Korean Job Discussion Forums

[waltjocketty]

and it was one of the most chaotic experiences of my life.

not surprisingly, everybody is wearing the newest, most expensive speedos and caps and definitely look the part. i was actually given a cap because it's against the rules not to wear one.

according to the lifeguard, it is a "law" that everyone must get out of the pool every hour for 10 minutes. so during the 10 minutes everyone just gets out and sits down and stares at each other (read: stares at me).

while swimming, I was repeatedly hit by people from the lane next to mine, and I had to swim around people swimming in the center of the lane.

because most of them can't swim, the pool is 150 cm deep everywhere and there are platforms on one end of the pool for people to stand on.

about half the time there were so many people standing against the wall of the pool that I couldnt even see the wall. people often decide to just stop in the middle of the lane during swimming and stand there for a while, or pull themselves to the other side of the pool by means of the lane lines.

i posted about a week ago asking about pools and was warned about some of this, but it was really an unbelievable experience. watching some of these people made me want to cry.

im unsure how i feel about it. at times i felt sad, at times i thought it was funny, and at other times i got seriously frustrated and angered, but im definitely going back. soon. but first i have to buy a cap.

[Paddycakes]

Like with driving, I suppose the Koreans are a 1st generation swimming culture, too.

It'll take a few generations before the Koreans learn to use swimming pools properly.

[Dome Vans]

[waltjocketty]

i wanna get stroked at the beach.

[crazy_arcade]

[CeleryMan]

Why not build more indoor pools?

[grnmle]

That is hilarious...All of it

Lifeguards that cannot swim or are afraid of the water - Wow!!!

And the length swimming is described just as I imagined it.

I can't wait to get my speedo out and go to the beach!!!

[smilesalot]

I always have people tell me to 'take it easy.' 12 years of competitive swimming means taking it easy is a little hard. I haven't heard about having to get out every hour for 10 minutes, but I'd imagine something like that here. I usually get sick of it after I get in my 2500m, and get out. The few people who can speak English always try to ask me for advice, I just want to swim.

[waltjocketty]

[Dome Vans]

[waltjocketty]

[RobinR]

I've been pretty shocked at the pools here. If you are anything better than an amateur who swims for pleasure and exercise, don't even bother. I find even my 1500m is tough to get in because of

a) short lanes... 25m maximum
b) thin lanes... i'm either hitting the people in the next lane over, or the person swimming oncoming, and it's not because i'm a flailer
c) people goofing off in the lanes, which means that fewer lanes are available for people who don't want to deal with that shit

And diving? Forget about it.

[Justin Hale]

[Chicoloco]

I was swimming parallel to the beach, about 10 meters from the shore at Haeundae beach in Busan when I was nearly killed by a police launch that rushed over to tell me that swimming was not allowed as it was September.

Granted, it was early September but the temperature was about 32 degrees.

WTF?? I've since learned that beaches have opening times that run for the month of July and August only - swim outside these months and you run the risk of being harpooned by over zealous lifeguards.

As for pools, I've gave up after been repeatedly kicked in the face and smacked in the head by people who freaked out at the prospect of sharing a lane with Whitey. Rememeber the opening scene of Jaws? I managed to recreate the look on that girl's by simply breaststroking along, minding my own business!

[crazy_arcade]