RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

No sweat lodge at my school. The thermostat's set to 20 in my office, and a fair percentage of the teachers here are unfamiliar with the concept of closing the door when they enter a room. I miss being in my old office, where my desk was close enough to the door that I could just scoot over a bit, reach out, and close it without getting up.

Yeah this is the second school i have been at where they have replaced the standard door that would always close by itself with a sliding door that often will stay open unless you push it closed. In winter a cold draft with come into the room with the door open. I seem to be the only one who will ever get up and close it.

We have no heat and I think they won't turn it on until December 1st. Not so bad yesterday and today, but the first half of the week it was like an ice box. I could see my breath while teaching. I would much prefer to go without heat in the winter than AC in the summer, though.

The radiator is set at 30 Degrees (86F) today in the office area that I share with about 4 other people.  I get that it's chilly out, but do we need to be tropical indoors? During the summer when we didn't use the AC to "save on electricity costs," I was all in because a little sweat won't hurt me. Why aren't we using the same logic during the winter? Heat up to 21-23 and if you're still cold put on a sweater! I don't know, maybe I'm turning into my father

I sweat more in the winter here than in summer

Lol so true. 

Going shopping in Homeplus during the winter months?  Right, pop your shorts on.

Lol so true. 

Going shopping in Homeplus during the winter months?  Right, pop your shorts on.

Haha man can relate  The only reason I want to get a car in Korea is so that I can avoid the hell that buses become in winter.

Ulsan is cutting all public school NETs.

That’s a big city, too. Population: over a million.

Very rich city, too. According to Wikipedia: “In 2017, Ulsan had a GDP per capita of $65,093, the highest of any region in South Korea.”

But because of budgetary constraints, they can no longer afford NETs.

Seems to me like they just don’t want them.

Ulsan is cutting all public school NETs.

That’s a big city, too. Population: over a million.

Very rich city, too. According to Wikipedia: “In 2017, Ulsan had a GDP per capita of $65,093, the highest of any region in South Korea.”

But because of budgetary constraints, they can no longer afford NETs.

Seems to me like they just don’t want them.

Yeah quite worrying but not all jobs are gone.

https://news.v.daum.net/v/20191124173029753

42 NET positions out of 147 will be cut due to budgetary restraints and reallocation.  Money to be used elsewhere - expanding free lunches, free school uniform for middle and high school students next year.

The only thing that annoys me is HomePlus checkout—bagging your own groceries, while unlocking your phone to show the points card thing, while paying. And then she looks at you like "yah, bali bali."

Hey, we don't have that many hands!!!

I just saw a car in traffic, with both side mirrors folded in. Changing lanes and all. Mind blowing...

I really dislike when a teacher in the school gives out gifts, food, invitations to events or weddings, or anything unimportant to all other teachers, but then walks right past me without saying anything or offering said thing to me. Like it's fine don't invite me to your wedding because you don't want me there or don't know how to ask me.....but when you are offering food etc it's pretty rude....at least make it less obvious. I  am a foreigner yes, but I am a person just like you. Also, hate when coteachers are so condescending....it's like I have a degree just like you too and although I may not understand Korea or Korean 100% I'm not stupid.

I really dislike when a teacher in the school gives out gifts, food, invitations to events or weddings, or anything unimportant to all other teachers, but then walks right past me without saying anything or offering said thing to me. Like it's fine don't invite me to your wedding because you don't want me there or don't know how to ask me.....but when you are offering food etc it's pretty rude....at least make it less obvious. I  am a foreigner yes, but I am a person just like you. Also, hate when coteachers are so condescending....it's like I have a degree just like you too and although I may not understand Korea or Korean 100% I'm not stupid.

Ehhh, it's not that simple. In some cases there's a distinction made between teachers and other employees. Some of this has to do with union membership and such. They simply have the number based on that list and buy accordingly. Then there's also the cycle of obligation that might go with it and so on and so on.

You're a contracted temp worker. You are not the same. And be thankful because that also lets you get out of a host of functions and obligations that I would give up 20 boxes of towels/cooking oil/tuna/weddings where I have to give 50k/events that ruin my weekend/etc.

If you're going to be a part of it, everything has to come with it. Not just the good, but the bad as well.

Ulsan is cutting all public school NETs.

That’s a big city, too. Population: over a million.

Very rich city, too. According to Wikipedia: “In 2017, Ulsan had a GDP per capita of $65,093, the highest of any region in South Korea.”

But because of budgetary constraints, they can no longer afford NETs.

Seems to me like they just don’t want them.

Yeah quite worrying but not all jobs are gone.

https://news.v.daum.net/v/20191124173029753

42 NET positions out of 147 will be cut due to budgetary restraints and reallocation.  Money to be used elsewhere - expanding free lunches, free school uniform for middle and high school students next year.

