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Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
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 Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 9:00 pm Post subject: Basic Answers to STUPID and Frequently asked questions. |
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I recently went on a little rant in a previous thread. The main question was about drug testing. For those regulars here it gets so tiresome to answer these people who are not willing to do some work. So I have decide to start his little thread. Hope other people can give some other examples and advice. If it gets big enough maybe it can get stickied.
Yes I am aware of the FAQ section. If the mod feel this is a waste.
Drug Testing - Yes drug testing is done. It is a urine test. It is done when you get your medical test done here in Korea. Best way to pass - be drug free. If not possible - stop doing drugs - till you are clean and all traces are gone. Sorry but I would definitely not recommend having that last bong hit with your friends the night before you get on the plane to Korea. They test for hard drugs including pot. False positives can come up. So if you take prescription medicine - make sure you tell the doctor and bring prescriptions to show proof. If you do ping you will likely get a second chance to try.
Criminal Record - If you have anything on your record, you have a very high chance of being refused. You can try and apply but it will be a gamble. I mean anything including on a record from being ticketed for drinking in public or even car accidents too. Yes It does also include youthful indiscretions and old 40 years ago drug charges. In the end you can try and explain. Maybe just maybe you might get a pass. Yes, some people have been cleared and allowed in. But most officials will do a simple glance and if see anything but NO RECORD will go next. They will not put the effort in to find the details or get the story. Sorry - dreams dashed. Last little hint do research into pardons and getting your record cleared.
How do I get _______ item? - Do you understand that your in a foreign country. You are not back home. If you want something unique or special there is a good chance you will not get it. BUT here is the caveats. The more unique it is the more likely no. Guinness available but not at all bars, some raspberry flavored ale made in the woods of Washington NOT going to found. If it is here IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE or difficult to get. Consider finding alternatives or finding the Korean equivalent or heck living with out it. Sorry the pharmacy will likely not have pink Peptobismal but there will be Korean alternative. Cohiba corollary to availability the farther you are from Seoul the harder it will be to find. If really you want your Hostess Twinkies and Player Cigarettes you should have stayed home.
How do I get University/Public School job? Apply. There you go - one word. Oh, more details. Try to fulfill what they want - if they want a Masters degree and you have a Bachelors you might not get the job. They ask for a woman and you are a man, once again no. There are other various things to do to fulfill what they want, from being available right now, to being in country, to willingness to go the backwoods of Korea. Now somethings can help get your foot in the door but are not sure things, yes a good letter of references - a little helpful. Being young and good-looking - yes, coming from a IVY league college - yes. Also - NETWORK - in person. Make friends. Just asking here for a job will not work. People do not want to do your work for you or give their possible lead to you for free or with no benefit. If I know something I will likely tell a friend first not some newbie or stranger.
SO PEOPLE give you basic answers to the over and overly asked questions. Lets try and build this thread.
Last edited by Skippy on Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:54 am; edited 1 time in total |
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mmstyle
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: wherever
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| Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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Well, the thing is, people would have to search to even find your thread (at least, in a few days), and they quite evidently are NOT searching.
And, yes, OP, I agree...it gets old when you see what is essentially the same post every day. This is how I feel about the drug test questions anyway. |
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ChopChaeJoe
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:08 am Post subject: |
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| Your tone is pretty nasty. You might consider why people read these boards -- to look for answers to questions. A lot more people read than post. What's it to you if someone asks a question you know the answer to? Answer it or not. Who wants to read the bitter rants of some crusty old-timer? |
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Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 1:09 am Post subject: |
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| ChopChaeJoe wrote: |
| Your tone is pretty nasty. You might consider why people read these boards -- to look for answers to questions. A lot more people read than post. What's it to you if someone asks a question you know the answer to? Answer it or not. Who wants to read the bitter rants of some crusty old-timer? |
I am a bit bitter - yes. But I learned a long time ago on previous other boards on how to get help and ask questions on the Internet. Time and again I am seeing people who have no idea or understanding on what to do or how to use a a forum. You want to see nasty try going to a Computer Help board and saying "Help I have a computer virus" either one of two things will happen - ignored or ridiculed and called a moron for not reading the FAQ or the before posting instructions or RTFMing or googling something. You want to see crazy nasty go to some of the back places of the big forum places like digg.com or dman forget the name. Ask a simple question and before you know it somebody is calling you a queer, another is calling you a troll - welcome to the Internet. The recent flock of teachers have started to treat eslcafe as either a twit posting place or as Facebook and keeping the posts so short and vague it is maddening.
