Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Hagwon staff are gonna welcome me at apartment? what.
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Sadgasm



Joined: 30 Oct 2014

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 11:47 am    Post subject: Hagwon staff are gonna welcome me at apartment? what. Reply with quote

As my departure for Korea nears I received an email regarding my arrival. Pretty standard stuff, man will have a sign with my name, drives me to my apartment. Awesome! I'm gonna love getting some rest, maybe a shower in my new place. Hopefully I will find a calm moment to reflect on this accomplishment.

Then I see, my hagwon staff will be at my apartment to greet me. Shocked What. Is this common? What goes down at these meetings? Will there be limbo and soju? Will there be singing, cause I'm okay with that.

Any advice what to expect? Will they show themselves out after a little while or does this turn into a night on the town... I land in the evening, on what I assumed would be a work night. Not sure how they will pull it off. Will they bring the students with them? I guess this means I'll be changing out of my sweat pants after landing... Rolling Eyes
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
CentralCali



Joined: 17 May 2007

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Hagwon staff are gonna welcome me at apartment? what. Reply with quote

Sadgasm wrote:
As my departure for Korea nears I received an email regarding my arrival. Pretty standard stuff, man will have a sign with my name, drives me to my apartment.


They're going to drive you to the apartment for you to drop your stuff off on the way to work.

Quote:
Awesome! I'm gonna love getting some rest, maybe a shower in my new place. Hopefully I will find a calm moment to reflect on this accomplishment.


You can do that after work on your first day, the day of your arrival.

Quote:
Then I see, my hagwon staff will be at my apartment to greet me. Shocked What. Is this common? What goes down at these meetings? Will there be limbo and soju? Will there be singing, cause I'm okay with that.


There will be a short monologue, directed to you: "Let's go to work."

Quote:
Any advice what to expect? Will they show themselves out after a little while or does this turn into a night on the town... I land in the evening, on what I assumed would be a work night. Not sure how they will pull it off. Will they bring the students with them? I guess this means I'll be changing out of my sweat pants after landing... Rolling Eyes


Ah,you're arriving at night. The above is what to expect for a daytime arrival. What you'll get instead is a few hours of sleep and then you're off to work. If you're arriving really late at night, you'll still be off to work on the first day, even if it's just a couple of hours after your arrival.

And yes, that's very common. That's the kind of hijinks common to hagweons; they simply don't have the kind you're hoping for.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Sadgasm



Joined: 30 Oct 2014

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The hate is real. Hagwon Pessimism aside, lets imagine this is a better than average hagwon... The meetup at my apartment won't be a friendly meet and greet? Bummed to hear its a chance for them to throw the shackles on and push me into line.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
hatfiejl



Joined: 14 Feb 2012
Location: Ohio

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you're arriving later in the evening it will probably be more of a meet and greet, but you should expect to be at the school the next day. This is normal for most hagwons, so don't fret. The first few weeks will be kind of hectic but eventually the chaos will subside and you will find your groove, especially if you were able to land a decent gig.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
saram_



Joined: 13 May 2008

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wouldn't worry about it.
Just be grateful that they seem so caring and making the effort.
I very much doubt there will be more than a few there anyway..

You are in a very envious position that most here would love to be once again.
Just about to set off on a Korean adventure.. full of new and exciting prospects and experiences.

What you make of it and how it all goes will be completely up to you. Enjoy it..
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Died By Bear



Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Location: On the big lake they call Gitche Gumee

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

OP, your airline ticket doesn't say PNK by any chance does it?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
northway



Joined: 05 Jul 2010

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 3:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sadgasm wrote:
The hate is real. Hagwon Pessimism aside, lets imagine this is a better than average hagwon... The meetup at my apartment won't be a friendly meet and greet? Bummed to hear its a chance for them to throw the shackles on and push me into line.


A lot of hagwons do this as a procedural thing, perhaps to make sure they're actually getting a white girl and the recruiter doesn't slip a black guy into their apartment while they're not looking. The director at my school once was supposed to go away with her family for a weekend and our teacher's flight was delayed to Saturday at the last minute. My colleague and I offered to meet the teacher for her to make sure that everything was taken care of, as all that was really required was a water purchase, directions to the convenience store, and an assurance that she had blankets and pillows. Alas, the principle objected.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Lucas



Joined: 11 Sep 2012

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's also a way for them to get their fingerprints inside your apt.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Hokie21



Joined: 01 Mar 2011

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 6:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why would they bring students to your apartment??? Was this a serious question?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
atwood



Joined: 26 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The driver might not speak any English, so someone from the staff might meet yo at the apartment to explain things a bit and to let you know how to get to the hagwon so you can start work the next day.