I threw that link into the translator.


The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education has decided to gradually reduce the number of native English teachers from next year. The education office attributed the decrease to the reduced funding due to the Ulsan city government's tight budget, but it has decided to expand the free school uniform support project by injecting some 2.3 billion won into the city's budget starting next year, and plans to continue the eco-friendly free school meal project. Critics say the liberal education chief, Roh Ok-hee, who took office in July, will only fuel private education as he turns a blind eye to easy education by sticking to the pretext of "expanding educational welfare."

According to the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education on Monday, 42 out of 147 native English-speaking teachers will not renew their contracts. The education office will gradually reduce the number of native English teachers, saying, "It is unclear whether we will secure the budget." Regarding the reduction of native English-speaking assistant teachers, the city education office said, "This is because the city of Ulsan has decided to provide only 500 million won, down 2.5 billion won from 3 billion won last year, due to a reduction in tax revenues." Accordingly, next year's budget for supporting native English teachers will total 4 billion won, including 3.5 billion won in the education office, which is about 700 million won more than last year, down 1.8 billion won from 5.8 billion won last year. It also explained that instead of reducing the number of native English-speaking assistant teachers, the city education office decided to allocate 800 million won for the budget for enhancing the capabilities of Korean English teachers to create a "Ulsan-type English education" model. "We will strengthen our English teachers' capabilities and develop and share good teaching methods," said an official from the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education.

While reducing the budget for native English-speaking teachers, the Ulsan Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education decided to spend a total of 5.6 billion won to provide middle and high school students with summer and winter uniforms free of charge starting next year, up 3.3 billion won from this year. The free school uniform project is designed to provide uniform and uniform uniforms for new students entering middle and high schools, a pledge project by Roh. Until now, the city education office has provided 50 percent of the upper limit of 250,000 won for ordinary students, and 100 percent for low-income and multi-child students. Although the city education office conducted the school uniform support project with 3.2 billion won (approx. 3 million U.S. dollars) in its own budget this year, Ulsan City and five districts and counties will provide an additional 2.2 billion won (2.4 million dollars) from next year.

The city education office will continue its eco-friendly free school lunch program next year following this year Regarding eco-friendly free school meals, the city of Ulsan implemented free school meals from September 2018 to high schools, and started to provide eco-friendly meals this year. The related budget for next year also increased by 4 billion won from this year to 86.4 billion won, including 60.9 billion won from the municipal education office and 25.5 billion won from Ulsan city, county and district. Due to this reason, the amount of money that Ulsan City and five districts and counties will provide to education offices has also increased from 91.5 billion won this year to 96 billion won next year.

In and around the city of Ulsan, the city education office seems to have pushed for a drastic expansion of the budget related to Roh's pledges, instead of cutting the budget for native English teachers during budget consultations. "The decision was made based on internal circumstances of the education office during the consultation with the education office," a city official said. In response, Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education said, "We will not sign contracts for 42 people whose contracts expire in February next year, but we will continue to take charge of the rest," adding, "We are not quitting the system at all."

Local parents are divided over the news. Some parents expect free school uniforms to reduce the financial burden. Others, on the other hand, worry that the city's education office will eventually be forced into the private education market if public English education becomes poor. The budget bill will be finalized on April 13 after a review by the city council. /Ulsan: Zhang Ji-seung

I really dislike when a teacher in the school gives out gifts, food, invitations to events or weddings, or anything unimportant to all other teachers, but then walks right past me without saying anything or offering said thing to me. Like it's fine don't invite me to your wedding because you don't want me there or don't know how to ask me.....but when you are offering food etc it's pretty rude....at least make it less obvious. I  am a foreigner yes, but I am a person just like you. Also, hate when coteachers are so condescending....it's like I have a degree just like you too and although I may not understand Korea or Korean 100% I'm not stupid.

Ehhh, it's not that simple. In some cases there's a distinction made between teachers and other employees. Some of this has to do with union membership and such. They simply have the number based on that list and buy accordingly. Then there's also the cycle of obligation that might go with it and so on and so on.

You're a contracted temp worker. You are not the same. And be thankful because that also lets you get out of a host of functions and obligations that I would give up 20 boxes of towels/cooking oil/tuna/weddings where I have to give 50k/events that ruin my weekend/etc.

If you're going to be a part of it, everything has to come with it. Not just the good, but the bad as well.

I know what you mean, but I am talking about stuff unrelated to the teachers unions or any group, I also pay to be part of the teacher friends group as they call it for school dinners etc.....I just mean students make cookies...teachers give cookies away to all teachers except me.....

