Korean Job Discussion Forums

[behindtheveil]

it's really easy in the classroom.

Hands up! Am i old?
Yes teacher.
Ok hands up.
minutes later...
Am i old?
No teacher.
I'm sorry teacher.
I'm sorry teacher.
Hands down.

[crusher_of_heads]

Just drown your selfpity in soju.

[KYC]

honey i've got luggages under my eyes yet I can pass for 16 here in the States...it gets annoying that I get carded and disbeliefs about my age...but who cares. Life goes on...

[PeteJB]

If you look 16 you should rejoice. It shocks people more when they learn your age

[luv2dance79]

[Feloria]

A friend of mine was visiting me from the states last week. I am in my 30's and she is only 40. TWICE Korean men in their 50's thought we were mother and daughter(my friend being mama).She was pretty upset about it-I on the other hand, felt pretty damn good!!

[joeyinasia]

I wonder if Koreans, children especially, can't really tell how old westerners are, as they haven't had a lot of us to judge by. I'll be 40 in a few months and sometimes my students think I'm 30 Sometimes they think I'm 50 But I don't get all bent out of shape about it. It's important to be secure in one's self.
I've been here six years and I still find it difficult to guess some Koreans' ages.
Cheers.

[princess]

[jhaelin]

i think korean people, especially kids are not as discerning about the age of non-asians.
i hate to generalize but asian facial features tend to appear younger, less mature, not as defined (chiseled) when compared to other races.
also the relative lack of facial hair is a contributing factor.
when korean kids (as well as some adults) see foreigners they probably key in on certain features to gauge age.
a mustace, goatee, receding hairline.
it can also be the clothes.
in korea there is a clear and dramatic break in the fashion of youth and adults.
there are basically three styles for men: youth (hip), business, and ajoshi.
if you're not in the first category, koreans will think you're an adult which in this culture basically means you're old.
the casual fashion of adults from the west, e.g. a polo shirt and jeans/pants is associated with adults in korea.
although far from the tacky ajoshi/golfer wear, our casual adult fashion is closer to the ajoshi-wear than the loud attention grabbing styles of the young adults in korea.

for the same reason, if you wear a printed t-shirt, koreans will assume you are younger rather than older. ho wmany over 30 koreans have you seen wearing a print t-shirt and jeans? then compare that with back home in the states. it seems like there are much more clearly defined expectations of fashion and age in korea.

[meangradin]

To those who claim to be 22, how old were you when you graduated from university? The majority of people I know did not graduate until their mid 20's.

[Atavistic]

I didn't come here at 22, but I graduated high school at 18 and university at 21 (4 year program) and had my Masters at 23.

[LUCRETIA]

I also left high school at 18 and then left university after just turning 22. I came to Korea about a month after graduating, but I'll probably only finish my masters mid-twenties too.

If you dont do gap years/kids/jobs etc then that sounds about right to me

[Gopher]