans have sex. It never lasted long maybe 2 to 3 minutes but it happen all night long. Different people coming and going. Had jet leg for 3 days and never got trained just sat in a room with books. On the monday I started teaching.

[Sophocles]

I arrived in late July, 2005. I was hungover since I hadn't slept the night before but had gone out with friends and had a bit too much. As the plane touched down, I started thinking about the TV series, MASH. It was hot. My recruiter met me at the gate at Incheon with a sign that said, "Welcome to Korea, Sophocles." That was awesome. He gave me a ride to my city (about 2 hours, thanks to traffic." I was amazed at the traffic, how he'd just nudge his way in between bumpers.

I went to the school, met some people then some people from the school took me to my apartment, which I was very impressed with - the nicest place I've ever lived in EVER. As I was bringing my stuff in, I walked in with my shoes on. The guys with me told me, "We don't wear shoes in the house in Korea." I know but this is MY place... anyway. One of the dudes from the school took me out for naengmyeon, the best meal I could have had on a such a hot day.

I went home and went to bed.

[icicle]

I arrived on 25th March 2007 at 6:30pm on a Sunday night. The recruiter had arranged for someone to meet me at the airport and take me to a hotel near the airport for the night and then take me to school the next day. I was met at the airport and taken to a building which had rooms in it - near the airport - But the only things in the room were bed, TV and table and chairs. I was told - after I asked - that I would be picked up at 9 in the morning - and left. I did have korean money on me because I had changed some money at the airport before I left Australia - and did manage to find a small shop open and get something to eat. Being picked up the next morning equalled being put into a taxi who had been given the schools address - and taken to school. I spent the rest of the day at school - while my accommodation was sorted out - and taught my first classes the following day. I had hoped for a couple of days to get used to the country before starting school (which was the reason why I had moved my arrival date earlier than I was due to start at the school)- but in the end I think that the way it turned out for me was ok - and it was good to get the extra pay for that week when I got paid - I am still waiting for orientation - but will hopefully get it when the next course is run - And it would be good to actually find someone in my town who is at least relatively fluent in English - In 5 weeks I haven't found one yet.

Icicle

[Bibbitybop]

Hadn't slept in 36 hours except for a couple 20 minute naps on the plane. Went to my friend's house, got wasted with her friends and family, went to another friend's house and passed out. The next day I went to Incheon Harbor, feeling hung over and jet lagged.

[lowpo]

[ajgeddes]

I arrived on July 10th 2004 at 2AM. I remember stepping off the plane and instantly being moist with sweat, and thinking, this isn't going to be good. I hadn't slept on the plane, 14 hours, and we were then taken to a love motel where I turned the tv to porn. I couldn't sleep, so went to Buy The Way to get something to drink. Anyways, still couldn't sleep, so at 7AM, I went out for a walk around the neighbourhood. I remember two things from that walk. Thinking how hot and how dirty it was and think that was awesome because home wasn't hot or dirty. Anyways, still couldn't sleep, so my buddy and I went to Yeouido island to look at the smog as we could barely see the other side of the river. After about an hour there, we headed back to our motel and got some dominoes pizza. I remember eating one piece and then being so tired that I passed out.

Woke up at 5AM on Sunday and went to Itaewon, Gangnam and wherever else, all by subway. It was fun. Then I started work on Monday.

[RACETRAITOR]

According to my passport, December 11, 2003. It was 4am and the airport was nearly deserted. Nobody was waiting for me, so a helpful taxi driver (I've since grown to hate airport taxi drivers) lent me a phone to call my contact numbers. The driver from our company showed up ten minutes later. He drove me in to Seocho, where I got a sandwich from the 7-11 and was checked into a love motel. Didn't know what it was, just that there was a red light that never went off and channel four was softcore porn. I'd been here in 1996 and remembered a lot of things fondly, particularly some of the drinks available.

The next day another new teacher showed up and I helped him settle in. That Friday I went out and found Drug, but they never had shows.

[mnhnhyouh]

Met at the airport by the recruiter on Thursday morning, about 3 months ago. Taken to a love motel. Had had breakfast, so I just walked around the area for a bit. Went into a place to buy lunch, the lady there showed me how to eat, that the bucket was for the bones, etc.

Went back to motel, went to sleep. Very easy arrival.

h

[Kyrei]

Good stories... keep'em coming!

[just because]

Great thread.....

I have got a pretty good first day story.....I ended up going to a city different to the one I thought I was going to.

December 9th, 2001 was my first day...it seems so long ago but i can remember it sooo clearly.

I had flown from Australia where the temp was 31 degrees and arrived in busan with a temp of 2. It was a shock to the system that was for sure.

I get picked up by a woman at the airport that I haven't seen since. Still have no idea who she was. i haven't slept for about 30 hours and am pretty tired. Go to sit in the front seat and she freaks out and says, you front no. Back seat OK. I thought whatever I'll just sit in the back....

My recruiter had told me I was going to Busan. he said he placed me in a school in changwon which was a suburb of Busan. So I point to the woman as it seemed she wasn't going to busan and said "Busan, here". She said, Ok...Changwon here and pointed the opposite direction. I thought WTF but went with the flow.

This woman had no idea how to get to changwon and had never been there before. in reality it is an easy 30-40 minute drive from Busan airport using the expressway but she refused to do this as she didn't want to pay a toll. So she went along the country coast road. I remember thinking, where the *beep* are we going. As she spoke virtually no english and I spoke no korean our understanding was at a minimum.

