The forgotten elephant in the room: COVID(19).

The school is working right through the winter vacation time - all students and teachers

When will Koreans learn what the word 'vacation' means?

The school is working right through the winter vacation time - all students and teachers

When will Koreans learn what the word 'vacation' means?

I think she's from New Zealand based on the other information she provided.  Anyways, Koreans adapt a number of English words and we all know what they mean.  Unless they're my students I don't bother correcting them if I understand them.  They say winter vacation where we would say winter break.  It's ok with me. 

Beijing Daily, the official Communist Party newspaper for the Chinese capital, earlier reported that the city's party chief, Cai Qi, said Monday that "for the next five years, Beijing will resolutely implement Covid-19 pandemic control measures and uphold the 'zero-Covid' policy to prevent imported cases from coming in and domestic cases from rebounding."

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/27/asia/china-zero-covid-policy-intl/index.html

The pandemic controls that would stay in place include routine PCR tests, strict entry rules, regular health checks in residential neighborhoods and public venues, as well as rigorous monitoring and testing for people entering and leaving Beijing, state media quoted Cai as saying.

Beijing Daily, the official Communist Party newspaper for the Chinese capital, earlier reported that the city's party chief, Cai Qi, said Monday that "for the next five years, Beijing will resolutely implement Covid-19 pandemic control measures and uphold the 'zero-Covid' policy to prevent imported cases from coming in and domestic cases from rebounding."

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/27/asia/china-zero-covid-policy-intl/index.html

The pandemic controls that would stay in place include routine PCR tests, strict entry rules, regular health checks in residential neighborhoods and public venues, as well as rigorous monitoring and testing for people entering and leaving Beijing, state media quoted Cai as saying.

Bad news for hangook

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) is being censored on China's internet after questioning the sustainability of the country's zero-Covid policy.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/11/china/who-china-zero-covid-unsustainable-intl-hnk/index.html

Tedros' comments, though in line with the assessment of most scientists, have also drawn the ire of Beijing, which called them "irresponsible."

Bad news for hangook

On the contrary, that's great news for Hangook.  He never really intended to go, so now he can say "If it wasn't for these damn restrictions I'd be there right now." 

On the contrary, that's great news for Hangook.  He never really intended to go, so now he can say "If it wasn't for these damn restrictions I'd be there right now." 

I already said I make a higher salary here and didn't need to go right now but would consider once restrictions are gone.  For those making 2.1 to 2,4ish, they can look at China as the salaries are quite a bit higher.  But, I also said covid is throwing a wrench into things.  As for this, will it really be 5 years?  Or will it be until their party election this fall? 

There was a young member on here recently saying he found the wages and savings BS here and that Korea was not as advertised by recruiters, word of mouth, etc. 

You can go to China, but start-up costs are prohibitive right now, and you might get caught in a brutal lockdown.

You can go to China, but start-up costs are prohibitive right now, and you might get caught in a brutal lockdown.

Start up costs?  I thought I read most employers pay the quarantine cost.  I do understand you have to buy the electricity cost and other utilities in advance.  As for apartments, many employers will give you or give you an allowance.  As I understand it Shenzhen is the worst for pay, rent, etc.  But many other places, pay is decent with cheaper rent.  Tier 2 cities which actually have large indoor shopping malls and the like which most metro cities outside of Seoul here in Korea don't have.   There are some Shenzhen public school jobs I wouldn't touch due to reasons mentioned above.  I prefer a tier 2 city one if there is no or low time spent desk warming and long vacations.  (This is what rural EPIK was like up until 10 years ago or so.) 

I think there are some misconceptions about coming to China going around. It's not just tick the box stuff. You'd be lucky to make it on the first attempt. Airfares from the US run into the tens of thousands and routinely get cancelled. Most airlines will only offer credit and your expensive covid tests will all time out. The flights only operate once per week so if you don't live close to the airport you'll need to fly back home. You really think your employer is going to pay for all that?

I think there are some misconceptions about coming to China going around. It's not just tick the box stuff. You'd be lucky to make it on the first attempt. Airfares from the US run into the tens of thousands and routinely get cancelled. Most airlines will only offer credit and your expensive covid tests will all time out. The flights only operate once per week so if you don't live close to the airport you'll need to fly back home. You really think your employer is going to pay for all that?

Well, as I said, it's better to wait until after covid.

As for start ups, I just meant quarantine fees ocne arrived.  In Korea, EPIK made people pay their own which was quite the BS. 

Well, as I said, it's better to wait until after covid.

I'm pretty sure most users on this board will be past China's age cut off by then. China doesn't have any plans to end Covid restrictions. They haven't outlined any criteria that needs to be achieved to end Zero Covid, and they have shifted the goalposts multiple times. I wouldn't hold out hope.

Is it so yesterday?
Or is it endemic?

Inbetween it continues to be a part of our daily lives yet the last 93 posts and 24 threads have had nithing to do with COVID.

Is it gone or is it overlooked?

I don't think I am the only one who is seriously sick of Covid-19.

I wonder if the Spanish flu hung on for years too.

korea is supposed to be offering up some new covid 19 guidelines tomorrow.  im curious what i tmight entail.   as the indoor mask one is the only thing that matters thats still left.

South Korea's new coronavirus cases surged to a two-month high of over 37,000 on Tuesday, driven by the spread of a highly contagious new omicron subvariant and deepening concerns over another virus wave.

https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220712002152320

korea is supposed to be offering up some new covid 19 guidelines tomorrow.  im curious what i tmight entail.   as the indoor mask one is the only thing that matters thats still left.

Unfortunately, it's more likely that they will bring back some restrictions. I'm thinking maybe they would limit again the number of people that can gather. We'll see. But don't expect the mask mandate to be gone.

40,000+ today. WTF. Here we go again.

https://search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&sm=top_sug.pre&fbm=1&acr=1&acq=%EC%BD%94&qdt=0&ie=utf8&query=%EC%BD%94%EB%A1%9C%EB%82%98+%ED%99%95%EC%A7%84%EC%9E%90

Citing experts, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said daily infections are expected to top 200,000 between mid-August and end-September.

Being scared forever is an awful way to live.

It’s never going away.

And it’s not that dangerous (for almost everyone).

Get vaccinated and / or keep your immune system strong and there’s nothing to worry about.

The problem is perception.

The pandemic is over when we decide it is over.

“Who gives a sh*t about this mild ailment” should be the proper response in areas where the vaccine has been available for years.

Here we go again!

Korea really needs to stop requiring vaccinated travelers to get Covid tested before coming here.