A blog , that I have linked on this site, GI Korea, wrote about the Dokdo Incident between Japan and Korea. Now it looks like the Dokdo museum has forged a document and said that it is real about past claims to these rocks.
What I found LOL funny was the fact that there is a Korean film called "(Hanbando): The Korean peninsula" http://www.socius.or.kr/content/view/354/238/ claims that Japan produced a false document and almost went to war with Korea but at the last minute, Japan backed down, after Korea was proven correct. The blatant lies and forgeries of this issue, just keeps getting crazier and crazier.
In a way this really isn't surprising; here is another scandal that makes Korea look stupid in the eyes of the Japanese and anyone else in the world that follows this stupid Dokdo issue. The Dokdo Museum on Ulleongdo Island has apparently forged an old Korean map in order to make their point that Dokdo historically belongs to Korea. On the original map in question, the island of Usando, which Korea claims as being the ancient name of the Dokdo islets is shown located to the west of Ulleongdo and closer to the Korean mainland. The actual islets of Dokdo are located far to the southeast of Ulleongdo thus making the claim of Usando actually being Dokdo impossible. Usando is actuality is probably the originally name of Jukdo Island which lies just off the coast from Ulleongdo. However, the Dokdo Museum in their infinite wisdom doctored the originally map and moved Usando to the east of Ulleongdo Island to bolster their claim that Usando is in fact Dokdo.
When are the ultra-nationalists in Korea going to learn to stop their antics over Dokdo? The chopping off of fingers, eating Japanese flags, the Dokdo Riders, political pilgrimages to Dokdo, grandstanding, stabbing yourself in the gut, graffitting foreign cities, and now forging old maps does nothing to help Korea's cause to lay claim undisputed claim to the Dokdo Islets. These antics only make Korea look like some undeveloped third world country with unstable citizens. This stereotype gives the Japanese the moral high ground on this issue since they approach it in calm, deliberate manner.
The best thing Koreans could do is to just shut the hell up about the whole Dokdo issue. Korea physically owns the islands, with a ROK Coast Guard contingent stationed there, so what is Japan going to do about that? Dokdo is like the Israel of the East Sea. No matter how much the Japanese complain, the Koreans are not ever going to leave that rock and the Japanese know it. They are not going to go to war over the islets, so they are pulling a page out of the Islamic militant playbook of creating a very negative image of Koreans over this issue through the media which if a time comes where a diplomatic solution is being brokered for the islets the Japanese have a stronger hand due to their stereotyping of their opponent. What is even better for Japan is that they don't even have to try very hard to do it. The ultra-nationalists and the incompetent Korean government are more them willing to make themselves look stupid and ridiculous to the rest of the world in order to score some cheap political points back home domestically. All of this domestic demagoguery by the Korean nationalists and politicians only plays into Japanese hands and hurts any case the Koreans could possibly make to an international arbitrator over this issue if that time ever came.
If you want to learn more about the historical claims on each side of this issue make sure you check out these postings by the Flying Yangban and Gerry Bevers. Also check out the GI Korea Photo Archive which has recently uploaded photos from my trip to Ulleongdo as well as my Dokdo album. They are each very informative, but at the end of the day looking at all the evidence I don't think either side has a very strong historical claim to the islets. However, the Koreans were the last ones to occupy the islets and still maintain a presence there today. That is good enough reason for me to say let them have it, but could the ultra-nationalists and politicians in Korea at least shut up about it? Some how I just don't ever see that happening.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
I have never really understood any of the USMC people that I have met in my life but the impression that they left on me was. "Thank the Lord they are on my side." Please read and maybe you will understand sometimes why I am what I am.
Poem from a Marine
This is a poem being sent from a marine. For those who read it, please pass it on to all those you know.
It makes you truly be thankful for all of our troops.
THE MARINE
We all came together,
Both young and old.
To fight for our freedom,
To stand and be bold.
In the midst of all evil,
We stand our ground,
And we protect our country
From all terror around.
Peace and not war,
Is what some people say.
But I'll give my life,
So you can live the American way.
I give you the right
To talk of your peace,
To stand in your groups,
And protest in our streets.
But still I fight on.
I don't bitch,
I don't whine.
I'm just one of the men
Who is doing your time.
I'm harder than nails,
Stronger than any machine,
I'm the immortal soldier,
I'm a U.S. MARINE!
So stand in my shoes,
And leave from your home.
Fight for the people who hate you,
With the protests they've shown.
