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losing_touch
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Location: Ulsan - I think!
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 Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 11:52 pm Post subject: Children's Day Activities and Korean Logic ... |
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I am working on Tuesday. My academy has the brilliant idea of setting up some tents and activities for students. Ok, I am fine with the working part of things. I was asked to prepare about 10 different activities, a schedule of events split between the two events, and a list of materials that would be needed. I spoke with my director last week, and I discussed my plans with her. She said that everything was excellent, and she asked me to email her the schedule by Saturday afternoon. I complied and spent a couple of hours making materials and creating a schedule.
I hadn't heard back from her today, so I sent her a text message to see if she received the email. She called and said she hadn't checked her email. It begs the question as to why it was so pressing that I had to have it done by Saturday afternoon.
Although the games were fine in our discussion, she said that the 'bobbing for apples' activity might not work. She claimed that parents would not be happy to see their children exchanging saliva in a bucket of water. I agree that I probably wouldn't want to do it. I don't see much harm in it, but I just don't fancy the idea of swapping spit with a bunch of people even if it is diluted by a large amount of water. I told her this when I discussed possible activities with her last week.
Today, she called me and said that we can't do the activity. I am in the middle of cleaning my apartment, and I have plans later. I don't have time to plan another activity. Frankly, I don't give a crap about Children's Day.
She told me that the dirty water would be no good! I challenged her and said that I understood her point. I then asked her if she felt so strongly about it then she should consider the fact that 100+ students share 2 cups at the academy. She was taken aback. She didn't know what to say. I said that it is exactly the same as that and there is really very little difference in terms of spreading contagious illnesses.
She had to go ...
What is the logic here? Is it because parents simply aren't aware of the germs that are being passed by the sharing of 2 cups that are rarely washed? |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009
Location: somewhere in China
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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Just do another activity. Make apple sauce  |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 11:59 pm Post subject: Re: Children's Day Activities and Korean Logic ... |
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| losing_touch wrote: |
| I am working on Tuesday. |
Why?
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My academy has the brilliant idea of setting up some tents and activities for students. Ok, I am fine with the working part of things. I was asked to prepare about 10 different activities, a schedule of events split between the two events, and a list of materials that would be needed. I spoke with my director last week, and I discussed my plans with her. She said that everything was excellent, and she asked me to email her the schedule by Saturday afternoon. I complied and spent a couple of hours making materials and creating a schedule.
I hadn't heard back from her today, so I sent her a text message to see if she received the email. She called and said she hadn't checked her email. It begs the question as to why it was so pressing that I had to have it done by Saturday afternoon. |
It was pressing when she got the "bright idea." That's because she's the boss and you're not. You're supposed to drop everything and comply with even the most asinine dictates of your dictat...er, director. At least in her mind, obviously.
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| Although the games were fine in our discussion, she said that the 'bobbing for apples' activity might not work. She claimed that parents would not be happy to see their children exchanging saliva in a bucket of water. I agree that I probably wouldn't want to do it. I don't see much harm in it, but I just don't fancy the idea of swapping spit with a bunch of people even if it is diluted by a large amount of water. I told her this when I discussed possible activities with her last week. |
You could've mentioned that it's no worse than exchanging saliva at a Korean dinner with everyone dipping their used spoons into the common bowls.
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| Today, she called me and said that we can't do the activity. I am in the middle of cleaning my apartment, and I have plans later. I don't have time to plan another activity. Frankly, I don't give a crap about Children's Day. |
That's what you get for working on a holiday. It's also further evidence of her thinking about her slav...er, employees. The last time I checked, today is Sunday and is a day off, just like national holidays. Which reminds me, Children's Day is a national holiday.
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| She told me that the dirty water would be no good! I challenged her and said that I understood her point. I then asked her if she felt so strongly about it then she should consider the fact that 100+ students share 2 cups at the academy. She was taken aback. She didn't know what to say. I said that it is exactly the same as that and there is really very little difference in terms of spreading contagious illnesses. |
Ah, you did mention it. Excellent! 
| Quote: |
She had to go ...
