Korean Job Discussion Forums

[beentheredonethat777]

The biggest Korean holiday is almost here. I've already started the countdown.

I'm curious about what other teachers usually get for CHUSEOK.
I've been given everything from Spam to Ham, toothpaste to toilet paper, shampoo to Dove soap, wine and fruit.

But my best ever gift was from a school that I had agreed to work a summer intensive and then stayed on for an extra month.
It was 400,000 Korean won! The boss gave all the staff the same gift.
We were speechless!


It was funny we were all afraid to mention to one another what we had received, in case the amounts were different. But then my Korean Co
came to work after the holiday saying how happy she was to get her 400,000.

I would have stayed on at that school, but the communication barrier was too great. I couldn't speak Korean at the time and my boss only spoke Korean. It was a tough gig! Previous to my arrival, the recruiter had told me that the boss spoke FLUENT English.


BEST GIFTS EVER:

Public School: OIL SET from Parent Teachers Association
Private School: 400,000 Korean won

Worst gift: three tubes of horrible tasting off-brand toothpaste and a toothbrush gift set.

Your turn. What was the best gift you've ever received for CHUSEOK?

Some of my friends claim to have never received anything! What about you?

[Newbie]

SPAM!

[beentheredonethat777]

[Ginormousaurus]

Once I got a nice set of Bulgari cologne, aftershave, and aftershave lotion. It must have been pretty pricey as each bottle was full-sized as opposed to the smaller bottles that these sets typically seem to come in.

[beentheredonethat777]

[newb]

Days off.

[ktkates87]

I got a case (yes, CASE) of mangoes imported from the Philippines.....those delicious yellow colored ones. Also some really nice giftsets from Biotherm, Kiehls and Aveda.

[World Traveler]

An envelope with 100,000 won inside. (Supposedly, I was the only teacher to get that...however, the boss may have been lying.) I was very happy that day.

[byrddogs]

The Chuseok gifts have been the usual towel sets, toiliteries, etc. I did get a nice surprise this past Solnal, however. It was a sizeable bonus given to all teachers that had been there more than a year.

[beentheredonethat777]

[quote][

[byrddogs]

[quote="beentheredonethat777"]

[Times30]

Nobody can top this Chuseok gift.

I had just broken up with a long term girlfriend. I was extremely depressed, filled with feels 24/7, and just a mess of a man. (I know but it was my first serious relationship and I was still naïve). Plus she was really really hot. The upcoming holiday I foresaw to be miserable.

My co-worker which is a real Christian puncher, saw me and totally understood what I needed. He said "You're not going to be alone for Chuseok, come stay with my family up in the farm fields." I reluctantly agreed because I mean... who thinks that's gonna be fun?

When I got there, it was a huge family. They had a bunch of young adults my age and even younger kids I could look after. They had cute little Jindo pups, and we all helped together to collect permissions and potatoes. One of the grandmothers spoke fluent English and we spent time talking outside by a tree and drinking lemonade (super Korean stuff). They were so welcoming and we sat by a campfire, watching stars and sang... KUMBAYA. By the end of it, I realized there are some really good people out there, capable of caring for you despite not knowing them at all. I had dramatically turned all my atheistic dislike of Christianity into a big pile of warm hugs.

All of this was a wonderful experience where I would otherwise be miserable, home alone, sitting in my own filth.

Best Chuseok ever.
Year after I got socks. Really paled in comparison.

[beentheredonethat777]