RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

My first week of camp last week was less than good. I cannot believe I have to do it all over again. Here's to hoping that this week will be somewhat better. 3rd and 4th graders can find fun in almost anything.

Friday, please get here quickly so I can finally get on a plane, and get out of this place!

Lol I didn't feel like wearing makeup today so I wore a face mask and everyone thinks I'm sick and is freaking out.  I just argued with my co-teacher for about 5 minutes about how she doesn't need to call the vice principal and tell her I'm sick.  She finally dropped it but has now instructed me to sleep on my desk.

Today I come to school ready to desk warm only to be met by the day care teacher telling me I have to teacher a 40 min class every day until my vacation.

There is so much crap going on in my life back home that I think I am experiencing a mental break here.

I have literally sat at my desk in my empty English room with the lights off and cried ever since my campers left. I am so glad no one has thought to drag me to the teacher's office today because I don't think I could explain myself.

Deskwarming after camp last week was so peaceful.  Now my coteacher is here and sitting right next to me and she just sits at her desk with her computer off not moving or she paces back and forth doing weird stretches.  I always feel like she's looking over my shoulder.  Why can't she bring a book or something.

There is so much crap going on in my life back home that I think I am experiencing a mental break here.

I have literally sat at my desk in my empty English room with the lights off and cried ever since my campers left. I am so glad no one has thought to drag me to the teacher's office today because I don't think I could explain myself.

I know that feeling.
I hope things get better for you.

That's what I would. call "a perfect time for a sick day".

Afterall, they are not just to be used for physical health.

Hang in there...

So... my co-teacher informed me that to get to the immigration office to renew my visa we'll be taking a bus, the mugunghwa, and the metro.  She doesn't want to drive because it's so far away.  That seems like a perfectly good reason to drive to me.   

So... my co-teacher informed me that to get to the immigration office to renew my visa we'll be taking a bus, the mugunghwa, and the metro.  She doesn't want to drive because it's so far away.  That seems like a perfectly good reason to drive to me.   

Why is she escorting you?

Surely, after navigating your way around Korea for the past 12+ months, it's unnecessary.

What gives?

I had been at my school less than 2 months before I was told to plan camp entirely by myself. Yep, no worries, I'm sure lots of new teachers have been in the same position. NBD.

So ...
TL;DR
EFF CAMP AND EFF MY LIFE

The next time someone asks me about working in Korea, asking for help or recommendations, I'm just going to paste them your post. This post is just so Korea. Camp is the absolute WORST. Hope you have a great vacation planned so you can forget the whole thing, at least for a little bit

Right?! It's like it ticks off every typical frustration into one (not so) little story. At least that's what it felt like when it was happening. None of it would have been that big a deal until the little kid started complaining.

But thanks for the happy vacation wishes! You're almost free toooooooo.

I had been at my school less than 2 months before I was told to plan camp entirely by myself. Yep, no worries, I'm sure lots of new teachers have been in the same position. NBD.

So ...
TL;DR
EFF CAMP AND EFF MY LIFE

The next time someone asks me about working in Korea, asking for help or recommendations, I'm just going to paste them your post. This post is just so Korea. Camp is the absolute WORST. Hope you have a great vacation planned so you can forget the whole thing, at least for a little bit

Right?! It's like it ticks off every typical frustration into one (not so) little story. At least that's what it felt like when it was happening. None of it would have been that big a deal until the little kid started complaining.

But thanks for the happy vacation wishes! You're almost free toooooooo.

Thanks! 1 day of classes left and 1 deskwarming day and that's it 

I don't like being yanked around to lunch here and there without any warning or asking.

I guess maybe it's my POV. Some people might see it as free lunch by people who don't want me eating alone, but it doesn't feel as nice as it sounds. I pack a lunch that I want to eat every day. I went to the store specifically to plan and by the things I want to eat after camp, but I don't get to eat these things because I have to go with the group and no one asks if I want to or not. I hate the idea here that eating alone is sad. I like it! To me, it's sad that these people can't be independent enough to eat by themselves sometimes.

If someone here asks me what I'm having for dinner on like... a Wednesday & I tell them they'll ask me who I'm eating with and act like I just said I'm about to jump from a 15 story building when I tell them I'm eating alone at home. Like, it's Wednesday night and I made myself some freaking pasta why is that an issue??? Who the hell needs to go out to dinner with people they probably don't even like every night? I've even had people tell me they skipped dinner because they had no one to eat with. Now that is f*cking sad.

I agree with you. There are plenty of times I know exactly what I want and suddenly my plans are changed because I suddenly find out about a lunch or dinner that was planned for a week,
I do have days that I'd rather not eat than eat alone, but the regular days definitely outweigh those.
I think what people here sometimes don't realize is that it's a million times more enjoyable to actually eat alone than to eat surrounded by people who don't understand you and visaversa.

I simply don't know how far it goes and that scares me away from things like getting into close relationships with people. From what I see/hear it seems like people are just living in a fantasy world of their own making for the sake of saving face or whatever.

I'm a big fan of never saying never, but that's the reason I wouldn't go local. Before I came here I never really understood the importance of a shared culture. Not lying about every single thing in life is a really important bit of culture for me.

The thing that is really just pissing me off the most is there is simply no need for them to lie about simple little things. "I forgot to blah blah blah. I'm sorry". How simple is that? It's even easier than lying!!!!!!

I have to do phone calling this camp. What am I supposed to say to a 1st grader on the phone?

