You know that scene in Kill Bill 2. Michael Madsen’s character is a bouncer for the strip club. He shows up late for work, and gets called in the boss’s office. Madsen’s reasoning for being late is based on the logic, “I’m a bouncer, but there ain’t no one here to bounce.” The boss retorts, “Let me get this straight. I’m paying you to do a job, and you say you have no job to do.” That’s kinda what shook down today.

Since I’ve been at the school, I’ve witnessed the Winter final exams and Spring mid-term exams. During these 4 day sessions, I have no English classes. Students come to school from morning ’til the afternoon and take exams. That’s it. What do I have to do? … Nothing. There have been additional days when there were no classes as well.

Previously, the heads of the English department went to the Vice Principal, and asked if I could be excused from attending school. Many times this was on short notice, like thee day before short notice. The Head of the English department would come to me and say, “Tomorrow, and the next 3 days you don’t have to come to school. You can just enjoy you’re time.”

Yes, it’s great to have some days off. But, the last minute-ness of this really pissed me off. They would then ask, “What will you do on your vacation?” … What?! You just fucking told me about this. In the last 2 seconds, I haven’t had time to make a daily fucking itinerary?!

Yes, I realize I’m bitching. I actually have work pretty easy at my school, and a day off is a day off. But I never understood why I they had to ask permission all the time from the Vice Principal, and they couldn’t tell me this news sooner. We have the school schedules. We know when the exams are coming up. Do I have to be here or not?

Well, this particular time, I have to remind you who is the current Head of the English Department: The Godfather. He’s a blessing and a curse. In this case, he was lazy, the Vice Principal felt like being a dick, and I made the mistake of assuming.

Wednesday, I knew that final exams were coming up. Thursday was the first day of tests. Friday was the school’s birthday? And exams would resume from Monday through Wednesday.

Eventhough, I never actually heard the phrase, “Mers, you don’t have to come to school during final examinations.” No one said, “Mers, you DO have to come to school to do XYZ during the final exams.” My only job is to teach these English classes. When I’m not teaching, I have nothing else to do. I went ahead and assumed that I didn’t need to come to school. I didn’t have to come the last 2 times, why would this be different.

So, let me reiterate. I AM bitching. I do understand Korean culture. Korean teachers work over twice as hard as I do. Along with regular classes they have to monitor their students, and they have individual tasks within the school. I have things pretty easy. Even though, I can get these days off. Korean teachers sure as hell wouldn’t get any slack or sympathy. They are employed by the school, and they’re gonna be there and put in a full day. Period.

So back to my story.

Today, I woke up and lounged about my apartment. The doorbell rang, and it was the Korean teacher, who I get a ride to school with. I told him, I wasn’t going. I have no classes. He was ok with that answer and left. But in the back of my mind, I thought that was odd. Every other time that I’d been “officially” given the day off, he knew about it. Why was he ringing my doorbell, today? And that got me a little worried, no one “officially” came to me and told me I had these days off.

I was enjoying my time off. Rather than using ATMs, I like to personally walk into the bank to pay my bills. On school days, there’s no time for this. I’m at school from the time the bank opens and closes. The same applies for the post office. So, I paid my bills, picked up a crisp new 50,000W bill (just issued), and mailed letters. Any other week day, I have no time for this. I got home and started flipping through my archive of photos. Around 11:30, I get a call from the Godfather.

Godf: “Mers, where are you?”
Mers: “I”m at home. Why?”
Godf: “Why didn’t you come to school today with Mr Chin?”
Mers: “The students have final examinations. I have no classes today.”
Godf: “Yes. But, Mr Vice Principal asked about you.”
Mers: “Am I supposed to be there.”
Godf: “I want you to enjoy your time.”
Mers: “Okay.”
Godf: “So, you should come to our school, now.”
Mers: “… *sigh*”

So, I threw on some clothes and taxied it to the school.

Let’s be clear. The Godfather is THE Godfather. He, of all people, understands the need for time off. He doesn’t teach his classes with me, like he should. He sleeps in his chair. I told him that none of the students were attending my after school classes. He said, “You’re still getting paid. Just enjoy your time.” The Godfather couldn’t care less if I showed up today or not. He knows I have nothing to do. He has seniority, … except from the Vice Principal. And that’s why this went down. This one time, the Godfather didn’t ask permission if I could be excused for these days.

So, for whatever reason, the Vice Principal noticed that I wasn’t in the office today. I wasn’t blatantly sitting at my desk with my thumbs up my ass, reading blogs, and downloading videos. You know, … “working”. He had to inquire about me. “Where is Mers? Who said Mers didn’t have to come today?” And that responsibility fell on the Godfather.

I arrived at the school and went to see the Godfather. The Godfather wasn’t upset with me, but he had to save face with the Vice Principal. His character and personal responsibility were on the line. It wasn’t mine. We went to the cafeteria, where the VP was eating lunch, and we explained our situation. I played the role of the innocent confused foreigner. The Vice Principal didn’t seem to give two shits, and he said that I could take Monday through Wednesday off.

Thank you, I’m glad we cleared that up. /sarcasm

This is Korean society for you, and like I said I AM bitching. I’m thankful that the Vice Principal thinks and includes me as one of the Korean teachers. I’m thankful for the trips and many lunches we have, but painstakingly, I’ve gotta put in that time.

And now that I was back at the school, I had to put in that full day of work. Examinations were finished for the day, lunch was served, and the students were going home. It was 1 PM. So that left me with 4 hours of “Shoot me in the head. I don’t have my laptop or Korean study books. I’m fucking bored, and I have to stay here unitl 5PM. FUCK … ME.”