My, oh my--How the winds of change seem to blow in and out of my neck of the woods so frequently. I've decided I've done enough "soul searching" for the time being and should pick up where I once started. Before moving on, I'll just say this (and no, the CD didn't skip):
Korea is great. It's often been overwhelming in many ways. Just living in a foreign country would be enough to keep my mind occupied, but adjusting to a whole life that I wasn't aware of--being part of a whole new family--and developing new relationships with people here while trying to maintain ones back home have been sometimes more than what I can process. It will take awhile for me to truly understand how my life has changed, and I may never recognize the effects; but it hasn't, nor should I let it, become the road block in my personal growth. In effect, I'm admitting that I'm a bit of a flip-flopper. I'll try to share less of "the deeper and darker parts of my soul", and more of "the brighter and less-whiny-parts" of my seoul" ;)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
finally explaining
...previously on P or P:
i confused myself and others by explaining i had to re-evaluate my overall sense of "wholeness" or "happiness" without really elaborating or explicating my new perspective or why i had to. i had told a friend of mine that, "for many reasons, romantic relationships aside, my life seems a bit more complete now even though I still have a lot to learn." in response, the friend challenged me by assigning me the creation of a list. a list describing my life-changing experiences. i may be wrong, but i think it may have been a euphamism for, "oh yeah, then how so?" maybe i worded my previous statement wrong. i should've made it clearer that i am still figuring my shit out. i am interpreting "life-changing" as to mean "altering one's life as specific events occur." in other words, i am not coming from a point-of-view that considers hindsight. at any rate, here is a short list from the top of my head, with no respect to postive or negative effects:
-being born
-being adopted
-becoming a us citizen and becoming acclimated to american culture
-embracing OCD
-recognizing the high expectations set by myself and others
-rejecting OCD
-getting my first guitar
-conceding to addiction
-enduring a sports injury and the accompanying self-pity
-falling in love
-realizing that i was different
-conceding to temptation
-falling in love, again, too late
-learning that risks aren't always a good thing, the hard way
-realizing that i hadn't yet lived up to certain expectations
-making a drastic change of location
-becoming acquainted with an unrecalled part of myself
-falling in love again
i confused myself and others by explaining i had to re-evaluate my overall sense of "wholeness" or "happiness" without really elaborating or explicating my new perspective or why i had to. i had told a friend of mine that, "for many reasons, romantic relationships aside, my life seems a bit more complete now even though I still have a lot to learn." in response, the friend challenged me by assigning me the creation of a list. a list describing my life-changing experiences. i may be wrong, but i think it may have been a euphamism for, "oh yeah, then how so?" maybe i worded my previous statement wrong. i should've made it clearer that i am still figuring my shit out. i am interpreting "life-changing" as to mean "altering one's life as specific events occur." in other words, i am not coming from a point-of-view that considers hindsight. at any rate, here is a short list from the top of my head, with no respect to postive or negative effects:
-being born
-being adopted
-becoming a us citizen and becoming acclimated to american culture
-embracing OCD
-recognizing the high expectations set by myself and others
-rejecting OCD
-getting my first guitar
-conceding to addiction
-enduring a sports injury and the accompanying self-pity
-falling in love
-realizing that i was different
-conceding to temptation
-falling in love, again, too late
-learning that risks aren't always a good thing, the hard way
-realizing that i hadn't yet lived up to certain expectations
-making a drastic change of location
-becoming acquainted with an unrecalled part of myself
-falling in love again
Some thoughts from January
Recently, I may have stumbled upon a new revelation. I might have come to understand why “The Rhetoric of Human Rights” was one of my favorite classes at the U of W…unbeknownst to myself, I’ve been enthralled by what it really means to “help someone” for awhile now. I know there is no direct correlation to, nor do I make the assumption that the following are directly related, but nonetheless, I pose the following question: is it necessarily a positive thing to lend aid to a benefactor if the it is just a band aid instead of a long-term solution? In the case of financial aid to Africa—maybe not. Some might argue (which I was recently reminded of during BBC’s “Hard Talk”), always being considered the “receiver” is a detriment to self improvement. And possibly in my case, the same is true.
