I was saddened, and frustrated, when I visited my old school last weekend in Gwang Ju, Korea: Mun Hwa School. I was astounded when the director told me about Ms. Rose Lynde who they had hired, brought to Korea and who had left the next day!

My name is Leigh Donevan. I have lived in Korea for 6 years including THREE years at Mun Hwa School! I know the director very well and I am very familiar with the living conditions at the apartments.

I can truthfully state that I never saw any apartments that had "exposed areas around piping" with "rampant cockroaches (inside and out)" and "mice droppings" with "encrusted layered dirt" and "rancid digusting" ovens. Also the description of "garbage all over" with "open ditches" and "overpowering urine smell" outside of the "filthy" apartment is quite an exaggeration.

I have seen, and helped clean, many apartments for the school as new teachers moved in over the years. I never experienced such conditions as described by Ms. Lynde. In fact, the apartments are not only clean but they are also quite big (for Asian standards) and are located in a nice neighborhood. Also, it is my personal, and professional, opinion that Mr. Kang, the director of the school, is one of the best bosses I have ever had both in Canada and in Korea. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the school and only moved on to study in Seoul in a Masters Program.

So... be careful about what you read and believe on the net. Check things out very carefully because you may miss a great opportunity... such as the one Ms. Lynde only took 16 hours or so(mostly at night and after a 15ish hour plane ride) to explore.... pity! It is a great school!

Sincerely, Leigh Donevan

PS. you can contact me at the posted email address if you have further questions.

> After travelling from Vancouver, Canada to Gwangju, Korea, this email
> was a direct notice to MunHwa Language School school as I fled the
> scene the very next day. Didn't even get inside a classroom!:

> I wasn't about to wait for our suggested meeting on Thursday. My
> immediate exodus was prompted by the following:
> When I awoke early morning to the clatter and sounds of hammering and
> pots banging, I got up to further investigate. By now its daybreak
> and I can see
> my surroundings. I opened sliding door at living room
> to discover a market of stalls below the apt with
> garbage all over, open running ditches. Noise and overpowering urine
> smell in addition to a filthy apartment! I don't think so.

> This contract was doomed from the start. Arriving in Korea didn't get
> any better. Not being met at the airport is really inexcusable.
> Eventually being taken to apt to find my bedroom was without a light,
> as was the bathroom. The bed was without linens or towels for
> freshening up. Going shopping on arrival for essentials after a
> journey half-way 'round the world is not my idea of being welcomed to
> new country and surroundings.

> With the light of dawn I could inspect apt more thoroughly. There
> were exposed areas around piping rampant with cockroaches (inside and
> out) and mice droppings. The kitchen was encrusted in
> layered filth and the oven in a rancid disgusting state. At this
> point I decided 'I am out of
> here'; wake up the roommate with these same words.

> Adeline (roommate) said she mentioned more than once about the
> lighting (or lack of it), no linens and the cleaning
> requirements for incoming roommate.

> You not only need a co-ordinator for staff, you need to develop a
> system for your incoming/outgoing staff. You really have done more
> harm by your inefficiency and turning a blind eye to simple matters.

> Rose Lynde