As to be keep this thread going! More advice.
Searching the Forums - Overall you will find lots of good information here on Dave's. But the search function is cruddy and a bit buggy. If you use the Dave's search keep to one or two words and use the selection "Search for all terms". If you get a blank screen. Go back to the search page and reenter and try again. Clicking reload or page back and search again will not work it will just stall on you. Also you might want to just go to another page (check you twitter or facebook) for a minute and then search. Dave's is weird that way.
"Alternatives to searching Dave's" - work on your google Kungfu skills. Learning to use quotes will make refining searches better. Using selection tags. like "site:" For example -
"Vocabulary Games" site:forums.eslcafe.com/korea
So find a basic how to and trick tutorials on search google or other search engines and you will get your information quicker and easier
Another site to try is searcheslcafe.com nice site it will search eslcafe and some Korean blogs and other forums for you.
"Getting help on Dave's"
Put down your I-phone and use a real keyboard and type a one or two paragraphs - not sentences. Unless it is an emergency take the effort to make a post.
Include details and what you have done to try and solve it yourself. Try ask intelligent or specific questions . Explain things like who you are. A newbie not yet here in Korea will get more help then somebody who has been on Dave's for 2 years and posted 21 times.
Try and be funny or interesting or tell a story doing so will get you more responses. People come here to be entertained and to be informed not to do more work. Unless you make it worth are while. No not money but if you make it interesting or do something that wants to make us involved.
Be careful with spelling and grammar here as the grammar Nazi side here is a bit more prevalent (we are English teachers).
Also please become a member of the community the more you are around the more help you will get. If you just come in and post a simple "I need help message" and then get some help, then disappear. This fractures the community and weakens it. People will be less likely to help in the future as they either feel used or nothing gets resolved. Pop in once a week, post or comment often, contribute to the gestalt information of Korea and teaching and make this place better.
Any more advice people? |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 1:41 am Post subject: |
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| Skippy wrote: |
| ChopChaeJoe wrote: |
| Your tone is pretty nasty. You might consider why people read these boards -- to look for answers to questions. A lot more people read than post. What's it to you if someone asks a question you know the answer to? Answer it or not. Who wants to read the bitter rants of some crusty old-timer? |
I am a bit bitter - yes. But I learned a long time ago on previous other boards on how to get help and ask questions on the Internet. Time and again I am seeing people who have no idea or understanding on what to do or how to use a a forum. You want to see nasty try going to a Computer Help board and saying "Help I have a computer virus" either one of two things will happen - ignored or ridiculed and called a moron for not reading the FAQ or the before posting instructions or RTFMing or googling something. You want to see crazy nasty go to some of the back places of the big forum places like digg.com or dman forget the name. Ask a simple question and before you know it somebody is calling you a queer, another is calling you a troll - welcome to the Internet. The recent flock of teachers have started to treat eslcafe as either a twit posting place or as Facebook and keeping the posts so short and vague it is maddening.
As to be keep this thread going! More advice.
Searching the Forums - Overall you will find lots of good information here on Dave's. But the search function is cruddy and a bit buggy. If you use the Dave's search keep to one or two words and use the selection "Search for all terms". If you get a blank screen. Go back to the search page and reenter and try again. Clicking reload or page back and search again will not work it will just stall on you. Also you might want to just go to another page (check you twitter or facebook) for a minute and then search. Dave's is weird that way.
