Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JamesFord]

Just got back from the gym. Was doing shoulders today.

At the end, I'm doing lateral dumbell raises. Of course, after seeing me do a couple sets, an ajoshi has to come over and tries the same exercise. He tries it a few times, doesn't like it and gives up.

Meanwhile I'm in the middle of my set. Ajoshi puts down the dumbells he was using, and like a zombie walks close enough by me to rub shoulders, just as I'm about to raise the dumbells for my 5th rep. So I end up having to jerk my arm to a stop, otherwise my arm/dumbell would hit him. He just meanders by, jumps on that vibrating belt machine, and hasn't a clue how closely he was injured. I'm pissed off because he ruined my set, and could have caused me to injure myself.

Yes, I wish I would have just hit him, but something in me holds back at the last second.

Anyways, I know many of you can relate. Happens all the time I know. Never ceases to boggle my mind though, how so many people here are absolutely careless. Despite ample room, Koreans will always take the shortest route from A to B, regardless of the circumstances.

[tigerbluekitty]

In Korea, respect comes automatically with age. The old man was expecting you to be submissive.


I don't know how many times I've sat down on subway seats dead tired only to have ajummas death stare me because I didn't give up my seat for them.

[spliff]

I usually position myself so as not to be in other gymsters way. You should consider doing so yourself in the future.

[Spliff's Son]

That's ridiculous. There needs to be a little common sense.

[spliff]

Get back in ur room!

[JamesFord]

The gym is quite small, yet I was very much 'out of the way'.

[cdninkorea]

Friday night I was doing one-legged squats. As they are quite difficult, my form isn't perfect after a few reps. A Korean guy nearby tells me "knee! Watch your knee!" Stunned that someone would talk to me in the middle of my set, I snapped back "Look, I'm in the middle of my set; don't talk to me!" He apologized and that was that.

I shouldn't have been so abrupt and rude, but at the same time isn't it understood that you don't break someone's focus while they exercise?

[Spliff's Son]

[spliff]

Well, dude, in life these things happen and you're just gonna have to get used to them unless you can find a small secluded island you can afford.

[spliff]

Yo mother gonna kick ur azz!

[tigerbluekitty]

[pkang0202]

[JamesFord]

[passport220]

One I saw was when I went out to eat with a group of teachers. The restaurant we went to is on a high floor of a building, there is a busy grocery store on the bottom floor. After the meal we all went down stairs and waited near the entrance of the store for everyone to regroup so we could say our goodbyes and such.

One middle aged Korean male teacher started doing stretching exercises dead center of the grocery store entrance way. He was standing upright swinging his arms back and forth I presume to stretch his back and/or shoulder muscles (he had his car keys in his left hand). A middle-aged woman came out (with out looking) and he smacked her hard with is car key wielding hand. She let out a yelp and gave him a hard look. He seemed to apologize while she seemed to continue to complain while she was walking away (I don�t speak Korean so I only guess at the content of their speech). Swear to god not more the 4.2 seconds later�.he resumes the goofy activity of doing arm swinging stretches dead center of the busy store entrance.

I really don�t know if age or Confucian society has a lot to do with it. I am strictly an English teacher. I do not come to Korea teach morals, manors or good behavior. I just shake my head at the impracticality of behavior that does not consider others around you especially in urban areas.

[PeteJB]