Korean Job Discussion Forums

[funda62]

Wow, I'm posty today. LOL

So last Sunday I was in EMart with my kids and husband looking for a sheet for kid bed. This worker kept coming by me and pushing my cart out of the way. The third time it happened I freaked out and basically shouted to my husband, "If that woman pushes my cart one more time I'm going to slap her."

Then I kind of started crying because I don't understand why it has to be so hard to find a flipping bed sheet.

Sigh. Turkey and Germany were way easier countries to live in. I have so much sympathy for those of you without any native country support. I feel so lucky that husband is Army so at least I can shop on post for *some* things.

[Css]

Did you ask her why she was pushing your cart? Or did either of you ask her to stop?

Its hard to find bedsheets because koreans tend to sleep on mats on the floor rather than beds.

[eIn07912]

hey fonda, its ok. it happens. we've all (especially teachers, like myself, that have to live in the korea world 100% of the time with no "little america" to escape to) had our moments. ive snapped on taxi drivers, people on the subway, emart ladies, and almost got arrested for throwing a guy to the other end of the train once.

the best thing to do is just take a few huge deep breaths and focus on calming urself down. i then have a smoke and a beer and that helps as well. u said u have a family and i'll assume u dont have that much free time, but if u can, find an exercise that u like doing. running, swimming, yoga, weight lifting, whatever it is. having that release of energy and frustration and being able to make it productive for urself will be the best therapy uve ever had. i dont know how i would survive without my 4 days a week gym visits and treadmill runs to make me too tired and exhausted to get frustrated about anything.

hope it helps. stay strong.

[jdog2050]

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

Sound like a 3yr old.

[Straphanger]

You threw a tantrum in a department store? Wow.. If I were your husband I would have given you a swift crack in the face, maybe make you wear a diaper and sleep in a crib until you learned to act like an adult.

That goes double for "almost arrested" ... should be "recently deported."

[Pwillig]

Eh, well, I imagine your nerves are shot from being in an environment that pretty much knocks you back down to the bottom of Maslowe's hierarchy of needs. You can't even place Germany and Korea in the same "foreign country" group. You have people who are fluent in English working at McDonald's in Germany :-p They're also two entirely different types of cultures. Germany is individualistic - like us, and Korea is collectivist.

I imagine the stress of dealing with children only causes the stress to be exponential. Also, make sure you're not blowing things out of proportion by stressing over imaginary or exagerrated things. You really have to do your best to be the one who determines your mood.

[Ya-ta Boy]

OP,

You had an episode of culture shock. It happens to pretty much everyone. The advice about getting exercise is exactly right. Do something that relaxes you. Being a mom just complicates things. The other thing you can do is try to focus on what you do like about living here so that the negativity doesn't drag you down. Your kids and your marriage may end up paying a price if you allow the negative thinking to take over.

[aboxofchocolates]

[Draz]

[Quack Addict]

OP take a deap breath.....or 10. People don't move your cart for no reason....maybe it was in the middle of the isle or blocking something. Take a chill. I've found that getting upset or frustrated doesn't help. Yelling at them doesn't help because they don't speak English. You just come off lookin' like a crazy waeguk. If they are being annoying then just rise above them. It's hard sometimes but at the end of the day you will feel better about yourself. Cheers.

[moosehead]

hey funda62 - ((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))

to you and yours - hope you feel better soon

[jkelly80]

[PeteJB]

Well at least it's a baby tantrum instead of an actual breakdown - because those are not pleasant!

[Css]