RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

I've never read this thread before and just skimmed a few pages for kicks. I was a little nostalgic for Korea several minutes ago...not any more. I have a classroom full of Einsteins compared to my years there.

Where are you now?

So...my school offered me renewal and a raise but then I found most of the school knows about my request for a raise  and they don't like it...suddenly, people are less friendly than before and avoid talking to me, some are even downright rude when I greet them. Yeah, so after realizing that my communications with my boss about that and reference letters was being shared with many other people, I sent a formal letter of non-renewal...just to be very clear...since apparently everything I send gets shared with the vast majority of the staff here. Ridiculous. I on edge about not renewing without a job waiting in the wings, but unfortunately, at this time of year that is generally how it goes.  Got some leads, but for now...the anxiety is building.

I'm often surprised by the lack of business sense amongst co workers. We are at work to make money not be all happy families and keeping the boss happy by accepting the bare minimum. I've seen it many times with Koreans who stay for hours after work for half normal pay or even nothing and I say to them why don't you just go home? You aren't getting paid and you're being taken advantage of by your 'rich' employer. They say it's Korean culture and I say yeah but you don't have to be a sheep. Imagine bitching about travelinpants girl asking for a pay increase at a job where money is provided for services? Not even conceivable in the west.

Whenever I ask a Korean why they work for free and work insane hours they always tell me that if they went home early or asked for fair payment they'd be seen as "crazy."  And then some BS about how people are Korea's only natural resource so they have to work hard. Somehow that translates into not being paid for their work and staying late every night even when they have nothing to do.

I wonder if these are just stock phrases they use on foreigners or have they really been brainwashed to feel that way?

It's hard to just jump ship at 6PM

America: Squeaky wheel gets the grease.

China (The 'East') The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

I'm not defending it, I dated a Korean for 3 years and getting off at 440 and having her come home at 8 was real shitty. But, there it is. 

So...my school offered me renewal and a raise but then I found most of the school knows about my request for a raise  and they don't like it...suddenly, people are less friendly than before and avoid talking to me, some are even downright rude when I greet them. Yeah, so after realizing that my communications with my boss about that and reference letters was being shared with many other people, I sent a formal letter of non-renewal...just to be very clear...since apparently everything I send gets shared with the vast majority of the staff here. Ridiculous. I on edge about not renewing without a job waiting in the wings, but unfortunately, at this time of year that is generally how it goes.  Got some leads, but for now...the anxiety is building.

I'm often surprised by the lack of business sense amongst co workers. We are at work to make money not be all happy families and keeping the boss happy by accepting the bare minimum. I've seen it many times with Koreans who stay for hours after work for half normal pay or even nothing and I say to them why don't you just go home? You aren't getting paid and you're being taken advantage of by your 'rich' employer. They say it's Korean culture and I say yeah but you don't have to be a sheep. Imagine bitching about travelinpants girl asking for a pay increase at a job where money is provided for services? Not even conceivable in the west.

Whenever I ask a Korean why they work for free and work insane hours they always tell me that if they went home early or asked for fair payment they'd be seen as "crazy."  And then some BS about how people are Korea's only natural resource so they have to work hard. Somehow that translates into not being paid for their work and staying late every night even when they have nothing to do.

I wonder if these are just stock phrases they use on foreigners or have they really been brainwashed to feel that way?

It's hard to just jump ship at 6PM

America: Squeaky wheel gets the grease.

China (The 'East') The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

I'm not defending it, I dated a Korean for 3 years and getting off at 440 and having her come home at 8 was real shitty. But, there it is.

This doesn't seem to happen so much in international companies. I was teaching a student the other day after work - at an American company. She starts at 9.30am and finishes at 6.30pm and the whole office was empty. Hence why  lots of Koreans want to work for international companies and that keeps us in the business of English teaching so I guess in a roundabout way, I'm in favour of Korean work habits. 

I know it's hard for just one individual to do it when the rest of them aren't... but I don't get why there isn't a general push back among the workers being taken advantage of. Some type of movement or bringing it up in politics.

RED SCARE. NORTH SYMPATHISER.

Unfortunately, this happens and it's effective.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_unions_in_South_Korea

I wish Koreans would take to heart the saying,

"Never ascribe malice where ignorance will suffice."

I find sometimes I get told something is rude, and I don't get,

Actually, Kevin, that is rude in Korea. Please don't do that. It doesn't really bother me, but just so you know.

  Oh, really, sorry. Thanks for telling me.

Instead, I get.