Fight for the stranger,
Fight for the young,
So they all may have,
The great freedom you've won.
Fight for the sick,
Fight for the poor.
Fight for the cripple,
Who lives next door.
But when your time comes,
Do what I've done.
For if you stand up for freedom
You'll stand when the fight's done.
~Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert
~ ~UNITED STATES MARINE~ ~
'USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF~
MARCH 23, 2003
HEY DAD, DOWN HERE.
Do me a favor and label this "THE MARINE"
and send it to everybody on your distribution list.
Even leave this paragraph in it.
I want this rolling all over the U.S.
I want every home reading it. Every eye to see it.
And every heart to feel it.
So can you please send this out for me?
I would but I am sorta on the USS SAIPAN
and my e-mail time isn't that long.
You know what Dad, I wondered what it would be like
to truly understand what JFK said in his inaugural speech,
"When the time comes to lay down my life for my country,
I do not cower from this responsibility, I welcome it."
Well, now I know. And I do, Dad, I welcome
the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I
have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth
of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight
for the place that God has made for my home.
I love you all and I miss you very much.
I wish I could be there when my wife has our child,
but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing,
I will be coming home soon.
~SEMPER, FI.~ ~AARON~
*Please KEEP AARON AND HIS WIFE AND HIS UNBORN CHILD IN YOUR PRAYERS
DE OPPRESSO LIBER -- CARGO DROP SENDS!
SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION
MEMBER # D-5753-LIFE
LIFE MEMBER, COMBAT MEDICS ASSOCIATION
"You have never lived until you have almost died.
Life has a special meaning the protected will never know."
-- motto of the Special Operations Association
"If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
People sleep peacefully in their beds only because rough men
stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
-� George Orwell
Courage doesn't dissipate. The more you use it, the more it grows.
Do Draft Dodgers have annual reunions? Yeah. They're called sessions of Congress, and they talk about your future instead of their past. -- Jim S., Special Forces Soldier
Here's to us and all like us. There's been damn few before or since.
The Occasional Scholar
"I want to be in the company of heroes doing great things,
but if I cannot do that, I want to at least tell their tale."
Keep your powder dry and your flints sharp
Peace on earth to all men of good will,
and sharpen your sword for the rest of the bastards.
Poem from a Marine
This is a poem being sent from a marine. For those who read it, please pass it on to all those you know.
It makes you truly be thankful for all of our troops.
THE MARINE
We all came together,
Both young and old.
To fight for our freedom,
To stand and be bold.
In the midst of all evil,
We stand our ground,
And we protect our country
From all terror around.
Peace and not war,
Is what some people say.
But I'll give my life,
So you can live the American way.
I give you the right
To talk of your peace,
To stand in your groups,
And protest in our streets.
But still I fight on.
I don't bitch,
I don't whine.
I'm just one of the men
Who is doing your time.
I'm harder than nails,
Stronger than any machine,
I'm the immortal soldier,
I'm a U.S. MARINE!
So stand in my shoes,
And leave from your home.
Fight for the people who hate you,
With the protests they've shown.
Fight for the stranger,
Fight for the young,
So they all may have,
The great freedom you've won.
Fight for the sick,
Fight for the poor.
Fight for the cripple,
Who lives next door.
But when your time comes,
Do what I've done.
For if you stand up for freedom
You'll stand when the fight's done.
~Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert
~ ~UNITED STATES MARINE~ ~
'USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF~
MARCH 23, 2003
HEY DAD, DOWN HERE.
Do me a favor and label this "THE MARINE"
and send it to everybody on your distribution list.
Even leave this paragraph in it.
I want this rolling all over the U.S.
I want every home reading it. Every eye to see it.
And every heart to feel it.
So can you please send this out for me?
I would but I am sorta on the USS SAIPAN
and my e-mail time isn't that long.
You know what Dad, I wondered what it would be like
to truly understand what JFK said in his inaugural speech,
"When the time comes to lay down my life for my country,
I do not cower from this responsibility, I welcome it."
Well, now I know. And I do, Dad, I welcome
the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I
have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth
of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight
for the place that God has made for my home.
I love you all and I miss you very much.
I wish I could be there when my wife has our child,
but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing,
I will be coming home soon.
~SEMPER, FI.~ ~AARON~
*Please KEEP AARON AND HIS WIFE AND HIS UNBORN CHILD IN YOUR PRAYERS
DE OPPRESSO LIBER -- CARGO DROP SENDS!
SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION
MEMBER # D-5753-LIFE
LIFE MEMBER, COMBAT MEDICS ASSOCIATION
"You have never lived until you have almost died.
Life has a special meaning the protected will never know."
-- motto of the Special Operations Association
"If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
People sleep peacefully in their beds only because rough men
stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
-� George Orwell
Courage doesn't dissipate. The more you use it, the more it grows.
Do Draft Dodgers have annual reunions? Yeah. They're called sessions of Congress, and they talk about your future instead of their past. -- Jim S., Special Forces Soldier
Here's to us and all like us. There's been damn few before or since.
The Occasional Scholar
"I want to be in the company of heroes doing great things,
but if I cannot do that, I want to at least tell their tale."
Keep your powder dry and your flints sharp
Peace on earth to all men of good will,
and sharpen your sword for the rest of the bastards.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen
James and Kendra (The creators of the I love Canada link) have left Korea and the place now seems a little lonely because they are not here. They have completed there 1 year and they are going to return to Canada and continue their education.
There were a very fun couple to meet and every few months they would have guest to come and visit them, and we met them all.
Take care you 2 and always remember....
Bathing ape says go bape.
James and Kendra (The creators of the I love Canada link) have left Korea and the place now seems a little lonely because they are not here. They have completed there 1 year and they are going to return to Canada and continue their education.
There were a very fun couple to meet and every few months they would have guest to come and visit them, and we met them all.
Take care you 2 and always remember....
Bathing ape says go bape.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
I have not said much about our (Friends) from the north's stoopid missle test because I was wating for someone in the Korean media to say something about it, well he did and I agree with him.
Better Safe Than Sorry by Kim Dae-joong
The Roh Moo-hyun administration is rather angry at criticism that it glossed over the North Korean missile crisis. "Why should we make the people feel uneasy by convening a dawn meeting?" officials ask. Their opponents, they say, are building a "security dictatorship." This is audacity on a grand scale. As Cheong Wa Dae rightly notes, our military governments in the past often fomented a siege mentality by fabricating threats of an invasion from the North to get at the opposition. But now the presidential office accuses opposition parties and the press of running a "security dictatorship" by "fanning a crisis” and “making a fuss about nothing."
The differences are clear. Information about security in the past was thoroughly closed to press and opposition. That is what allowed the administration to deceive the public by inflating security threats and sometimes fabricating events. But a great deal of security information is open to the public today, so the government can no longer so easily cover it up or exaggerate it. What's more, the public knows how serious the North Korean missile crisis is, what it signifies and why this government is protecting North Korea. In the way the Roh administration is accusing press and opposition of being animated by “the ghosts of security dictatorship," we can sense a profound unease: because it is the Roh administration that is building a new kind of security dictatorship.
It should also be pointed out that national security is a question of dealing with a 1-percent, nay a 0.01-percent possibility. War or violent provocation do not come easy; some countries enjoy peace for hundreds of years. Nonetheless, most countries spend about 3 percent of their GDP on defense. In terms of pure numbers, that is a foolish investment. Still, they make these efforts for their security because if an emergency did happen, it could cost them their sovereignty.
Security must ever tip toward excess rather than thrift. We should make a fuss over the faintest bump in the night. It is for this reason that the press in the U.S. and Japan -- perhaps because they may find themselves be the target of North Korean missiles -- got over-excited, treating the crisis as top news for over a week and looking into all kinds of possibilities. Members of the Roh administration seem to be short on sense about security, probably because they do not regard North Korea as a potential attacker. It is quite natural, therefore, that they hate the U.S., Japanese and South Korean press while being sanguine about the missile crisis.
The Roh government accuses the U.S., Japan and opponents here of making political capital of the missile crisis. If the North's missile tests were non-military actions, and “did not target any country," as the Roh government maintains, what was their point? Naturally, they were political. Even Cheong Wa Dae said they were "political events.” It is self-contradictory then to accuse other countries of using them for political purposes. Saying North Korea's political maneuvers are fine but moves by its potential victims are bad because they are political shows how pro-Pyongyang this administration's thinking is. In that sense, Cheong Wa Dae’s response to the missile crisis is evidently "political." The difference, if there is one, is that the maneuvers of others are abuses, but ours are for a good cause.