"Alternatives to searching Dave's" - work on your google Kungfu skills. Learning to use quotes will make refining searches better. Using selection tags. like "site:" For example -
"Vocabulary Games" site:forums.eslcafe.com/korea
So find a basic how to and trick tutorials on search google or other search engines and you will get your information quicker and easier
Another site to try is searcheslcafe.com nice site it will search eslcafe and some Korean blogs and other forums for you.
"Getting help on Dave's"
Put down your I-phone and use a real keyboard and type a one or two paragraphs - not sentences. Unless it is an emergency take the effort to make a post.
Include details and what you have done to try and solve it yourself. Try ask intelligent or specific questions . Explain things like who you are. A newbie not yet here in Korea will get more help then somebody who has been on Dave's for 2 years and posted 21 times.
Try and be funny or interesting or tell a story doing so will get you more responses. People come here to be entertained and to be informed not to do more work. Unless you make it worth are while. No not money but if you make it interesting or do something that wants to make us involved.
Be careful with spelling and grammar here as the grammar Nazi side here is a bit more prevalent (we are English teachers).
Also please become a member of the community the more you are around the more help you will get. If you just come in and post a simple "I need help message" and then get some help, then disappear. This fractures the community and weakens it. People will be less likely to help in the future as they either feel used or nothing gets resolved. Pop in once a week, post or comment often, contribute to the gestalt information of Korea and teaching and make this place better.
Any more advice people? |
i advise you to take a long vacation from dave's.  |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 2:36 am Post subject: |
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| Skippy wrote: |
| Any more advice people? |
Newbies (NOT meaning the OP here) should actually read the advice they are given and not simply get in a huff when the answer (sorry, but your shortcut idea won't fly with Korean immigration) is not what they want to hear.
Some of us actually do occasionally know what we are talking about.
Take the time to read the FAQs. Yup, a lot of them are old but really, a lot of the information hasn't changed either and when it does the new posts at the bottom of the threads update the information.
Take an hour or two and read the contract sticky threads (yes, there are 2 of them). If you have some idea of what should and what should not be in your contract you will be better armed to deal with your contract than if you just sign it and hope for the best (usually the next posts you make will be of the "Help, my hagwan is screwing me!" variety).
recruiters deserved a whole thread of their own but to keep it short, ALL recruiters are good and ALL recruiters are BAD. In a nutshell, they are like used car salesmen and they ARE nothing more than an introduction to a job that you otherwise wouldn't find. If you have at least the same level of common sense that ghod gave to green apples you will be fine.
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lithium
Joined: 18 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 6:28 am Post subject: Re: Basic Answers to STUPID and Frequently asked questions. |
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| Skippy wrote: |
I recently went on a little rant in a previous thread. The main question was about drug testing. For those regulars here it gets so tiresome to answer these people who are not willing to do some work. So I have decide to start his little thread. Hope other people can give some other examples and advice. If it gets big enough maybe it can get stickied.
Yes I am aware of the FAQ section. If the mod feel this is a waste.
Drug Testing - Yes drug testing is done. It is a urine test. It is done when you get your medical test done here in Korea. Best way to pass - be drug free. If not possible - stop doing drugs - till you are clean and all traces are gone. Sorry but I would definitely not recommend having that last bong hit with your friends the night before you get on the plane to Korea. They test for hard drugs including pot. False positives can come up. So if you take prescription medicine - make sure you tell the doctor and bring prescriptions to show proof. If you do ping you will likely get a second chance to try.
Criminal Record - If you have anything on your record, you have a very high chance of being refused. You can try and apply but it will be a gamble. I mean anything including on a record from being ticketed for drinking in public or even car accidents too. Yes It does also include youthful indiscretions and old 40 years ago drug charges. In the end you can try and explain. Maybe just maybe you might get a pass. Yes, some people have been cleared and allowed in. But most officials will do a simple glance and if see anything but NO RECORD will go next. They will not put the effort in to find the details or get the story. Sorry - dreams dashed. Last little hint do research into pardons and getting your record cleared.
