Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Starla]

?

In my public school, the school staff, especially the men, like to escort me places like to school or to my neighborhood. I had a male co-worker do that with me today and had to spend about 20 minutes with him on my commute home because he decided to not take his usual route and be my escort on the route leading to my neighborhood. The problem is that he doesn't speak any English so it's really awkward for me when he tries to make conversation with me in Korean even though he knows I don't speak it. I have another co-worker who does the same thing in the morning on my way to work. Then there's another guy I work with who offered to take a cab with me recently according to my co-teacher since we both were going to the same neighborhood but I refused because I can't stand the awkward silence. Well, I just said I prefer the subway which I do. Is this normal and don't they understand this is a weird situation for an English speaker? Or is this a common thing for Korean men to do? I wouldn't mind so much if we spoke a common language.

[I'm no Picasso]

The men at my school who don't speak much English usually go out of their way to avoid me. Today one nearly jumped out of his skin when he came around a corner and almost ran into me. Turned bright red, didn't say a word, bowed, and rushed away. Then there are the older male teachers to whom I might as well be invisible.

Nonetheless, there are a couple who will position themselves across from me at the lunch table and then just smile sheepishly after making a gesture toward my chopsticks and saying, "Very good." On one such occasion, another older male teacher leaned over and said, "He P.E. teacher. Young. Single. Very handsome." Yeah. Thanks for that. The rest of this meal isn't going to be awkward at all. Also, his being very handsome is not likely to make up for the fact that we can't hold even a minimal level of polite conversation....

I did have one teacher tell me, after a slightly bumpy attempt at lunch time conversation, that he would "learn English very hard" for me. That's sweet, I guess.

[Perceptioncheck]

I find that the young, single "handsome" guys go out of their way to avoid me. Once I was having my usual struggle with the photocopier and one of them came over and explained what the problem was in flawless English. This is after about six months of avoiding me almost religiously and was followed by another six months of avoiding me religiously. LOL I'm an unmarried woman in my twenties and I think that they think I'm going to jump their "handsome" eligible bones.

Some of the older guys are pretty friendly, especially at school dinners after a few sojus. One older guy has very kindly taken to driving me to school a couple of times a week but I definitely don't get escorted (although in the beginning they did like to show me how to difficult and unusual things like turn on a computer or put the jug on. )

I hear what you're saying about the awkward silences though. I also hate it and would much rather take the bus and listen to my ipod than sit in silence or suffer through endless miscommunication and frustration. I just grin and bear it when teachers (male or female) give me a ride somewhere or try to talk to me because I know that they're just trying to be kind. It's a pain in the ass sometimes but I still appreciate the gesture. Does that make sense?

[DCJames]

He's looking for a sexual tryst with you.

[I'm no Picasso]

[kimuchiii]

Haha, that's too funny ladies
Curious I'm no Picasso did people seem to approach you more at work when they saw you floundering but trying in Korean?

Perceptioncheck You have it all wrong, he's too attracted to you-hence the avoiding Careful if you get soju in him, you might be the one avoiding him

[Starla]

[Starla]

[I'm no Picasso]

[I'm no Picasso]