Korean Job Discussion Forums

ThingsComeAround · Joined: 07 Nov 2008

May I ask any poster to add your favorite/most awkward face-saving situation where the word of a foreigner or Korean vs a lying Korean to cover something up? Let's try to be truthful!

Once my dept and I were eating lunch and there was a group of parents that came to eat with us, but sat at another table. The food was so-so, but on this particular day I was hungry. Unfortunately, the food was also somewhat cold, because the parents started eating first, and they left everything uncovered...

Anyway, I ate my food, talked with the other teachers, and I looked up and saw a parent pouring her soup from her tray into the communal soup- Thing is some of us like to eat seconds, but on this particular day, I noticed new parents wanted to eat food with us and they came after some teachers and I finished 1 dish. Disgusted, there was a urge within to discard my own tray and I told my handler the food was tainted with ABC food. A -new- parent came and was about to eat the soup, and I told her "No-no. Don't do that", shaking my head in a serious manner. My handler explained to her what had happened, when Another parent, not the one actually committing this heinous act, vouched for the food and said there was nothing wrong. The food was just replaced from downstairs.. THAT was what was poured in. At hearing this, I turned my nose up and sat down at the table, disgusted that they couldn't even fess up to something so idiotic and foolish. I was also grossed out because I know what I saw, and there was no way that woman was telling the truth! Fortunately since then, the gross parents have left and now the new ones don't over-stuff themselves. Embarassed

Whistleblower · Joined: 03 Feb 2007

This was a small conversation to a Korean in the UK -

Me: Korean drivers are crazy, I nearly got hit numerous times.
Korean: They are skillful.
Me: Yes, but most are terrible and it's really stressful.
Korean: And they are also quite experienced drivers.

Rolling Eyes

Why bother? They just decide to cover up for other people they don't know. Everybody knows Korea has one of the highest rates of road mortality in the OECD.

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

It is quite common for food to be re-served here. At any given restaurant you may find that you have been given food "left-over" from another patrons meal.

Check your kimchee. If it is a a jumbled mass then it is most likely that you are being served "left-overs". A neatly stacked plate of kimchee means most food is served to the individual patron and not "recycled".

OP, you do know that people commonly share from the same bowl and dish? Most likely the parent saw nothing wrong with pouring their soup bck into a communal bowl. "Waste not, want not".

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

samcheokguy · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: Samcheok G-do

All time favorite
Koteacher:"KOrean people are kind."
Me:"What about the one who called me a dog baby?"
Koteacher: "That is bad word. Korean people don't use bad words."

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

Korea is a bit shitty sometimes. You know it and Koreans know it and Koreans know that you know it, but they don't want you to know that they know it, so they deny it to save face about them knowing what you both know.
Seems quite clear to me.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

yeah, wonderful, isn't it, when one person speaks for not just his family or friends, but the entire nation of millions? "We" all have the exact same thoughts and actions?

This group stuff is pretty sick. Stinks like unwashed and unconsidered nationalism. What are we doing, playing sports here, team A vs team B..?

ChinaBoy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

crosbystillsstash · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

A parent calls me 2 hours before the start of her daughters first private class and says that they have decided to go to a hakwon because they heard its faster than learning from a native speaker. Laughing

Translation : "We decided we can't afford it."

Great manners.....thanks for telling me.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

You know you've been in Korean too long when you find that it's you doing the BS face-saving and defending of your school and co-workers to students who've figured out what absolute crap the Korean educational system is.

Me: Every country's educational system has it's advantages and disatvantages. Canada has it's advantages and disadvantages. So does Korea.

Student: No, Korea only disadvantage.

Me: But Mr Lee has a very good English vocabulary.

Student: No, he is many word not know.

Me: But he's good at preparing students for reading tests.

Student: I think he is not useful to us.

Leslie Cheswyck · Joined: 31 May 2003 Location: University of Western Chile

^ Nah, I'd say that's personal/professional loyalty, which is a good trait.

Many a time I've had students come up to me complaining about this or that teacher. And each time, I either challenge their assertions, or I quickly change the subject.

Rusty Shackleford · Joined: 08 May 2008

With regards to not being able to criticize a part without criticizing the whole. Once I made a comment about Kim Jong Il, I can't even remember what I said, insightful analysis of the situation, no doubt. For one of my co workers to take offense.