  That is very rude! We don't do that in Korea! Stop doing that. Aiisshhhh Jinjja.

  Fking hell, I'm not allowed to put my hands in my pockets? Calm the f down.

Flaking on a commitment peeves me. 

Worse still is composing some piss poor excuse that makes little sense. 

Flaking on a commitment peeves me. 

Worse still is composing some piss poor excuse that makes little sense.

?? What's the context here?

Flaking on a commitment peeves me. 

Worse still is composing some piss poor excuse that makes little sense.

?? What's the context here?

Just supposed to meet up with someone.  Who conveniently bailed last minute. 

Who needs context, man??  Hahahah

Flaking on a commitment peeves me. 

Worse still is composing some piss poor excuse that makes little sense.

?? What's the context here?

Just supposed to meet up with someone.  Who conveniently bailed last minute. 

Who needs context, man??  Hahahah

Oh, shit, I read it as comment. I thought you were pissed at one of us! hahahaha

Flaking on a commitment peeves me. 

Worse still is composing some piss poor excuse that makes little sense.

?? What's the context here?

Just supposed to meet up with someone.  Who conveniently bailed last minute. 

Who needs context, man??  Hahahah

Oh, shit, I read it as comment. I thought you were pissed at one of us! hahahaha

Lol nah, nothing but love for my fellow waygookins! 

Except for that one... 

This be the ranting thread, and I, with my non-sequitur comment.

Rant:  3 weeks ago I contacted my agent with flight dates, etc.

She was on vacation at the time, so a different agent prices the ticket out three different ways, as I requested, BUT tells me she will forward this on to my agent when she returns from her vacation on 11/21.

Being "polite" I waited for a week after her return to email her, as I didn't get a follow up.

NOW, the tickets have all increased (not news to me, as that is why I contacted her 3 weeks ago), so I will now be paying $400 more for my itinerary :(

I thought some of you would enjoy hearing about my unfortunate situation :)

Rant:  3 weeks ago I contacted my agent with flight dates, etc.

She was on vacation at the time, so a different agent prices the ticket out three different ways, as I requested, BUT tells me she will forward this on to my agent when she returns from her vacation on 11/21.

Being "polite" I waited for a week after her return to email her, as I didn't get a follow up.

NOW, the tickets have all increased (not news to me, as that is why I contacted her 3 weeks ago), so I will now be paying $400 more for my itinerary :(

I thought some of you would enjoy hearing about my unfortunate situation :)

Is buying tickets through an agent ever really any better than buying tickets yourself? I've never understood the need for travel agents in current times when buying tickets is so easy.

I guess it's much like going through a recruiter when looking for a new job.  Those with lots of travel experience you would never expect to do so, no?

Absolutely.  Such a scam when the internet is at your fingertips.

My parents still insist on booking through an agent even though I tell them not to.  They're old I suppose. 

Pecan, exactly how old are you? 

I guess it's much like going through a recruiter when looking for a new job.  Those with lots of travel experience you would never expect to do so, no?

Haha perfect

Rant:  3 weeks ago I contacted my agent with flight dates, etc.

She was on vacation at the time, so a different agent prices the ticket out three different ways, as I requested, BUT tells me she will forward this on to my agent when she returns from her vacation on 11/21.

Being "polite" I waited for a week after her return to email her, as I didn't get a follow up.

NOW, the tickets have all increased (not news to me, as that is why I contacted her 3 weeks ago), so I will now be paying $400 more for my itinerary :(

I thought some of you would enjoy hearing about my unfortunate situation :)

Is buying tickets through an agent ever really any better than buying tickets yourself? I've never understood the need for travel agents in current times when buying tickets is so easy.

Why book direct when you can pay a commission to an agent to find the ticket you could have found yourself on the internet? lol.

The only time i could see a travel agent still being relevant in this day and age would be if you were looking for a package holiday that they could potentially have access and discounts to that the general public would not have.

I guess it's much like going through a recruiter when looking for a new job.  Those with lots of travel experience you would never expect to do so, no?

shots fired

You know what's ruder than blowing your nose? Sniffling every 12 seconds accompanied with the obligatory pig sound.

lol, CO2, is all the stuff about how "rude" you are coming from just one person, or several?

lol, CO2, is all the stuff about how "rude" you are coming from just one person, or several?

Well then you should probably just shock everyone into silence by doing things so heinous and disgusting that they'd be too embarrassed to correct you on any of it.

I've got examples, but they're not fit for public posting. You've just got to use your imagination.