How do I get _______ item? - Do you understand that your in a foreign country. You are not back home. If you want something unique or special there is a good chance you will not get it. BUT here is the caveats. The more unique it is the more likely no. Guinness available but not at all bars, some raspberry flavored ale made in the woods of Washington NOT going to found. If it is here IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE or difficult to get. Consider finding alternatives or finding the Korean equivalent or heck living with out it. Sorry the pharmacy will likely not have pink Peptobismal but there will be Korean alternative. Cohiba corollary to availability the farther you are from Seoul the harder it will be to find. If really you want your Hostess Twinkies and Player Cigarettes you should have stayed home.
How do I get University/Public School job? Apply. There you go - one word. Oh, more details. Try to fulfill what they want - if they want a Masters degree and you have a Bachelors you might not get the job. They ask for a woman and you are a man, once again no. There are other various things to do to fulfill what they want, from being available right now, to being in country, to willingness to go the backwoods of Korea. Now somethings can help get your foot in the door but are not sure things, yes a good letter of references - a little helpful. Being young and good-looking - yes, coming from a IVY league college - yes. Also - NETWORK - in person. Make friends. Just asking here for a job will not work. People do not want to do your work for you or give their possible lead to you for free or with no benefit. If I know something I will likely tell a friend first not some newbie or stranger.
SO PEOPLE give you basic answers to the over and overly asked questions. Lets try and build this thread. |
Commas are your friend.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma |
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sallymonster
Joined: 06 Feb 2010
Location: Seattle area
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:41 am Post subject: |
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OMG what do I will if my hagwon screws me?
Recently, I keep seeing newbies on this board freaking out over the worst case scenario. You can prepare for the worst case scenario by using simple common sense:
1. Don't arrive in Korea broke! Not only should you bring enough money to survive the first month (almost every school pays monthly, so you won't see your first paycheck for up to 6 or 7 weeks after you arrive), but also stash away enough money for a flight ticket home.
2. Get extra documents. Apostilled diploma copies never expire. I just renewed my visa with one that was over a year old. Since you already have to get one apostilled diploma copy for your visa anyway, why not get several copies made and get them all notarized and apostilled? It really doesn't cost that much. As for the background check, you can have an extra one done before you leave (they're good for 6 months), or if you need one after coming to Korea, you can get fingerprinted for free at a gu police station and send off for the CBC from Korea. Americans, keep in mind the FBI CBC does take a long time, and so does apostillization.
3. Know that you're not a slave. Immigration doesn't care about enforcing contracts (that's the Labor Board's business), and they're not going to stop you from leaving Korea. Whatever your boss says, there isn't much he/she can do to stop you from leaving. Quitting your job is not a crime. Just be sure to hand in your ID card (ARC) on your way out to make sure your visa gets cancelled.
Now quit panicking and relax already!  |
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marsavalanche
Joined: 27 Aug 2010
Location: where pretty lies perish
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:01 am Post subject: |
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lmao @ OP thinking anyone is going to take him seriously with bitter lines like "If really you want your Hostess Twinkies and Player Cigarettes you should have stayed home."
And sallymonster, that post is useless without specifying HOW MUCH money one should bring to Korea.
I bet this thread sinks into the back pages by next week and OP's efforts prove to be a waste of time. Any takers? |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:47 am Post subject: |
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While the tone might be over the top, the general concept deserves a sticky.
....then again, it would be ignored. |
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Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:23 am Post subject: |
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| marsavalanche wrote: |
lmao @ OP thinking anyone is going to take him seriously with bitter lines like "If really you want your Hostess Twinkies and Player Cigarettes you should have stayed home."
And sallymonster, that post is useless without specifying HOW MUCH money one should bring to Korea.
