a little bit of muscle goes a long way

And since I dont have any, I had to resort to the Labour board.

Last week I was sick. Korean mentally says "You must go to work no matter how sick and contageous you are" which to me is just plain retarded. Especially when you think, if you rest the day you feel a cold coming on, you nip it in the bud, and not spread your germs to all you co-worker.

Add to this the pleasure of teaching dumb-ass grade school students, where you have to yell at them all the time, and you end up with a nightmare scenario.

So last Tuesday, considering I had no voice and the school is an ice box, I thought I really should call in sick. I tried getting a hold of my boss to no avail and ended up talking to his wife. I said " I dont think I should go in like this. Can you let me know if you can spare me, or if you need me for a few classes today". No call till 2:30. I start teaching at three.

My boss called me screaming at me telling me I couldnt call in sick so late etc. I ended up going to work and giving my two month notice. Let's face it, no one deserves to be screamed at for being legitimaly sick, and this guy has a temper issue. I have had a tete-a-tete with him before. He needs ot know, you shit on your employees, you will be shit on right back. To top it off he is Canadian, and younger than me. AND he is from Newfoundland: The firendliest province in Canada. We think he got voted off the Island. There are a lot of people here who just dont fit in anywhere else. But that's another story!

He did his usual not-thinking-knee-jerk-reaction and gave me a one month notice. So much the better, I said. I dont really want to be there 2 more months.

Well dont you know he went and took it back the next day. He also went and took back a bunch of stuff he promised me before hand. I didnt blow up at him, but as the night progressed last Tuesday I got more and more angry and I couldnt sleep. So I called the Labour board.

Turns out what he was trying to do to me was illegal. HAH! That'll teach him to mess with an Armenian. So the LB called him and informed him of this minor detail. I went to work the following day, got what I deserved and was promised served up to me with a smile and all because I made a wee phone call.

Bottom line is, they think we are alone here, and unaware of the law, and they can walk all over us. They need to learn a thing or two. And thankfully the Korean Government is on the side of the little people cause a lot of us have been screwed around in this hell hole.

Here is the letter I sent them about "my concerns"

Dear Mr. XXXXXX and Ms. XXXX;

I spoke to the labor board regarding the discussion Mr. XXXXXX and I had yesterday. I was told that since I began working at your school on February 3rd, this would be considered my official start date. Also, according to Korean Labor law you must pay all statutory holidays from this date on even if it falls one day after the start of the contract period/ start date. Simply, I started my contract on the 3rd and therefore my pay will begin on the third.


As for delaying my pay for two weeks, since my contract states 7days, it must remain 7 days and cannot be changed without written agreement from both parties. I am sure you will understand that this is not agreeable to me.

Please follow any correspondence regarding this matter in writing from this date forward.

I hope this clears up any issues you may have with my pay and or my pay date.
I will expect my pay on the 10th of March, which is today (11th is also acceptable for your convenience).

Thank you in advance;



Katrin Faridani


Now I just have to decide if I want to stay in this HH another few months or go elsewhere.