If I were a sitcom or a movie, I would have the perfect cliche ending. Which would be boring and disappointing after sitting in the theatres for 2+ hours, but a sigh of relief if it's what you're actually going through.
End of November I got myself busy with job searching, and on board with as many ESL recruiters as I could. It is not as profitable as it used to be, so the majority of recruiters are looking for as many people to sign for jobs as possible. They can be helpful, and they also can be useless. I hedged my bets and was very clear with what I wanted. Recruiters would call or email me throughout the day, and I had to do quite a fair amount of running around.
In the midst of looking for work, I submitted my papers of complaint to the Labor Office against JC. I got his rebuttal a week later - and notice that he had retained council and I need to get a lawyer! Damn but it couldn't be made more dramatized. Luckily, a friend had given me a number of an advocate that I could call. The advocate, James, was a sweet New Yorker who'd done law in the states for a number of years. He helped me out with getting a lawyer in Korea. So, still in the game, I helped them with making my own rebuttal and continuing the ball rolling on the whole episode.
With that taken care of, I finally did some interviews. Happily, I found a perfect job through ESL Agent. Johnny did great work, putting in more than what I could have hoped for. I didn't get the mass emails of dumb jobs that didn't suit me. It was very personalized and he looked for what I asked for. I ended up actually taking the first place I interview with. The conditions are pretty much exactly the same as my old place, but of course, this time I'd be getting medical insurance. :P
So, I'm did my best with making lemonaid from lemons, and I moved into my new apt. in the first week of December. Also, since I technically hadn't switched my visa yet to G1, Johnny was able to sway people at Immigration to put my new E2 visa papers through without submitting a new criminal record check! Then off to Japan Dec 15-18.
Japan was great. I went with another Canadian who'd also been recently hired at my new hagwon, Spencer. With the extra time in Japan, we were able to go on a day trip to Kyoto. I got to see some beautiful temples and scenery. Despite being December, Japan wasn't that cold, like about 10-12 degrees in the day. Visas were obtained without incident. There was a little trouble with flights, which resulted in Spencer and I staying the night in the airport, but we met some awesome people to make up for it.
I started work on the 18th, and it was without any big problems. Learning the layout of the new system, but nothing problematic. Kids are cute, especially when your job doesn't make you so stressed you don't have the heart to play with them. Yay for cute, small people!
Last Friday, the 26th, I had my hearing with the Labor Court. Mr. H be present. The whole thing was overseen by 5 judges and took like an hour and a half. I can't speak any amount of Korean to have helped me in that situation, but it was pretty obvious without the translation. The judges thought that Mr. H needed to brush up on his Labor Standards Act and that he should fix the mess he'd made. My lawyer and I didn't even have to talk. A settlement in my favour be reached, and I left with a load off my mind.
So, job be had, apartment be resided in, and old hagwon ugliness be settled... I be livin the rest of the year clam happy and taking a well-earned break.
Aaaaanndd... that's a wrap.
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