Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IncognitoHFX]

This is something that has become irritating in the last few weeks. The school has deemed that it is time to turn off the fans and the air conditioning for the rest of the year. Though it is cooler, I don't personally feel like I'm ready for the heat so I often turn the fans on in my class.

Like most Canadians, when it's really hot I sweat. Especially in classrooms because I'm often pointing, moving here and there or reaching up on the chalkboard.

Lately a few of my Korean teachers and many of my students have commented that my sweat was caused by embarrassment, or nervousness. One teacher remarked that I must be nervous because I sweat so much, and other teachers have asked me if they said or did anything to make me embarrassed.

I explained to them that I just thought it was hot and that's why I was sweating, but I don't think they understand because of the 1,500 other people in the school who never sweat. I don't think the students get it either.

So, do you think it's about time I just flat out tell them (next time they ask) that white people sweat and asians don't? If I tell the co-teachers, then it will filter down to the students. They haven't been impolite so far, just concerned... but I'm sick of tip-toeing around an obvious thing that I know and they don't. I don't want everyone to think I'm embarrassed...

...I blush for that

[yingwenlaoshi]

Just say "I'm hot" and leave it at that.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Yesterday I went home and changed my shirt between classes (I live right by the school) because I was sweating so much. And I'm not a really big guy, either. I think I've been here long enough that they know it's not from nervousness - or that I only get really nervous in September and June when it's hot and humid but not enough so for the school admin office to turn on the A/C.

[garykasparov]

[JJJ]

[Huh Kyung-young]

Make a point of saying "더워!" whenever anyone's within earshot. Ditto for fanning yourself furiously whenever anyone looks your way.

[wylies99]

It's hot and humid in Korea from late May to mid-September.
That's a FACT. Even Koreans know this.

[pkang0202]

I went and bought a fan just for work, even though my classroom has ceiling fans.

I turn on that fan and point it directly at me, so that no one complains, "I'm cold!"

Works wonders.

[sojourner1]

There's something about teaching that makes your body warm up despite it not being a cardio workout. It's cool already, but I warm up when teaching as if I took a 20 minute brisk walk. There's no need for AC where I'm at as it's a cool climate with a short Summer and early fall. I froze my tail off upon waking this morning, but sweated in class 2 hours later.

[bogey666]

I've had to suffer in late July upon returning from vacation in the teachers' room. I had to run home and take a cold shower every day.

Now it's a little cooler, but the nice thing is no matter what.. the englishee rooom is my own personal fiefdom.. so I can run the AC in there whenever I'd like,, or even escape the teachers' room in order to go there.

the Koreans start complaining about "cold" when I'm just getting comfortable, so there's a little give/take, but without that personal escape room, there'd be a lot of suffering.

[Rob'sdad]

Before fans and A/Cs were common in Korea, I used to swag a few cups of cold water.

As for A/C.....I knew a HUGE cat that was sweating like a fountain. He had the A/C cranked to the max all the time and put a sign up...."If you touch this, you will flunk."

Then there was the French guy who sat next to me for 8 years. That bro would come down to the teachers room, shut off the A/C, open the windows and then fan his waft all over.

If you are a good teacher and don't ask permission for every damn thing then you can manipulate the boundries.

[bassexpander]

[ulsanchris]

at my academy it is some what the opposite of yours. the korean teachers turn on the ac and set it at 18 and when I walk into the room i find it quite cold so I turn it off.

[Join Me]

Last Saturday night I was on a city bus and I had sweat rolling down my forehead and neck. Everyone on the bus was perfectly dry. We are not Korean. That is the problem.

[Tathen]

I just point at the hair on my arms.

~Tathen