RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD

Trying to find something that should be very easy to find but no one has one in stock.

In my case I wanted to buy a Steinberger bass guitar, or a copy which several companies make. I went to the Nakwon Music Arcade in Seoul. There are dozens of guitar/bass shops with every model and not a single Steinberger or 'berger copy to be seen. I was amazed.

Later that night I went to a club and the bass player was playing one. I asked him where he got it and he wouldn't tell me! It was like a secret CIA thing. Astounding. It's a freaking bass dude. Not the launch codes for the silos in Nebraska.

Trying to find something that should be very easy to find but no one has one in stock.

In my case I wanted to buy a Steinberger bass guitar, or a copy which several companies make. I went to the Nakwon Music Arcade in Seoul. There are dozens of guitar/bass shops with every model and not a single Steinberger or 'berger copy to be seen. I was amazed.

Later that night I went to a club and the bass player was playing one. I asked him where he got it and he wouldn't tell me! It was like a secret CIA thing. Astounding. It's a freaking bass dude. Not the launch codes for the silos in Nebraska.

http://www.schoolmusic.co.kr/Shop/index.php3?var=GoodList&large_number=4&middle_number=803

Take your pick!

I was eyeing those recently myself, since it's a huge PITA taking a full-sized bass on the bus with me.

Do these people not have any respect for their own personal time? They just blindly do whatever their superiors tell them to do, whether or not they already had plans.

This is literally what Korean hierarchy is based on and how the entire society and culture functions.

Every time I open the door to leave or go into a shop, bank etc and there is an adjosssi on the other side they always force their way in first like im opening the for them. Next time this happens im gna shut the door in their faces!!!!!

It's so annoying!!

Every time I open the door to leave or go into a shop, bank etc and there is an adjosssi on the other side they always force their way in first like im opening the for them. Next time this happens im gna shut the door in their faces!!!!!

It's so annoying!!

Why don't you....just open the door for them? I hear it's good manners to hold the door open for other people.

People get angry about the dumbest things here.

Every time I open the door to leave or go into a shop, bank etc and there is an adjosssi on the other side they always force their way in first like im opening the for them. Next time this happens im gna shut the door in their faces!!!!!

It's so annoying!!

Why don't you....just open the door for them? I hear it's good manners to hold the door open for other people.

People get angry about the dumbest things here.

Not when you never ever get a thank you or a smile in your direction.
Its like an entitlement here.

"Please buy some board games for the classroom, up to 200,000원, and give us the receipts."

Two days later.
"Here are the games and receipts."

One month later.
"Our school doesn't have the budget to reimburse you for the games. You paid for them so you should try to return them where you bought them."

"...they're opened and kids have already played with them..."

WHY IS THIS MY PROBLEM

Every time I open the door to leave or go into a shop, bank etc and there is an adjosssi on the other side they always force their way in first like im opening the for them. Next time this happens im gna shut the door in their faces!!!!!

It's so annoying!!

Why don't you....just open the door for them? I hear it's good manners to hold the door open for other people.

People get angry about the dumbest things here.

Not when you never ever get a thank you or a smile in your direction.
Its like an entitlement here.

Yeah..you don't do something nice just to be commended for it. Them not thanking you is their bad-mannered behavior, doesn't lower your act at all.

If the thank you or smile is what you're doing it for, you're not doing a nice thing to begin with. Sorry.

Actually you do have a choice.

You do NOT have to go to after school activities, and if it's a volleyball game, and not actually a school function, you can option to just sit at the school by yourself until 4:40.

Sure you don't have to do anything but it is tiring having to factor in the ridiculous sensitivities. One can but dream that one day we will be able to accept or decline social events and not have to feel that we are dealing with teenage girls who have just experienced their first heartache .

is a dream, a crazy dream but I can't let it go. One day Koreans will finally finish puberty. Mark my words, it will happen

Actually you do have a choice.

You do NOT have to go to after school activities, and if it's a volleyball game, and not actually a school function, you can option to just sit at the school by yourself until 4:40.

