Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thoreau]

I have 2 co-teachers at my main school. One is male, the other is female, both are around 30. I think both would be considered good-looking by Korean standards.

The male co-teacher is my handler and last week he took me to get my ARC. His girlfriend joined us for the trip as it was about a 2 hour drive each way. They seem like a great couple and they talked about visiting Spain on their honeymoon if they get married.

Today I was doing a workshop with the 2 co-teachers and we were discussing Hills Like White Elephants. The setting of the story is Spain so I made the comment to the male co-teacher, 'I thought you'd like this story since your girlfriend wants to visit Spain.'

The female co-teacher, looking confused, said to me, 'He has a girlfriend?'

'Yes,' I answered. 'I met her last week.'

The male co-teacher just sits there. Stone-faced.

The female co-teacher says, 'That is odd. I think he told me a few months ago that he did not have a girlfriend.'

He says, 'I think we should not talk about this. Let's talk about the story.'

Ooops. Sorry about that bro.

[talltony4]

LOL!

Dare you to ask your female co-teacher what went down...

[asmith]

Serves that tom-cat right.

[cincynate]

Ouch. I had a similar situation. I met with my two co-teachers, who had never met eachother. I told one that the other had been teaching for ten years. She got all red faced. I asked what was wrong, and she said, she's 23, and it is her first year. Then she asked me why I thought she looked old. I thought Koreans wern't blunt?!?

[T-dot]

Good job big mouth. I dont expect him to be going out of his way to do any favours for you anytime soon.

Since you already killed his chances; why not swoop in for the kill yourself?

[Epicurus]

obviously the OP did this unintentionally, but it's a good example of why one shouldn't bring up private matters at school.

aren't we super sensitive to our private lives at all being brought up?

hahhaaa.

I'll recount a story somewhat unrelated to the OP but still generally topical.

I am "supposed" to be married by Korean standards by now.

I was invited to join an English study group that one of the brass at my school belongs to. They wanted to "meet me". I was like, ok - besides there was a free grilled meat dinner in it for me, so I hopped on the train and went to to meet them.

It actually turned out better and cooler than I expected. They were very nice and I had a good time.

the best question came from a still unmarried Korean girl/woman of 31 (I teased her about this btw, asking why she didn't catch the marry by 30 fever) -(turns out her parents are cool by Korean standards) and the other girl in the group confirmed this "pressure" is first and foremost parental.

anyways - she asked if I was married. No. Then later she asked if I had a gf in Korea or the Unites States.

No, I said.

Moments later, she comes back to me and says:

"excuse me, are you straight"?

I nearly guffawed.. but before doing so had to ensure she was asking what I thought she was asking, so I feigned ignorance/stupidity at first before determining that this was in fact what she asked.

She tried apologizing profusely but I assured there was no need, that I was indeed "straight" and I wasn't the slightest bit offended by the question.

I was however.. very very amused... and entertained.
and liked the bluntness/boldness of it.

I also liked the underlying assumption behind the question/comment that men are not by nature celibate creatures)

that woman scored a lot of points with me

[Fishead soup]

Koreans only mention that they have a boyfriend girlfriend to their co-workers when the relationship is serious and they are thinking of getting married.

[thoreau]