I bet this thread sinks into the back pages by next week and OP's efforts prove to be a waste of time. Any takers? |
Ya Mars you might be right this might fade quickly. I am bitter - it just gets so tiring trying to make some people understand that somethings you just will not get or it is not available here. Only on one facebook group have I seen requests for special bread and no they do not want to make themselves, to sorry I do not like HOT yoga I want to find a special style, to somebody asking about Parkour group. Include the caveats of "In English" or cheap or available in my area of Korea.
Hey I love my western products I have been known to lug back 12 pack of Root beer from Seoul on the KTX. I am willing to spend money on a taxi ride on the whisper of rumor of for something I want. I am a big fan of Costco, long may they last. I shed a tear when Walmart here in Korea failed. YET I accept that all things are not going to be here, I can not get what I want always.
I ridicule Koreans for going to a Tour group to someplace like Italy or France and then eating Korean food the whole time while there. I mean WTF! But know I can see the same hypocrisy of the waygooks. Of here they are in a foreign country and you whine and complain if they get some cabbage on their burger or corn on their pizza. Or if something is not just like back home they cry foul. This is a completely different place things are going to be done differently or even not at all.
I am not saying people should go native and love the Korean culture and learn to eat Kimchi and rice everyday and sleep on the floor and so on. I am asking for people to grow a back bone and the knowledge of you are IN KOREA not BACK home. Enjoy what you can get and live with what you can't. Plus once in a while step outside of the Waygook comfort zone and experience Korea.
Well more advice
The Public school versus Hagwon choice! It simple boils down to each have their pluses and minuses. Also THAT each school will be different. Some hagwons can be hell on Earth with low wage and long hours to a few hours and high wage with boss treats you like a son. Public schools are the same it can be wonderful children and prefect co-teacher to back stabbing co-teachers and desk warming in no air conditioning in the middle of nowhere. Each job will be a gamble. Just do your research and find out which each entails.
Looks matter! If you are fat you will be treated poorly by Koreans. If you are good looking you will be treated better. You are third generation Chinese-American who speaks perfect English and no Chinese from a good college will be treated worse then some back of Burk Australian white bloke who graduated from some community college. Anything outside of what is considered norm by the Koreans will affect how you are treated. This can go from how you dress to tattoos and piercings, to hair, to facial hair to having the wrong color eyes. Like any business in the world the more you look professional the better things will be. Yes you can still work and find a job with long hair and a beard. You can still wear jeans and a T-shirt but your opinion and value will suffer. YES it is not fair and NO it is really not going to change. |
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koreatimes
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:52 am Post subject: |
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Anything we say or sticky now can be questioned tomorrow.
"Hello, I searched, and I got an answer to my question, but I want to know if the rules have changed. Does anyone have the latest info on [fill in popular concern here]?" |
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TeaTime
Joined: 12 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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Aggression =/= having a backbone...
I haven't even gotten to Korea yet and I'm already getting a bad impression- Is this a common attitude? |
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bioberd
Joined: 15 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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Hello all!
Thanks for this post. I am a newbie and am trying to get as much information as I can through searching. I can say that about 70% of my questions have been answered. I do agree that if people just look around they will find.
With that said, I have a question on the communicable/STD test. I have tried to do a google search on but I have not come up with an answer that I am satisfied with. I read o e forum where a guy asked if fever blisters would make him fail the test. Does anyone know exactly what they test for.
Also I had a friend who was applying through aclipse and she let it slip that she gets fever blisters when she is stressed and recruiter denied her being recommended to work for Chungdah Learning. Should she have told the recruiter that? Or should she have just taken her chances. I know that blood test are not the best method to determine if you have herpes. It will show up but you have to have a culture test to determine which kind you have. I know it is expensive in the states, however, do South Koreans invest that much into the blood test? Also is there any advice you have that you have that I can give to my friend?
Thank you in advance
P.S. OP I hope that this is long enough for you, with an interesting story, and with a semi original question. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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@biobird
If you have AIDS, forget Korea.
Legally they aren't supposed to test but they will. And the doctor will call your employer before telling you. |
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