Sure you don't have to do anything but it is tiring having to factor in the ridiculous sensitivities. One can but dream that one day we will be able to accept or decline social events and not have to feel that we are dealing with teenage girls who have just experienced their first heartache .

is a dream, a crazy dream but I can't let it go. One day Koreans will finally finish puberty. Mark my words, it will happen

Anywhere in the world, with any job, you are probably going to have to accept to do something you don't want to in order to have better relations with people you work with. Be happy its volleyball, or a meal here. Wait until your next job requires you to "help out" by cleaning the faculty toilet because all the janitors are on strike.

Every time I open the door to leave or go into a shop, bank etc and there is an adjosssi on the other side they always force their way in first like im opening the for them. Next time this happens im gna shut the door in their faces!!!!!

It's so annoying!!

Why don't you....just open the door for them? I hear it's good manners to hold the door open for other people.

People get angry about the dumbest things here.

Not when you never ever get a thank you or a smile in your direction.
Its like an entitlement here.

Yeah..you don't do something nice just to be commended for it. Them not thanking you is their bad-mannered behavior, doesn't lower your act at all.

If the thank you or smile is what you're doing it for, you're not doing a nice thing to begin with. Sorry.

Since you only "heard" that it was good manners guessing you are one of those rude adjossis. And you're apologist in chief you will never understand nor want to.

Actually you do have a choice.

You do NOT have to go to after school activities, and if it's a volleyball game, and not actually a school function, you can option to just sit at the school by yourself until 4:40.

Sure you don't have to do anything but it is tiring having to factor in the ridiculous sensitivities. One can but dream that one day we will be able to accept or decline social events and not have to feel that we are dealing with teenage girls who have just experienced their first heartache .

is a dream, a crazy dream but I can't let it go. One day Koreans will finally finish puberty. Mark my words, it will happen

It's all an act. When my CT starts begging and whining, I just say, sorry... then I turn away.


If you only do it to save face, then I don't know what to tell you. Fine, let it control your life. Guess what, they already have a preconceived notion of foreigners in their head anyway.

Whatever floats your boat.

Actually you do have a choice.

You do NOT have to go to after school activities, and if it's a volleyball game, and not actually a school function, you can option to just sit at the school by yourself until 4:40.

Sure you don't have to do anything but it is tiring having to factor in the ridiculous sensitivities. One can but dream that one day we will be able to accept or decline social events and not have to feel that we are dealing with teenage girls who have just experienced their first heartache .

is a dream, a crazy dream but I can't let it go. One day Koreans will finally finish puberty. Mark my words, it will happen

Anywhere in the world, with any job, you are probably going to have to accept to do something you don't want to in order to have better relations with people you work with. Be happy its volleyball, or a meal here. Wait until your next job requires you to "help out" by cleaning the faculty toilet because all the janitors are on strike.

Most places in the world, in most jobs, being competent is enough. Sorry to break this to you but Korea is rather special in that it is vital that everyone go out together and get hammered although most if them hate it.

We all know that as long as you get blotto with the VP and turn your head away when you do a shot with the principal then it won't matter if you are Socrates reborn or you are renting your grade 3 students to Bielorussian sailors at Busan docks.

It's a great system for waegs without a clue but it can be a bit demoralising for those of us who give a toss about education.

Off topic, If your colleagues are making you clean toilets then call a co-ordinator. If you want I can come to your school and tell them to stop picking on you.

Actually you do have a choice.

You do NOT have to go to after school activities, and if it's a volleyball game, and not actually a school function, you can option to just sit at the school by yourself until 4:40.

Sure you don't have to do anything but it is tiring having to factor in the ridiculous sensitivities. One can but dream that one day we will be able to accept or decline social events and not have to feel that we are dealing with teenage girls who have just experienced their first heartache .

is a dream, a crazy dream but I can't let it go. One day Koreans will finally finish puberty. Mark my words, it will happen

Anywhere in the world, with any job, you are probably going to have to accept to do something you don't want to in order to have better relations with people you work with. Be happy its volleyball, or a meal here. Wait until your next job requires you to "help out" by cleaning the faculty toilet because all the janitors are on strike.

Off topic, If your colleagues are making you clean toilets then call a co-ordinator. If you want I can come to your school and tell them to stop picking on you.

Someone like tang that defends his Korea with his life shouldnt mine cleaning and flushing down the crap of his own people though. So in my opinion he should do it.

Even though its a "Thankless" job with no validation. Cos doing something good doesnt need a thank you or a smile.

