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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:25 pm Post subject: Things Koreans are surprised to learn about foreigners |
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Ok, so we could make this the typical "Geez, Koreans always are shocked at my chopstick skills", but I'd prefer to go a tad biut deeper than that (yup, only a tad).
What kind of things do you find that Koreans are most surprised with? I mean, when does a Korean ever say to you "wow, I didn't know westerners did that too?!?!"
For me, it'd be about
-Preserves. My grandparents and even my parents often made Jam, Pickels, etc... and I love it when I tell/show that "we" do that kind of thing too.
-Eating cabbage. Sure, it's the poor man's WWII food, but how many of us haven't had to sit down at grandma's table to have some form of it?
Anyone else? |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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| They seem surprised when I tell them I don't have any tattoos. |
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Imrahil
Joined: 04 Feb 2008
Location: On the other side of the world.
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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| They are always surprised to learn that my home country has four seasons! |
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Scotticus
Joined: 18 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I've had multiple people sound surprised when I tell them we use garlic in America, too. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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You like spicy food?
Americans eat more rice than Koreans? (it's true, based on total volume  )
You don't like coffee? you don't like hamburgers?
You don't know _________ (insert Korean singer name here)?
| Imrahil wrote: |
| They are always surprised to learn that my home country has four seasons! |
They simply don't believe it. |
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Imrahil
Joined: 04 Feb 2008
Location: On the other side of the world.
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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| The spicy food one is so true. I would just finish telling my Korean coworkers that I have been here for over 5 years. Then when I order a spicey dish they act shocked! |
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nobbyken
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Location: Yongin ^^
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Imrahil wrote: |
| The spicy food one is so true. I would just finish telling my Korean coworkers that I have been here for over 5 years. Then when I order a spicy dish they act shocked! |
It says in some textbooks that foreigners don't like spicy food, so they can't eat it. It is therefore taken as fact. I think people grow up thinking it is a genetic thing that foreigners have, meaning it's impossible for them eat spicy food.
I keep telling people, that I got used to it after 8 months and they accept it. |
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shifter2009
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Location: wisconsin
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| nobbyken wrote: |
| Imrahil wrote: |
| The spicy food one is so true. I would just finish telling my Korean coworkers that I have been here for over 5 years. Then when I order a spicy dish they act shocked! |
It says in some textbooks that foreigners don't like spicy food, so they can't eat it. It is therefore taken as fact. I think people grow up thinking it is a genetic thing that foreigners have, meaning it's impossible for them eat spicy food.
I keep telling people, that I got used to it after 8 months and they accept it. |
I always make a point of grabbing the spiciest looking green pepper on the table and taking a big chomp out of it whenever I am out with a new korean friend or acquaintance. They usually try and stop me or just look on in amazement, after that they seem to look at you with a little more respect. |
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Return Jones
Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Location: I will see you in far-off places
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Scotticus wrote: |
| I've had multiple people sound surprised when I tell them we use garlic in America, too. |
You beat me to the punch on that one. What's up with the garlic exclusivity thing? |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Return Jones wrote: |
| Scotticus wrote: |
| I've had multiple people sound surprised when I tell them we use garlic in America, too. |
You beat me to the punch on that one. What's up with the garlic exclusivity thing? |
Ah, yeah that's a good one.
Man I miss Garlic sausage. |
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GB
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Having told my co-teachers I've been here 2 years...then have them act surprised when I tell them I have Korean friends. |
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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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Teachers were amazed when I turned up with a big kilo of dates from the local Asian market.
oooh jube-jubes they exclaimed.
tried to explain that they were different but couldn't be bothered.
Amazed that westerners ate them. |
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Zutronius
Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Location: Suncheon
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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| They are shocked when whitey can use a chop stick. |
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Quack Addict
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| They are shocked when they see a white guy driving. One guy was honking at me and lights flashing to run a red light. When the light was green I went. He then pulled up next to me and rolled his window down. So I did the same. He took one look at me and rolled his window back up and sped off. |
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Mix1
Joined: 08 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Zutronius wrote: |
| They are shocked when whitey can use a chop stick. |
Ok, but it's much more civilized to use TWO chopsticks. |
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