Korean Job Discussion Forums

Goku · Joined: 10 Dec 2008

Black Cat,

I wholly empathize and sympathize with your position. I know a teacher who also has your same problem and she is deathly allergic. Eating here has proved difficult especially with co-workers and I can imagine the co-workers responses were less than understanding at the beginning.

It would be like having a vegetarian in the workplace. They make every company outing irritiating.

Anyways, she told the school her allergy from day 1. She made it clear to the co-teacher that she would die and she showed her epi pen and some other medication she was wielding. Also based on her personality it would be hard to hold it against her. I know if people offer her shellfish she would probably give them this kind of eye downed glare, and be like "You do realize I will die if I take this hon..." and then kind slowly smile, chuckle and laugh it off with that person.

Black Cat, here is an approach I did with my co-workers. I had a similar issue with insulting my co-workers about the food. I kind of... coughed it up and ran to the bathroom the first time i had it. I knew the other teachers would be insulted about my reaction to their food. It was sort of like saying "The food you people eat is repulsive". Of course that was my gut reaction so i wanted to make clear to them that I didn't mean any offense. So I came back to the lunch room. I took 1 sausage and I showed them I was willing to try again. But I said "Oh no, I can't do it... I'll stick to the Kimchi" and promptly gorged on it. I did it with a smile and very light hearted humor, so there was no way they could hold it against me. In fact, now the teachers and I joke about it. Whenever sausage is on the menu and I walk into the teachers caf, I inevitably get 3-4 teachers look at me, smile and be like "Ohhh your favorite dish is here". I smile and throw my hands in the air and say "Awsome!"

Now obviously, you can't try the shellfish but you can feign some sort of effort to be willing to accept their food. Like you could say "OHHHh! it looks so delicious I wish I could eat!" Then their reaction would be... "Then why don't you try?!?" Then you can explain "I have this condition that won't let me try that delicious crab.... Oohhhh Kesmontan (and break out and sing the mr. Pizza commerical). This is also an intelligent social move because you make an open window for other people to be funny. So for example, another co-teacher might notice you really want to try it, but you can't, so they will tease you and be like "Ohh Hmmm... This is delicious, oh god I wish you could try it. yum yum..." And start licking and embracing the crab. Everyone would get a good laugh out of it.

Like Boogey and another poster said, humor goes a long way. If you take the "I can't shellfish" TOO seriously people will think you are overreacting and may not understand that it's a life or death thing. They would think it's just distaste for it. It seems like your co-workers aren't stepping in to explain that it's an allergy.

Even if people are illogical or uncomprimising, there is a way to work them to your side. I've had to deal with the least understanding of people, the idea is to emphasize your commonalities with them and make them feel you are one of them. Which is why humor is universal and everyone can understand it. Korean humor is a little different, and seems to emphasize ridiculous situtations, violating inherent "rules" and a lot of slapstick.

bogey666 · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

technique · Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Location: Jamsil, Seoul

Dave's is moving slow, so I haven't had the joy of reading all 6 pages (not that I would read them all anyway).

My experience so far is the exact opposite of the OP. I love trying anything new (not just food), and everyone I know is always worried that I don't like raw fish or might be getting more drunk than I want to be--they always want to make sure I'm fine. These same Koreans are always interested to try some small piece of food I have brought from the States.

Maybe I have found the un-Korea. Who knows. Surprised

crossmr · Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

Gillian57 · Joined: 14 Oct 2008

CA-NA-DA-ABC · Joined: 20 Jun 2006

stevieg4ever · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Location: London, England

Do you want to explain to everyone why exactly you are so confident that it is BS? I, for one, would love to know??

And is this what you do when in a situation where the Korean position is totally untenable and indefensible. Joke??

harlowethrombey · Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Location: Seoul

OhioPBJ · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Gangnam

Since I've been living in Korea I've learned I can eat squid and crab (which I thought I was seriously allergic too before I came here) It was on accident of course, but thanks again Korea!

Mostly all of my Korean friends here have been abroad and all of them ate the local food. They might have still preferred Korean food, but I'm sure they were all alright and don't share the same mentality the OP mentioned. Then again, they might have been better suited to living abroad then the aforementioned coworkers, who knows...

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Mr. BlackCat · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE

Guri Guy · Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Location: Bamboo Island

stevieg4ever · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Location: London, England

Personal experience and first hand observation of what exactly, all powerful and omnipotent one? You obviously carefully pick and choose what you read on these boards.

On account of my experience nothing, and I mean nothing, that takes place in this country really surprises me anymore. Allowing for the benefit of the doubt, these boards are testament to just that.

You mentioned nonsense?? Nonsense indeed! Nonsense is all that comes into my head when I read your posts.

If you have vomited all over your colleagues and lived to tell the tale then I retract my original statement.