Korean Job Discussion Forums

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I think if any foreigner can actually hold a bit of a not too broken conversation in Korean, that's impressive to Koreans (and foreigners)... I see a few foreigners speaking Korean fluently on TV, and I'm impressed. Once on TV I saw a few foreigners, including a black guy (the only time I have seen that -- this is Korea), speaking fluently, and then singing a Korean song and dancing in front of the Korean crowd. The Koreans loved it! Completely non-Korean faces doing the Korean thing in words, song and dance.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

narsty dog · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Exactly what was a foreign teacher doing looking at the KIDS bums ???????????

marsha marsha marsha · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 2:19 pm Post subject: Cooking

My friends and students were always shocked when they found out I could cook Korean food and thought I did it pretty well. Most doubted my abilities and were quite upfront about it! Embarassed

I even had to bring in some of my kimchee so they would believe me!

Dr. Buck · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Location: Land of the Morning Clam

Wildlife. Birds. Fish. Trees. Most Koreans hardly know their own native flora and fauna, and whenever I bring up any of those related topics, I often get blank stares. I suppose that's the way it is when half the country spends their life in a PC bang or in front of a TV or with their nose in a book.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

I told Koreans once that I don't eat hamburgers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.. they looked at me like their education system had failed them..

I also enjoyed the time Korean students explained to me that they eat rice and in the USA we don't have rice. That was very educational. I tried to explain that California is one of the world's largest rice producers. They laughed and thought it was a funny joke. However I wasn't joking, but I smiled anyhow and pretended I was.

I think the biggest shock I ever gave a Korean was telling them I'd never had a one-night stand in the USA, but I've had tons of them in Korea. Well, actually I've yet to tell them this.. but its true.. and I don't want to shock them with that one.. not until the next morning anyhow.. well, maybe I'll just keep that one a secret..

kiwifruit · Joined: 26 Jan 2003 Location: my apartment

there are things that amaze me that Koreans don't know or don't like about their own country.

For example I have asked my students who likes various Korean hip hop and rock groups? I am generally the only person in the class who does (out of 20 plus students). Other boomers are What is the population of South Korea? Where is the N Korean nuclear plant?

I played a game the other day. Me against all of them. They ask a question of me about Korea and then I ask a question about my country to them. I whopped some arse.

Fortunately they asked easy questions like who was the first president of Korea in the 'democratic' period? How many provinces in Korea? What is the tallest building in Korea? ...

I guess the lack of general knowledge is indicitive of young people everywhere in the world though. I think Koreans will be most amazed by things you know about Korea that even they don't know.

kf

VanIslander · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 8:06 am Post subject:

"oh-ship-se-ju" (a bottle of soju mixed together with a bottle of bek-seju)

Whenever I go out with Koreans and they ask whether we should have soju or wine, and I suggest both by saying "oh-ship-se-ju", I get shocked looks. Shocked

It's just not well known; many Koreans had never heard of it, apparently including my director.... I hear it's a heavy drinkers' brew.

Several of my adult students are blue collar shipyard workers, so I learned quickly. Embarassed

Haannggoovveerr!

coolsage · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 11:11 am Post subject:

The unspoken assumption, even after you have established that you have been in Korea for X years, is that you just got off the boat twenty minutes ago. Q: 'You know how to use chopsticks?' (amazement on their blank little faces). A: Yes, of course, I've been eating Chinese food since I was a fetus. Do you know how to use a knife and fork?

rok_the-boat · Joined: 24 Jan 2004

So, why do some barber shops have two poles?

Universalis · Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Location: Seoul

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

Universalis · Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Location: Seoul

komtengi · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Location: Slummin it up in Haebangchon

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I read in the paper today that local rice costs about 4 times the amount it costs in the eastern USA. Since Koreans eat a lot of rice that does seem expensive. I guess they import a lot.

I have heard a few Koreans point out that westerners seem to be a lot more concerned with numbers and statistics. Most of us on this board, for instance, probably know the populations of lots of countries, at least within 5-10 million people. Most Koreans probably are not so aware. It just doesn't seem to be something they focus on as much as we do.

I kind of like that "black box" analogy. Old perception-habits can be hard to shake.