Korean Job Discussion Forums

[zoeksk]

My parents asked me the other day what the chances were that I would be able to come home for christmas if I was working in South korea (our family has a huge 3day christmas every year)

My answer was slim to none as we only get 10days holiday at a private school, but then I tried to research a loop hole just in case and got nothing. Has anyone managed to go home for christmas? If you tell your Hagwon in advance will they let you? Or is the better bet going for a public school?

Everyone says you can save alot of money as an English Teacher so whats to stop me from spending some of this money to go home for a week?

[northway]

It's a waste of money to spend that short of a time at home (and I say this being a big fan of the family Christmas).

[cedarseoul]

I think you have to decide whether it's worth it to spend 1-2 months' savings on a trip to see people you've been away from for - a few months? Under a year?

I enjoy Christmasing with family and friends, but I haven't done it for like 3 years. :shrug: When it's convenient for me to visit the States, I visit the States. When it's not, I send a card.

Also: there's nothing quite like Christmas in Thailand.

[chrisblank]

I've done it. At a hogwon a number of years ago I was able to get two weeks off, and when you include the week-ends, it was an ok Christmas trip. If you plan ahead, talk with ur boss about family obligations, etc, and you can get decent tickets to do it on the cheap.

[tardisrider]

If you have the time off then you can surely visit your family if you choose, but it is rare for hogwans to allow that much time off for Christmas. If it's really important to you, be sure to negotiate this before signing a contract.

Also, be aware that just because you have X vacation days in your contract, you won't necessarily get to choose when to take them or be able to take them all at once. Be sure to negotiate and get specifics in writing before you sign your contract.

[YTMND]

I don't see any problem with 3 days (especially if one of them is Christmas day itself). One week would be stretching it, but it would still be possible. Figure 1 or 2 days could easily be chalked off as sick days, but if you have 10 vacation days, that still leaves 9.

I understand people might think I am forgetting winter camps, but if you go on Friday the 21st, then you would have the weekend, Christmas eve, and then Christmas day. Return, and the school is only out 2 or so days. Negotiate something. You could easily get a replacement. You could also pre-plan it so you worked more hours in the summer to credit for winter.

I worked for one hagwon that allowed a couple working there to not work on Friday afternoons because they were members of LDS. When I got hired, I replaced one of them, and they didn't have morning classes for me. With the schedule already in place, I had Fridays off

So, find a Christian hagwon to sweeten the deal.

[iselynjenniep]

i went home for christmas my first year. yes, it was insanely expensive and hectic since it was only for one week but i'm glad i did because i think i would have been too sad and homesick if i hadn't. (didn't go home the second year though.)

if you are working for a kindergarten hagwon, they are typically closed for one week in summer and one week at christmas. so you would have the week off. if you are working at an afternoon/evening hagwon you usually have two weeks off of your choosing. so it might be difficult but certainly not impossible to take a week off at christmas.

[iselynjenniep]

it would be much less likely that they would let you off at a public school. you get your winter vacation in january or february.

work for a kindergarten! when you talk to teachers at the school before you accept the position (which you should definitely do), ask them if they get a week off at christmas to make sure.

[jamasian]

It really depends on your school. My friends and I in the PS system got different times off. Some are lenient some aren't. I didn't want to go home and waste money for Christmas, but a friend did and since her school likes her they let her do vacay then. Talk to them first.

[Skippy]

First thing to understand is Christmas time is different here in Korea. Yes Christmas is a holiday but it is not a major one. Christmas is not the major family get together time. Same with Thanksgiving. So time off around those times is rare. The holiday times for Koreans and usually in January/February or September.

Next, timing. Yea with public school around the end of December they are wrapping things up for winter holidays. Yet hagwons - not really. They are pretty much running whole year. In Jan they may change up times and schedule. So yes things are slowing down, but not enough to give up a teacher.

Second thing to understand, is how vacation works in Korea. If lucky and you have public school them may give more, but it comes with restrictions and politics. If hagwon expect well pretty much confusion, fights, and problems. If lucky a school will give 10 days a year (not including weekends) so about 2 weeks a year. But for most hagwons they will want to split this up. So one week there and another later. Even worse is some will give an exact time and days. Throw in the extra bonus of many places could not plan a picnic. Tell them now and you may get an ok. But three days before you leave expect them to change there minds or forget.

Money, too. Really you will be spending over 1,000,000 won and about 2 days of getting back and forth. So for even a three day events you will need 2 days for traveling. Which will make things really stressful.

In the end the choice is yours, but matey you are all grown up now and half way across the world. Sometimes you have to make a sacrifices to being an adult.

Some things to consider. If you are going to do this. Consider two things as negotiation - one schools give your the time off - non paid. Two, see if you can find a way to cover your classes with another teacher. That will come with problems of YOU will have to pay the wage, to legalities.

Good Luck

[northway]

[Skippy]

[J Rock]

Christmas with my family back home is over rated anyway. My brother gets angry at everyone and usually makes my mom cry. My dad gets drunk and disappears and ends up hiding out in the basement alone. My crazy aunt brings that nasty marshmellow salad with grapes and nuts in it that nobody eats. And I just end up watching tv by myself.

I'd rather stay in Korea and eat my inlaws rotten kimchi. I swear it's the worst kimchi I've ever eaten, but I eat it with a smile on my face.

[zoeksk]

Thanks for all the replies, I think it looks like far too much hassle. I'll just have a korean christmas during the day and then skype with my family at night (their day) my contract will finish in feb anyway so its not that long to wait

[northway]