Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cellphone]

This isn't a question that is just to 'make fun' of other foreigners you've seen (i.e. freaks) but is actually a rather serious question to see what generally happens/can happen. In fact the question is about other foreign co-workers even whom might be completely normal. Take a moment to think on it, give an accurate vote, and also make a comment as the options are limited and need more specifics. This question assumes you are living in single housing and therefore only have contact at work.

Don't be biased in your answer, answer based on a general gauge of how things have been. This question assumes you've been there at least a little while to see things out, or else you've been there long enough to make attempts at relations and they've either gone quite well or have definately not.

Furthermore state if you think the fact that you get along well (or definately don't) is based on the fact that you either naturally match well or else, don't. Is there compatibility? Or personal incompatibility? Or has work interfered with the two (+) of you? What was the factor that caused it?

Lastly how do foreigner relations factor into the hakwon (and school) environment? Are they even supposed to work? Do foreigners regularly get entangled or are they mostly at liberty? What happens, or perhaps should happen, when they can't get along over what is even the most simplistic of reasons?

I'd like to say a bit more but think I should wait until a little later.

[captain kirk]

I may not be a particularly easy person to get along with. But at the same time, though I may be blunt (behaviour grafted on with assimilation of Korean style), the boat may rock but we're all in it together. The haggie is a ship. I'm talking about everyone. Boss, K-teachers, foreign teachers, bus drivers, parents, and kids. The whole kebootle.
And there is no 'foreign community'. Not really. Maybe in Seoul, or if you're a person who goes hound-dog after where the other foreigners are and quickly plugs into 'the network' (which is rather a small town, but ok, if you're into it).
There are haggies and their 'crew'. Through thick and thin. I mean you could be ripped off by the boss in little ways, persistently. But you still get along. The kids could really press your buttons some day when you're tired, but you get along the next day. The k-teachers act snooty, but they come around, it's just a front. Everyone's connected and in it together. Despite the appearances of 'not getting along'.
This said, the little cliques that form among foreigners, from which they regard another foreigner from a distance as 'freaky' just bores the living...capacity for boredom out of me.
Glad I got that off my chest.
As Itaewonguy said recently, on another topic, 'Korea brings out the worst or the best in people'. There are stresses zipping around 'trying to please everyone' in the workplace. Being 'energetic', 'interesting', providing 'interesting lessons'.
And, it seems to me, foreigners tend to dump on each other as much as they buoy, help each along. Because nobody else much cares. It's a kind of 'incestuous' thing, which can be good, or can be bad.

[SpecialK]

I am the only foreign teacher at my school. Lucky for me because I get along with myself really well

[hojucandy]

there are 3 foreign teacher's at my presnt school. 2 of us get on fine and socialise outside of work hours. we are civil with the third fellow but he is a fundimentalist christian who simply cannot talk about anything without bringing the discussion around to religion... we try to be nice - but generally avoid him. it does not help that he criticises us from time to time and is vocal about issues he sees on the TV (tuned to CNN) such as homosexuality (which he abhorrs!)

i worked at another school once where i was the only non-christian on staff. the rest of them seemed to go to church together and have secret conversations in the staff room. that was weird.

worked in another place with two other aussies. we were all neighbours and used to live in and out of eachother's apartments. cooked together most nights....

[guangho]

Well, my coworker is a druggie. This bothers me a teensy wee bit because I'm supposed to rely on him for infinite wisdom and bountiful courage, myself being incountry a mere three weeks. Unit tests today were a nightmare because he put the wrong audiotape with the exam and I, having forgotten my confucian motto ("trust no one grasshopper") didn't look it over with a fine tooth comb before taking it to class-thus leading to confusion and delays- very inefficient. This is just one of many delightful heart-attack inducing moments I have had, thus making me wonder if I shall get the boot. Do haggies care about disorganization?

[Apple Scruff]

[guangho]

[Gollum]

[just because]

I've had 15 different foreign teachers work with me in the 3 years I've been here.

3 will be life-long friends who I just clicked so well with

9 were great people who were great for a drink and to share the time with here

1 was Christain nutbag, but didn't push it to hard.

1 was a psycho(who i also shared with for 3 months, taught me all about the values of single housing - i got 42 stitches because of him)

1 is the biggest nerdo I have ever met and should be in moms basement.

[hojucandy]

i worked with a fellow once who was a serious alcoholic. he would be drunk for morning kindy classes. he would drink soju in the toilet during the ten minute break between classes. he smelled really bad. never washed or changed his clothes. he was fired from gig after gig and kept finding new jobs. he slept at my place for his last few days in korea. i felt sorry for him but he literally smelled so bad that it made me gag. i forced him to wash and gave him some clothes to travel home to australia in. i kept touch with him for a while but last i heard he had fallen into an addiction pattern again (do differnt drugs this time) and he has slipped off my radar... he was a good fellow - i worry about him, but have no way to contact him now....

funny thing - even when he was drunk the kids loved him. he played games all the time. the hagwon boss also liked him... he was the sort of person that engendered sympathy....

[Corporal]

Job # 1














Extended part-time period. No foreign co-workers.

Job # 2 (now)

[W.T.Carl]

For the most part I got along well with my fellow teachers in Russia and Poland. Korea was a different story. The "Land of the Morning Calm" seem to attract more than it's fair share of looneys. I guess maybe it is due to the high rate of turn over. Other than the odd alcoholic ( no, I am not the pot who calls the kettle black), the worst I saw was the this joker who thought it was his mission to save the world from TV. When told to mind his own business, he exclaimed that we were "enemies of the People" and that the Czech secret police were going to get us once we were reported. He did not last long.There were a few others, usually Canadians who had no degrees and were there rather than starve back in BC, who were a bit off, but we generally got along. You know how it is, dinners on Fridays after class and then a few hours at the local hof. Great fun! I am still in contact with quite a few of them.

[guangho]