In recent years, let’s say for the past decade, I’ve been slowly becoming aware of how I may not have fit in the US. One possible cause for this is that, for many years growing up, I was treated differently. I am certain that I was not completely conscious of this fact at the time. For when people stared at me, I thought it was maybe because I was just “exotic-looking.” It may have occurred to me that it was because I was different, but the implications of that have changed for me over time. Yes. I look different on the outside, but I didn't acknowledge that that may have been how people viewed me on a person-as-a-whole level. It wasn’t until I moved to Boston that I began to toil with my identity as a Korean-American. I didn't feel as if I was being treated differently, if only in simple non-verbal communication. No random stares were shot my way; I was just another colored face in a rainbow sea of skin tones. It felt refreshing to be around people that weren’t all white.
Taking a step back to my youth, I truly feel that I may have been given certain opportunities because I was a minority. This effect was apparent through numerous channels of my life then, whether from my parents, siblings, friends, teachers, etc. Sometimes I was given preferred treatment, possibly as a result of my status as a minority. I may be discounting myself in certain aspects, but in retrospect, it may have been possible in some cases, probable in others.
It was then in 2008, that I was compelled to finally seek my roots. Though I had had some inkling to return at some point during my adolescence, it never came to fruition, as I had always needed to make money during free periods of my life. I was not satisfied with my life, generally speaking.
Then coming to Korea, as in making an effort to finally maybe finding my place (a possible explanation to my partial disconnection from both of my families—being adopted and having the underlying sense of being unwanted), it’s been a slap in the face to be not called or considered “Korean”—especially by fellow Koreans or the people that are nearest to me at the present moment—friends, co-workers, etc.
I’ve always assumed to govern my life, with the exception of love, by a code of logic (which happened to be another one of my favy yoo-dub courses). But bridging the gap between two languages, to me, seems a valuable tool when teaching a foreign language.
….too tired, more later,
self
In recent years, let’s say for the past decade, I’ve been slowly becoming aware of how I may not have fit in the US. One possible cause for this is that, for many years growing up, I was treated differently. I am certain that I was not completely conscious of this fact at the time. For when people stared at me, I thought it was maybe because I was just “exotic-looking.” It may have occurred to me that it was because I was different, but the implications of that have changed for me over time. Yes. I look different on the outside, but I didn't acknowledge that that may have been how people viewed me on a person-as-a-whole level. It wasn’t until I moved to Boston that I began to toil with my identity as a Korean-American. I didn't feel as if I was being treated differently, if only in simple non-verbal communication. No random stares were shot my way; I was just another colored face in a rainbow sea of skin tones. It felt refreshing to be around people that weren’t all white.
Taking a step back to my youth, I truly feel that I may have been given certain opportunities because I was a minority. This effect was apparent through numerous channels of my life then, whether from my parents, siblings, friends, teachers, etc. Sometimes I was given preferred treatment, possibly as a result of my status as a minority. I may be discounting myself in certain aspects, but in retrospect, it may have been possible in some cases, probable in others.
It was then in 2008, that I was compelled to finally seek my roots. Though I had had some inkling to return at some point during my adolescence, it never came to fruition, as I had always needed to make money during free periods of my life. I was not satisfied with my life, generally speaking.
Then coming to Korea, as in making an effort to finally maybe finding my place (a possible explanation to my partial disconnection from both of my families—being adopted and having the underlying sense of being unwanted), it’s been a slap in the face to be not called or considered “Korean”—especially by fellow Koreans or the people that are nearest to me at the present moment—friends, co-workers, etc.
I’ve always assumed to govern my life, with the exception of love, by a code of logic (which happened to be another one of my favy yoo-dub courses). But bridging the gap between two languages, to me, seems a valuable tool when teaching a foreign language.
