From my understanding, much of the landscape of Korean hogwans (private schools) is absurdly corrupt and poorly run by people who care little of the employees or children, but instead see those children and employees as vessels for their own financial gains.
Janghak Language Institute is no different. I sent an e-mail a while back about our asshole boss Michael. Through absurd complaining from the entire foreign staff (that's me and my white coworkers), he basically had his balls taken from him and now is just the Fonz of the office. He has no real power. He just pops his collar and gives the thumbs up. Instead, the power has been usurped by Mr. Ha, the owner of the school. While slightly less versed in being an asshole as Michael had been, he makes up for his misgivings by being twice as incompetent in management and disrespectful to the Korean staff. Since this school opened in October, every single initial Korean teacher has quit. Every one. Moreover, one who came in December with me and the one with whom I am the closest, Lucy, just put her two week notice in today. She was given a schedule which would basically mandate that she had no social life outside of school. If she didn't like it...she had no other options.
As an American here, I have more options. I was given a schedule which was actually slightly worse. I talked to my boss...she pushed me to her boss...who did nothing. So I went over his head to the next guy...who then called back down to the 2nd boss...who was embarassed that I went over his head...and my schedule was quickly changed. The Korean system is structured that ALL people will verbally placate you and not do anything until someone over them is going to hold them personally accountable. However, it does not work for Lucy.
They asked us to work Saturday's, we said 'no.' That was the end of it...we're too valuable to lose. They tell her to work Saturdays...if she doesn't..."goodbye." Mr. Ha has had meeting after meeting with us foreigners as well as the Koreans where ample things are promised. Yet, in the face of more dollar signs with pigtails, those promises tend to be forgotten in the name of another $4200 suit...COME ON!
For other people here in Korea who read this...I recognize that this is the system, and that our school is better in some ways and is worse in some ways. I'm more annoyed with the rudeness and desire to tell downright lies to both Americans and Korean workers. I'm more annoyed that this tendency which started only in the high offices of this building has seemed to seep down through the rest of it.
Attitude Reflects Leadership
Friday, May 30, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Olympic Torch
So the Olympic Torch came through Seoul today. While not really looking to be a protestor, if there was going to be one, I was going to be damned if I wasn't there. It started in Olympic Park at around 2pm local time with the torch being lit from the eternal flame from the 1988 games that were here. After it ran on its way, the crowd of 99.99% Chinese People turned slightly violent toward the great minority of Tibetan protesters.
I was a few feet from this man who was riding on his bike shouting pro-Tibetan things until he was kicked off his bike and his head slammed off the ground. I will have some pics of this incident of my own up on flickr tomorrow hopefully.
Then we made our way over to the Tibetan protest area, which had turned into a contained platform for the other masses to throw things ranging from rocks, to hamburgers and drinks to freaking bolt cutters -- I shit you not. This video is a pretty good example of what it was like. I was in that mix, but a little further down to the right of where the camera man is. Unfortunately, we sort of all got boxed into the Chinese side of the protest, and while I was most certainly not a vocal member of that group, I would have still felt less dirty being on the side having stuff thrown at them. Despite a complete lack of a plan on how to keep the pro-Tibet people safe, the Seoul police did a really good job of keeping their cool. During the parade route, a couple N.K. refugees tried to set themselves on fire, and the police stopped it and kept on going. There was no pepper spray, there was no violent resistance. I know of no real injuries. They did a good job.
I was a few feet from this man who was riding on his bike shouting pro-Tibetan things until he was kicked off his bike and his head slammed off the ground. I will have some pics of this incident of my own up on flickr tomorrow hopefully.
Then we made our way over to the Tibetan protest area, which had turned into a contained platform for the other masses to throw things ranging from rocks, to hamburgers and drinks to freaking bolt cutters -- I shit you not. This video is a pretty good example of what it was like. I was in that mix, but a little further down to the right of where the camera man is. Unfortunately, we sort of all got boxed into the Chinese side of the protest, and while I was most certainly not a vocal member of that group, I would have still felt less dirty being on the side having stuff thrown at them. Despite a complete lack of a plan on how to keep the pro-Tibet people safe, the Seoul police did a really good job of keeping their cool. During the parade route, a couple N.K. refugees tried to set themselves on fire, and the police stopped it and kept on going. There was no pepper spray, there was no violent resistance. I know of no real injuries. They did a good job.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is scum (UPMC)
The fucking University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is one of the worst fucking instituations in the world.
Not only are UPMC human resources agents incompetent and rude, they have now lowered themselves to downright liars. At the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, they like to send out mailings after a person resigns, telling them that they have money in savings plans and asking what said person would like to do with it.
Wellllllll, when I called the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, also known as UPMC, and talked to someone, they then told me I did not actually have that money. I had not worked there long enough...alas.
Forward to 10 days ago. My father receives a phone call saying that I do (!) have the money, but can relaly tell him no more because, well, he's not me. However, 2 days later, he receives a letter from UPMC (The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) saying that I DID have the money and then forfeited it. I assure you...I did nothing of the sort.
Forward to this evening. I call UPMC Human Resources and speak to two very sweet women who were surely still living in southern Texas. I tell them my story of woe and deception. They do a thorough 30 second background check on me...and tell me that I DO NOT (?!) have the money. The letter simply stated what I COULD have had. And they have Nooooo record or explanation of the phone call. Aparently the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center did NOT have this money for me, and was instead just dangling several hundred dollars in my face only to yank it away when I call from fucking Korea. See...the University of Medical Center (UPMC) Human Resources department is concerned for the well being of their employees, past AND present. I've certainly bent over and taken it from them in BOTH statuses.
