Korean Job Discussion Forums

HunterORL23 · Guest

I am supposed to leave on the 15th of February to go to Korea with EPIK.

However this weekend my father became very ill and needed emergency open heart surgery because of a torn aorta. He is in bad shape now and although he has my mom and sister here with him to help him recovery I am contemplating canceling going to Korea next month on top of all this.

My dad thinks its amazing that I am going to Korea to teach since it is something that I have wanted to do for a very long time now, but I cannot leave him like this because my biggest fear is something happening to him while I am gone.

I have planned to go to China and Japan for 10 days during my summer and winter breaks because the airfare is less than 750 dollars USDround trip. The only way that I would go to Korea next month is if I can come home to Orlando, FL, USA for both vacation times, however airfare seems to be upwards to 2,000 USD round trip each time.

Does anyone know if there are cheaper methods to fly home round trip for my vacation times in July/August and December/January or if this is pretty much the going rate? This will drastically help determine my decision to stay or go to Korea next month.

Thank you all and please pray for my fathers recovery. <3

Hunter

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

clyde · Joined: 09 Jan 2006

Hey bro, I sure hope your dad makes it through. The last time I went home last minute it was 1700 bucks or so. I might consider giving it a year anyway with the job market the way it is. They say the Korean won will rebound next year so you would have that to look forward to. Anyway I hope everything works out.

nautilus · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

Michelle · Joined: 18 May 2003

naturegirl321 · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home

I don't really know if you shoudl stay or go. BUt I can say that as far as airfare goes, www.kayak.com and Xanadu Travel have good prices. We found Lima, Peru to Seoul, Korea for 924 usd. One way. Which is pretty decent.

MHS · Joined: 08 Dec 2009

this is such a fascinating post. why did you cut it so short?

naturegirl321 · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home

I'm not sure if this would work, but because airfares are so expensive during peak times, do you think you could talk to your school so that you would work during vacation and leave at another time?

Not sure if they would go for it, but they might.

mcviking · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Location: 'Fantastic' America

ESL jobs come and go, but if something happens to your dad while you are gone you are going to regret it forever, not to mention while you are here you will be wondering about him constantly. You can get another job, wait until your dad recovers.

lizlemon · Joined: 05 Jan 2010

Sorry to hear the predicament you're in but I can tell you my past experiences:

My mom had a heart attack and my dad flew over (he was working in Prague at the time) and stayed about 3 weeks. Two weeks later he had a heart attack in Prague - he wasn't allowed to fly and neither was she. I was caught between staying with either of them and as much as I regretted leaving my dad alone in the hospital I was so grateful to at least have been with my mother. They were both fine but I can't even imagine the agony I would have gone through if I had been in another country by myself. I was worried until I saw my dad - theres just a peace of mind you can't get any other way.

What I'm really saying is that I think it would be worth it to stick around. You can get another job easily.