Pamela 的个人资料Una Latina en Asia照片日志列表更多  |  工具 帮助 |
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7月31日 Update...Para todos Uds. que miran a mi blog y se preguntan... 'YA!!? Que honda? Donde esta esta chica?!!"
 Pour tout ceux qui ce demandent, "Et alors? Qu'est ce qu'elle fait cette fille la?!?"  For all of you who have been wondering, "Ok! What's up now?"  Voici des nouvelles... aqui tienen novedades... here are the latest news.
 I've started my new job. I'm settling in and trying to get into the swing of things.
 It can get complicated learning how people work, what the office environment is, what bus to catch so you're not a minute late  , what floor to get off of - oh... and of course the work itself!! Learning communication standards, key messages, who's who in the world, how the intranet works... etc. etc... So I'm learning but settling in ok. I can't complain. The first few days were hard because my entire computer was in Korean  ... now... as you may know, I do read Korean but there's a big difference between READING and UNDERSTANDING!!! So the internal email was all in Korean and not a program I was familiar with, so it was kinda fun. I've got the hang of it now, plus I got a brand new computer with English Windows!  One funny thing about things in Korea is how old fashioned these big companies (chaebol) are. They are primarily owned by the richest old men in the country and their children take on CEO roles in the company's subsidiaries.
 For example... The big man owns Hyundai but his son owns Kia. The son is young (only about 10 years older than me!!), dynamic and looking to change the company. He's not doing a bad job... if I do say so myself (I mean... his company DID hire me, and all!  ). But regardless, people have been working here for 20 years are usually higher up in the ranks, old and reluctant to change (which often go hand in hand) - so very little has changed in the company's history.  This mentality is common elsewhere too, but ever so predominant here. Some of you may laugh at this next observation... I know I did. On my first or second day at the office, someone asked me if the people around me do the "corporate exercises."
 I didn't know what they meant... but today, ladies and gentleman, I decided to try it out.  There are two television sets at the front of the office and promptly at 8am, there is a television program that does a 5 minute exercise routine for the officer worker.
 Yup... stretches and light marching to get your heart rate up. It's a great way to start your day - however... I would prefer to do it in the comfort of my own home and not in my work clothes. The exercise program is especially difficult to do in a skirt and probably won't try it We've all seen those documentaries/shows about the Japanese office workers in line-ups doing their morning exercise in suits? Well... this is kind of the same thing, just not outside. Luckily, on my floor, nobody really does them. But today I looked very silly doing them alone this morning - except for one other gentleman who decided to join in just because I was doing them.  Everyone got a good chuckle at me.  But... HEY! You have to try everything once, I say. Now that I've joined the Kia "family" I will be initiated into the company - along with the other 600 new recruits to the company (ALL of Hyundai & Kia, not just the head office!!). As such... we are going to Jeju Island
 at the end of the month to be... corporately brain washed. This is another common tradition among Korean chaebol. Back home we do welcome dinners and/or lunches... well... here, they take you somewhere else with lots of other people and make you do hard labour & an exercise program. There will be a lot of running up mountains, chanting ("KIA! KIA! IT'S THE BEST! YEAH KIA!" or something of the like) and just plain bonding. We will stay at a Hyundai owned hotel on the island and probably have to share rooms with someone else...  not looking forward to that. But this is definately a cultural experience that I want to try. I'll let you all know how it turns out!  As for my apartment. I have added some pictures for your review. It's a small apartment so there aren't that many pictures
 But it's very cozy and home for right now. My friends who have come to visit have already told me it's "Just like Pamela." I'm not sure what that means, but I think they mean that it suits me.  I think I'll be moving a little closer to the main street and subway line in a few months, though. I'm really close to one subway line but... well... it's still inconvenient to get to work. We'll see how it all goes. Give me a few months to settle in here and then we'll see how it all pans out. Ok... that's it for now. I hope you enjoyed this entry as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Please, leave a comment... write me an email... something!! At least I know someone is reading this (other than my mom!). 7月18日 Back in Action - not KIAGreetings!! For those of you who are unaware, I have accepted a new position with Kia Motors in Seoul. My official title is Assistant Manager, International Public Relations in the Overseas Communications department. Today was my first official day.
 The training session is being held at the Hyundai-Kia Motors Training Centre in Paju, about 1 hour north of Seoul. We arrived here this morning and will be here all day tomorrow. The training centre is in the middle of nowhere - surrounded by a forest with lots of mosquitoes.
 We sat in a lecture room today and were given presentations by a few people to talk about Korean culture and, more importantly, its corporate culture. It was made very clear to us that, "Koreans are crazy people." And that we shouldn't expect them to act normally or rationally.  Interesting information coming from a Korean person who has lived abroad for only one year. Basically he was trying to tell us that Korea has become the 11th largest economic country in only 10yrs. because of the strength of its people. A people full of extremes - having fought to rebuild itself time and time again after war, political unrest and economic crisis.  Interesting information, needless to say.The facilities here are primo! The facility is divided into two buildings - brand spanking new. Computers all over the place. ping pong, badminton, billiards, health club, basketball, etc. Some workers live here for a few weeks at a time... then go back home. We only have two days. We were each given a private room - thank goodness! - although this is unusual because most Korean workers have to share a room with their colleague. YUCK!
 The company has made us feel really comfortable here - to the extent that they bring forks to the table and provide un-spicy alternatives to the food. The food is quite good and hopefully indicative of what we can expect at our corporate headquarters. Did I mention the company provides free lunches to its employees along with the health club benefits & swimming pool? Yeah, I know... sweet deal!!
 There are 5 other foreigners in various departments for both Kia & Hyundai along with me. They're from all over the world - only one other Canadian. All the women have been hired for Kia and the men for Hyundai - we're not sure if that's just a coincidence or if it was intentional.
 Tomorrow we tour the plant and then the R&D centre. Should be fun. I will keep you posted as to my progress at the company and how hard they'll be slave driving me. I'm looking forward to the work, though!!
OH!! I have a new apartment but the address is yet unknown... I just know how to get there. Drop me a line if you'd like the mailing address.  It's small and modern - more expensive than my last apartment and there's no maid.  But I can't complain - it's home now.  My first day at the office is Friday and the commute should only be about 15 minutes.  |
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