Korean Job Discussion Forums

[butlerian]

My Korean girlfriend is quite Western in many respects and has travelled widely, and her family seem to be fine about her dating a Western guy, so that was a good start. When her father - a high school teacher - came to see us the other day, with her brother and sister (who I already know), I didn't really know what to expect.

He speaks, as far as I know, no English so direct conversation wasn't possible and wasn't attempted at least on his behalf during the day. However, once the evening came, he brought about 20 bottles (1.8l each) of his homemade liquor (30% alcohol; bokbunjaju, mulberryju, pine-ju, apple-ju, pear-ju, jujube-ju, plumju etc). Well...after drinking a 1.8l bottle of 30% bokbunjaju he was actively conversing with me - through my girlfriend - trying to get my view on a lot of things but being pleasant about it. After we'd finished the bokbunjaju, he told my girlfriend to get a bottle of mulberryju.

After that, suffice to say, I was completely hammered but I think I managed to stay reasonably normal until he left at around 2am. So, he was probably quite impressed! But, the next day, I had the worst hangover I've ever had since I came to Korea, and he seemed perfectly fine and drove the four hours home the same day. How is it that Koreans seem to have such a high tolerance for alcohol? He was about the same build and height as myself, so I was shocked to see he could take the alcohol much better than me despite being much older.

Oh well...the intricacies of Korean life...

[gsxr750r]

Many of them drink so much, they have a high tolerance.

You think that's tough... saw my K-coworkers stay up until 2am on an MT to Jeju-do... drinking and smoking until trashed. They may have been up later -- that's when I went to bed (the first to hit the sack). They woke me up at 6am for breakfast and a 2 to 3 hour hike up Halla-Mountain. They did stop for the occasional smoke break, however.

I don't think the life expectancy of some of these guys is too high.

[butlerian]

[mehamrick]

I just went through that with my girlfriends father. I don't know about yours but the homemade stuff is good. The key if your not used to drinking hard liquor back home is to sneak in some water here and there. Just curious was your girlfriend drinking with you? How did the rest of it go?

[butlerian]

[mehamrick]

Glad to hear it went well for you.. Meeting the parents is definitely hit or miss here. and I am sure she was relieved as well.

You are definitely lucky that she gets to stay with you.. Her parents wont let mine do that but I did just spend a week at their farm.. It was definitely a good time..

How long have you been together if you don't mind?

[butlerian]

One year. Her mum is really liberal - a businesswoman who is regularly in Japan and China, so that helps, and her dad seems to stay out of most things. They're separated, at least since I've known her, so that may also have a part to play. But her dad seems a nice bloke - a typical teacher from my experience here.

[mehamrick]

Interesting.. it took about a year for her to introduce me to her parents as well.. I wonder if that is a standard thing..? ahh well I am glad it went well for you.. From what i can tell especially in my town i am one of the lucky ones.

[seoulkitchen]

My K-girl's father used to beat her because she was dating a foreigner. Bruises because of you (I know, really because of him) are not pretty. Then her mom got cancer and almost died because of it. So, .....
Consider yourself one of the luckiest bastards on earth. I'm sorry, but I hate you. I'll be bitter forever....

[ajgeddes]

I met my girlfriends parents after one month. Now, after more than 2 years, I am pretty much a part of their family and get upset if I don't come over enough.

From the beginning her parents were both really good with me, especially her mom. After 7 months, we moved in together, and although her parents weren't jumping with joy, they accepted it and even bought me some furniture because they didn't like how empty the apartment was.

We still live together and now they don't really care, as long as we go to see them as much as possible and usually when we do that we come home with about as much food we can possibly carry on a bus.

Not all Korean parents are the same, of course they aren't, so you happened to get a girl with good parents.

[mole]

I met 3 K-girls' families over the years. Never comfortable that it seems like automatic impending marriage.
I did marry the last one, though. 'Dad' loves his soju and tends to get emotional at family gatherings.
I don't speak Korean well, but thank Buddha I can understand a lot.
At least I smile, nod and laugh at appropriate times.
They're a very interesting family, though no English going on.
I love 'em.

[dog_disco]

...Since coming to Korea I have been amazed by the culture of casual alcohol abuse which prevails in this country. Yes, they manage to outdo Canada in this respect (no mean feat).

...Thus, DD's handy guide to getting plastered with your Korean father-in-law:

...1) Accept drink of soju- with two hands. 2) Pour abogie a drink. 3) Clink glasses. 4) Wait for abogie to drink. 5) Drink your soju. Preferably in one shot. 6) Smile + nod. Do not attempt to make any other conversation whatsoever. 7) Continue until: A) Abogie puts a stopper on the bottle or B) You are so innebriated #6 becomes difficult.

[RACETRAITOR]

My wife has kind of a dysfunctional relationship with her family. I think I like them more than she does.