Even if North Korea’s display of military power is politically packaged, we should be on the alert. An examination of the specifications of the North’s missiles suggests that, assuming Pyongyang has any political sense, they target neither the U.S. nor Japan. The remaining target is the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. Kim Jong-il is neither so stupid nor so reckless as to provoke a world war. His gamble is always toward localized warfare. What South Korea must fear and guard against is a local war. That is the message the missiles send. Instead, the Roh administration accuses those who worry about that possibility of forging a security dictatorship and insists it will go slowly.
Things are becoming clearer. The people can no longer sustain their trust in the Roh administration's security consciousness. As far as the potential threat from the North is concerned, it is becoming dangerous to entrust the government with our security. Members of the government pretend not to realize that, far from making them uneasy, it reassures people when they see their leaders convene a dawn meeting and cope with developments the moment they arise. Better a security dictatorship than a cavalier or go-slow attitude to security.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200607/200607180001.html
Better Safe Than Sorry by Kim Dae-joong
The Roh Moo-hyun administration is rather angry at criticism that it glossed over the North Korean missile crisis. "Why should we make the people feel uneasy by convening a dawn meeting?" officials ask. Their opponents, they say, are building a "security dictatorship." This is audacity on a grand scale. As Cheong Wa Dae rightly notes, our military governments in the past often fomented a siege mentality by fabricating threats of an invasion from the North to get at the opposition. But now the presidential office accuses opposition parties and the press of running a "security dictatorship" by "fanning a crisis” and “making a fuss about nothing."
The differences are clear. Information about security in the past was thoroughly closed to press and opposition. That is what allowed the administration to deceive the public by inflating security threats and sometimes fabricating events. But a great deal of security information is open to the public today, so the government can no longer so easily cover it up or exaggerate it. What's more, the public knows how serious the North Korean missile crisis is, what it signifies and why this government is protecting North Korea. In the way the Roh administration is accusing press and opposition of being animated by “the ghosts of security dictatorship," we can sense a profound unease: because it is the Roh administration that is building a new kind of security dictatorship.
It should also be pointed out that national security is a question of dealing with a 1-percent, nay a 0.01-percent possibility. War or violent provocation do not come easy; some countries enjoy peace for hundreds of years. Nonetheless, most countries spend about 3 percent of their GDP on defense. In terms of pure numbers, that is a foolish investment. Still, they make these efforts for their security because if an emergency did happen, it could cost them their sovereignty.
Security must ever tip toward excess rather than thrift. We should make a fuss over the faintest bump in the night. It is for this reason that the press in the U.S. and Japan -- perhaps because they may find themselves be the target of North Korean missiles -- got over-excited, treating the crisis as top news for over a week and looking into all kinds of possibilities. Members of the Roh administration seem to be short on sense about security, probably because they do not regard North Korea as a potential attacker. It is quite natural, therefore, that they hate the U.S., Japanese and South Korean press while being sanguine about the missile crisis.
The Roh government accuses the U.S., Japan and opponents here of making political capital of the missile crisis. If the North's missile tests were non-military actions, and “did not target any country," as the Roh government maintains, what was their point? Naturally, they were political. Even Cheong Wa Dae said they were "political events.” It is self-contradictory then to accuse other countries of using them for political purposes. Saying North Korea's political maneuvers are fine but moves by its potential victims are bad because they are political shows how pro-Pyongyang this administration's thinking is. In that sense, Cheong Wa Dae’s response to the missile crisis is evidently "political." The difference, if there is one, is that the maneuvers of others are abuses, but ours are for a good cause.
Even if North Korea’s display of military power is politically packaged, we should be on the alert. An examination of the specifications of the North’s missiles suggests that, assuming Pyongyang has any political sense, they target neither the U.S. nor Japan. The remaining target is the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. Kim Jong-il is neither so stupid nor so reckless as to provoke a world war. His gamble is always toward localized warfare. What South Korea must fear and guard against is a local war. That is the message the missiles send. Instead, the Roh administration accuses those who worry about that possibility of forging a security dictatorship and insists it will go slowly.
