Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Paladin Brewer]

I just got to South Korea on Wednesday, and moved into my new apt finally yesterday. I was wondering if it was normal for the room to not be cleaned prior to my arrival? Not just dust (which there is a fair amount of), but there is some sort of black grit on one part of the floor, and what appears to be mold on the wall near the door to the bathroom. I don't mind cleaning, I guess, but mold seems a bit unhealthy.

For that matter, I seem to be having some issues procuring all the furniture on my contract (it's for GEPIK). They told me they have a budget. I feel for them, this is a rural area, but I don't see how a budget supercedes my contract. I hate to sound like a *beep* and demand a TV, but I need a little something to keep my sanity. I'm hoping Lost is in English with Korean subtitles

[sulperman]

That's normal, good luck to clean up your place yourself, or something like that.

There must be a secondhand shop in your town, or at least in a nearby town. You could fill up a full place for less than 200 or 300K at one of those. What is the budget?

Lost ain't on TV! But you got a computer, right?

Don't get down, things are gonna be fine.

[Pikkle]

Hmm.. if it was something like the iron I wouldn't bother. But the TV is one of the essentials if you ask me. I'd be demanding it.

[Paladin Brewer]

hehe, I would be okay if the simple things weren't much more difficult than I expected. For example, I went to go buy some cleaning stuff for the apt. I guess I was expecting American type products, but in Korean. This is of course, not the case. I was trying to find something to mop/clean the floor, so I was looking at pictures. None of the pictures seem floor related. I finally settled on some purple bottle, that'll have to do.

[NYC_Gal]

Bleach for the bathroom.

You can use vinegar for the kitchen until you can find a decent cleaning product. If you can get to Seoul or any larger city anytime soon, try Homeplus, because they have a lot of Tesco's stuff (which is all in English, as Tesco's is a British supermarket chain).

Vinegar may stink, but it's clean.

[Paladin Brewer]

[DrugstoreCowgirl]

[Paladin Brewer]

The Lost videos there link to Hulu, which gives me the same "Out of the US" message

[NYC_Gal]

download bit torrents

[Paladin Brewer]

Meh, bit torrents will take longer than doing a proxy server I think. I'll figure something out. I was going to try megavideo when I get home, but they only allow like an hour a day for free so I will have to wait to check.

[sulperman]

Torrents should be your best tv friend in Korea. Things download a hell of a lot faster here than back home.

I never understand why people watch streaming things when you can wait another 30 minutes and watch it in much higher quality.

[PigeonFart]

Yes it's normal to arrive to a filthy room. I always do.

As for getting your furniture that's stipulated on your contract, don't worry you will get that in time. Just clean your place, and ask for your stuff every few days (with increasing concern and tone of voice). Maybe this school didnt want to buy stuff before you arrived cos they thought you might not arrive at all. My coworker arrived with no bed in his room!! Unorganized these hogwons (and i presume public schools) tend to be!

[teacherk]

Be firm with them, but stay calm. Take pictures! This is common, but it does not mean it is okay. Pick your battles, but a livable apartment is important for your sanity in Korea for a year. Make a list and ask from the get go so they don't say, "well you have been fine until now" if you complain later. Remind them of all of the things that you like about Korea so they don't just see you as a complainer.

[byrddogs]

I've been here for some time and it seems that each time that I have moved to a different place, the filth level has gotten worse when I moved in. Foreigners obviously don't care to clean the place before they leave, and the locals aren't expected to due to some good/bad luck thing about doing so. I have moved into 2 apts. after foreigners and 2 after locals and each group has seemed to have lived equally as nastilly for however they had been in the place. Noone cleans before leaving, and it seems that they never did while living there for that matter.

[Goon-Yang]