2014/08/14
It's been 2,5
months since I've been here and it's high time to looking for a part-time job
here, actually any job to be able to live here since all my money that I've
brought with me are gone already. Besides from the very beginning I was
planning to stay here for at least more 6 months. Thus i can complete all the 6
levels of the Korean language. And if it had not be able to stay here, live and
work I could feel free go back home knowing at least the language. After all I
had planned to teach it to people who are eager to learn Korean somewhere at courses
in St. Petersburg. But I paid in advance for the first six months, and for the
other half, I didn't of course, as I do not possess a bag of money after all
... LOL. So it's really necessary for me to make this bag here as the life here
is not very cheap as you may know ..... This is where the problems start .. Well,
to begin with, I have a student visa, and it is impossible to work the first
six months here. I mean legally work. Because as you've just arrived you are
not supposed to know the language neither the culture. After six months if you
need and want to have a part-time here the university must provide a work
permit, after what you are allowed to work only 20 hours a week.... Though I
can not still understand why I do need to wait for the long period of 6 months
if I can presumably speak and understand Korean. I mean it is just an example
but truly I'm sure there are foreigners here who already know Korean at a
descent level to be able to work here, aren't they? That's a question. Even
though my level is kind of basic but I certainly can speak some easy sentences
and understand about 70 percent of Korean people's speech......
Of course it is
possible to find a job where job offers do not care about your visa, it will be
simply not official one..... but ..... There are also a couple of problems. ...
There are some job available but they require either fluent Korean level or a full-time
up to 14 hours a day, or work at night. None of this does not suit me. Money is
money, but I came here, first of all, to learn Korean and i need to for it
since my lessons are from 9 am to 1 pm, 5 days a week. That is why "from
morning to night" schedule is definitely not for me. At night, too,
because I study in the morning, do some home task in the afternoon and should sleep and rest at night. Besides subway
closes at 12 pm and opens at 5:30 am. So it may turn out to be a complete mess.
I've also tried tutoring. It also didn't work out option. It requiers so many
stuff to be a teacher. The first is a working visa. Certificate of a good level
of English. The second- a medical record- the document which proves that you
don't have any serious diseases. The third- a criminal record that shows that
you are not a criminal and haven't been in jail. You are going to work with
kids after all, damn it .....
One thing definitely
works for me ... well Korean is necessary of course, but along with it the
knowledge of English is required also. And thank God it is something I aware of
.... I am really lucky in this.
So yesterday I went for an interview for the
waitress position in the Indian restaurant. The owner is an Indian guy, he was quite
nice, but the young Korean boy he is working with was that pleasant in my eyes.
He found me too fragile so that I can not handle this work during peak hours.
Well, of course, everybody tends to judge only by appearance. Though he is also
as slim as a stick. So they didn't call me back. And also I do not understand
the reason why the boss consults with an ordinary worker .... Well, one more
mystery to my collection)))).
Today I had one
more interview. Also as a waitress in a bistro - restaurant in European district.
The person who was leading the interview was an American girl. She liked me. The
reason is that I used to be in the USA before and had an experience in similar
sphere- I was working in the supermarket though don't remember it's name (((((.
In short she was quite satisfied with me. Plus I have the basic level in Korean
that can help me in work a lot. All the worker there speak only English so does
she. But one fact which really makes me crazy. Only in about 20 minutes she finally
asked about my visa status, and it turned out, I did not suit to this job,
because I can not yet work legally as I am a student and for a legal job I have
to stay in Korea for at least 6 months. But in the resume that I sent to them
beforehand, it was written in black on a white sheet that I'm a student and I am
holding a student visa. Why not just ask about the visa status at once in order
not to waster neither my time nor theirs. They just make people come and go
back with no positive results..... Ah, annoying.
Though the place
was really nice and I liked it a lot, damn it...
So exactly this
way I have no job again and will soon stay with no money.
Complete crap
((((((.
Okay. I will survive
and make it work somehow))))).
I took some
photos of the toilets inside couple of subway stations. Restrooms are so cool
here ,I have to say. Well, starting with the fact that in St. Petersburg, for
example, there are no toilets at all in a subway. And I do not even know if
they are going to appear or not in the future. Here ... at each station and on
each branch there are a few of them. It is very nice. Really. because people
sometimes do need to use a restroom. maybe Russian people not, but for me it
was a real discomfort not to be able to go for a need. Besides, toilets here
are not just ordinary once like those on the streets in Russia where it is
impossible to go without a gas mask LOL .... Here, even walls are painted.
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| The toilet |
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| The same toilet |
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| The rules how to behave it the university restroon. So cute |
Oh .... And just a little bit about my study. Today was kind of half
a lesson. Out of usual 4
hours we studied only 2, and the rest of 2 hours we were watching a very good
korean movie together with another group. The film is called "The Temptation of Wolves". Quite
am old one (released in 2004) . It was really so sad drama. All of us were about to cry. Personally I like these kinds of movies- melodramatic and sad with a deep meaning. And recently, in the last few years,
I became very sentimental, and in the
contrary with my past I can easily burst into tears watching some sad moments. I was so differsnt before like an ice and stone.
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| "The Temptation of Wolves" |
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| Cutie))))) |
Maybe
someone of you know his famous old movie "Duelist"? The movie is just
great. So beautiful scenes- simply breathtaking..... I would say it is even a
little folklore. There are beautiful sword fighting scenes, it's not even a
battle, it's real dances with swords, and among these dances a beautiful and
tender love story of 2 rivals are shown to us. So, what I want to say is if you
have time and wish just try to watch both of them. I'm sure the majority of Korea
lovers are going to like them)))).
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| He looks like a doll here |
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| Sword dance |
One
more film I would like to recommend is called "Time of our love". Again
sadness and despair pervades the entire film .... The actor, as I have noticed,
is the real master to present such roles to the audience, so they are all worth
watching, honestly.
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| "Time of our love" |