Actually you do have a choice.

You do NOT have to go to after school activities, and if it's a volleyball game, and not actually a school function, you can option to just sit at the school by yourself until 4:40.

Sure you don't have to do anything but it is tiring having to factor in the ridiculous sensitivities. One can but dream that one day we will be able to accept or decline social events and not have to feel that we are dealing with teenage girls who have just experienced their first heartache .

is a dream, a crazy dream but I can't let it go. One day Koreans will finally finish puberty. Mark my words, it will happen

Anywhere in the world, with any job, you are probably going to have to accept to do something you don't want to in order to have better relations with people you work with. Be happy its volleyball, or a meal here. Wait until your next job requires you to "help out" by cleaning the faculty toilet because all the janitors are on strike.

How many jobs have you had? I dont mean serving in a restaurant or other student jobs. Real, grown up jobs.
I'm probably a fair bit older than you and I've had a fair few jobs, here, in Japan, Italy and my home country. Never, and that's not an over exaggeration, never have I had to attend the kind of bollocks I've had to do here. Sure we had work parties, but no one give a shiit if you chose not to go. No one took offense.

Actually you do have a choice.

You do NOT have to go to after school activities, and if it's a volleyball game, and not actually a school function, you can option to just sit at the school by yourself until 4:40.

Sure you don't have to do anything but it is tiring having to factor in the ridiculous sensitivities. One can but dream that one day we will be able to accept or decline social events and not have to feel that we are dealing with teenage girls who have just experienced their first heartache .

is a dream, a crazy dream but I can't let it go. One day Koreans will finally finish puberty. Mark my words, it will happen

Anywhere in the world, with any job, you are probably going to have to accept to do something you don't want to in order to have better relations with people you work with. Be happy its volleyball, or a meal here. Wait until your next job requires you to "help out" by cleaning the faculty toilet because all the janitors are on strike.

Most places in the world, in most jobs, being competent is enough. Sorry to break this to you but Korea is rather special in that it is vital that everyone go out together and get hammered although most if them hate it.

We all know that as long as you get blotto with the VP and turn your head away when you do a shot with the principal then it won't matter if you are Socrates reborn or you are renting your grade 3 students to Bielorussian sailors at Busan docks.

It's a great system for waegs without a clue but it can be a bit demoralising for those of us who give a toss about education.

Off topic, If your colleagues are making you clean toilets then call a co-ordinator. If you want I can come to your school and tell them to stop picking on you.

"Mind if you stay an extra hour or two for overtime?"

"I need someone to come in this weekend and organize the papers"

"I need you to take over my class as I just got called into an emergency meeting with a troubled student"

"Can you do me a solid and take this client of mine out for a night around town. He's your age and I have no clue how to entertain this guy, what with me being 50 and all".

"This is the new guy. Can you please show him the ropes?"

"You're coming to the work party right?"

I've had most of these questions asked me. Korea is exactly the same as the rest of the world. You are going to survive and keep your job even if you say no to everything. You're certainly not going to get any favors for yourself, and you're not going to get that promotion you want. 

I help out with covering classes. I do basically anything and everything my coteachers/principal asks of me. They let me choose my vacation dates 4 months/6 months ahead of time. They help me buy things I need that I can't otherwise find in English and sometimes not even request money. I have never had trouble asking to slip out of school early and having my vacation time taken off, or a couple hours during my deskwarming hours to run errands.

In our case, there is no promotion. But the favors I've received have certainly proved to be helpful.

Going to an event isn't so hard. Did you know someone had to take the time and plan out the event? What happens if no one shows up? Ever put together an activity that your kids gave 0 shit about? I'm guessing you were probably a little upset they weren't as enthusiastic as you thought they'd be.

Actually you do have a choice.

You do NOT have to go to after school activities, and if it's a volleyball game, and not actually a school function, you can option to just sit at the school by yourself until 4:40.

Sure you don't have to do anything but it is tiring having to factor in the ridiculous sensitivities. One can but dream that one day we will be able to accept or decline social events and not have to feel that we are dealing with teenage girls who have just experienced their first heartache .

is a dream, a crazy dream but I can't let it go. One day Koreans will finally finish puberty. Mark my words, it will happen

Anywhere in the world, with any job, you are probably going to have to accept to do something you don't want to in order to have better relations with people you work with. Be happy its volleyball, or a meal here. Wait until your next job requires you to "help out" by cleaning the faculty toilet because all the janitors are on strike.