In the grand game of Office Politics, there's nothing to be gained from being nice to the NET, and nothing to be lost from excluding us. We aren't one of them. We never will be. We have no say in their performance reviews, there are no professional benefits to cozying up to us. That can lead to exclusion and frigid office interactions, of course, but in my experience there's usually at least one Korean coworker who will try to make you feel included simply because they're nice people and it's the nice thing to do.

Interestingly, back when I still attended office dinners, it was often the bus drivers or the groundskeepers who were the most likely to come over and pour me a drink. While all the teachers and admin are shuffling around trying to find the right people to schmooze, the people at the bottom of the hierarchy can just sit back and relax.

I really dislike when a teacher in the school gives out gifts, food, invitations to events or weddings, or anything unimportant to all other teachers, but then walks right past me without saying anything or offering said thing to me. Like it's fine don't invite me to your wedding because you don't want me there or don't know how to ask me.....but when you are offering food etc it's pretty rude....at least make it less obvious. I  am a foreigner yes, but I am a person just like you. Also, hate when coteachers are so condescending....it's like I have a degree just like you too and although I may not understand Korea or Korean 100% I'm not stupid.

Lol why would you want to be invited to a wedding? Having to give wedding money, plus actually having to go to the wedding? Barf.

Also, the food that is given out is typically a thank you for wedding or funeral money. If you want 떡 that badly, there are a lot cheaper ways to get it.

I think it's pretty clear what nightninja is saying. It's not so much the lack of invitation or gift of food. It's more the way that it is openly done in front of those who weren't invited. At least try to do it lowkey or whatever.
Last month a toeic teacher brought in donuts from Krispy Kreme and over dramatically handed them out. She purposefully just missed one guy out. There were plenty of left overs too. This wasn't a gift for funeral/wedding/etc money. Just a random snack. The guy she didn't give to is part time so I guess that's what she was thinking. But to do it directly in front of him is comedically rude.

In the grand game of Office Politics, there's nothing to be gained from being nice to the NET, and nothing to be lost from excluding us. We aren't one of them. We never will be. We have no say in their performance reviews, there are no professional benefits to cozying up to us. That can lead to exclusion and frigid office interactions, of course, but in my experience there's usually at least one Korean coworker who will try to make you feel included simply because they're nice people and it's the nice thing to do.

Interestingly, back when I still attended office dinners, it was often the bus drivers or the groundskeepers who were the most likely to come over and pour me a drink. While all the teachers and admin are shuffling around trying to find the right people to schmooze, the people at the bottom of the hierarchy can just sit back and relax.

True that. The most down to Earth people I know and interact with here are usually also the most downtrodden ones. They tend to empathize more with others, and are more likely to sympathize with the isolated NET. They're the ones who express the most concern for me and who will go out of their way to try to make me feel included, even when they can't speak any English.

While I appreciate most of the coTs I've had over the years, there's only been two who didn't treat me like a novelty, a burden/duty, or an outsider. Unsurprisingly, they both grew up in poor communities where they had to work harder than most to get to where they are. They still get involved in office politics because that's unavoidable and you've got to learn how to play the game, but they play it based on their own standards and values. I have the upmost respect for them as people. No matter what power play is going on in the office, they absolutely refuse to exclude anyone. They'll divvy up their share of anything if someone gets left out.

Teenagers in South Korea are the laziest in the world, according to a global study.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7711713/The-worlds-laziest-teenagers-7-children-South-Korea-active-hour-day.html

Korean kids are spending too much time playing cell phone games and computer games. 

Incidentally, without exercise how are they able to stay so thin? Ectomorphic genetics?

Teenagers in South Korea are the laziest in the world, according to a global study.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7711713/The-worlds-laziest-teenagers-7-children-South-Korea-active-hour-day.html

Korean kids are spending too much time playing cell phone games and computer games. 

Incidentally, without exercise how are they able to stay so thin? Ectomorphic genetics?

Anna and Bella

Anorexia & Bulimia

Teenagers in South Korea are the laziest in the world, according to a global study.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7711713/The-worlds-laziest-teenagers-7-children-South-Korea-active-hour-day.html

Korean kids are spending too much time playing cell phone games and computer games. 

Incidentally, without exercise how are they able to stay so thin? Ectomorphic genetics?

I've been in a similar situation these past few weeks. The end of a long ass year has left me mentally drained. I'm training 6 days a week (conditioning for surfing during the holidays) so I'm physically drained.
The mental drain makes it difficult to sleep and the physical drain makes you too tired or lethargic to want to do anything besides videos games or TV, which makes sleep even more elusive. 
This is a temporary state for me and I think I'll feel refreshed after going on holiday. For these kids, it's a lifestyle.

When I stop exercising, I shed weight too. The worst is when I eat junk food and don't exercise, then a begin resembling a Somalian.