….too tired, more later,
self
The (Not-So-) Daily Show (Blog)
it's always an interesting process...trying to figure out where to begin after so long. 잘지내새요? how have you all been? a lot has happened since we've met last. and since i honestly can't remember what i've chronicled last...
meeting the majority of my korean family.......check
a visiting sister..............................check
finally getting to the gym, taking an extended
break from the gym, returning to the gym.......check
seeing the south sea and my birthplace.........check snowboarding...................................check
lotteworld (think korean disneyworld lite).....check
american president of color....................check
seeing the west sea............................check
hating on korean bosses (one in particular)....check
playing the guitar.............................check
being the future uncle to a combined 17
nephews and nieces.............................check
learning about...many...things...and...stuff...check
riding the won (korean $) wave of value........check
ending the start of my relationship with
my "new brother" end on a sour note............check
alienating a friend............................check
becoming a bit of a hermit.....................check
the last couple am i particularly thrilled or proud of, but they've become part of my life, and since i've recently had to divulge a certain aspect of my life, well, when in rome?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
note* the next few entries, assuming i actually do them, will probably be a bit scattered since i will be traveling forward/backward/sideways in regards to time (think season 5 of LOST sans interesting plot twists and excellent score)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i came across the beginnings of twitteroid i had jotted in mid-february that didn't see completion:
meeting the majority of my korean family.......check
a visiting sister..............................check
finally getting to the gym, taking an extended
break from the gym, returning to the gym.......check
seeing the south sea and my birthplace.........check snowboarding...................................check
lotteworld (think korean disneyworld lite).....check
american president of color....................check
seeing the west sea............................check
hating on korean bosses (one in particular)....check
playing the guitar.............................check
being the future uncle to a combined 17
nephews and nieces.............................check
learning about...many...things...and...stuff...check
riding the won (korean $) wave of value........check
ending the start of my relationship with
my "new brother" end on a sour note............check
alienating a friend............................check
becoming a bit of a hermit.....................check
the last couple am i particularly thrilled or proud of, but they've become part of my life, and since i've recently had to divulge a certain aspect of my life, well, when in rome?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
note* the next few entries, assuming i actually do them, will probably be a bit scattered since i will be traveling forward/backward/sideways in regards to time (think season 5 of LOST sans interesting plot twists and excellent score)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i came across the beginnings of twitteroid i had jotted in mid-february that didn't see completion:
here is my latest excuse [for not updating]: my mind has been elsewhere, in many senses of the word, distracted. i know it might hurt some people to hear this, but i will reiterate something that i've recently expressed: even though my life is no where near perfection, i can't picture it being much better given the dependent and independent variables (the controllable and uncontrollable influences). don't misinterpret this for my complete acceptance for where i stand amidst any personal goals i've set, just as a general sentiment i've developed over the past few months.
i include the above because:
1) i recently had to re-evaluate this sentiment. i will admit, as it turns out, a playful and pseudo-serious goal of mine was to meet and, perhaps, date someone of my heritage--think in a different vein, if you'll excuse my lack of humor and tact--to "yellow fever".
i did not expect such an opportunity to arise within the burgeoning months of my trip, be that as it may, such an occasion expired. after a couple months of living here, i met a nice korean girl.
now:
-if this sounds like old news to you, you may PAGE DOWN (a la "choose you own adventure" books)
-but to some of you (or one person in particular who may not ever see this) continue reading.
to sum it up, we fell in love. she fulfilled my vision of what i needed and wanted in a woman to the extent that i've foreseen possible. i don't really care to share more than that. peggy noonan of the wall street journal was quoted (excuse me if i'm taking this way out of context) while discussing the release of important information to the public, "some of life has to be mysterious." she would be duly noted in this case, had her quote not been in reference to the torture tactics used by the U.S...in any case, i have been developing this relationship for some time now, and though i currently have no further comment as per the specifics, i include this debriefing for the following reason--pardon the "person looking in the mirror with a mirror behind them" effect i might be causing:
1) a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. i have been hiding this very foreground-ish element of my life, and it's kept me from writing. ironically, there's a strange narcissistic nature to writing publicly--or more specifically, blogging to a small audience. seeing my work "published" in a sense gives me motivation to actually document my thoughts, if only fleeting. in a way, i feel a bit like christopher columbus. i am surely not the first to step into this world of blog-realization, but i would imagine it's more difficult to be a dealer without tasting some of your product. and even though i could have written about other aspects of my life, which i had been doing more privately since the onset of my new relationship, christopher mccandless may be right. maybe sharing your happiness (or in general, feelings) cannot be as real without sharing them.
however, i cannot solely place the blame for my absence (mostly to myself) on my inability to write without inclusion of this part of my life. i have another weakness, that of putting too much emphasis on this part of my life. for better or worse, my time and energy and thought that has been largely consumed by this relationship. but again, i meander.
