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scotty12347
Joined: 16 Sep 2009
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 Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject: Gift for new employer? |
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Im starting work in Korea very soon and was wondering if i brought a gift from where i live for the director, would this be seen as brown-nosing or just a nice gesture?
Would the other teachers frown upon it? On the other hand, i dont want to not turn up with a gift only to later find out it is the norm to do so.
Also, if i do bring a gift, would whiskey be a good choice? I hear its quite expensive in Korea. I live in the UK so have access to some good Scottish stuff. |
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Perceptioncheck
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Brown-nosing, IMO. Don't bother. It shouldn't make any difference if you bring a gift. Your director will be nice or an ass hole regardless. |
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waseige1
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:09 pm Post subject: I ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE.... |
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| Perceptioncheck wrote: |
| Brown-nosing, IMO. Don't bother. It shouldn't make any difference if you bring a gift. Your director will be nice or an ass hole regardless. |
When in Rome..... This is normal accepted and cultural. I brought small gifts for my Principal, VP, Co-Teachers and my year was off to a great start. It is normal here. I bought VERY small bottles of perfume for the lady teachers. It was greatly appreciated.
Many of the problems between NET and GETs are that we don't respect their customs while here. |
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Big Mac
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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In our culture it would be seen as brown nosing. But in Korea it is almost expected.
I brought gifts for the principal and vice principal when I got here and I was told by my recruiter that the principal may be insulted because his gift was the same as the vice principal's. My recruiter said that the principal's gift should be nicer than the vice principal's because he is of higher status. They have no shame when it comes to stuff like that. |
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halfmanhalfbiscuit
Joined: 13 Oct 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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Everyone likes free stuff I guess.....
It's most certainly not a custom to buy your employer stuff. The custom is actually to buy you a meal the first day or so and to give bonuses at Chuseok and Lunar New Year. |
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whiteshoes
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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Do you have to? No, of course not. One of the great things about Korea, is that Koreans don't expect you to understand their culture.
But, if you do, you'll get a bunch of bonus points for being a good waygookin. I had a Korean friend help me, and I got some traditional gifts for my bosses for Chuseok. The biggest suprise wasn't the bosses' reactions, it was the reaction of the other Koreans. They were really impressed that I was so "kind," and that I understood Korean culture so well. |
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waseige1
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:32 pm Post subject: Well put.... |
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| whiteshoes wrote: |
Do you have to? No, of course not. One of the great things about Korea, is that Koreans don't expect you to understand their culture.
But, if you do, you'll get a bunch of bonus points for being a good waygookin. I had a Korean friend help me, and I got some traditional gifts for my bosses for Chuseok. The biggest suprise wasn't the bosses' reactions, it was the reaction of the other Koreans. They were really impressed that I was so "kind," and that I understood Korean culture so well. |
Bravo. Well said..... A little effort makes life here easier. SOOOO MUCH EASIER. |
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Perceptioncheck
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: I ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE.... |
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| waseige1 wrote: |
| Perceptioncheck wrote: |
| Brown-nosing, IMO. Don't bother. It shouldn't make any difference if you bring a gift. Your director will be nice or an ass hole regardless. |
When in Rome..... This is normal accepted and cultural. I brought small gifts for my Principal, VP, Co-Teachers and my year was off to a great start. It is normal here. I bought VERY small bottles of perfume for the lady teachers. It was greatly appreciated.
Many of the problems between NET and GETs are that we don't respect their customs while here. |
Ah yes, but the old culture gag works both ways. When I start getting the reciprocal benefits of Korean 'culture' then perhaps I will start giving gifts.
But at Chuseok there was no spam gift set for Whitey!
I know it's tit-for-tat, but I care not a jot.  |
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teacherinseoul
Joined: 18 May 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Alcohol is a good gift. You can always buy wine in Korea. |
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