Korean Job Discussion Forums

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

How was your trip?
Everything is O.K your house and pet?
Time is like an arrow.
New semester is coming. It gets warmer and warmer.
New English teacher picked up 21st Nov [mistake - should read '21st Feb.].
I don't know what his name is.
He is 27��28 years and very handsome male.
Everyone expects you and new teacher to change the atmosphere of our school.
Everyone thanked your nice teaching last year.
New teacher, new freshmen, new desk, new season
I think our school will be fresh.
I am sorry to tell you principal's request.
New teacher will not find his place of residence.
So, principal ask you to liv ree new teacher your house.
You have another vacant room.
I know you will be very inconvenience. He is younger than you.
Principal hope you treat new teacher as your brother.
If you have another opinion, tell that vice principal.
See you next monday.

Well I just met the guy and he seems like a very typical, nice, insecure K-guy who's brand new to teaching and just out of the military. So far I've indicated that I don't mind him staying at my place for a few weeks, but I'm really not keen on a year (which is what they are hoping). Now, I should say that I *really* like my school and have no problem putting up with minor nussiances, but I'm thinking that this is an awkward battle that might be worth fighting, as I really do prefer to have my own place. What are your thoughts?

thursdays child · Joined: 21 Sep 2005

They're trying it on. Just say no! The other guy most likey doesn't want to live you either!!!

My school did the exact same thing to me last week. I said no, before the question was finished - no one was surprised, the other teacher breathed a sigh of relief. They just asked me out of the slim possibility I would say yes - they all damn well knew I wouldn't.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

You could try playing the age card. If he's considerably younger than you, explain that as an older teacher you have different personal requirements & that the arrangement is unsuitable. Its a rationale your superiors should understand.

Worked for me in my first hagwon job.

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

I don't know if anyone noticed but the teacher is Korean. So the K-guy could either be incredibly awkward to be around because the K-guy will be totally shy. Or just my opinion, the K-guy may be happy because he won't be alone. It seems like most Koreans have to have someone around them all the freakin' time. So who knows, the new teacher may like living there.

Jellybean · Joined: 17 Jan 2006

Ha! Thanks for posting this. It made my day! Maybe you should tell the author to start writing poetry - "Time is like an arrow"?? Talk about beating around the bush! I didn't know what they were getting at until the very end of the masterpiece. Oh too funny.

Now to answer your question. I'm still in Oz and do not even live or teach there yet (hopefully I will be there in May this year) but I would certainly say NO NO NO!!!! You have a right to your own place and own space.

All the best
JB

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

It's no big deal. The new guy is younger than you. haha

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Thanks for the replies. The new guy is 3-5 years younger than me depending on whether they're talking Korean or western years and whether they're even right.

Yeah, I wonder how he'll mind living with me. I have a cat. I don't know if he smokes (I smoke a lot in the evening). I don't know what he'll think of someone who downs 1.5-3 litres of makju most nights after the gym and before going to bed (and 3-6 litres on weekends). I don't have Internet access at home. I never cook anything besides toast and eggs for breakfast and sometimes pasta and tuna for after the gym. Every flat surface at my place is usually covered with stuff I can't be arsed to put away.

Who knows - if there's really no choice it could turn out to be a lot of fun, and I really don't care what he thinks of me.

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

I guess it all depends on what you think, but it seems like your school is taking a pretty big liberty with this one. What about your contract? Is the new guy a Kyopo? I wonder what your principal or minder would say if you suggested that they put him up instead?

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

anyway · Joined: 22 Oct 2005

I just HAVE to tell this story. Back at the uni, I had a Japanese friend with an older American roommate. They got along except for one thing. The older yank didn't flush the toilet after taking a dump. My Japanese friend was explaining his dilemma to us one night at the bar. We kept telling him to just approach the guy and tell him. No, no, he said, he's my elder. I can't do that. It might embarrass him. This conversation repeated itself everytime someone joined us - for several beers. Each time getting a little louder until finally the whole bar probably knew.

Then our Saudi friend joined us. He listened to the problem. Said he knows exactly what to do. What? Just put a sign on the bathroom wall "Don't forget to flush". My Japanese friend stated his objection to embarrasing the elder. No, no, our Saudi friend said, just tell him you put up the sign to remind yourself. In the end, my Japanese friend changed rooms.

Long story short...don't flush the stool. Ever.

Then again my friend was Japanese, not Korean.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Just say "NO". A "few weeks" in Korean time can mean actual months to them. In the end it boils down to how you feel about it. For me it would be a deal breaker.

The big problem is: suppose you don't get along for whatever reason. Then you're in a hellish situation 24/7 because not only will there be an uncomfortable situation at work, there will be one at home as well. This means you can't leave your problems at work.

Moreover what if you wanted to bring a female Korean friend back to your place? Everyone at the school will likely know about it by the end of tomorrow.

I'd bring up my concerns at the next meeting (leaving the K-girl one out of it Laughing

) and make sure that they knew just how strongly I felt about it. And then the next meeting after that and the next one until he got moved.

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

Where does this "time is like an arrow", "time flies like an arrow" meme come from?

pest1 · Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Location: Korea

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

Did they tell you this face-to-face or write a letter?

Why would they put you in a position where you have to make yourself look bad in their eye? What their doing is really unacceptable.

Anyway, I would've said, on the spot, that I was sorry, but I can't live with other people. Leave out sorry.

I was originally set up temporarily in this older dude co-teacher's apartment for a couple of weeks. Had to sleep on the fucking floor and my boss actually thought that I sould pay my share of the utilities for the two more than two weeks that I was crashing on the floor. No mattress accept for that teachers fold up floor couch deals. I flat out said, "No. I'm not paying that. What is that? A management fee? I'm not paying that?" The old dude teacher had to pay it all. He told me that I was his guest and that it was his responsibility. I didn't agree, but I sure the hell wasn't going to pay it.

To make a long story short, just say "no".