1) i recently had to re-evaluate this sentiment. i will admit, as it turns out, a playful and pseudo-serious goal of mine was to meet and, perhaps, date someone of my heritage--think in a different vein, if you'll excuse my lack of humor and tact--to "yellow fever".
i did not expect such an opportunity to arise within the burgeoning months of my trip, be that as it may, such an occasion expired. after a couple months of living here, i met a nice korean girl.
now:
-if this sounds like old news to you, you may PAGE DOWN (a la "choose you own adventure" books)
-but to some of you (or one person in particular who may not ever see this) continue reading.
to sum it up, we fell in love. she fulfilled my vision of what i needed and wanted in a woman to the extent that i've foreseen possible. i don't really care to share more than that. peggy noonan of the wall street journal was quoted (excuse me if i'm taking this way out of context) while discussing the release of important information to the public, "some of life has to be mysterious." she would be duly noted in this case, had her quote not been in reference to the torture tactics used by the U.S...in any case, i have been developing this relationship for some time now, and though i currently have no further comment as per the specifics, i include this debriefing for the following reason--pardon the "person looking in the mirror with a mirror behind them" effect i might be causing:
1) a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. i have been hiding this very foreground-ish element of my life, and it's kept me from writing. ironically, there's a strange narcissistic nature to writing publicly--or more specifically, blogging to a small audience. seeing my work "published" in a sense gives me motivation to actually document my thoughts, if only fleeting. in a way, i feel a bit like christopher columbus. i am surely not the first to step into this world of blog-realization, but i would imagine it's more difficult to be a dealer without tasting some of your product. and even though i could have written about other aspects of my life, which i had been doing more privately since the onset of my new relationship, christopher mccandless may be right. maybe sharing your happiness (or in general, feelings) cannot be as real without sharing them.
however, i cannot solely place the blame for my absence (mostly to myself) on my inability to write without inclusion of this part of my life. i have another weakness, that of putting too much emphasis on this part of my life. for better or worse, my time and energy and thought that has been largely consumed by this relationship. but again, i meander.
Monday, January 5, 2009
I'm THAT guy, showing up to the party late, only to complain.
i used to say to myself: "pain is a matter of perception", but now i'm just wondering if that's just what some people say to themselves to magnify their problems so as not to feel as alienated and weak as others. recently, i've become more aware of the suffering and obstacles many people go through on a daily basis, while still maintaining composure and the ability to function (a sentiment instigated by a recent viewing of the pursuit of happiness*). losing your entire family for no apparent reason other than your house happened to be in relative proximity to a political target...
*a note on art and the everlong "discourse surrounding"** what can be considered capable of holding the title--it sometimes pains me to reference hollywood (eventhough i was essentially a film major): i've been more and more convinced that one of my favorite quotes is true: LESTER BANGS: "Yeah, great art is about conflict and pain and guilt and longing and love disguised as sex, and sex disguised as love..."
**a note on "discourse surrounding": my triple c's recently vented their frustration and aberration for people who use this term. part of me agrees that it is unusual to use this terminology on a daily basis; but, i have a difficult time digesting their complaint because their own snobbery is so apparent. they drop "fun facts" as if they were merely sharing information, when it is obvious they just like to hear the sound of their "elite" voices.***
***everyone is a hypocrite though, right?
*a note on art and the everlong "discourse surrounding"** what can be considered capable of holding the title--it sometimes pains me to reference hollywood (eventhough i was essentially a film major): i've been more and more convinced that one of my favorite quotes is true: LESTER BANGS: "Yeah, great art is about conflict and pain and guilt and longing and love disguised as sex, and sex disguised as love..."