What is the logic here? Is it because parents simply aren't aware of the germs that are being passed by the sharing of 2 cups that are rarely washed? |
There is no logic other than "I am the boss and I just got a great idea. Someone, not the boss, needs to lose a day off and fix the boss's problems right now!" |
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marlow
Joined: 06 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 12:53 am Post subject: |
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| What's your overtime? The only way I'd be working for less than 250,000 won is out of the kindness of my heart, and those picky requests would destroy that sentiment. |
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losing_touch
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Location: Ulsan - I think!
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 12:59 am Post subject: |
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| marlow wrote: |
| What's your overtime? The only way I'd be working for less than 250,000 won is out of the kindness of my heart, and those picky requests would destroy that sentiment. |
100,000 Won for 4 hours. 30 minutes for setup and 30 minutes for cleanup. |
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rationality
Joined: 05 Jul 2007
Location: Some where in S. Korea
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 1:29 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by rationality on Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:49 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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kaosjin
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 1:36 am Post subject: |
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| I hope the money is worth it for you. I can only suggest that you cherish the holidays. Once you've worked one, you will be expected to work more. I can already see by your post that you've given up your weekends. Good luck with your day on Tuesday. |
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losing_touch
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Location: Ulsan - I think!
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 1:38 am Post subject: |
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| There is more to the story than I can reveal. Let's just say it has to do with a dependent visa which increases the salary. |
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marlow
Joined: 06 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 2:04 am Post subject: |
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| losing_touch wrote: |
| marlow wrote: |
| What's your overtime? The only way I'd be working for less than 250,000 won is out of the kindness of my heart, and those picky requests would destroy that sentiment. |
100,000 Won for 4 hours. 30 minutes for setup and 30 minutes for cleanup. |
That's not so bad if you actually have fun when you do it. One of the benefits to teaching. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 5:10 am Post subject: |
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| losing_touch wrote: |
| There is more to the story than I can reveal. Let's just say it has to do with a dependent visa which increases the salary. |
In other words: You're working here illegally. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Just tie apples to a string, dangle the apples from a bar and have the kids bob for swinging apples. Problem solved. |
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ChinaBoy
Joined: 17 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| losing_touch wrote: |
| There is more to the story than I can reveal. Let's just say it has to do with a dependent visa which increases the salary. |
In other words: You're working here illegally. |
Breaking the law, and her boss has her ass over a barrel. Working weekends and holidays, yay. |
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sinsanri
Joined: 20 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| I hadn't heard back from her today, so I sent her a text message to see if she received the email. She called and said she hadn't checked her email. It begs the question as to why it was so pressing that I had to have it done by Saturday afternoon |
I am just wondering where you got the idea that your boss has to check in with you? She gave you an assignment and a deadline, you met it, you did your job, she has th eluxury of dealing with it when she wants, she is the boss.
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Today, she called me and said that we can't do the activity. I am in the middle of cleaning my apartment, and I have plans later. I don't have time to plan another activity. Frankly, I don't give a crap about Children's Day.
She told me that the dirty water would be no good! I challenged her and said that I understood her point. |
So she thought about it and changed her mind, it happens and is no big deal. There was no need to 'challenge her' or make her feel foolish. She has a good point and as the boss she gets to make th edecision, regardless if you have a replacement activity or not.
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| What is the logic here |
I am wondering about that in your case. At what time did the working status change where the teacher is above their employer? The boss and his or her orders do not have to make sense to you nor do they need to be justified to you.
A good teacher would have found time because it wasn't about him/her, their employer but about their students and continued employment. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Frankly, I don't give a crap about Children's Day |
Your boss probably picked up on that.
As for the bobbing for apples, I know there is no logic to what your boss said, but she is your boss, and whatever you do, don't bad mouth your institution's practices in an attempt to win an argument over children's day activities. You may be right, but so what? Scoring 'points' dosen't accomplish anything. Just find another activity and move on. |
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Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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| What is the logic here |
Is Tuesday supposed to be a day off? The logic is babysitting so parents can go to work and make some double time too?
Or... Are parents invited to participate? It could be a nice fun family day activity for the parents to get in touch with their kids' school activities.
As for planning, do the kind of things school kids do in your home country as a show of cultural exchange. Three-legged races, egg toss, etc. Send the boss out for some face paints, kids love face-painting. Or tattoos for the boys.
Save the apples for Halloween, it's a fall sport. |
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