 What
is "Western-Style" Housing in Korea?
Employer-provided housing can be a
bone of contention in Korea
Housing can be a
real problem in the Korea ESL world. Not so much of a
problem if your school does not provide it, as you can
find and get the quality of housing you want. But, when
the school provides it, sometimes you will be stuck with
a less than satisfactory situation. And a big
disappointment.
Cutting
Costs
Schools that
provide housing want, of course, to spend the minimum
amount needed for your housing. Ask the other teachers
there if it is decent or not - before you go.
Employers will sometimes find a tiny closet for you to
live in - not concerned that you need to share that
small space with all the cockroaches that already live
there. The photo on this page would not be
extra-ordinarily unusual in an older Korean apartment.
A little scrub-a-dub-dub and some creative decoration
though - and it can look 300% better. That's the
shower btw: center back of the photo.
 Shared
Housing
Be careful with
shared housing. While it may be fun to have a roommate,
you can also end up with the roommate from hell. Most
people recommend that you not accept shared housing. I
shared housing twice - once was great and I made a good
friend. The other time was terrible and I couldn't wait
to get out.
"Western Style Housing"
Some employers
will advertise that they provide Western style housing.
Don't trust it - sometimes that only means it has a
bathroom with a "throne" or seat toilet versus a
"squatter". ASK.
Paying
the Bills
If at all
possible, try to make sure that YOU pay the bills even
though it might seem convenient to allow your employer
to handle it for you. Some employers like to pay the
bills, but then don't give you a real accounting of the
costs. Some will greatly overcharge you. Ask the other
teachers about this at the school about this issue.
Demand
Decent Housing
 When
having a problem with it you can always ask your
employer, "Would you accept living here, like this?"
But, sadly, sometimes they would!
Don't demand a mansion, have reasonable expectations,
but do require something decent.
BTW, I have,
only one time, moved into a CLEAN school-provided
apartment (and it wasn't in Korea!). Much of the world
cleans when they move in - not out. Expect to move into
a filthy apartment. No big deal - you can leave it
dirty when you go!
|
"Twenty
years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things that you didn't do than by the
ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the
trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover." -- Mark Twain |
|
Raise your hand if you'd like to spend your "working"
time in a Luxury Resort . . . 
