Korean Job Discussion Forums

[asams]

I'm sitting at Kimbap Chonggu, eating my donkkasu and listening to my iPod when a Korean guy comes up and stands in front of me. I take off one of my earphones and he asks if I speak English and if I like Korean food. At first I ask "What!?!" then I say "Yeah, it's good" and put my earphone back in.

Do you think that was rude for him to interrupt my meal to ask that? I felt it was pretty rude, I wouldn't interrupt someone in America to ask them if they like hamburgers

[afsjesse]

No It's not rude to do that really. Koreans are very curious about why we are here and that kind of stuff happens all the time. I don't blame you for thinking that it was rude because you obviously haven't been culturally adjusted to this type of action yet.

However he may have thought you were rude for not stricking up a conversation with him and by putting your earphone back in you kind of insulted him. Atleast IMO.

Enjoy instances like these to get to know the culture better! It'll make your stay here that much better!

[afsjesse]

Double post

[afsjesse]

triple post

[Michelle]

[yingwenlaoshi]

It's totally rude. I've had ajeossis come up to me in the same kind of restaurants (they attract the best of what Korea has to offer), only to be shooed away by the ajumma working there.

Usually they're drunk. Either way, their intentions are not always good.

[afsjesse]

Sometimes they can be bothersome but most adjossis are not like that. This turm Ajossi/Ajumma conjures up drunk people spitting everywhere and whining about the white man taking the local women.

Just because he was in the Cheongguk doesn't mean he was drunk. Perhaps he had the very human craving of eating???? He was probably just curious about him. Has happened millions of times since I've been here and probably will today sometime.

[seoulsucker]

Try walking up to a Korean in McDonald's and asking about his/her meal.

[bobbybigfoot]

[richardlang]

I just burst out laughing in my office at the point when I read "I touch your face now." Everyone looked at me.

[Xuanzang]

[Zantetsuken]

[Robot_Teacher]

My school people were really surprised to see me taking Korean school lunch last week and asked me if I can eat Korean food just as I had full mouth of whatever that stuff is. I digested my mouthful and said yes of course, but it is a bit too salty and lacking fresh vegetables in my opinion. I say it must be good since it has sustained the Korean and other North Asian peoples for over 5000 years.

And then the can you eat spicy food question comes. Oh yes, of course, I say since these red chili's species of pepper came from the Americas 400 years ago and I've eaten Mexican food many times and it's actually hotter due to the use of jalepeno peppers. Korean food is just overly salty like many American foods are, but it's good food. I can take it. That's all.

Well, since you can take it, then we'll have to charge you 2,500 won a day whether you eat or not from now on. We did not think you could take Korean food. Oh wait, I'm only here 3 days a week; not 5 so that's 7,500 per week or about 30,000 won per month, but the other school already told me they're giving me their food for free.

Who ever said they're wasn't a free lunch? Some schools offer free rice while others don't.

[afsjesse]

I"m saying that as foreigners we should look through the otherside of the mirror. I never said you had to like it or even accept that they do it. I'm just saying a little cultural respect would be nice. Now I realize that is a two way street. But given the fact that most people came from the War era and that this country only recently became "advanced" to our standards, it should not be a huge shock to us if they ask us some random question.

To be honest Zant, I wouldn't mind if an ajeossi came up to me and asked me if I liked the food I was eating. Answer the question and move on. Making a big scene about it or just getting steamed is about as mature as an elementary student dong-chiming you during lunch hour.

To each his/her own. But I think if we acted in a cool, respectful manner we would come out on top and that they would respect us alot more. As to me walking up to an ajeossi, I've done it. Maybe I'm crazy, but eating alone in the Kimbab shop with one random person at times gives me the craving to talk. So I do, and with my limited Korean I get a very good conversation about why I'm in Korea and why I enjoy it. Perhaps the guy would have a little respect for me too, and if not well than atleast I was civil.

It's all about how you present yourself.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Most likely the guy was trying to start a conversation. He used food as his opener.