Things are becoming clearer. The people can no longer sustain their trust in the Roh administration's security consciousness. As far as the potential threat from the North is concerned, it is becoming dangerous to entrust the government with our security. Members of the government pretend not to realize that, far from making them uneasy, it reassures people when they see their leaders convene a dawn meeting and cope with developments the moment they arise. Better a security dictatorship than a cavalier or go-slow attitude to security.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200607/200607180001.html
Friday, July 14, 2006
The Pentagon announced today the formation of a new 500-man elite
fighting unit called the United States Redneck Special Forces. These
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma,
Tennessee and Texas boys have been dropped off into Iraq and have been
given only the following facts about the terrorists:
1. The season opened today.
2. There is no limit.
3. They taste just like chicken.
4. They don't like beer, pickups, country music or Jesus.
5. They are DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for the death of Dale Earnhardt.
6. Their favorite movie is "BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN."
We expect the problem in Iraq to be over by Friday.
Funny Joke, thanks.
fighting unit called the United States Redneck Special Forces. These
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma,
Tennessee and Texas boys have been dropped off into Iraq and have been
given only the following facts about the terrorists:
1. The season opened today.
2. There is no limit.
3. They taste just like chicken.
4. They don't like beer, pickups, country music or Jesus.
5. They are DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for the death of Dale Earnhardt.
6. Their favorite movie is "BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN."
We expect the problem in Iraq to be over by Friday.
Funny Joke, thanks.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Hello Woosong.
now I am teaching at an University (Ok those who have heard me wail about all of the stoopid LiBERAL Professors that I have delt with over my life and now I is one, please insert your own joke.) Still GOP, so the liberal part will so not happen.
I have been here appx 2 weeks and I do like it here, my place is smaller than my last, but to be honest, I did have one one the biggest places in Song-chon-dong, this one is small but hopefully in a few years I can get a big one.
The goal is real simple, first year work, second and third year work and go for my masters. Can you actually believe it, me going for a Masters Degree. sO THAT WHATS GOING ON HERE AT THE MOMENT. I completed my visa run and will have some nice photos up soon from that.
now I am teaching at an University (Ok those who have heard me wail about all of the stoopid LiBERAL Professors that I have delt with over my life and now I is one, please insert your own joke.) Still GOP, so the liberal part will so not happen.
I have been here appx 2 weeks and I do like it here, my place is smaller than my last, but to be honest, I did have one one the biggest places in Song-chon-dong, this one is small but hopefully in a few years I can get a big one.
The goal is real simple, first year work, second and third year work and go for my masters. Can you actually believe it, me going for a Masters Degree. sO THAT WHATS GOING ON HERE AT THE MOMENT. I completed my visa run and will have some nice photos up soon from that.
The final cut
Good bye Oedae
Well June 20th was the last day at my old School. To be honest I am so glad to turn that page in my time in Korea.
I worked for 2 braches of this company, the first one was in Juke-jon, Yong-in city and the second one was in Song-chon-dong Daejeon.
Those who know me, have heard of my displeasure of this first company, It was a nightmare to work for, the entire staff turned over 3 times while I was there, I quit learning the names of the new teachers, because they kept changing at a fast rate. He would have meetings in Korean and expect me to understand what was going on.
when the oportunity to transfer, i took it because I trusted my recruiter. (OK I know that I should have never had done that stupid thing!) Yong-in still owes me about 1 million won that I will never see, it was a very bad place to work and It has left a very bad taste in my mouth towards Oedae.
Now I have just completed 1 year at the songchong-dong branch. To be honest it was not that bad, the bull shit hapened during the last month. They really treated Stephanie like shit and it made me very upset, but it was funny when she went out and tried to find them a replacment teacher, they rejected her. Then we were susposed to get a new male teacher from Pittsburg and then the shit really hit the fan.
They told her that they did not know how to get a plane ticket from Korea to Pittsburg, (If they would have asked me I would have had it done in a few hours.) But when this new teacher would be arriving in Korea and leaving from the smae airport that they could not buy a ticket to. It was like they just bytch slapped her. I honestly could not believe it.
The trouble stared about 1 month before she was due to leave, (this is from steph letter)
Ok, so I started my job at a hagwon in Korea on June 12, 2005. The
two people that matter in this story are my boss, who speaks English,
and the hagwon president, who is never around and doesn't speak
English. After I'd been there a few weeks, they asked me to sign a
new contract saying that I started on the 10th. Nothing else had been
changed (I checked), so I signed it. On July 4th, I went to Osaka,
Japan, to get my E2 visa.
