Korean Job Discussion Forums

gregtheman100 · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Location: Busan

I've been in Busan for 4 months now. Lately, I've been coming to work pretty hung over. It hasn't really effected my classes, but I feel guilty when it's obvious that I had a late night. I was told that they don't mind teachers going in with hang overs, but back in the UK it looks terrible.

So what are your thoughts? What positive/negative reactions have you gotten from going to work hung over? Are you at a PS or Hagwon?

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

I personally don't like the feeling, it's like when you eat something that makes you fart or poop a lot. You have to battle holding it in while carrying on with the day.

So, if I drink, I do it early right after school and give myself plenty of time to get it out of my system for the next day. I feel much better when I do this.

I don't mean to come off preachy, but an online friend died on May 20th at the age of 36. He apparently drank himself to death and in April his liver gave out.

I stopped drinking in May, and when I tried it again I didn't realize how much I was drinking. I come nowhere the condition you are in. So, it sounds like if I were you, I would be drinking less for health reasons and not because you might get looked at differently.

VanIslander · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 3:50 am Post subject:

even if it's rum, just say it was "soju", and Korean coworkers and boss will smile and/or nod in an acceptance sort of way

phoneboothface · Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Location: Korea

Ya my students admit that they're hungover all the time, fine with me since they normally cut class short those days...

Of course it can't be a regular problem but seems like you get a pass for being hungover here more often than you would back home.

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

I usually avoid alcohol on a weeknight. But on Thursday night I went out for dinner with some of the Grade 6 teachers and the soju was flowing like water. I don't even remember going home and I woke up on Friday morning just before I was supposed to be at work still drunk and with my dinner all over me and my bed. I was disgusted with myself.

I dragged my ass to work and spent the next two hours laying on the floor (my first two classes were cancelled). The teachers who got me drunk were bringing me those hangover drinks and seemed genuinely concerned. My co-teacher told me to go home and said she would cover my classes.

No one gave me any grief, perhaps because they knew this is not a common thing for me. They also knew that they were partly responsible for the situation. I mean, I drank it so it really was my fault, but it's their whole social, one-shot, glass never empty drinking culture that kills me every time.

I feel very bad about the whole thing though, and will definitely keep away from the alcohol at any future dinners on weeknights.

It seems that after my thirtieth birthday, hangovers have become next to intolerable for me. I'm almost at the point where I don't even want to drink at all now.

Straphanger · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Chilgok, Korea

gregtheman100 · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Location: Busan

haha, yeah I'm a professional. I love my job and feel that I do a really good job.

If drinking started to change my teaching abilities and classes, I'd immediately stop. It's more of a cosmetic worry - When your boss sees your bloodshot eyes, etc. It's not like I'm going in drunk or anything. I just look a little tired from the night before.

Anyway, I was just curious to hear if anyone has gotten a negative response. I haven't, but wondered if anyone has.

Straphanger · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Chilgok, Korea

bundangbabo · Joined: 01 Jun 2008

bundangbabo · Joined: 01 Jun 2008

TwoFold · Joined: 31 Mar 2009

Sleepy in Seoul · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 5:16 am Post subject:

okayden223 · Joined: 05 Jun 2009 Location: Incheon

Do you teach in a hagwon OP? I guess if you're starting work after noon it might be a little bit different. I taught in a public school and I came in once or twice in the beginning after a night of drinking. I came to the realization that my students were not going to be enthusiastic about the lessons if I wasn't. I felt like I owed it to them to be ready to give them my best everyday. Kids have a lot of energy and you know they're not going home and drinking, so I felt like I needed to be on the top of my game during the week. That being said, I'm not so young now and I have to agree with some of the other posters who've said hangovers are tougher to deal with as you get older. In college I could wake up with a terrible hangover and be good by mid afternoon. I had a couple in Korea that basically lasted my entire weekend. As always drink responsibly.

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

OP, if your post is legit (debatable) then you may have a drinking problem. Not good- for YOU. Start taking better care of yourself and limit your drinking to weekends. If you can't do that, then you may need some sort of counseling/rehab in your home country. Wanna be alive in 10 years? It may not happen if this keeps up. Look, there's only one YOU and you need to take care of yourself.