SeoulPodcast #22: Derek’s Midnight Runner

MUSIC CREDITS
Main Theme — Ben McPherson – “2wksnyc”
News — satya – “Silk Route Album Mix”
Things That Make You Go Whaa? — cjacks – “Candyland”
ExPat Community — Deyo – “Retro90210fun”
Job of the Week — Bit Rationale – “Orthodox Pleasure”
Adam Schmitt
Anomie Enemy
Conconquidore Truidore
Darryl
Dave Gwyther
David Gielan
Don Rudnickas
ellis reed
Everyday Jones
Sharif
Jack Jeffery
Shani
Guinea C
Little Red King
Musicos Unidos de Latino America
Tripudio
DJ Topshelf
George Wood
High Alert Status
Kathy Reynolds
Victor Stellar
Joe Sibol
Seraphic Panoply
Gray Martin
WeakLazyLiar

7 Responses to “SeoulPodcast #22: Derek’s Midnight Runner”

theresemacs Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pm

Hi I am a good friend of Adam. He became a dad yesterday morning . He travelled home to America yesterday If people still want to send money to him I will try and get info for you. Thanks so much for caring. Please people remember motorbikes are dangerous and your insurance doesn’t always cover everything. And remember that you must have the correct papers for what you are driving.

Joy Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 8:43 pm

Thanks for the mention~~ it was really funny!

I too don’t know if I have been fired. But I know for sure they don’t like all those parent complaints. Evil Moms!

I hope I am fired so I can get the hell outta there! Either way I hope it helps others who could end up in my situation.

Joy Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 9:18 pm

Hey now that I think about it I should mention more stuff.

Thanks for your support! I have been to ESL recruiting and they are assisting me.

I work for a franchise company so it is possible they can find someone soon.

Yes they are being vague.

I am approaching them sternly and making sure they know what my demands are.

Another thing is that they haven’t officially said I am fired and I haven’t officially quit.

To officially quit my contract says I have to give a letter of resignation.

I too don’t want to be pulled around and it doesn’t make life easy.

I too am suprised after just 4 months I am in this situation.

Yea I think my teaching style has been more geared towards “teaching” instead of pleasing Moms.

But now that I know I have actually changed my game plan so that I do my work in a way that tries to tie up any lose ends so parents don’t complain.

Yet since a parent could complain for any reason…it is a crappy situation.

I am shooting for a public school when all this is over.

i think because I work for a large franchise if my bosses give me the run around, I could go to their bosses and see whats up.

Besides the franchises’ recruiter gave me the job.

Anyways, last week my bosses told me they want me out of there sooner rather than later and that it depended on finding someone. So as soon as they snag another person I am free.

Thanks*** for saying that I have potential elsewhere and that there is hope **

Anyways we will see what happens. haha Go Korea!

Joe Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 10:10 pm

Joy,

Many of us have been in that situation before, and we know the emotions and crazed revelations you are having. It brings you to a very dark space.

Just know it happens to almost everyone. It’s not you. You’re not incompetent. Like you said, it’s business first. It’s only concerned with keeping a facade up for the mothers. Don’t take being a “teacher” that seriously. When you come to terms with that, you hit ESL teacher nirvana.

Luckily, my co-worker told me that on my first day in Korea. But I still went through that one job where they pulled me into meetings all the time and talked about complaints. They hinted that I would not make it through the year. So I called them on their bluff and turned in my resignation.

Suddenly they talked about how I was improving so much as a teacher. Too little, too late. It was a hellish schedule with a hellish program that was run like a religious cult.

But it was an experience that has helped me later, if not for living a few months in Seoul proper and realizing I don’t like living in Seoul proper.

What sucks right now is that limbo time. Don’t fold. Don’t let them see your weakness. At the same time, understand what your position is and don’t get too cocky.

Keep us updated.

Joy Says:
September 30th, 2008 at 9:42 am

I will keep ya updated! Yea I am being patient with them and also still trying to get the job done right. I hate this limbo time, though. But gotta live peacefully somehow.

*Thanks*

Joy Says:
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:33 am

update on my blog:

http://www.foreignerjoy.blogspot.com

They found someone!

Sandra Says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:55 am

I’m finding the ever-present trend of knitting-bashing on this podcast by certain hosts to be quite disconcerting. Boo.