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Seoul Skye
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
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 Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 4:22 pm Post subject: Foreigners' help center in Seoul gains popularity |
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JoongAng English Daily story:
Foreigners' help center in Seoul gains popularity
The Seoul Help Center for Foreigners, a city-run information center that assists foreigners with difficulties they experience in Korea, is becoming increasingly popular.
Last Friday, a man identified as Mr. Wartenberg, a German, and his Russian friend went to the center, located on the first floor of Seoul's City Hall. "We have to go to Japan, but my friend doesn't have a visa. We were not sure whether we would need one," Mr. Wartenberg said.
After listening to his dilemma, consultant Yoo Jong-im and volunteer worker Anne Dalcoser made telephone calls to Japanese airlines and the Japanese Embassy in Korea. They were told that Mr. Wartenberg and his friend could stay in Japan for three days without a visa.
The center provides various types of assistance, from listening to personal troubles to helping with employment and visas.
Eight consultants and volunteers, who speak several foreign languages, are on stand-by. Since the center opened in June, about 1,300 people have come to receive help. Most of them were foreigners residing in Seoul.
"I've heard a lot of heart-wrenching stories," Mr. Yoo said. "Once, one American English teacher came and started crying while talking about how little he was paid."
The center also provides services over the telephone, via fax and through the Internet.
The Seoul Hotline (090-731-0911) has operators who are fluent in English, Japanese and Chinese. |
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Stunted Wookie
Joined: 06 Feb 2003
Location: Sound Studio
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| Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Is there one of these is Busan? |
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lush72
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: I am Penalty Kick!
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| Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Foreigners' help center in Seoul gains popularity |
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| JoongAng English Daily story wrote: |
| ... "I've heard a lot of heart-wrenching stories," Mr. Yoo said. "Once, one American English teacher came and started crying while talking about how little he was paid." |
Started crying?
RANT ON
I'm sorry, but that is pathetic. Simply pathetic. I really worry about �the kids nowadays� who seem to have no coping skills and permanently wear rose colored glasses. Then when the cold reality that �everyone is not your friend�, and �some people are just evil� hits, they cant deal with it at all. If getting cheated on wages (albeit, its not a happy experience) causes you to lose all of your bearing, and then to break down and cry, you need to get on the next flight back to the US and into mommas waiting arms. Guys that cried in the army (because they just �cant- cope!) were slapped across the face- posthaste. You�re an adult, no one has to take care of you, adapt and overcome.
RANT OFF |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm glad I came to Korea, by chance, when I was a bit older and wiser (8 years out of college). If I had come here when I was just out of college, I would have been freaked-out by all the crap that happens. |
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ajstew
Joined: 04 Feb 2004
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 8:56 pm Post subject: in response to lush72 |
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| No offense intended... and you are right about much that you say, but you really have no idea what happened to the individual who cried. Imagine the worst that could happen to you, and I could see it happening. |
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lush72
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: I am Penalty Kick!
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| Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 12:21 am Post subject: Re: in response to lush72 |
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| ajstew wrote: |
| No offense intended... and you are right about much that you say, but you really have no idea what happened to the individual who cried. Imagine the worst that could happen to you, and I could see it happening. |
Yes, you�re right, I don�t know why he was crying. However, the fact that he started crying while relaying his salary problems led me to believe that it was job stress related. I thought that was a fair assumption given the circumstance. It was the fact that he broke down to a complete stranger, at a walk in assistance center, that I thought was pathetic. Additionally, I beg to differ with you on your claim that I would do the same if the worst happened to me. I know I can categorically say that, no matter what happens to me in Korea, I will never go to the foreigner assistance center and cry. Of that, I am certain.
Would I cry if some tragedy befalls me here? That depends, but I don�t think it�s likely. Knowing myself as I do I would say it�s actually highly unlikely. No, I am not some emotionless jerk- I am just not a crier. I know that even the most well thought out plans can, and do, fall through here. Yet, as a rational adult you must always plan for the worst. Proper planning prevents pathetic public displays of emotion, like crying to a stranger.
