Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Cerriowen]

Koreans are very blunt in their criticism and are free in offering ways you can improve yourself. Saying "You're fat, you should diet", is a fairly normal conversational exchange. But in the west, it's rude to offer straight out suggestions for improvement. So... we have more subtle, and gentle ways of expressing "helpfulness". For example, instead of telling someone that their breath stinks, I'd offer them a mint.

I got a package from my Korean boyfriend today for my birthday. It came for me at work. My co-workers were pretty shocked when the saw the box, insisting it couldn't POSSIBLY be what was written outside. To the point where they had to open the bottle and smell what was inside, before they'd believe it. Yep. He sent me anti-wrinkle eye cream.

The thing is, I'm not upset at all. I think it was a very kind and generous gift. He knows I don't really care much for jewlery and teddy bears and chocolates. And one time we spent about an hour trying to translate back and forth from Korean to English, to find me some eye cream, because I wanted it... but I thought it was too expensive. So this gift said... "I remembered that you wanted this, but thought it was too much, and I want you to feel happy and beautiful". And he completely missed the fact that it could be interpreted as "you're a wrinkly old hag, please do something before it's too late!!!"

[cazador83]

then obviously it has nothing to do with you "being wrinkly" because you had mentioned before that you wanted it.

if my gf had wanted something like that and mentioned it previously, i'd get it for her too. plus, korean women love creams anyway.