One year ago today...

One year ago today, a person I have never met, nor even sent an email too, ended his life in Beijing China. This person is the reason I'm living in Korea today. When I was a University student I knew when I graduated it would be tough to find a job, America was in a recession at the time. I started looking at other things I could do, the only idea that came into my head was travel. I started reading people's blogs and eventually came across the Korea Life Blog. The blog was funny and informative, full of pictures and was updated every day, sometimes multiple times a day. I quickly became a daily reader and started thinking about teaching ESL myself. Well here I am.

There are a couple things I really liked about Shawn's blog. The first is that he updated almost every single day. I knew without a doubt that there would be something new to read every time I checked his blog. The second thing is that he always had a positive humorous way of writing about the most difficult situations. He kept his writing positive even when he was having a rough time. Third, he wrote in a personal way, he gave details about his life that I would never do. Finally, a lot of his posts were written in story format. He would have characters, and pictures, and I often felt like I was reading a book.

Shawn eventually wrote a book about his time in Korea. You can buy it here. He was a very talented writer.

He eventually moved to China after living in Korea for 5 years. He ended his life one year ago today. Someone archived Shawn's China life blog, you can read it here. Even though Shawn's Korea life blog has been deleted, through the magic of the internet you can still read it here.

I've been here 7 months now, I've had good times and bad. I've seen things, learned things, and met people that have already changed my life forever. My world view has been expanded. I now realize just how big the world is. I'm still struggling as a blogger, I can't seem to find a good format. I don't think I would be able to emulate Shawn's format, he was just too talented a writer. I've thought about only focusing on Korean culture, maybe food or history, but thats already been done. The only unique thing I can offer is my experience in Korea. So I will write about that, the good and bad, the negative and the positive. I will try to write honestly so I don't give anyone false impressions that this place is paradise. Most importantly, I will try to update every day, even if it's just a couple pictures or sentences.

Well, I never knew you Shawn, but thanks for everything man.

Finally figured it out

Funny how you learn new lessons in life. I really wonder if I would have ever figured this one out if I never came here.

It's not about how good you are at your job, or what you look like, or anything else, it's how you make people feel, period.

First day at work with my new strategy worked very well. I was all smiles, talked to the boss, made sure to wish him a good weekend, and he was happier than I've seen him in a long time. It's not about how much the kids love me. It's about paying my respects to "the man".... and let me tell you it's not easy for me, because I have a serious thing against "the man". Some people call it a "problem with authority" some people simply call it "rebellion" but I call it "self-respect". Lets see if my new strategy works for the next 5 months.

So I've decided on what to do...

I'm just going to play nice, not worth the hassle. I figured it out last night, my kids love me, the other teachers love me, but I never pay attention to the boss. Face/honor is very important here, by not paying much attention to the boss he loses face/honor. I know what he's been telling me is BS, he's used the same lines with other teachers, they are just better at ass kissing. Guess it's time to learn a new skill.

Work situation continued...

Went out drinking with one of my co-workers last night after work. We talked about my situation and he gave me some advice. Basically he said that it's all just a game, he suggested I just tell my boss what he wants to hear. But frankly I don't care. If I get fired it just means I can find a better job in a better location where I don't have to work on Saturday. The whole hypocrisy thing just really pisses me off though. My boss keeps telling me I can't control my classes, when my classes are completely silent so he obviously is lying. When I have a noisy class I am always able to discipline them and quiet them down. However, whenever I do that he tells me I can't discipline the kids, I can't make them stand outside the classroom for 5 minutes, I can't make them stand in the corner, all I can do is write down their names and tell a Korean teacher. However, all the other foreign teachers can discipline their kids anyway they want.

I think that basically the boss just wants control. I'm really the only foreign teacher who doesn't kiss his ass. I'm just not an ass kisser, if you're a good person I will respect you very much, but it's something you need to earn. I don't care about your title or how much money you have or how anyone else treats you.

Oh, I found out why he asked for our diplomas last week. Our boss (a male) has been making sexual advances on the eldest and newest foreign teacher here. Last week he sent a text message to him asking if he could come upstairs to his room. The next day he asks for our diplomas as a cover incase the teacher (who told me this last night) asked about the text message. I learned this last night as we both spilled the beans on everything thats been happening lately.

I'll tell you what, I knew kind of what to expect when I got here. I've heard and read about some really crazy stuff that happens, but I really never expected to be living through something this strange. I guess it's all part of the adventure, and it's definitely been an eye opener. I just hope I don't end up thinking this was all a mistake when my adventure is finally over.

Work situation

So I asked for my diploma back, which made my boss very nervous, he is going to make me wait until next week for it. Another teacher was made the supervisor of the foreign teachers, which I think is a desperate attempt to not have all of us leave at the same time.

I'm starting to wonder if I want to stay here another year or just leave.

What to do...

Just found out my slimy boss didn't enroll us in the national health insurance plan, which is required by law, and is stated on my contract. I have a feeling he hasn't been paying into our pension plan as required by law until very recently when he asked us to sign a form for the pension plan. The question is, do I tell my co-worker who was told he'd have to pay $500 a month for insurance. We only have to pay about $50 bucks a month for it. Hmm, what should I do...

Cold

So I'm working on my 4th cold since moving here, my yearly average is 1 and I've only been here 7 months.

My boss is a slimy bastard, but he's so subtle about it, which makes it extremely infuriating. He asked for my original diploma one week before threatening to fire me, a common control tactic, I gave him a notarized copy since I have like 5 of them. My other co-worker just lied to him and said he mailed his home. I don't have problems with pay, but his motivation tactics to make us work harder really tear down our self-esteem. I didn't realize it until a new teacher came here and he went through the exact same stuff. I think it's time to start taking inventory of my things, and preparing for all eventualities, such as how to get to the airport, immigration office and how to send my money back home.

asdf

Besides work my life here has been pretty good. I've been busy these past couple of weekends since the weather is much better. Went with a friend to Itaewon to have a western meal, then headed to Insadong area to walk around. There are definitely advantages to hanging out with the locals.

Anyway, today I was actually threatened with being fired. I looked at my boss and said "ok", he paused a moment and said "if you agree to the terms you can keep working here". I didn't answer him as I tried to think where I should work after being fired. Realizing he had over played his hand he tried another tactic, "you only have 5 months left on the contract, I think you can endure it"..."just endure it". Again I didn't answer. He repeated again that I only have 5 months left, I can endure it. Persuaded by the fact that by my very nature I'm lazy, I agreed to stay. Now let me qualify this by saying the blame for this incident isn't completely on him, I did make a mistake. I am not completely blameless in this incident. However, what I find amusing is that if I was a Korean teacher it wouldn't have been a problem at all. Being a foreigner I am under a constant microscope and the smallest thing is blown out of proportion. One of my co-workers has it worse though, almost everything he does our boss tells him to stop, they really try to beat his personality out of him. Kinda messed up. I can't wait till my contract is finished.

Vacation days

These past 2 weeks I've been working about 3hrs a day. This happens every time our middle school students prepare for tests. From April 26 until April 29 my boss gave me a vacation. One of my co-workers took the opportunity to visit Japan, he went to Tokyo and Osaka. I stayed here and went to the Korean Folk Village with a friend on Thursday, and Saturday we went to 여의도 (Yeouido Park). The Korean Folk Village was interesting but it was jam packed with kids, it must have been kids day or something. I have never ever seen so many kids all in the same place before. I think we picked a bad day to go, but neither one of us knew so many kids would be there. We had a really good time though. Here are some pics.

Look at all these kids!!!




A traditional wedding.


Temple.


Inside the temple.


Seesaw Traditional Korean style.