[livinginkorea]

Haha you will be fine in Korea. Give as good as you get, that's always my motto. If some guy is acting like a b**tard to you then do likewise or else he will start pushing you around. In the beginning when I started teaching I was such an easy to push person. I would end up doing extra classes without a moments notice, teaching private classes for very little money and generally get used again and again because I was TOO easy.

Then finally I had enough of getting pushed around, quit that job and moved on. Haven't looked back since and no director uses me now because they know I will cause a huge fuss if they do.

Oh, by the way Koreans feel really nervous if you shout at them in public, especially if it's an older person because of losing face is a big thing here. Also don't worry about not looking at them in the eye because most of them don't do it either 'cas they consider than rude.

There's no doubt it, Koreans are definitely different but you will totally enjoy it. It helped me grow as a person and change my views on life and I'm sure that it will do the same for you as well.

Any more questions then feel free to ask,

-livinginkorea (but not from there )

[fishead soup]

You'll need plenty of formal clothes. Koreans don't like scruffy people. If you plan to teach small kids you can get away with wearing casual clothes. However for meeting Principles or Directors for the first time I strongly urge you to dress neat and tidy. Don't bother trying to clean your formal clothes yourself. You might ruin them. Their are plenty of cheap dry cleaners around.

If you have any tattoos try to cover them up when you first go to your new school. The longer you stay the more they will accept you.

Investing in your own personal lap top computer is a good idea. This allows you to do P.P.T. and download pop songs for your classes.

In Korea there is very little separation between public life and professional life. This means that if you create a scandal on your own time it can come and haunt you at work.

When meeting someone older or an authority figure you are expected to make a light bow and say Anh yaseyo.

Keep your apartment clean. You never know when someone important might drop in. If your place is messy they will jump to all kinds of conclusions about you and it will take a long time to redeem yourself. Since your school provides the apartment they have to deal with any problems that develope such as unpaid bills or leaving it a complete pig sty.

There are lots of opportunities to drink in Korea. When invited out should accept this will be a good opportunity to bond with your co-workers. When you first start going out with people they may appear to be very generous. Its important to not take advantage of Korean hospitality. When it comes time to pay Koreans often fight for the bill. Your co workers will be pleasently surprised if you pay.

As a foreigner you will find lots of opportunities for dating. Keep in mind that cross cultural dating is new to most Koreans.