Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tommy77]

Please let me give you some background. I don't usually post on this forum for any reason, especially to complain but today is an exception. Earlier this afternoon my wife and I joined a gym - swimming pool and paid in advance for the month.At this point I should mention that my wife is Korean because it is relevant.

Anyway, after a rigorous workout in the gym we decided to go for a swim.
I got in the swimming pool first and waited for my wife. She took rather a long time to come in and when she did she was in tears and shaking. I asked her what was wrong and she told me that an ajuma had began insulting her in the changing room, saying that she had STDs and probably swine flu. Obiously, this XXXX had seen my wife with the 'white man' and decided that we were poisoning the water. Two minutes later, this XXX came into the swimming pool area and proceeded to yell at the the life guard / manager at the top of her voice that we should be ejected from the premises. AT this point the 50 - 80 people in the pool stopped swimming to observe what she was saying. This went on for several minutes whilst I carried on swimming with my wife ( dertimined not to let this XXX have her way). Then the lifeguard came over and asked if we had showered properly before entering the pool. A redundant question, clearly. At this point, with some 70 people staring at us we decided to leave.

I am writing this because I need some perspective if there is any to be had and to vent a little anger. What frustrates me is that there is little I can do about this event except to ignore it and have a few beers.

[chemicalblur]

Hope you pissed in the pool before getting out.

[tommy77]

Thanks, I feel better already.

[grunden]

quit acting like you are living in London. You are in the ROK, GET OVER IT, RUDE PEOPLE!

[Hanson]

Especially since nobody stepped up, I'd have been tempted to rip off the scab I have on my knee with my nails and toss it in the water on my way out.

Dude, been here 9 years and I could totally see this happening to me. I wouldn't have been as diplomatic as you were, so kudos to you for not belittling yourself, as I would surely have done.

I absolutely hate some aspects of living here.

[chemicalblur]

Kinda makes you feel like the only Black guy swimming in the 'ol country club pool.

[Captain Corea]

Have you went back? Talked to management?

[Scamps]

I think you should write the gym and ask for an apology as well as your money back.

[tommy77]

Personally I don't care. These kind of people are simply peasants whom find amusing. I will go there tomorrow and enjoy the facilities. What worries me is my wife. It's often not easy being a young Korean woman in Korea.

[lifeinkorea]

I would have gotten out of the pool, dried myself off. Then, sit and wait for about 10 minutes with a book.

After the lady who started all of it went in to the pool, I would have gone back to the lifeguard and claim that the lady appears to also have AIDS.

With a korean wife around, you could add to this and scream "She also has AIDS"

I know the last one may have no immediate impact, but if Koreans hear us communicating someway in their language with the same racism right after they exhibit it then they might see something.

If we do nothing or simply combat the problem by fighting, they will never see themselves in the wrong.

[tommy77]

It crossed my mind to ask for my money back but this is what some of them want. If I see this XXX again I will simply greet her with an ' anyong' and a 'chalga' ,the way you would talk to kids or a pet.

[SHANE02]

That sucks Tommy. Sometimes idiots pop up. Most Koreans don't think like that.

[hugekebab]

[Cheonmunka]

Come on Man, you put up with that [Mod Edit]? Your wife puts up with that?
Grow a spine. Her too.
When idiots pop up I speak. If you don't speak you ain't heard.
Helps to speak in the local lingua though. Give you that, but your wife ?

Saying that, I don't bother with swimming here - it's just dumb. You know why.

[tommy77]

Thanks for the replies. The irony is that I'd had a couple of other unpleasant experiences of late and we had gone to the gym in order to release the tension of it all. Funny how life works, don't you think.