**a note on "discourse surrounding": my triple c's recently vented their frustration and aberration for people who use this term. part of me agrees that it is unusual to use this terminology on a daily basis; but, i have a difficult time digesting their complaint because their own snobbery is so apparent. they drop "fun facts" as if they were merely sharing information, when it is obvious they just like to hear the sound of their "elite" voices.***
***everyone is a hypocrite though, right?
Friday, December 12, 2008
Check this article out...
A Delayed Response: The Sequel
BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEOUL (AP) -- Sadly, I have a feeling that this phrase will run like a decent trilogy gone greedy... As the dust settles after my ball-of-dust landing in Korea, the frequency of the new and mind-boggling has begun to slow. I have a few theories as to why: A) I would be going too far if i said that the "honeymoon period" is over, but I'm becoming less awestruck when I encounter something exciting about my culture, family, or self. 2) Alternate theory 1 is that a strong percentage of my experiences here have been foreign (go figure), and I'm just too overwhelmed to sort through my thoughts at times. It's going to take some time to get completely process them. And C)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zIQlH60OEk
-Mirah, a Portland, Oregon-based songstress.
In other words, I thought for a moment that I was going to need a break from writing (which I technically already did) to commence an era of strictly private entries, but circumstances have changed. It will be a fly-by-my-seat adventure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No Luck: I do NOT have any real wood to knock in my apartment. This would have come in quite handy as I told people how fortunate I was for not catching any of the virus strains that have been running around, latched to a good number of my Mongolian rug rats, colleagues, and friends. With Luck: It was already Thursday by the time my diminutive, non-threatening cold-sore had matriculated, so I can't be too upset. I was able to take enough drugs and drink enough scalding water to lighten the blow today. And, this weekend's festivities are within grasp--I feel confident that I will actually get to see Anna Agnus Adeota Andahazy (another recent college grad teaching here) for the first time since we've both been K-side.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The gossip crew, consisting of Matthew Teacher and the CC's, often remind me of the horror stories endured by fellow soul-searchers in Korea. Being fired a few months before contract completion, constant harassment from bosses, being lied to about vacation, etc. etc. Also, I've learned that some people work nearly as much as many of the natives here. After talking with "Quadruple A" (Anna Agnus Adeodata Andahazy), it is clear that some teachers are overworked and underpaid. Quad A works 12 hour shifts quite regularly for a wage that amounts to just over 6 and a half bucks/hour based on the Korean won to US dollar ratio.
(for the math, see below. I felt compelled, being in Asia and all. Check: one non-PC term for this blog)
I've always laughed at the following:
Leadingtown seems to be a breeding ground for tension. It clouds the atmosphere. If it rained indoors, we would be burned alive on account of it desensitizing the smoke alarms. Though I've personally been able to avoid it, being in its midst doesn't do a whole lot for stress levels, especially while being sick and worrying about some other people I know.
For example, crying seems to be a popular activity here. The academic manager/director/i-don't-know-what-to-call her cries at least 3 times a week. Eating lunch in the break room hasn't been much of a treat as of late. It is a little uncomfortable when someone who I can't always understand, tries to explain how much she abhors the other admins and native teachers. And though at the time, it was joked about, said manager and another Korean-teacher has gone toe to larger toe in an all-out screaming match, that, obviously ended in tears--this has happened several times. Kleenex's are some of the most popular office supplies in the lounge.
Conversely, sometimes the confrontations aren't as conspicuous. On a separate occasion (just today), a seemingly harmless 5-minute b-day celebration turned into a battle of different proportions. Joseph Teacher (the name that haunts little Korean boys and girls everywhere), failed to make it to his brief cake ceremony, and a passive aggressive brawl ensued. For not attending, Jessica (the sweet 1st lady of Leadingtown, who's told me I have a nice voice), gave the entire cake away. Joseph, in response, turned a cold-shoulder to everyone. Not only that, he exploded at a fellow newbie, who, until today, was enjoying her safety from it all.
Morever, I have been witness to some pretty questionable shit that goes on, primarily, in the higher echelons of Leadingtown. Shady deals and hypocrisy are no strangers to theses halls.
