Hurray! reijene's reeling in!!

~oh happy day!!

i slept fitfully last Sunday, at around past 3 AM.. having the same thoughts, the same worries, the same crappy burden, plus marital problems, mood swings, tantrums equals a disaster of a day. I usually hate weekends, as it highlights boredom; grandparents take my kids, and husband sleeps the whole day or play computer games ignoring my existence except when he gets hungry... never mind. Let's proceed....

I hunt. Even though i mentioned that i already gave up looking for hagwon jobs, i still hunt. I hunt relentlessly, because i hunt for two people (husband and me). As the job market is always open internationally, being aggressive is the only way to find anything.

I usually wake up around 10 or 10:30. Since i slept rather badly, i was thinking of staying in bed until 11. My M-i-L will watch the kids for an hour or two, as my little pumpkin wakes at 9, and my little mushroom at 10. Monday morning brought the same stuff... my son asking permission to watch cartoons, my daughter bugging his brother to play, except one: my cellphone ringing @ 10.

My cellphone only has about 10 or 15 people. Husband, M-i-L, F-i-L, i have two friends in Korea, my last two students and their house number, my husband's female friend who i snap at and humiliate since she can't speak English everytime she calls (jealous wife), one of my old students (about 5 years ago), idiots who calls for my husband and husband doesn't want to talk to, namely bitch, bad, freak, do not answer; and husband's best friend's Vietnamese wife.

and not making sense here, just rambling.

my phone ringing is weird, since nobody really calls it. and the number started (02), probably seoul, i thought. nonetheless, i psyched myself to humiliate whoever calls and looks for my husband, or a telemarketer.

"allor." ---------> that's how i really answer the phone. it scares telemarketers.

"oh, hello. I'm calling for Kristel (that's my name)."

"speaking."

"i am from Pagoda Outsourcing and i understand that you applied for our summer camp positions?" BLAH, BLAH BLAH... ph..pho.. PHONE INTERVIEW?!?!?!?!

=) and there you have it... i am supposed to go to Seoul this week, for an actual interview..

only... my M-i-L is a little apprehensive about it, as she said (with a good point too), that the Internet is a source of about a million scams, and Korea's not excluded. So she redialed the number that called me, and the woman who answered the phone was an idiot, or she didn't know, and mother-in-law was affirmed that it was a scam alright!! =(

I didn't think so, this time, i gave the contact number from the online information posted. She called, and this time, a guy answered, which doubled her suspicions that it was really a scam.

6 hours later, after a seminar conducted for interracial marriage (in Korean so help me God!), M-i-L's swimming session, somehow, she was convinced as i was that it was REAL. She made a few more phone calls while we were away, and re-scheduled my interview!! We go to Seoul next week... =)

... it's just a summer camp. but it's better than nothing, yes?

I need Cheese with this Whine!

Because it's late, I'm exhausted and exasperated, i guess it's time for me to whine yet again.

Well, I'm still job hunting, and i won't even get close to a bait. Often times i just want to yell and bitch slap some facts that Koreans are ignoring while they continuously recruit people from abroad.

I am against the continuous hiring of the so-called Native Speakers. The ones already in Korea are fine, but to convince people from the western hemisphere that Korea's going to pay them a good sum of money plus more benefits when there are people here who can do the same job being denied... and yes, I'm talking about me... 5000 JOBS all across the country and i can't even fish one.

My last job was in Chonnam National University. It was a charity case, the students from one of the laboratories who were preparing for an abroad trip asked me that as a favor. I only needed them to pay for my transpo.. basically they paid for the gas in our car so i could teach them 3 times a week for a year. And that was three years ago. The next couple students i had were all private coaching. I was worried those days because i always thought of my son and (last year) my daughter. Who would watch them? And because the country's economic status three years ago was better than the present, current finance is a problem.

First quarter this year we declared bankruptcy. Last year, when my daughter was born, my husband decided to go against all odds and established a language school in the Philippines. He used the same concept as the old school i used to work at; school and dorm package. But as my porn is the stock market, i have seen the "then" fore-coming crisis, and as my husband is a very stubborn man who wouldn't listen to me, he went full steam ahead. No market, no students. No students, no money. No money, borrow money for maintenance. No students, no way to pay for the bills, and the borrowed money. It's a disaster, last year. I'd like to help but i can't... the only weak point my husband has: marketing and marketing strategies.