Hopefully, they get the plane arrival time right and are there to meet you. Mistakes of that sort have been known to happen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Jodami



Joined: 08 Feb 2013

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 8:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They'll pick you up at the airport, from there you'll be treated like a piece of fresh white meat. Expect the following:

(1) You'll provide free conversational Englishee to the adjoshi owner on the way to the car.
(2) Once in the car you'll provide more free conversational Englishee to the owner's kids/grandkids.
(3) As soon as you hit your apartment, a Skype session will have been set up, where you will provide more free Englishee.
(4) After this, a speech will be made to welcome you. Expect to eat potato and grape pizza.
(5) If you're hot, expect the owner to tell you and be very touchy feely. Make sure you bring a little pepper spray, just in case.
(6) If you're fat, expect the owner to tell you. Shay ree less ly. If he makes oink oink noises, don't be offended, it's just Korean culshurre. Korean is friendly people.

Good luck. Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Adam Carolla



Joined: 26 Feb 2010

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 8:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jodami wrote:
They'll pick you up at the airport, from there you'll be treated like a piece of fresh white meat. Expect the following:

(1) You'll provide free conversational Englishee to the adjoshi owner on the way to the car.
(2) Once in the car you'll provide more free conversational Englishee to the owner's kids/grandkids.
(3) As soon as you hit your apartment, a Skype session will have been set up, where you will provide more free Englishee.
(4) After this, a speech will be made to welcome you. Expect to eat potato and grape pizza.
(5) If you're hot, expect the owner to tell you and be very touchy feely. Make sure you bring a little pepper spray, just in case.
(6) If you're fat, expect the owner to tell you. Shay ree less ly. If he makes oink oink noises, don't be offended, it's just Korean culshurre. Korean is friendly people.

Good luck. Smile


Ahhh, the memories. I remember my third contract. Arrived at my apartment, maybe 10:00 pm after a 24 hour itinerary. Arrived at work 2:00 pm the next day. After work, I was criticized on my lack of energy and how the kids didn't like me.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Smithington



Joined: 14 Dec 2011

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ah, my first hagwon. I arrived at Incheon on a direct flight from New York. I can't sleep on airplanes, so I was exhausted on arrival. I was really looking forward to getting to my apartment and crashing. Not a chance. The recruiter meets me at the airport with the charming greeting of "You're late" (WTF?) and then, to my chagrin, takes me directly to the hagwon. I was to prepare the next day's lessons before being taken to my apartment. Two hours I was there before being taken to my new place. Confused
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nicwr2002



Joined: 17 Aug 2011

PostPosted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sadgasm wrote:
The hate is real. Hagwon Pessimism aside, lets imagine this is a better than average hagwon... The meetup at my apartment won't be a friendly meet and greet? Bummed to hear its a chance for them to throw the shackles on and push me into line.


My first experience arriving in Korea is this...I arrived at the airport late because the plane was delayed and had to wait for the driver to come pick me up. I also arrived on a Thursday night and had orientation at a different branch in Seoul on Friday. I arrived at my actual school Saturday night and was driven to my apartment where they showed me how to use the rice cooker, use the door lock, and other things about my apartment. On Sunday, my new coworkers invited me out to lunch to meet everyone. It was very pleasent and I felt really comfortable on that first day.

So, it could be similar to this. They may just want to show you around your apartment and give you the in's and out's. They may take you out for some samgyupsal to get to know your coworkers.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Nester Noodlemon



Joined: 16 Jan 2009

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:32 am    Post subject: Re: Hagwon staff are gonna welcome me at apartment? what. Reply with quote

Sadgasm wrote:
As my departure for Korea nears I received an email regarding my arrival. Pretty standard stuff, man will have a sign with my name, drives me to my apartment. Awesome! I'm gonna love getting some rest, maybe a shower in my new place. Hopefully I will find a calm moment to reflect on this accomplishment.

Then I see, my hagwon staff will be at my apartment to greet me. Shocked What. Is this common? What goes down at these meetings? Will there be limbo and soju? Will there be singing, cause I'm okay with that.

Any advice what to expect? Will they show themselves out after a little while or does this turn into a night on the town... I land in the evening, on what I assumed would be a work night. Not sure how they will pull it off. Will they bring the students with them? I guess this means I'll be changing out of my sweat pants after landing... Rolling Eyes


They will go through the common procedures. This is how the door lock works. Push this knob to turn on the hot water. Push this knob to turn on the floor heat. This is the rice cooker, do this, this, and this. Put the trash in these bags and take it out on …….. and……. nights, place it next to the ….

They will be accompanied by a medical doctor. He will give you the mandatory physical exam. Eye check, OK. Ears, OK. Blood pressure, OK. Blood test, OK. Enema, OK. Reflex test, OK.

They will show you where to shop.

They will take you to see the school.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International