I just recently found out that on some of our recent post-work outings, the receipt has been taken back to the big cheese, so that the buyer of the evening could be reimbursed. The catch is, the buyer hasn't been the one taking the receipt into Director San's office. The buyers (plural) happen to be everyone BUT the reimbursed.
Also, on one of these nights, I've been approached by an individual to leave the company to join a new Hagwan. The catch here is that the particular individual was precisely the person who, on my very first day, told me the biggest mistake I could make was merely associate myself with another foreign teacher not from Leadingtown (it was only insinuated what would happen if I were to consider leaving).
In my brief time, I've already seen a few victims of these circumstances. Chelsea (the woman without a definite title), Emma, Sunny, Sue, Oprah, and ??? have all either left or expressed their desire to do so. Who knows how far the collateral damage will spread.
The list could continue, but you get the picture. And ultimately, I DO realize things could be worse. I realize that I have been getting some preferential treatment for some reason (for example: I have a 4 less class sessions per week than other foreign teachers, I get to teach the more advanced classes, I haven't been approached for accidentally breaking the dress code, etc.)...I have my suspicions as to why, but that's another story. And after all, much of stress is relegated to Korean-only conversations and closed-door meetings. But, I sometimes just feel like saying, "YOU'RE JUST MAKING IT WORSE!" :) It's like I'm standing in front of Leni and Christine Wolf all over again; I can't help but wonder if they are talking about me.
the math
As of the 5th, the won traded at 1,475.75/dollar, according to Seoul Money Brokerage Services Ltd. It translates like this:
100 cents
-------------- = .067762
1,475.75 won
That means, for every 1000 won made here, we make around 68 cents. This is absolutely crazy considering that only four months ago, 1,000W gave you $1.
So, the 2,300,000W/month that was promised turns into approximately, 1,800,000W, after taxes and other expenses are taken out. This is equivalent to around 139716 pennies a month, or $1,397.16.
At the moment, it is safe to say she works 50 hours/week.
On average, each month has around 21 working days. (10 hours/week X 21 = 210 hours/month)
$1,397.16
------------ = $6.65/hour
210 hours
In The Next Issue:
-The Upside of Work
-Thanks for Sharing: Holidays with the Fam!
BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
...So by now your realize that the publication is P or P. The reason for busting out the unpublished archives is to reveal more about the author. For further listening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zIQlH60OEk
-Mirah, a Portland, Oregon-based songstress.
In other words, I thought for a moment that I was going to need a break from writing (which I technically already did) to commence an era of strictly private entries, but circumstances have changed. It will be a fly-by-my-seat adventure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No Luck: I do NOT have any real wood to knock in my apartment. This would have come in quite handy as I told people how fortunate I was for not catching any of the virus strains that have been running around, latched to a good number of my Mongolian rug rats, colleagues, and friends. With Luck: It was already Thursday by the time my diminutive, non-threatening cold-sore had matriculated, so I can't be too upset. I was able to take enough drugs and drink enough scalding water to lighten the blow today. And, this weekend's festivities are within grasp--I feel confident that I will actually get to see Anna Agnus Adeota Andahazy (another recent college grad teaching here) for the first time since we've both been K-side.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The gossip crew, consisting of Matthew Teacher and the CC's, often remind me of the horror stories endured by fellow soul-searchers in Korea. Being fired a few months before contract completion, constant harassment from bosses, being lied to about vacation, etc. etc. Also, I've learned that some people work nearly as much as many of the natives here. After talking with "Quadruple A" (Anna Agnus Adeodata Andahazy), it is clear that some teachers are overworked and underpaid. Quad A works 12 hour shifts quite regularly for a wage that amounts to just over 6 and a half bucks/hour based on the Korean won to US dollar ratio.
(for the math, see below. I felt compelled, being in Asia and all. Check: one non-PC term for this blog)
I've always laughed at the following:
"Sorry I'm crampin your style."