So today I asked my boss about something completely innocent related
to my leaving (I asked if there was any way my stopover on my flight
back could have a layover in San Fransisco) and my boss asked when I
was going. I said after June 10th, and she had a total hissy. She
said that I didn't tell her than I was going. I told her that I never
said that I was staying. They asked me once before to stay another
year, and I said no. She said that I told her that I would stay until
July or August. I told her once a few months ago that I might
consider that, but it was mentioned only once, they never brought it
up to me again, and I didn't sign anything saying such. Then she
asked me "if it was that urgent" that I couldn't stay until July, and
I said yes because I'd already accepted another job that starts July
1st. Then she told me that my visa isn't up until July so I have to
stay. I said my contract ends June 10th and I have no obligation
beyond that. She said I can't leave until they find another teacher.
I said that finding another teacher is her problem, not mine. Also,
I have two friends from NZ whose information I offered to send her,
and she said that "the boss doesn't want someone with that accent."
(As if the Korean accent they speak with is better.)
My boss was really belligerent with me about the whole thing, saying
things like "what do you want to say to me?" "do you think you can
just quit without telling anyone?" and "how can you be so
irresponsible?" and now she isn't speaking to me. I'm terrified that
this bad blood that just started to flow my affect my ticket home, my
visa, and my contract bonus. Is there anything that I could have done
differently, and what should I be doing to protect myself?
I hope this question isn't too little too late...
part 2 was this
This morning I got a call from my future boss. My current boss called
her today and asked her to "let them keep me" until July 31st. As if
I'm a borrowed piece of luggage or something! My new boss stood her
ground, though, saying that I told her my contract was up on June
10th. However, afterwards, my future boss called me, worried that I
was trying to skip out of my current contract early. I reassured her
that this was not the case. Of course, she's twice as happy to have
me now, since my old boss is pleading with her to let them keep me.
Does anyone know the name of a lawyer that I could tell my boss should
things get sticky? I don't think I'll actually need him, but if I
have a name, I think it will light a fire under their asses to leave
me alone and give me what I earned.
You were right on the money, my friend! Today, my NEW boss gave me my
flight itinerary since she's the one that's paying for the ticket
right now. My old boss, Winnie, said that she didn't know how to buy
the tickets. I think that's a big ol' lie if I've ever heard one, but
I don't even care. I have my flight home. Magically, they bought the
new teacher a ticket to Korea already... hmm...
She must take me for a total idiot.
As it turns out, my hagwon president is good friends with my new boss,
and now everything is going smoothly. My current hagwon president
didn't know that Winnie, the head teacher/my boss, had called the new
school and was LIVID with Winnie when she found out what she'd put me
through over the past week or two.
Now my biggest problem is that I have to be out of the apartment by
June 11th, and my flight doesn't leave until the 13th. My new boss is
the one that told me that today- my old boss hasn't mentioned it to me
yet. Surprise. But, hey, I'm sure I can get it all figured out. (and guess what happened, she was homeless for 2 days and the new teacher from pittsburg canceled on them at the very last minute. Isn't irony just grand. Steph found them a great teacher, that they rejected and would be here working, and the person they hired quit before he ever arrived.)
so you can see how the last month of work was, it was like walking into a landmine field, I kept wating for the other shoe to drop and thank godness it never happened.
Just watching all of this has really left a very bad taste in my mouth towards my last academy. I was paid and guess what it was late, When I left, they had not replaced me or steph. No idea when or if they will. So i leave there, very happy. I could not believe that I actually helped the recruiter who lied to me and I called a potential teacher from america and told her all about Daejeon. I told the truth so I was happy, but to actually help the man who lied to me.
So Goodbye Oedae.
Good bye Oedae
Well June 20th was the last day at my old School. To be honest I am so glad to turn that page in my time in Korea.
I worked for 2 braches of this company, the first one was in Juke-jon, Yong-in city and the second one was in Song-chon-dong Daejeon.
Those who know me, have heard of my displeasure of this first company, It was a nightmare to work for, the entire staff turned over 3 times while I was there, I quit learning the names of the new teachers, because they kept changing at a fast rate. He would have meetings in Korean and expect me to understand what was going on.
when the oportunity to transfer, i took it because I trusted my recruiter. (OK I know that I should have never had done that stupid thing!) Yong-in still owes me about 1 million won that I will never see, it was a very bad place to work and It has left a very bad taste in my mouth towards Oedae.
Now I have just completed 1 year at the songchong-dong branch. To be honest it was not that bad, the bull shit hapened during the last month. They really treated Stephanie like shit and it made me very upset, but it was funny when she went out and tried to find them a replacment teacher, they rejected her. Then we were susposed to get a new male teacher from Pittsburg and then the shit really hit the fan.