See...I worked there 2 1/2 years and only received one "annual" raise, which is ensured to every employee every 12 months...do the math. Thank you Judy Kirkdorfer, HR rep. for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Then I was written up for an offense that didn't happen, by people by admittedly did not see it. That offense was then taken to HR people who NEVERRR interviewed ANYONE. Yet, still somehow found me to be in the wrong. Thank you Human Resources at UPMC. And now....Now now now now now...they dangle this in my face and jerk it away.
I hope that I put University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in this post enough that it will show up on SOMEBODY'S google search.
Not only are UPMC human resources agents incompetent and rude, they have now lowered themselves to downright liars. At the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, they like to send out mailings after a person resigns, telling them that they have money in savings plans and asking what said person would like to do with it.
Wellllllll, when I called the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, also known as UPMC, and talked to someone, they then told me I did not actually have that money. I had not worked there long enough...alas.
Forward to 10 days ago. My father receives a phone call saying that I do (!) have the money, but can relaly tell him no more because, well, he's not me. However, 2 days later, he receives a letter from UPMC (The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) saying that I DID have the money and then forfeited it. I assure you...I did nothing of the sort.
Forward to this evening. I call UPMC Human Resources and speak to two very sweet women who were surely still living in southern Texas. I tell them my story of woe and deception. They do a thorough 30 second background check on me...and tell me that I DO NOT (?!) have the money. The letter simply stated what I COULD have had. And they have Nooooo record or explanation of the phone call. Aparently the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center did NOT have this money for me, and was instead just dangling several hundred dollars in my face only to yank it away when I call from fucking Korea. See...the University of Medical Center (UPMC) Human Resources department is concerned for the well being of their employees, past AND present. I've certainly bent over and taken it from them in BOTH statuses.
See...I worked there 2 1/2 years and only received one "annual" raise, which is ensured to every employee every 12 months...do the math. Thank you Judy Kirkdorfer, HR rep. for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Then I was written up for an offense that didn't happen, by people by admittedly did not see it. That offense was then taken to HR people who NEVERRR interviewed ANYONE. Yet, still somehow found me to be in the wrong. Thank you Human Resources at UPMC. And now....Now now now now now...they dangle this in my face and jerk it away.
I hope that I put University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in this post enough that it will show up on SOMEBODY'S google search.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Living in a country at war
For those of you who are not historically inclined, Korea is still technically at war. Korean War
It sort of made me smile a little when I heard the first air raid siren around the middle of March. I'm living in a country at war. Not like in the states, where we are at war in a more imperial sense...like Napoleon was at war in Russia (And how did that go?). South Korea is still technically at war and I'm 30 miles from the front lines.
I smiled slightly less last weekend when I read this. Now, don't get me wrong, I am FAR from concerned or anything. It is what it is, and I realize that. But, the idea of being in a city 40 miles away from the last Stalinist state with a certifiably insane person who has a couple dirty nukes....far out. If he gets Alec Baldwin on his side, we're all fucked.
It sort of made me smile a little when I heard the first air raid siren around the middle of March. I'm living in a country at war. Not like in the states, where we are at war in a more imperial sense...like Napoleon was at war in Russia (And how did that go?). South Korea is still technically at war and I'm 30 miles from the front lines.
I smiled slightly less last weekend when I read this. Now, don't get me wrong, I am FAR from concerned or anything. It is what it is, and I realize that. But, the idea of being in a city 40 miles away from the last Stalinist state with a certifiably insane person who has a couple dirty nukes....far out. If he gets Alec Baldwin on his side, we're all fucked.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
One more thing...
I want to be the first to predict it...so that I will get the credit when it happens...Pirates 162-0.
This is the year of perfect seasons...19-0!! WOOO!
WE WILL!
This is the year of perfect seasons...19-0!! WOOO!
WE WILL!
Mini-update
Man, I haven't done a thing to this in forever.
Things here are going well and I'm still truckin' along. The biggest thing (which I've bragged to most people about already) is that I'm going to THAILAND in 10 days!!! It's looking like a couple days on a beach island south of Bangkok and then heading to Ayutthaya for a day to visit some Buddhist ruins and an ancient city (I eat that historical crap up). Then...best of all...I'M RIDING A FRIGGING ELEPHANT!!!
Jeeeez. 12 months ago, I was hoping to get a last minute invite into Temple's Ph.D. program...now I'm riding elephants in Thailand. I didn't even have a passport then.
It's funny how travel really lets the Peter Pan syndrome set in.
Things here are going well and I'm still truckin' along. The biggest thing (which I've bragged to most people about already) is that I'm going to THAILAND in 10 days!!! It's looking like a couple days on a beach island south of Bangkok and then heading to Ayutthaya for a day to visit some Buddhist ruins and an ancient city (I eat that historical crap up). Then...best of all...I'M RIDING A FRIGGING ELEPHANT!!!
Jeeeez. 12 months ago, I was hoping to get a last minute invite into Temple's Ph.D. program...now I'm riding elephants in Thailand. I didn't even have a passport then.
It's funny how travel really lets the Peter Pan syndrome set in.
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