-Richard Wheeler (my first GF's father to me on my first date)
But, this phrase hasn't seemed as humorous since starting at Dongtan Leadingtown. Being aware of the sort of messy situations I could've ended up in hasn't made it any easier. As many of you know, sharing any criticism, positive or otherwise, with anyone now affiliated with Leadingtown, is strictly prohibited. Thank God for the internet! *note: the "L" in the preceeding and following references to "Leadingtown" has changed its name to maintain anonymity. I've let my furrowed brow hide for too long, and many supporting anecdotes have escaped me because of their sheer number. Be that as it may, here goes:-Richard Wheeler (my first GF's father to me on my first date)
Leadingtown seems to be a breeding ground for tension. It clouds the atmosphere. If it rained indoors, we would be burned alive on account of it desensitizing the smoke alarms. Though I've personally been able to avoid it, being in its midst doesn't do a whole lot for stress levels, especially while being sick and worrying about some other people I know.
For example, crying seems to be a popular activity here. The academic manager/director/i-don't-know-what-to-call her cries at least 3 times a week. Eating lunch in the break room hasn't been much of a treat as of late. It is a little uncomfortable when someone who I can't always understand, tries to explain how much she abhors the other admins and native teachers. And though at the time, it was joked about, said manager and another Korean-teacher has gone toe to larger toe in an all-out screaming match, that, obviously ended in tears--this has happened several times. Kleenex's are some of the most popular office supplies in the lounge.
Conversely, sometimes the confrontations aren't as conspicuous. On a separate occasion (just today), a seemingly harmless 5-minute b-day celebration turned into a battle of different proportions. Joseph Teacher (the name that haunts little Korean boys and girls everywhere), failed to make it to his brief cake ceremony, and a passive aggressive brawl ensued. For not attending, Jessica (the sweet 1st lady of Leadingtown, who's told me I have a nice voice), gave the entire cake away. Joseph, in response, turned a cold-shoulder to everyone. Not only that, he exploded at a fellow newbie, who, until today, was enjoying her safety from it all.
Morever, I have been witness to some pretty questionable shit that goes on, primarily, in the higher echelons of Leadingtown. Shady deals and hypocrisy are no strangers to theses halls.
I just recently found out that on some of our recent post-work outings, the receipt has been taken back to the big cheese, so that the buyer of the evening could be reimbursed. The catch is, the buyer hasn't been the one taking the receipt into Director San's office. The buyers (plural) happen to be everyone BUT the reimbursed.
Also, on one of these nights, I've been approached by an individual to leave the company to join a new Hagwan. The catch here is that the particular individual was precisely the person who, on my very first day, told me the biggest mistake I could make was merely associate myself with another foreign teacher not from Leadingtown (it was only insinuated what would happen if I were to consider leaving).
In my brief time, I've already seen a few victims of these circumstances. Chelsea (the woman without a definite title), Emma, Sunny, Sue, Oprah, and ??? have all either left or expressed their desire to do so. Who knows how far the collateral damage will spread.
The list could continue, but you get the picture. And ultimately, I DO realize things could be worse. I realize that I have been getting some preferential treatment for some reason (for example: I have a 4 less class sessions per week than other foreign teachers, I get to teach the more advanced classes, I haven't been approached for accidentally breaking the dress code, etc.)...I have my suspicions as to why, but that's another story. And after all, much of stress is relegated to Korean-only conversations and closed-door meetings. But, I sometimes just feel like saying, "YOU'RE JUST MAKING IT WORSE!" :) It's like I'm standing in front of Leni and Christine Wolf all over again; I can't help but wonder if they are talking about me.
the math
As of the 5th, the won traded at 1,475.75/dollar, according to Seoul Money Brokerage Services Ltd. It translates like this:
100 cents
-------------- = .067762
1,475.75 won
That means, for every 1000 won made here, we make around 68 cents. This is absolutely crazy considering that only four months ago, 1,000W gave you $1.
So, the 2,300,000W/month that was promised turns into approximately, 1,800,000W, after taxes and other expenses are taken out. This is equivalent to around 139716 pennies a month, or $1,397.16.
At the moment, it is safe to say she works 50 hours/week.
On average, each month has around 21 working days. (10 hours/week X 21 = 210 hours/month)
$1,397.16
------------ = $6.65/hour
210 hours
In The Next Issue:
-The Upside of Work
-Thanks for Sharing: Holidays with the Fam!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)