So, I write this to you from the quarantine of my neighborhood. You may ask, "Why?" Well here's the story.
Evidently there is an English teacher who brought swine flu over to South Korea and spent a week in training with around 20+ other foreigners. It is suspected that they passed it on to the others. You can read one of their blogs here. http://underquarantine.tumblr.com/post/112182291
So how does this effect me? Well, my director is super paranoid and has told us that since a foreigner brought the flu in and so many other foreigners now have it that we MUST stay out of foreign areas like Itaewon and Hongdae and if we don't abide by this rule they will terminate our contracts. They have also advised us not to leave our neighborhood and run the risk of becoming infected.
This infuriates me on so many levels. First, since when do only foreigners in South Korea carry swine flu? If my memory serves me correctly, the first person to bring swine flu to Korea was (wait for it)...a South Korean who had travelled to Mexico. Now that some foreigners have it, they think that we all are carriers.
Another is I am not familiar with the South Korean laws but they claim to be a democracy. You see that they don't quite have everything figured out (detaining bloggers who say bad things about the government, curtailing Internet freedom, police brutally beating protesters) but for the most part you would like to believe that they live by the basic principles of human rights.
Can an employer really tell you where you can and can not travel or risk being fired? My first thoughts are no. I know this would not fly in America. It also feels as if they are targeting us as foreigners. They nonchalantly were like, "Oh and this applies to the Korean teachers, too." However, one of the Korean teachers lives in Hongdae and she was allowed to go home tonight.
I understand the concern but seriously this is taking it too far. The director needs to stop and think about where his school will be without any foreign teachers and if he can really afford to fly 9 new teachers out here to replace us . This is my rant of the week. I'll keep you updated on how it unfolds.
What a nice beautiful day in Korea...swine flu paranoia, North Korea launches a missile and the country is mourning the loss of a politician who committed suicide because he partook in the corruption that he was on a mission to end. At this moment, I can say, I am so thankful to be an American! Ok, I'm done now.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI used to think the same way--isn't South Korea a democracy? Where are the human rights?
I'd advise you to consider that as a non-citizen, migrant worker, with very little protection under the law . . . . be careful what you say and do--at the very least nod your head respectfully and say "Ne" every time you're given an order by your director . . . and then do what you think you need to do.
This is NOT a democracy--and what country actually is when there is a global pandemic?
I wish you the best, and hope you stay healthy.
Jason
Jason offers some good advice, especially in the 'be careful' respect. At the same time, recognize that even as a migrant worker, you're here legally, and that you have rights.
ReplyDeletePicking your battles is also important - as is doing what you were going to do after agreeing with your boss...