So we finally arrive in Changwon about 90 minutes later which is a long way from where I thought I was living in Busan. I had lived in japan for about 2 years previously and was shocked at how shitty it was compared to Japan. She dropped me off at my apartment, called my director and left. I waited outside at my new apartment for 3 hours waiting for either my director to come or for somebody(I was living with 2 girls) to come home.

By this time I was getting very cranky due to no sleep and remember thinking how as soon as possible I was going back to Japan. This place is terribel compared to there. It really wasn't the best first impression....

So finally my director comes 3 hours later. he said he told the girls i lived with to stay and wait for me to come(it was a Sunday) but they had thought he was going to pick me up at the airport. The typical korean misunderstanding.

Anyway, he lets me in and my bed is a in a tiny room as it is only a 2 bedroom apart but there are now 3 people. But it had a bed so i was thankful for that and took a snooze the rest of the afternoon.

A few hours later one of the girls came back. She was 150 kilograms if she was anything under. A heart of gold but to be confronted by that as the first foreigner to meet in korea, it was a shock. then the other girl came home and we all went out for a walk on the town...

They showed me around, we had some samgyepsal(I remember thinking this BBQ thing is pretty cool) and after that i hit the sack and slept for a solid 12 hours or so.....

Then the 2nd day I was straight into teaching but that is another story...

So after such a rough start i have now been here 5.5 years and will be here for much linger yet........Korea has given me some good times but that first day story is always one i will remember.

[billybrobby]

Got off the plane and met my girlfriend. Took a ride into the city listening to 'Angie' because I brought my CDs and my girlfriend's friend named 안지 was with us. Like any rube, I was amazed by unending the city seemed, espcially in the dark, and by how dangerously the our friend drove the car. As we drove along, every time there was a close call, I would do that thing where you subconsciously stick your foot out at an imaginary brake.

We got to my girlfriend's friends place, and I took a shower. I spent a full five minutes standing there naked, thinking, "Now, there's got to be a shower curtain somewhere. I must be jet-lagged. Where's the curtain? I feel like an idiot asking for where the curtain is. And yet, clearly there is no curtain. There's got to be a shower curtain somewhere." Then we ate samgyeopsal and I had some beers. I thought, "Hee-tay? What a funny name for a beer." Then I went to sleep.

[Kyrei]

[uberscheisse]

my first day was like this...

sometime in january 2004, i missed my flight to LAX from vancouver by 1 minute. the line from customs was ridiculous, and even though i ran they'd shut the doors. i had a minor fit on one of the attendants, and ended up apologizing to him personally the next day. i was at the end of a 3 week "get the f-outta dodge" process and totally at the end of my rope. not my finest moment ever.

got off the plane in busan. i had landed in incheon, then had to take a shuttle bus to gimpo. flight from gimpo to busan. got picked up by my recruiter.

drove to andong. met mr. kim, a man who turned out to be running a hagwon to pay off gambling and whoring debts. in the end, i found out he was about 500,000 USD in debt to gangsters.

my first day i was lagged and woke up at 5am. i was really fascinated by the different-ness of the place. andong, especially the area i was living in, was really "asian" - like what i'd expected from asia. it was really clear and cold, and i just strolled around, taking pictures and trying not to get lost.

my boss was surprised and a little angry that i'd left the house without an escort. i thought it was because he was scared i'd get lost, poor foreigner alone in the wild... but really it was because he wanted total control over me and didn't want me to meet any of the other foreigners in town (who would, no doubt, badmouth him).

a funny, learning experience.

[albazalba]

I arrived at Incheon Aug. 11th 2005. Picked up at the airport no problem (by a taxi cab) which was a relief because I had heard that is the first problem you encounter. My flight got in about 4, but I didn't get dropped off at the hakwon until 7 due to some horrible traffic. I was met at the hakwon by the supervising teacher and another foreign teacher. He was a scrawny nerdy looking guy, but I was glad he was going to take the time to show me some things.
We check into the hotel, and my compadre decides he knows a good place nearby to get some drinks and food. As we're walking he begins to babble on about how he knows so much about Korea and all the good places to go and blah blah blah (even though he had been there all of 3 months). So I'm thinking ok, a good guy to know seeing as how I knew no one in the country and nothing about the food, culture or language.
We arrive at the restaurant he was thinking of, only to find out it has no changed to just a bar, no food at all. Ok then, where else can we go? He has no idea, that's the only place......hmmmmmm..... So I suggest we go back and eat at the restaurant we had passed on the way there. He reluctantly accepts.
The restaurant is a seafood restaurant, I ask him what we should order, he has no idea. So I call the waitress over and point at something on the menu. She soon brings us our food, (it was some mussels and squid) and a bottle of soju. Oh goodie, I think, let's drink. He tells me to be careful, koreans can drink me under the table, he is just now beginning to be able to keep up with them.
Well, a bottle later i'm feeling nice, he is completely smashed. Plus, the only conversation he wanted to have was about how much money my contract was for and how many hours etc...fine i answer him honestly, but he just wants to know so he can tell me I was getting ripped off, he's making more (50,000 won a month more). So we decide it's time to go, I pay for the meal, he didn't have any cash on him. When we get out, he doesn't remember how to get back to the hotel. Fine, we get in a cab the cabbie takes us like 5 blocks (around a couple of corners) to the hotel, I bid him adieu, give hime a few more bucks for his cab ride home, and go back to the hotel and fall asleep.
Not surprisingly about a month later, the guy pulls a runner...
There we have it folks.