I�m not attacking you here, ajstew, I am just relaying what I think of this situation. |
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ajstew
Joined: 04 Feb 2004
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 12:36 am Post subject: not you |
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| Sorry... I should have said, 'Imagine the worst thing that could happen to ya', instead of you. I wasn't saying that I'm sure you would cry. You know the way that expression is used. I was speaking for me as much as anyone. I can imagine people being in some pretty ugly situations. Just asking you to pretend, but if you can't, that's okay. |
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shawner88
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 1:39 am Post subject: |
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| If I worked for 30 days in a nightmare hagwon and didn't get paid I would cry too. |
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waterbaby
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie
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| Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:39 am Post subject: Re: in response to lush72 |
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| lush72 wrote: |
| Would I cry if some tragedy befalls me here? That depends, but I don�t think it�s likely. Knowing myself as I do I would say it�s actually highly unlikely. No, I am not some emotionless jerk- I am just not a crier. |
Now, I'm not saying it was a tragedy or anything... but I once cried at Immigration to get my own way  I put on quite a scene. I got there just after midday and wanted to pick up my ARC & passport ... but of course it was lights out & everyone was at lunch. So I told the one guy who was telling me to piss off that I had to take time off work & my boss would be really angry because I'd get back late... I started snuffling, asked him for huji, much to his increasing horror  & then I laid on the sobs.
After doing his best to ignore me for about 15 mins while I blew my nose & looked very distressed at his desk... he finally relented, snatched my paper out of hand and returned my passport and alien card within about 12 seconds 
Ah, the wiley ways of women  What can I say? It worked!!! I've never done that sort of thing before in my life but I can almost guarantee there'll be tears in the future when things don't go my way  |
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Jensen
Joined: 30 Mar 2003
Location: hippie hell
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: in response to lush72 |
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| waterbaby wrote: |
| ... but I once cried at Immigration to get my own way... |
You are awful!
I have never cried at Immigration but I felt like it a few times when they were fining me for a bunch of BS. Since I had two kids, every time I got fined they tripled the charges. Something about a bunch of won slipping through my fingers that just brings tears to my eyes.  |
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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| shawner88 wrote: |
| If I worked for 30 days in a nightmare hagwon and didn't get paid I would cry too. |
you see that would never happen to me.. because I dont take any CRAPPOLA from little gochu adosis who think they are superior becuase they are koprea man!! I stand up for myself! I dont take any crap.. nothing!!!
I am their worst nightmare!!but I am fair.. you play nice with me , Ill play nice with you.. you want to be a *beep*.. I will show you a BITE!
I believe in korea the first day you must show your strenght. if you show some weakness, or just agree with everything he said.. you're DONE!!!
and staying there after the first month and not getting paid. or even staying there after the first day or two of abuse. HELLO!! 1 year ahead .. what are you thinking?.. get out of there!! it's simple!!!
what didnt people have jobs back home.. you dont have to stay there if you dont want!!
I came here at 22 years old.. and I stood my ground from day one..
I was always arguing with those GOCHU directors.. but I came from the hospitality industry, I have worked with Ahole chefs, and restaurant managers, etc.. so dealing with MR KIM , hahaha I was like NO!! Im not doing that.. sorry!!! NO NO.. im sorry dont you speak English, I said NO! dont ask me again!!!
show power from day one they will respect you and fear you alittle..
show weakness they will use you like a slave!...
have no fear!!! |
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bjonothan
Joined: 29 Apr 2003
Location: All over the place
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| I have got to agree there. I am almost 7 months into my 3rd year here and my boss started to pull all kinds of crap. He tried to change my conditions which are in my contract and just refused and now I have probably the easiest schedule in the whole place and an offer for another term here. If you aren't straight forward and show them that they can screw you, then they will. The bottom line : take no shit! |
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J.B. Clamence
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 7:14 am Post subject: Re: Foreigners' help center in Seoul gains popularity |
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| Quote: |
Last Friday, a man identified as Mr. Wartenberg, a German, and his Russian friend went to the center, located on the first floor of Seoul's City Hall. "We have to go to Japan, but my friend doesn't have a visa. We were not sure whether we would need one," Mr. Wartenberg said.
After listening to his dilemma, consultant Yoo Jong-im and volunteer worker Anne Dalcoser made telephone calls to Japanese airlines and the Japanese Embassy in Korea. They were told that Mr. Wartenberg and his friend could stay in Japan for three days without a visa. |
I thought there was already a place for this question. It's called the Japanese Embassy. No wonder Koreans often think foreigners are a bunch of idiots.
And as for the teacher who broke down and cried, that doesn't really surprise me. I would be surprised if it were a guy, but I bet it wasn't. |
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