Korean Job Discussion Forums

[afsjesse]

So I'm on a diet and trying to eat better. Specifically I'm cutting carbs and adding protein. So I've but back on the rice and oily side dishes. I even stopped eating most of the kimchi, which I love So I go up to the lunch buffet and take a small portion of rice, cucumber/crab salad and a little soup. I sit down and open the can of 고추참치 and put it over the rice and open my container of fresh cooked broccoli.

I eat happily and everyone asked me if I am on a diet. I said yes and that was all. When my coteacher got back to the teachers office she said the Lunch Lady was offended that I brought in my own food. She said that she doesn't like it and that I should basically stop doing it. Apparently she thought I didn't like the food which I said I loved, but stopped eating alot of it because of the diet. So now I have to eat here in the teachers lounge because 1. she doesn't like it and 2. because she doesn't want the other students to start doing it

[Faunaki]

That sucks.

I wonder how long you've been eating Korean food?

I got fat from it at first but at the same time I got married so I think that I couldn't really blame the food for making me fat.

I stopped eating school lunch and dieted but I was always hungry. I did lose weight but didn't feel satisfied.

Started eating school lunch again since September and eat everything (not too much rice but enough) and have been losing weight from it.

Firmly believe that Korean food will make you thin, you just gotta give it time.

Yah I know I'm off topic.

[I'm no Picasso]

That's ridiculous.

Eat whatever you want wherever you want. You're a grown up. They don't have the right to tell you you can't bring in your own food.

I know the coteacher relationship is a bit convoluted to begin with, but that is really stepping over some serious boundaries. She's not actually your mother.

[Perceptioncheck]

No, she's not your mother.

She wields far more power than that. She's the lunch lady.

I wouldn't worry too much about it if you don't intend eating the school lunches. However, if you're like me and have offended your lunch lady but still want to eat the school lunch, you'd be in a bit of a pickle. The cunning old bat spent a few weeks carefully observing what I don't eat, and now serves me that in great quantities while refusing to give me anything I like.

[crescent]

Borg directive!

[eamo]

[waynehead]

Wow koreans can be childish sometimes, can't they?

[bogey666]

dude, ridiculous.

be nice, and polite but stick to your guns

I dont' want to rub salt on the wound, but in my school they're making me a special daily lunch now.... chopped up lettuce with some other stuff and tuna. No sauce.. no mayo. I'm VERY happy.

i can grab what I want out of the usual Korean stuff but now have my base meal.

*came up with the idea the other day when they had chopped up lettuce as sidedish with no mayo, sauces etc . talked to my vp, offered to pay extra for this service if doable. and voila. and no, i' not paying anything extra. bliss.

[aldershot]

[wylies99]

It's not worth fighting over and it could make you look bad to the Korean teachers. Eat their food in the dining hall and eat your food in your room.
Does the opinion of the lunch lady matter? No, but other Koreans may think you are being tactless. It could create ill will with people who matter- your boss and co-workers.

BTW, I agree with many posters that you should be able to eat what you want to eat, but Koreans are very touchy about these kinds of things, especially involving Korean food. They see Korean food as a Korean "thing" and you need to think about your image at work with people who do matter.

Oh, and give the lunch lady a Christmas card and a 3-pack of Crunky bars, IN FULL SIGHT OF MANY KOREAN TEACHERS. It'll repair your image asap.

[Young FRANKenstein]

So what if you "offend" her by bringing in your own food. You're dieting. Is she going to accommodate your diet? No. What's she going to do if you continue to bring in your own food? Stop serving you?

[Draz]

[ajgeddes]

You pay for the lunch, you can do whatever you want. She is a lunch lady, an f-ing lunch lady.

[Xuanzang]

Thank god for self serve. None of this server drama. Stick to your plan. These people need mind their own business.

[esetters21]

It's simple for me. I don't eat the school lunches. Nothing against the food or the lunch-lady. If it was free I might consider it, but I prefer bringing my lunch because I know what I will be served that day and that I will enjoy it.