Korean Job Discussion Forums

[OnTheOtherSide]

I put in my notice and I am outta herrrrrrrrrrrre! Whooooo! Yeah!!!!!

Ok, I think Korea is okay and I am enjoying it for the most part. I'm not a "Korea hater". But for various reasons, I am ready to leave. Here are the reasons:

My boss has been acting like a total a$$hole lately. He is invading my personal life. He questions what I do on my days off and often calls my cell phone saying strange things. He constantly creates stress. He is constantly hiring and firing the Korean teachers and creating a sour vibe at work. I even found him snooping through my bag at work. He often looks into my coffee cup, as if he's checking to see if i'm drinking alcohol. He will definantly try to screw me out of severance and I wouldn't be surprised if he fired me soon. The funny thing is that he acted very, very cool for my first few months, but now he is just on a rampage.

The exchange rate sucks and I am making significantly less money now. Sure, I am saving some money and doing pretty good. But I could easily do just as well as this back home. To me, the money isn't worth the challenges associated with doing this gig.

I don't like working with children too much. A lot of people tell me that teaching ESL is easy money, but I leave work with a headache usually. Some of the students at my school are a complete nightmare to work with. When I get openly insulted by racist kids with absolutely no respect, it's hard to stay cool. It's a simple job for sure, but it's not easy money. I wish I had gotten into a school with older students.

I don't like the work dynamic of a hagwon. I hate the fact that I have to kiss the students asses, make the classes fun and i'm not allowed to discipline them. Yet i'm expected to keep control and be "strict". I've been trying to figure out this balancing act, but my director is never satisfied and it's either, "You're being too nice and easy on them." or "You're being too boring, make it more fun." Indeed, hagwons suck.

Korea is not exactly paradise. I am fairly happy here and have fun. I have nothing but love for the people here. I have enjoyed my time here a lot and had a great experience. But there are a lot of other places that I would rather go now. A whole year in this country is simply too long for my taste, cut that in half and it's easier to swallow. I have other adventures awaiting.

Last but not least, i've got some hot opportunites brewing back home. I can move to a beautiful, clean, fun, spacious city and probably save just about the same amount of cash as I do here. It's time to go and get moving on it.

So I quit my job. I put in proper notice and all that, but I am counting down the days now, not the months.

I had a blast exploring Asia, but this corner of the world is not for me.

If Korea isn't working for you, get outta here, that's what i'm doing. To those of you who whine, b!tch and complain a lot. Maybe you should follow my example?

Peace

[nuthatch]

Good to listen to your feelings - go for it.

[samd]

Hopefully you'll stay here at Dave's to impart your wisdom for years to come.

[Evanzinho]

[travelingfool]

Really good post. I am exactly where you are right now, though I haven't gave notice but probably will soon. As I am typing this I am listening to King Kong thumping around in the apartment above me wondering how I will get to sleep and get up at 5am.

Life is too short to be unhappy so I say good for you for making a change and not just complaining like so many others do. Good luck.

[joshuahirtle27]

[OnTheOtherSide]

[okokok]

[OnTheOtherSide]

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[Whirlwind]

How much notice did you give? I find it hard to believe your boss(and he does sound like a real weirdo) is just going to let you slip out of your contract without screwing you on your final pay. Also, how long have you been at his school? If less than six months, then that "free trip to Korea" will be deducted from your final pay(which will probably be shredded by all kinds of illegal deductions). So, you'll probably have had to pay your way to and out of Korea. Also, with the exchange rate, now is not the time to be converting money. Ouch.

[blaseblasphemener]

That's what I love the most about Korea.

The quitters.

It just makes it that much easier for those of us who can deal with cultural differences, less than ideal job conditions, etc.

Just remember OP, wherever you go, there you are.

[njp6]

Good to see you took everything with a grain of salt. I think too many people have the experience that you had and blame all Koreans for all the bad things that have happened to them. It's nice to read a sane post. Best of luck.

[OnTheOtherSide]

[mindmetoo]