They told her that they did not know how to get a plane ticket from Korea to Pittsburg, (If they would have asked me I would have had it done in a few hours.) But when this new teacher would be arriving in Korea and leaving from the smae airport that they could not buy a ticket to. It was like they just bytch slapped her. I honestly could not believe it.
The trouble stared about 1 month before she was due to leave, (this is from steph letter)
Ok, so I started my job at a hagwon in Korea on June 12, 2005. The
two people that matter in this story are my boss, who speaks English,
and the hagwon president, who is never around and doesn't speak
English. After I'd been there a few weeks, they asked me to sign a
new contract saying that I started on the 10th. Nothing else had been
changed (I checked), so I signed it. On July 4th, I went to Osaka,
Japan, to get my E2 visa.
So today I asked my boss about something completely innocent related
to my leaving (I asked if there was any way my stopover on my flight
back could have a layover in San Fransisco) and my boss asked when I
was going. I said after June 10th, and she had a total hissy. She
said that I didn't tell her than I was going. I told her that I never
said that I was staying. They asked me once before to stay another
year, and I said no. She said that I told her that I would stay until
July or August. I told her once a few months ago that I might
consider that, but it was mentioned only once, they never brought it
up to me again, and I didn't sign anything saying such. Then she
asked me "if it was that urgent" that I couldn't stay until July, and
I said yes because I'd already accepted another job that starts July
1st. Then she told me that my visa isn't up until July so I have to
stay. I said my contract ends June 10th and I have no obligation
beyond that. She said I can't leave until they find another teacher.
I said that finding another teacher is her problem, not mine. Also,
I have two friends from NZ whose information I offered to send her,
and she said that "the boss doesn't want someone with that accent."
(As if the Korean accent they speak with is better.)
My boss was really belligerent with me about the whole thing, saying
things like "what do you want to say to me?" "do you think you can
just quit without telling anyone?" and "how can you be so
irresponsible?" and now she isn't speaking to me. I'm terrified that
this bad blood that just started to flow my affect my ticket home, my
visa, and my contract bonus. Is there anything that I could have done
differently, and what should I be doing to protect myself?
I hope this question isn't too little too late...
part 2 was this
This morning I got a call from my future boss. My current boss called
her today and asked her to "let them keep me" until July 31st. As if
I'm a borrowed piece of luggage or something! My new boss stood her
ground, though, saying that I told her my contract was up on June
10th. However, afterwards, my future boss called me, worried that I
was trying to skip out of my current contract early. I reassured her
that this was not the case. Of course, she's twice as happy to have
me now, since my old boss is pleading with her to let them keep me.
Does anyone know the name of a lawyer that I could tell my boss should
things get sticky? I don't think I'll actually need him, but if I
have a name, I think it will light a fire under their asses to leave
me alone and give me what I earned.
You were right on the money, my friend! Today, my NEW boss gave me my
flight itinerary since she's the one that's paying for the ticket
right now. My old boss, Winnie, said that she didn't know how to buy
the tickets. I think that's a big ol' lie if I've ever heard one, but
I don't even care. I have my flight home. Magically, they bought the
new teacher a ticket to Korea already... hmm...
She must take me for a total idiot.
As it turns out, my hagwon president is good friends with my new boss,
and now everything is going smoothly. My current hagwon president
didn't know that Winnie, the head teacher/my boss, had called the new
school and was LIVID with Winnie when she found out what she'd put me
through over the past week or two.
Now my biggest problem is that I have to be out of the apartment by
June 11th, and my flight doesn't leave until the 13th. My new boss is
the one that told me that today- my old boss hasn't mentioned it to me
yet. Surprise. But, hey, I'm sure I can get it all figured out. (and guess what happened, she was homeless for 2 days and the new teacher from pittsburg canceled on them at the very last minute. Isn't irony just grand. Steph found them a great teacher, that they rejected and would be here working, and the person they hired quit before he ever arrived.)
so you can see how the last month of work was, it was like walking into a landmine field, I kept wating for the other shoe to drop and thank godness it never happened.
Just watching all of this has really left a very bad taste in my mouth towards my last academy. I was paid and guess what it was late, When I left, they had not replaced me or steph. No idea when or if they will. So i leave there, very happy. I could not believe that I actually helped the recruiter who lied to me and I called a potential teacher from america and told her all about Daejeon. I told the truth so I was happy, but to actually help the man who lied to me.
So Goodbye Oedae.
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