So yes, i need a job. If you ask why my husband isn't looking for a job and why the pressure is on my shoulder, there's a simple answer: he can't get hired here. He's 34 years old, his age is the shittiest factor i have ever encountered. He's got a PH D, in Industrial Engineering. He studied the jack-of-all-trades.. which is pointless as he's unemployable. He doesn't mind though, he's a businessman at heart. He had never seen his parents do anything other than run their own business... I also don't want him to look for a job either... as we specifically agreed that he IS my house husband. But in times like this, i swallowed my pride and we're both hunting for jobs... him at the international job market, me in Korea.

But Korea's not kind... at least not to my specie. They want NS... the fresher the better. The economically active group of people cannot get hired, the people with the same abilities but different countries cannot get hired, Is Korea desperately trying to be a country full of diversity that it has forgotten the people already inside?

I'm tired, and sleepy... and a couple more minutes I'd get cranky. But i need to hunt... and hunt some more, and hope that one of the companies would break from the pact and take a chance. But that's just me... my wishful thinking. I need a job...

The Wonderfully Stupid Wondergirls

If you live in Korea, or for whatever reason (i'm not interested) you're obsessed with Korean Entertainment business, it's possible that you know them. Last time i checked there was a kiss-ass nobody telling this group composed of the silliest five girls that they are ready to take on Hollywood, and that Hollywood would be ready for them. THEY'RE FAMOUS here in Korea.

Their first hit "Tell me" had driven me crazy. Like all of their other songs. Try and find it, if you like it, then i can honestly say you lack sensible music taste. The way i tell my husband, it's BLECH!!!

So let's rant....

I avoided watching music channels here. One: it's in Korean, i don't like it. TWO: NO ONE can dance decently so what's the point of watching?? Just listen to the radio (which i also cannot tolerate). And THREE: I have not found one Korean Pop, RnB, Jazz, or any kind of music artist i can actually enjoy seeing, or listening to... And that coming from a hardcore music lover (thanks to my mom and dad) is something.

So what's with these Wondergirls? They're pretty to Korean standards (not me), they have very little asses, they have no boobs, they have the hideous and skinny Asian bowlegs, and they have flat stomachs. That's just it. They're not sexy. They can't sing... (OMG, try and listen), they can't dance (grace is not their friend), they're very stiff, and they have no originality. Nothing that they're doing right now, can make me say "that's new" because... THEY'RE POSERS!

Oh, nothing. I just don't like them They're the very first trying hard girl group who can't sing but had hits that caught the mass Korean fan base. Good thing Koreans suck (or most of them at least) at English or i'd be hoarding hate mails. One music channel is right in the middle of my favorite channel, and Cartoon Network (Squirt's channel), which makes it impossible to avoid seeing these girls. Once, while flipping though TV, i saw them again. Imagine my HORROR when i saw them trying to imitate BEYONCE'S Single Ladies... dance moves, vocals, the works. I swear to God, i literally puked. I could blame their choreographer, or i could blame their artistic ideas that go way over their heads, or i could do both. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE GIRLS? Hasn't anybody even told them that straight arms is equivalent to stiff arm movement? And that their legs together won't do anything to a dance routine? So they're not dancing.. they're FLAILING! So sad that Korean people think these girls are great performers.

Well... they're not. And they call themselves the first wonder....

In the end.. it's just me. Because they have enchanted the world without anybody actually noticing that these girls have no talent.. just lucky and that they had a break in the industry.

WARNING: UK TEACHING SCAM

It started out last week. It's still quite fresh.

I am a job hunter. I hunt for jobs because as the world economy had been on a slump, jobs aren't easy to find. I hunt jobs not just for me, but for my husband as well. Since he's not very confident when it comes to English sites, i don't mind. i hunt. I post our resumes left and right. Although i gotta admit, my resume has a little bit more fire than husband's as it was my own

The first message i received was mid-April. An invitation to work in UK... sweet offer, with sweet salary plus benefits. But i thought it must be a wrong send. I checked the names on the message header and i saw that they are great English teachers! Licensed, with Masters... no there must be a mistake.

