discard gum please
Here’s the situation ~ I’m sitting in the teacher’s room during my 2-hour free period, at my desk, minding my own business …
Following another delightful meal of fiery-assed, nasty-smellin’ kimchi, I can’t get the rotten taste out of my mouth (yes, I brushed my teeth, with everyone else …) so I’m chewing on a Dentyne Ice (not “Bubbalicious”, or anything equally absurd – just a little chicklet of gum). And I am NOT crackin’ and snappin’ , or blowing bubbles, or twisting it around my fingers … but I got passed a “note” from the Princess.
She comes to my desk and says, “Excuse-a me ~ please read-a this for me now?” and hands me a handwritten note. I’m assuming that it’s something she picked up from the floor of a classroom or something she needs translated, but she is actually passing me a personal request – “Discard gum please. We advise students not to chew.”
Seriously. Just leave me alone. Just for one hour.
“Oh, thank you.” Are you 10 years old? Talk ~ don’t pass me a note. “Nobody told me that I couldn’t chew gum at school.” If I spit out my gum, will you quit eating with with your mouth wide open like a dolphin, smacking your lips, and slurping every liquid that comes within 4 inches of your mouth? I plucked out my gum, put it in the note, threw it in the plastics recycling in. “Anything else?”
Apparently that was all she wanted, to address yet another impropriety, because she slithered back to her cube without further comment.
Ish. I just can’t stand that woman …
Tags: 1
Nancy
May 23rd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
It’s time to go on the offensive. If the Princess rebukes you again, make a production of writing down her complaint, take many pictures, and assure her that you will report her complaint to the Korean authorities and to the US consulate. Turn it back on her. Make it clear that these kinds of personal intrusions are not looked upon kindly by the US government. Remind her that the internet provides worldwide reviews of experiences in every country, including S. Korea, which she is making very unattractive. Be clear with her that if she continues to make your stay unpleasant, her name will be attached to internet postings telling American teachers that Korea is to be avoided.
Your advantage is that you can come home anytime. You don’t have to put up with anything that you find onerous. Use that to your advantage.
Love,
Barb
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I LAUGHED OUT LOUD for the first time in months when I read your commentary. What makes us so damn fiery?
I reported her behavior to my placement adviser a month ago, but his response is “It’s the Korean way. Get used to it.” I also spoke with an associate at the US Consulate who seemed sympathetic but wasn’t very helpful. He said “We can’t really deal with personal issues. Or contract issues. Do you need to leave the country for any reason?”
You’re right ~ I CAN go home anytime, but the penalties are pretty harsh if I leave now. Basically, once your here, you’re screwed. I can “suck it up” for a while ~ but the blog commentary will be … interesting.