Thought I’d take y’all way back to the day I was born it all began, my first day in Korea – Friday, 4th April, 2003. Enjoy!
Friday, 4th April, 2003
Me at Sydney airport minutes before my departure into the unknown - poor bastard, I didn't have a clue what I was getting myself into
Friday, 4th April, 2003 is a day that I remember as if it were yesterday. It was the day I first landed in the ROK – South Korea.
Just six weeks beforehand I was working part-time, trawling the Internet for job positions. I came across a position teaching English in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. It perked my interest into a whole world of opportunity I never knew existed. I could actually make money teaching English. People would pay money to have me teach them without any actual teaching qualifications. Sweet.
I scanned the China position with interest and started to ponder whether I would be able to adjust, adapt and succeed in a foreign land. I knew it would be challenging – adjusting, adapting and succeeding in my homeland had already proved a task hard enough for myself.
As the week went on, I became more and more intrigued with this whole babysitting spoilt brats whilst their mothers are off shopping teaching English in Asia phenomena racket and started actively looking at other positions available in other countries. I had an offer for an interview with a Japanese company, which recently went bust by the way, though they wanted me to fly to Brisbane at my expense for an interview for a job I had no guarantee I’d get. As money was short, I declined the interview and looked on.
As time went on, I looked more and more at Korea. It was a fairly modern, progressive country it seemed – having watched the 2002 World Cup and knowing a few Korean friends in high school I was an expert, of course. They offered free accommodation, return airfare and a decent salary, and that was the clincher for me.
Fast forward a month later to April 4th. I arrive at Incheon early on a bleak, overcast Friday morning. In a foreign land, knowing only two basic greetings, I had to get myself down to the city I’d be living in, a good four hours away. I find the bus, take it and am on my way to a new adventure. We reach my town, I get off at what I think is my stop.
Turns out it’s not my stop and the foreign manager is waiting elsewhere. I was naturally blamed for this mishap which has largely set the tone for any and all misunderstandings, fuck-ups, screw overs, and mishaps that have occurred since over the last five years. Whenever something wrong happens, always blame the big-nose! Taxis drive by slowly, some stopping, watching this awkward, hairy bastard seemingly in the middle of nowhere with no idea or clue about where he is – or anything else for that matter. One kindly chap comes along and asks with broken English and body language ‘what’s the matter?’. Luckily I find a piece of paper with my recruiter’s phone number. Twenty minutes later I’m picked up and the next phase begins.
I’m taken to the school. The big boss meets me. To this day, he has the honour of being the slimy character I’ve come across and I felt an almost immediate sensation of sleaze – as if it’s something that’s transmissible human-to-human – just being around the bloke. He was a scaly human being indeed. But, he did always pay on time which I give him credit for. But, anyway, I digress. Back to the story …
He looks me up and down thoroughly like I was newly purchased cattle, which actually isn’t that far from the truth. He was reluctant at first to hire me as he had never hired someone outside North America before. He gives me the seal of approval, or more aptly, grudging acceptance. He also leaves this sage advice, “The most important thing is that the kids keep coming and parents pay money.” After that I was reassured that I was truly fucked I was working at a reputable place and this bloke would have my back!
I have lunch with my recruiter and her friends who spent the whole lunchtime bitching about work and Korea. Fun times! Way to make the new sap feel comfortable.
The foreign manager then takes me to the school I will be working at. You see, I was under the foolish impression that having arrived in town mid-afternoon Friday, they’d let me rest over the weekend and have me come in the following Monday. Ho, ho, not in Korea! where every second counts when you’re exploiting a foreigner
On the car ride to my new workplace I’m starting to feel a little apprehensive about this whole teaching in a foreign country to funny looking children saying words I don’t understand yet straight off the plane business. “What will I teach them?” I ask the foreign manager for counsel. “I dunno. You’re the teacher!”, his only reply. Gee, thanks arsehole!
Luckily, my only duty was standing in, watching classes from the head teacher. As the day wears on, I get increasingly tired and jetlagged, and am given an early mark to rest at my new apartment. The head teacher invites me to come along later that night to meet a large group of the foreign community who have gathered at a teacher’s house for a poker party. I become increasingly tired, jetlagged and weird as the night goes on but have a reasonable time.
I think my first day in Korea set me up well and largely set the tone for the next five years in Korea …
It’s been a ride so far we’ll see when I finally get off
Posted by elcanguro76 