Then i received two more.. and this time, since i am a job hunter, without a clue where i have left my resume online, i consulted my husband. I was skeptical. But as my husband usually doesn't tell me anything positive (as i clearly instructed him to do), soothed my doubts away and encouraged me to try. There's always no harm in trying... but i smelled something fishy about it. They all wanted the same: teach my wife and kids.

I like kids... and so, one afternoon while my kids were napping, i responded to these e-mails. Be warned, it's a scam. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

Looking For An ESL Teacher
...
Miguel diaz
...
View Thursday, April 23, 2009 8:57:04 AM
To:dr.igmiguel@gmail.com

Dear Teacher,
i am Dr Miguel Diaz from Colombia,presently residing here in the UK with
my wife amandine and two kids by name , Sebastian and Diana ,
i am in need of an english teacher to come and teach my wife and kids for
a period of one year,
Compensation and Benefits Package.:A very attractive monthly salary which
is GBP4,500 Paid monthly, Quality single or family hhousing on arrival down
here,medical insurance,travel allowance,
Thank you for your anticipated response phone: +447024043001...
Dr Miguel

Oh, this is just one... Only this one actually progressed.

Dear Teacher Deianne
hope you are doing very good at the moment,
i sure sent the e-mail to you ok,there is nothing mistaken about it,
is nice getting your interest over the job,i have gone through your
resume which you sent to me and it is very excellent though brief,
how long have you been at south Korea?
your level of experience is very great and i think i can confine in that alone,
when can you be able to make it down here?
are you presently working?
do you have a valid international passport?
will you be coming alone or with your kids?
your resume did not even state if you are a male or female,
will be waiting to hear from you asap,feel free to call me at your free time
presently discussing you with my wife and kids,
cheers
Dr Miguel

I'm an idiot! He's flattering and he can't do English... as bad (or worse!) than Koreans. Let's cut to the chase. Two days later, he sent me a CONTRACT. A very vague contract, so i had to consult my friend in Australia. She had been travelling around the globe because of jobs. I was excited, I'm telling you. I thought, why is Korea so unkind? And this man is willing to hire me even though i only mentioned i am not a native speaker... He said i could take my family and he'd pay for absolutely everything... airfare, utilities, the works. He even sent pics!!


I say... okay.. i see kids. But my husband, skeptical as i am, he's more. He requested a picture of their house, and the house that was for me.


The big house (he said) his house, and the one on the right would be mine. His reason why there aren't any interior pics (from "my" house) is because it's being decorated and it's locked.

QUESTION: IF HE WAS THE ONE RENT THE PLACE THEN WHY CAN'T HE ACCESS IT?

Cute London house. I heard houses in London look like this.... very similar.

Okay... starting to get drowsy here. I'll be back, with more news.

At Least i Knew i Had a Shot until...

And i am blogging again because of another disappointment.

This afternoon, after contemplating long and hard on whether i should call or not, i decided there's no harm in doing a phone interview. I was nervous, i got to admit. The last interview i had was on the Philippines, in the Korean Embassy on how i became a teacher, where i came from (you're the first one i ever interviewed who was born and raised on the Metro AND married a Korean[IDIOT MAN]) or why i married my husband (an even bigger stupidity). Okay, starting to get round in circles here...

My last job in the Philippines, it was ME who did the interviews. In the University i worked at was a charity case. I was called in to do the kids a favor. The students i had all came to me. Today i had to undergo a serious anxiety attack before placing that call. I was going to call TWO possible employers. I should have called yesterday, but courtesy dictates, i just sent my resume so call the next day just to be sure it was read, and to be extra polite, i had to check my mail before calling. NOTHING, so i decided to call right after lunch. And i did.

The first call i placed, it was a secretary, i assume, who answered the phone. The man i was hoping to talk to was still having lunch (i suppose) so i had to call again after an hour. I called again, and the phone call was ignored. I'm not calling again...

