So it was a busy week. Last week my recruiter came to visit
me. She asked me how things were going and I said I was
doing fine but I didn't think the director was too happy.
She said yea he said something like that. That opened a
whole can of worms. It came out that he had never told me
anything that he actually felt about my performance. The
korean teacher described it as typical in Korea because they
are all "rats" here. They whisper to other people behind
the back instead of saying anything to the face. This of
course doesnt work because as an employee some sort of
feedback is necessary and he was providing none. Once I
realized this and thought about it over last weekend I was
sure I wanted to quit. I told him on Monday that I wanted
to find a new job and he wasnt happy. We said we would work
together to stay (this would benefit me because I wouldn;t
have to pay for my plane ticket here - if I leave the
contract I have to reimburse him for the ticket over here).
So it was decided I would show up early every day so we
could talk and then he would actually tell me something
needed to be changed. The major problem was that the
parents didnt want and foreign teacher and he was having
financial trouble having ends meet with his new business.
On Tuesday of this week I arrived 20 minutes early. I sat
in the teachers lounge and thought he would come and talk to
me. Then I went into my first class (he always sat in
classes anyways) and he said he had to tell me something.
We walked out and he said "I have decided not to hire you."
So that was that. At least I was out. I called my
recruiter and told her. He had already called her and said
because I hadnt shown up 30 minutes early he didnt want to
hire me. (Hire me means send me to Japan to get my visa to
work in this country). he couldnt even tell me that to my
face. The craziest part was that he wanted me to move out of
my apartment that day. Of course that wouldnt be possible.
So I told him give me a till Thursday at noon. So all
tuesday I went from hogwon to hogwon looking for work. And
had my recruiter also looking for me.
Robs boss called around to a hogwon association that she
belongs to. She found one. So I went to the interview on
Wednessday at 11. The owner got his Masters degree in the
states (Alabama) and has 2 hogwons which he has been running
for 13 years. Needless to say he knows a little bit more
than the other man. The job is better because I actually
get to teach, have my own classes, get free lunch and
dinner, and work with other foreigners. So I started
working that day. Also I could move in that night into the
apartment. Additionally he would send me to Japan. I am in
a hurry because my tourist visa runs out on the 27th and it
usually takes 10 days to get the paper work filled. (To get
the visa you have to leave the country and come back to get
it validated - weird I don't understand exactly). So
wednessday was one of those ultra productive days. I had
and interview, got a job, started work and moved apartments.
When I was packing I was thinking that it was inevitable
that I move again. This will be the 4th place that I have
lived in Korea in 7 weeks. So much for being stable.
