Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jcmarsha]

[sarbonn]

Sometimes, I really don't know how to answer anymore. When I first got here two months ago, I had a problem with my eyes (couldn't read anything with my glasses due to a problem that's somewhat corrected but is taking some time to readjust after the medication). I still can't read with my glasses on (and it gives me headaches to read without them). Anyway, I realized after a very short time when people were asking me about the problem, they weren't really interested but were just making small talk, and I quickly realized that they didn't want to hear about it. I was fine with that. Now, EVERYONE asks me how I'm doing, and knowing they don't want to talk about it, I'll say fine, and then they'll get all excited, convinced that the problem must be over, and then they start asking me why I'm reading without my glasses still, and they keep on going. But if I respond that the problem is still around, they act uninterested.

I'm almost at the point where I'm going to do what they do when they don't want to discuss something: Discuss something else and pretend I don't understand them.

Question: "How are eyes?"
Answer: "There is snow on the mountains. Have you ever been in snow?"

[Tiger Beer]

I grew up in Michigan, and no one has ever heard of it or know anything about it, Asian or any other Non-North American for that matter. Then I say 'Detroit' and no light bulbs go off either...then I say 'it is kinda close to Chicago' and a lightbulb kinda goes off with some people.

Then I say but the last time I lived in the U.S., I lived in San Francisco. 'OHHH'...then silence again. Then I say, "Okay, turn to page 1 in your books."

[crusher_of_heads]

[akiakiaki]

I generally get asked stuff about what I eat. Which is not an issue to talk about since most people in my school have a very limited English vocabulary.
But occasionally people will ask me about my home state, Georgia.
Like, have you seen "Gone with the Wind"?
Is there Tara (from Gone with the Wind) in Georgia?" (I don't know.)
Can you tell me about Yankee's"?
Where is Georgia?" (It's above Florida... everyone knows where Florida is....)

[jackson7]

I'm from Alaska and I hear about nothing but snow, Igloos, and cold. Where I live it very rarely gets below 20F in the deep of winter. Korean's hateful winter wind makes this place waaaay colder in the winter, and the summer weather is too hot to be comfortable. What happened to the huge empire Korea had going for it in the old days? How could you end up on the resource-less peninsula with terrible weather? Igloos, man...

[samd]

[ChopChaeJoe]

I had a conversation with my Korean co-worker today about the similarities and differences between Cambodia under Pol Pot and Germany under Hitler and the relative characteristics of people from those countries. In the end, we concluded that children are lucky not to be aware that there really is no such thing as saftey in this world. It was a strange conversation to have with kids playing around.

[Starla]

While I do appreciate the effort that Koreans make in trying to make conversation, I'd appreciate it more if they varied their questions or if they offered up some information about themselves. They never start of the conversation with what's new with them or what they ate for breakfast or what they did that weekend yet they want answers from me. When I ask, they're really vague It usually feels like a one-sided conversation and this is what I don't like more rather than the questioning.

[Gimpokid]

This thread is not meant to be a slam on Koreans. Yes, I'd much rather be asked about fruit then totally ignored.

I don't make a habit of calling Koreans close minded. In reality their knowledge of Califonian agriculture shows me that they are not merely making small talk, but are genuinely interested in something (I just think it's funny that it happens to be fruit.)

I just wanted to hear about other unusual topics of conversation. It just seems that Koreans tend to be interested in the one thing I wouldn't expect to be asked about. Nothing mean spirited, it's just amusing to be asked about fruit all the time.

[I'm no Picasso]

[I'm no Picasso]

[Starla]

[jkelly80]

I remember reading it's not polite to ask an older person questions in Korea, so I usually refrain from doing so with my co-workers. Of course they usually begin any interaction by screaming 우리말잘해!?!?!?! when they want to start a conversation, so I figure I'm not missing much.