Told a solid third of my camp class not to come back for the final two days. They seemed really shocked, almost upset even. I thought it was really weird, because they've been nothing but rude, disrespectful, uncooperative and lazy over the last two weeks.

But then I realised they're probably scared of having to explain to their parents why they aren't going to camp for the next two days.

Sucks to be them.

So... my co-teacher informed me that to get to the immigration office to renew my visa we'll be taking a bus, the mugunghwa, and the metro.  She doesn't want to drive because it's so far away.  That seems like a perfectly good reason to drive to me.   

Why is she escorting you?

Surely, after navigating your way around Korea for the past 12+ months, it's unnecessary.

What gives?

Hmm it never occurred to me to go alone.

I simply don't know how far it goes and that scares me away from things like getting into close relationships with people. From what I see/hear it seems like people are just living in a fantasy world of their own making for the sake of saving face or whatever.

I'm a big fan of never saying never, but that's the reason I wouldn't go local. Before I came here I never really understood the importance of a shared culture. Not lying about every single thing in life is a really important bit of culture for me.

The thing that is really just pissing me off the most is there is simply no need for them to lie about simple little things. "I forgot to blah blah blah. I'm sorry". How simple is that? It's even easier than lying!!!!!!

SAME.

I was so silly and thought that things such as not lying, not cheating (yes prostitutes count), and generally trying to live an honest life were shared among modern cultures. Boy was I wrong.

I also wonder if they think I'm a fool for being honest about things. I don't make up lies to cover my ass at work or inflate my self-worth. If I forgot something or made a mistake, I admit it. Maybe they're like "why isn't this idiot saving face she's so embarrassing!" as I'm sitting here wondering why they are so damn corrupt.

Relax. Where would humanity be without lying? I guarantee you nobody got anywhere telling the truth. It's a fact of life. Honesty means losing contacts, friends, and even family. So, what's left? Days of being alone. Doing what you want when you want to do it. Actually? it sounds do-able.

Relax. Where would humanity be without lying? I guarantee you nobody got anywhere telling the truth. It's a fact of life. Honesty means losing contacts, friends, and even family. So, what's left? Days of being alone. Doing what you want when you want to do it. Actually? it sounds do-able.

I'm sure I never lost friends or family from telling the truth when it was hard.

I don't like being yanked around to lunch here and there without any warning or asking.

I guess maybe it's my POV. Some people might see it as free lunch by people who don't want me eating alone, but it doesn't feel as nice as it sounds. I pack a lunch that I want to eat every day. I went to the store specifically to plan and buy the things I want to eat after camp, but I don't get to eat these things because I have to go with the group and no one asks if I want to or not. I hate the idea here that eating alone is sad. I like it! To me, it's sad that these people can't be independent enough to eat by themselves sometimes.

If someone here asks me what I'm having for dinner on like... a Wednesday & I tell them they'll ask me who I'm eating with and act like I just said I'm about to jump from a 15 story building when I tell them I'm eating alone at home. Like, it's Wednesday night and I made myself some freaking pasta why is that an issue??? Who the hell needs to go out to dinner with people they probably don't even like every night? I've even had people tell me they skipped dinner because they had no one to eat with. Now that is f*cking sad.

Skipped dinner because they had no one to eat with...

That is wrecking my mind right now. I mean, for one, I'd starve but I just, wow.

I simply don't know how far it goes and that scares me away from things like getting into close relationships with people. From what I see/hear it seems like people are just living in a fantasy world of their own making for the sake of saving face or whatever.

I'm a big fan of never saying never, but that's the reason I wouldn't go local. Before I came here I never really understood the importance of a shared culture. Not lying about every single thing in life is a really important bit of culture for me.

The thing that is really just pissing me off the most is there is simply no need for them to lie about simple little things. "I forgot to blah blah blah. I'm sorry". How simple is that? It's even easier than lying!!!!!!

SAME.

I was so silly and thought that things such as not lying, not cheating (yes prostitutes count), and generally trying to live an honest life were shared among modern cultures. Boy was I wrong.

I also wonder if they think I'm a fool for being honest about things. I don't make up lies to cover my ass at work or inflate my self-worth. If I forgot something or made a mistake, I admit it. Maybe they're like "why isn't this idiot saving face she's so embarrassing!" as I'm sitting here wondering why they are so damn corrupt.

Relax. Where would humanity be without lying? I guarantee you nobody got anywhere telling the truth. It's a fact of life. Honesty means losing contacts, friends, and even family. So, what's left? Days of being alone. Doing what you want when you want to do it. Actually? it sounds do-able.

I'm not sure what kind of life you live where telling the truth would hinder your existence on a regular basis. Yikes.

Imagine a world without all those little white lies we tell others (and ourselves) so that the social wheels keep turning and folks don't end up murdering one another.

What would happen if you just told your co-worker that they look fat lately and should put down that fourth doughnut? It's the truth, but do you say it? Well, maybe in a Korean workplace ...

Or maybe you tell your best friend that they were actually the one that was wrong in their recent relationship and that that's why their ex broke up with them. Maybe it's the truth, do you say it though? Probably not, you call the ex a scumbag, say everything will be alright and go out for drinks arm in arm...

We all lie to:

A) save face at some point
B) say what others want to/need to hear
C) go along to get along at work

The only difference is the cultural boundary of how and when to lie is different here in Korea than in the "West". So it seems shocking when Koreans lie about something we would never feel the need to. Annoying? Yes. Is it that different from other cultures? No.