Didn't have enough company spirit to keep around.

May 31 - June 6, 2010

Well this week was a short one at work. On Thursday last week, I was asked to come to the head office on Tuesday but not told why. As it turned out, it was to let me go. I got there and walked into a meeting with a couple of the top foreigners, and the lead Korean recruiter; and Mel (the girl who recruited me) proceeded to tell me how they didn't think my attitude was on the same track as what the company was looking for. So, in a nut shell, I didn't kiss the boss's ass enough when we were at our activity day. I know this because it was the only example they could give me regarding my lack of company spirit, and because they told me that my teaching had been exemplary and that the students loved me. After telling me they were going to terminate my contract, they proceeded to tel me that they would let me keep my place for the next two weeks if I chose to look for another job.
Then it was my turn to talk, and they had me in a tight spot. I couldn't just go off and tell them how I really felt and how fucked up the company ass kissing expectations are; so instead i used nicer words, like 'bummer' and 'bogus', to let them know that what they were doing wasn't very impressive. Then when I asked them why nothing was ever brought to my attention, they replied with, "we just don't feel attitude can be changed", and "that they know it's hard to come in to new things, but they need someone who can do what they say". To all of this I simply replied by telling them how much easier it would have been if I had a team leader (who was in the room) who could communicate, which took some heat off me and onto him.
When it was all done, I ended up not having to teach for the rest of the week, or following, while I tried to find a job. So I left, feeling a little relieved that I wouldn't have to be a corporate monkey anymore, and went straight home to let friends know, and get on the line with some recruiters.
Thankfully I have some great friends here, and within a couple hours I was lined up with several recruiters, and could relax and have a few 'I just got fired beers'. By Thursday things were already coming together, and I had some job prospects, with interviews lined up for the next week.
The rest of the week passed by with me hanging out at home mostly so that I didn't miss any emails or phone calls during the day, in case the recruiters wanted paperwork emailed to them. Then Saturday came around, and the fact that I didn't have to work Saturdays anymore really sunk in. It would have been an early Saturday shift, and Emily and I had asked a bunch of our friends from in the city to come down for a rooftop bbq/party. Since I didn't have to work, I got to be productive for the gathering, instead of expecting Emily to do a lot of things while I was at work. I made it to Itaewon to get a phone in the morning, then came home and went to the store to buy lots of paper plates, fruit, and salad for everyone to have. The party got going around 4pm when the first group of people showed up (Blake, Nate, Garrett) and we sat outside eating fruit and salad until the rest of the people showed up around 530 (Brady, Frank, Alex, Louise, Danielle). Once everyone was here we got out the grills and started barbecuing meat that everyone had brought, including steaks, hamburgers, chicken wings and pork galbi. The party went on (Doug, Rachele, SoHyun, Junk showed up later) until just after midnight, when everyone started to clean up so they could head back to town and go out.
Emily and I stayed behind and since here apartment is closer to the roof, most of the mess ended up back at her place, so I went to clean up. I washed up the dishes and things, while she dealt with the garbage and leftovers, and by about 2am we had it all taken care of. It was a good thing I didn't go out, because on Sunday I went with Blake and Danielle to the FC Seoul vs. Jeju soccer game at the World Cup Soccer Stadium. We sat in the FC Seoul cheering section, which was really fun, and when the game was over we went to hang out in Blake's old area, Sillim for dinner. Eventually the three of us met up with Emily, who was at another forced work gathering, for some ice cream, before calling it a week and going home.

Well another week down, but this one definitely put a spin on life I wasn't expecting.