Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tanklor1]

Does anyone else get free snacks at the office from Korean Coworkers? What's the rules behind this is it mostly a female thing? I don't want to seem like a mouch and I'd like to return the favor but I also don't want to overstep gender roles. So can someone tell me what are the rules behind this?

[jinks]

Take in cold drink packs now and again, I think the rule is just about sharing.

[tanklor1]

[sojourner1]

Yea, those Vita 500 C drinks in small brown bottles. You can get a box of em'. They love Lotte pastry leafs and other things, but not anything that is high in fat and calories.

I share things on occasion and they share with me too. Reciprocity is important in having successful relationships here, rather than just working with people and no more like is only expected in America. I would venture that allot of what works here, would be a hit in America or other western countries workplaces.

[Matman]

I think it might be a gender thing. One of my co-workers (young female) was always making drinks and food and giving it to me but when I brought her something to drink she seemed to think it was quite weird.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I disagree that it is a gender thing.

The vitamin drink thing is a good idea. So is a piece of fruit for everyone in the office. Or a cake from the bakery. Anything will work. If you have the facilities, something homemade is a great idea.

The point is the gesture.

[Rteacher]

Whenever I'm in Insa-dong I pick up various traditional Korean snacks sold by venders - some of whom make them on the spot. They usually go over well - as does fruit. I make sure that there are always some snacks in my teachers' office for guests and teachers who drop in and sit around the coffee table ...

[mindmetoo]

Make a run past the street vendors. Load up on a bag of hoduk and banana bread. That goldfish bread in winter is popular too. It's cheap. It's comfort food for Koreans, taking them back to their school days. They love it.

[xCustomx]

Most of the teachers don't buy the drinks though, they are brought in by parents who come to talk with the teacher.

I feel bad because I get drinks all the time, but I have never seen any teacher bring them in themself

[jinks]

I have found that "traditional" snacks from my home country, like chocolate dipped strawberries (took ages!) and spiders (or as some folk say: coke floats - cola and ice cream) have NOT gone down so well. Stick with in-season fruit and local favourites to keep your co-teachers and office staff happy and on side.
I too disagree about the gender thing. If you're a guy, just buy something from the store/bakery/fruit stand on the way to work, you don't have to go all Martha Stewart if you want to join in the sharing.

[pkang0202]

The Eenglish teachers at my school are lumped together with the Arts/Crafts teacher and music teacher.

Since we don't teach homeroom, the parents don't give a crap about us. We never get any food/gifts from the parents. Instead, homeroom teachers will drop by and give us leftovers that they couldn't eat.

[pkang0202]

The English teachers at my school are lumped together with the Arts/Crafts teacher and music teacher.

Since we don't teach homeroom, the parents don't give a crap about us. We never get any food/gifts from the parents. Instead, homeroom teachers will drop by and give us leftovers that they couldn't eat.

[SeoulShakin]

I baked homemade cookies once and brought them into work. I guess baking cookies isn't really a Korean thing to do (they make kimchi I was told haha), and the staff was all really impressed that I knew how to bake. They said it must have been very difficult, and some took 3 or 4 up to their room to snack on during the day. They went over REALLY well!! I made them with M&M's because I couldn't find chocolate chips. My vice-principal had about 4, then said next time he would like raisin ones. I think that since I've gotten requests, that not only is the gift appreciated, they love a homemade baked treat!