The second phone call i did, i was able to reach the manager. We talked for a couple minutes until i mentioned that i was NOT a native speaker. He asked a couple more questions until finally he said,

i would like to hire you, but we have to give priority to US or Canada etc...

aww... OUCH! I thanked him for his time, and spent the rest of my afternoon weeping. Pathetic that i cried over rejection when i used to NEVER care. I turned into a wimp! So, i took a shower, and tried to wash away the thoughts that started tormenting me again.... that i can't get an effing job because my nationality gets in the way. Obviously, it failed miserably.
BECAUSE these people would rather hire an inexperienced anybody from those countries, born with English as their first language. The Irish has the worst accent (my opinion, nobody else's) i have ever encountered. I tried listening to Irish accent and i was terribly annoyed. It's hardly recognizable. The kiwis, their pronunciation of words are almost homophonic! Indiscernible unless you pay close attention to. US and Canada are linked together, contemporary conversations are usually done in their style... Brits and Australians are holders of the typical old-fashioned english (no offense). Their accent are usually what's used with it. I SAID USUALLY, not all!

I wonder why the Korean Government announced that there's a possibility of our kind to work here, when obviously, there is no chance in hell that we could. All recruiting agencies i have tried won't cater to my kind. Early this year, it was announced that Asian teachers will egt a shot at the ESL job market of Korea this year, WHEN HIRING SEASON has come, and is closing soon.

OH, ALRIGHT!

I admit! I'm a good girl, in every sense. The idea of me being bitchy and snappy is a cover up, because i usually am taken advantage of. I hate that. I soo despised it because; 1. even my mother did it, and; 2. I was brought up like a Spanish daughter. If you don't know how that one works out, think of it like this: you know i exist, but you have NEVER seen me. In rare occassions wherein you decided to visit my father's house, you will ONLY get a whiff of my existence, and NEVER see me for the rest of your stay, unless you were invited for an over-nighter.

Although, part of me really is a bitch. I became tough love.. that is, four years after i left.

My prejudice against Native Speakers? It's only because i am discriminated against them. Well, not just me, but the rest of my kind. And it's not fair. Life's never fair, but all i can do is hate the twisted system altogether. I have, as the rest of Korea calls it, NATIVE SPEAKER friends. They're very sweet people, and i have even invited some of them to work here when the job market opened. Sometimes, when i'm watching kiddie TV programs, and i see some NS making mistakes, i get so worked up, then i start ranting (yet again) on why the system is soo perplexing.

I don't like Caucasians because, they creep me out. They remind me of perverts that roam around the cities of Manila when night falls. Oh, alright! Because my mother and my father brainwashed me that they're not good people. So are the Japanese and Korean people. Although i proved to them that Korean people are quite kind, i think running away with my now-husband might have given them a much worse impression. =P. My friends from the old school i worked at thought i was very naive, because i do, and say only what my mother puts on my head, and my mouth. Took me a while to get my own words back. I even lost a very good friend because my mother put ideas on my head, and didn't trust my own judgement. That good friend, is still very mad at me. I apologized to her after realizing what happened, and she didn't bother herself with it. That much damage.

SO now, every bit of me is working hard to have an identity. Far from my mother's words, and different from my father's, SOmewhere in me, the little girl with my mother's ideas and words sometimes comes out and play, and she destroys good relationships i had. The new person i am trying to be, is trying to murder her. =)

Filipino Basher

An idiot KIWI here thought she's smarter than an entire country.

And i will face the fact that i am like her. But she's not all that. As a native speaker, she should have at least a decent way of writing.... NOT! Her grammar stinks (if you're a teacher, you'd find the spot immediately), assuming that she's a KIWI, her accent should be (dare I use the word?) *toot*.

Let me clarify something: the Philippines, much as this idiot woman claims difficult to understand with regards to our spoken English, has a load of dialects that have some stiff accents, even for our standards. And then maybe, she should just quit her job. 250 call centers in the Philippines will drive her crazy. I say, i'm all for it!!

WOOT! Philippine job market is happy. One very smart, and very lucky person can steal her current position. And i will pray for that to happen very soon.