How many jobs have you had? I dont mean serving in a restaurant or other student jobs. Real, grown up jobs.
I'm probably a fair bit older than you and I've had a fair few jobs, here, in Japan, Italy and my home country. Never, and that's not an over exaggeration, never have I had to attend the kind of bollocks I've had to do here. Sure we had work parties, but no one give a shiit if you chose not to go. No one took offense.

I"m sure you've encountered bullocks here that you didn't have to at home. That's called cultural difference. With your age, You should know this by now. I"m sure there are things people will take offense to back home that no one would care about here.

If I didn't hold the door for a colleague back home, they'd think I am rude. Here, No one bats an eye.
If I held all my drinks with two hands and looked away as I drank from senior colleagues back in Canada, they'd think I was crazy. Here it's the norm.
If I took a nap at work in Canada, I'd be fired. Here it's the norm.
If I called someone I don't know an ajumma (or the english equivalent of the word) in English, they'd probably be very insulted. Here it's the norm.

Regarding 회식 and such school functions, attendance may well be mandatory if you expect another contract.

I met a former CT and some friends for dinner over the weekend. She casually told two relevant stories (hearsay, I admit it, but interesting).

1. She knew of this NET who made amazing lesson materials, handled all his middle school classes really well, and never caused any problems for the school. Unfortunately, he always had schedule conflicts and missed the faculty outings.
Renewal time came around. The principal didn't personally know the NET, so simply checked a box to request a new NET. No real reason, just, "Why not?" No discussions with the other faculty. (No apparent attempt by the principal the whole previous year to visit the classrooms or offices of teachers working daily in his school... )
 I have no idea if the NET ever learned the (lack of) rationale behind his renewal rejection.

To the people making contract decisions, these events can be more important than impressive job performance.

2. Some other alleged NET was bold enough to offer soju to the high-level faculty first at one dinner. My CT related the story with awe and reverence. No mention was made of the NET's ability to do the job... but that soju offer was on point!

Do these people not have any respect for their own personal time? They just blindly do whatever their superiors tell them to do, whether or not they already had plans.

This is literally what Korean hierarchy is based on and how the entire society and culture functions.

And when it's the blind leading the blind...or is that dumb leading the...
You can see why so many Koreans repeat the same mistakes again when they move into senior management. My job is to tell someone to do this thing which I don't quite understand because I was also blind before and knew not what I did. So, here make a Ppt. about the thing I want you tell us about in the meeting that we already know. /Morning and afternoon. Repeat and rinse at least twice a week for logging those unproductive hours. Cause you know Ppt. graphics are best friends with Active X controls. /Rant

you're not going to get that promotion you want. 

True. A negative attitude is what is hindering me and many other waegs from reaching the dizzy heights of educational officialdom. So many open doors in Korea that I have slammed on myself. Thank you for reminding newbies that with the right spirit they can one day aspire to be a level 1+.

They let me choose my vacation dates 4 months/6 months ahead of time.

Really!? I am gobsmacked! A workplace let a someone plan their contractually enforced vacation ahead of time? That's nuts. It's like you were working in a place with a predictable yearly cycle. They are so kind to you!

They help me buy things I need that I can't otherwise find in English

Wow. I wish I had that kind of pull. Can you imagine getting someone to actually click a mouse for 3 minutes? You underestimate yourself. Sure, you're a model employee but to do that I think you have more than your fair share of charm. Your helpers wouldn't be of the fairer sex by any chance? Go get em',  you little heart breaker!

Did you know someone had to take the time and plan out the event?

You've saved the best for last. Too often we forget the human hearts behind the hweshiks. We focus only on our selfish little lives and fail to see the toil and effort people put into it.

How would you feel it was your job? What if it was you who had to call the local samgyupsal joint to see if they could accommodate a large party. I have heard of cases where two or even three samgyupsal joints had to be called before securing a reservation. And then you actually have to go on the messenger, type the time and place and send it to everyone. All that for some whiny foreigner to spit in your face with some emasly excuse of having made plans for Friday night and if only you had told me on Thursday and blah blah blah.