Alright...so I knew not knowing Korean would be an issue, but I wasn't aware of just how frustrating it might be. Enter two scenarios:
1) My Macbook broke a few weeks ago and I desperately searched for a place to repair it. My criteria was mac certified and enough English to help me through the process. Every place I found had fluent front desk English speakers, but none in repairs. I spent a week being transferred back and forth before I finally made the trip to frisbee in Myeongdong. The process wasn't too bad. I turned in my computer, pointed out what was wrong, gave my contact information and was told 2-3 days and it would be repaired. It has now been 2 1/2 weeks and I have not received my computer. I called to enquire and was transferred back to an English speaker who said I would have to talk to repairs, who then told me they didn't speak English and transferred me back to the first English speaker. Finally she checked and said they had sent for the part and it would probably be fixed at some point next week....I am now going on 3 weeks without a computer, making it very difficult to lesson plan.
2) I paid my extravagantly large maintenance building fee at the beginning of last month. This month I receive a bill for twice the amount. After checking with my co-teacher I find out I am being charged for two months of back pay...ummm...sorry what? Turns out one company used to have the right to the money and no longer does, yet somehow they still have access to my building to place bills in my mailbox.So I paid the wrong bill (because I should have just known my building was involved in a dispute with another company) and am now being told I need to pay the "correct" company. Now, I am all for paying my debts and everyone getting their fair share, but there is no way in hell that I am repaying my maintenance bill because these two companies can't get their shit together. This is by fair my least favorite... "oh Asia" moment. I am truly hoping to have this solved before I head to the Philippines this weekend...if not, someone shall feel my wrath!
