Korean Job Discussion Forums

[just because]

Matko,
I can relate to that story exactly. I've been to japan with the sweetie 4 times in the last year and we enjoy but I talk some Japanese and she talks none. Whenever we go somewhere and they ask her questions and I answer they freak out a bit after I tell them she is Korean. Always the sweetie will comment that is so strange that I can talk to her but she can't understand what the Japanese girl is saying. I always answer to her welcome to my world that is Korea

[Draven]

I get the question "So, how about Korea?" all too often. As other posters have said, the person asking the question is just fishing for compliments about his/her country. I can appreciate that, to a certain degree anyway, but it's a pretty big, general question and one that isn't easy to respond to in a meaningful way. Interestingly though, I've also found that they're not really looking for a meaningful response. They seem happy if I mumble "um, Korea's fine."

[Alias]

I wonder how many of us have done the same thing back home while talking to a foreinger? "So what do you think of Canada?" Like Koreans, Canadians are slightly insecure and look for comments.

[Corporal]

Speaking for myself, I've never done that to anybody. It wouldn't occur to me to bug anyone about whether or not they liked my country/were enjoying their stay unless they walked up to ME first and started pestering me with questions. And how would I know just from looking at them that they were a "foreigner"?

[Len8]

I was drinking ul mu cha in a coffee shop, and having a conversation with the owner, when another lady walked in. She was fairly attractive so I invited her to join in. Anyway the converstion with the lady went

Lady "Ul mu cha is no good"

Me "Why"

Lady " Because your thing will go down" (I was a bit shocked, when she made the downwards motion with her hand)

Me "Chinsa. I didn't know that. I wont drink it any more, because I want it to stay up."

[jajdude]

Where you from?

American?

Ok, sure, whatever.

.... No, Canada.

Toronto?

Yeah, sure, whatever....

[captain kirk]

i'm from cheonan, half way between seoul and daejon. foreigners are considered an anomaly here, can't quite figure what to make of 'em; what are they good for? english lessons, yeah.
months ago i thought i got a romantic nibble. exchanged emails. 'my favourite movie is 'le moulin rouge'. ok, mine is 'return of the living dead'.
her periodic emails are about her toefl test. months go by.
i change gyms and meet her there. 'how are you feeling these days?'
'ok'
'next week i am going to take my toefl test'
(weeks go by)
'i failed my toefl test'
'ok'
'where do you work?'
"by bla bla, next to bla bla. would you like to get together the weekend?'
'oh, sorry, i'm bIZZy, going to a movie with my FRIENds'
'uh, great' (weren't you telling me you waited for me outside the gym every night at nine all last week?) (what's the difference between diffidence, ambivalence, and diplomatic duplicity? this korean chick now off in her own world over there riding her exercise bike; "mush!", jog those nonexistent huskies haltered by foamies.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Trinny]

You know what?

Living in Canada for two odd years, I've never got asked, "What do you think of Canada?" question.

[katydid]

[makushi]

Makushi to ajusshi: Shille hajiman, yagguk odi issumnika?

Ajuushi: oh..do you speak Korean.

Makushi: chal mot haeyo...kundae..yagguk odi issumnika?

Ajusshi: I think you really speak Korean

Makushi: Chinja mot haeyo...yagguk odi inji asaeyo?

Ajusshi: Where are you from...


Never did find the damn yagguk....gave up and went to the jimjil bang instead...turns out they got drugs too....

[mishlert]

I was once hired by a hogwon in Daegu and the boss showed me my flat and took me out to a "welcome" dinner.
Boss: House good?
Me: Yes, very nice.
Boss: Good. I happy
Me: (nodding) Ahha
Boss: You live alone in Seoul also?
Me: Yes
Boss: Who clean house?
Me: Me
Boss: (Looong pause) You clean. How?
Me: Soap, water, cleaning things.
Boss: (another long pause) Food good?
Me: Delicious

[chi-chi]

Read this: teachers' book all in Korean.
So what do you think of Korean life *me pleading the 5th*
Why did you want to come to Korea **Boyfriend has a student loan to pay off**
Do you like soju **no hell I don't**
Western food is unhealthy, we just know you guys eat hamburgers and McD every meal **back at home, you couldn't get me to touch McD with a 10-foot pole. And unlike you guys, we do NOT eat the same thing for every meal! But due to your lack of international restaurants and groceries, I will forgive the McD assumpion**
We are SARS free because of kimchee **Um, you had three cases and God help you guys if you ever get it as communal as everything is here**
Come to the kimchee museum **Ah no, I want to go to a real museum or a ballet or something**
It's all about the kimchee **And my country, which you hate, is all about the hamburger. NOT! **
You don't do the overtime? You are American, you are so bullheaded. New Zealanders and Australians love it **You lying sack of shit**
Why you so tall. Why? **Um, I don't quite have the words to say at this one..why you so wierd, maybe?**

[peppermint]

[Squid]

First meeting with Father-in law:

He: Gogi ande? (Disbelieving)
Me: Nae, vegetarian (Pointing to myself)
He: Gogi ande? (Incredulous)
Me:*Sigh* Nae, Gogi ande.
He: Wae?
Me: V-e-g-e-t-a-r-i-a-n
He: Chiggum hospital (Grabs my arm)

That's typical of the exchanges I get, but at least I don't have to eat "Dodgygalbi".

I also get the waitresses speaking only to wifey, which annoys me as I've put in the effort to learn hoping they'll put in the effort to listen... funny thing is wifey pointed out to me that they think I'm speaking English- hard row to hoe sometimes.

Squid