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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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drydell
Joined: 01 Oct 2009
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 Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:08 am Post subject: |
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off subway...get coffee.. open umbrella (so much this spring) = no hands free for briefcase..
backpack it is!..
besides....it's fun to screw with the korean mind by wearing really smart clothes - suit and tie - and then a backpack.. haha |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| drydell wrote: |
besides....it's fun to screw with the korean mind by wearing really smart clothes - suit and tie - and then a backpack.. haha |
I wouldn't have thought it was fun to look like a clown on a daily basis, but I'll certainly defend your rights on this issue.
People who wear backpacks when they don't really need one, if you wanna look like a total nerd, then that is your inalienable right!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7iXcKKpdx0[/i] |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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I picked up a small, compact duffel bag in Busan in 2003 made by North Face and have used it since then, buying a replacement identical to it a couple of years after that. Not the long ones with the zipper pockets at the ends but the simplier, shorter small ones with just one zipper pocket inside and space just right to throw whatever in. Kind of like a gym bag but without looking sporty. It looks something like this:
http://s7ondemand1.scene7.com/is/image/MoosejawMB/10083057x1015252_zm?$product475$
It's very much like the smallest of these nylon cargo bags:
http://common2.csnimages.com/lf/1/hash/660/1692049/1/Rugged+Nylon+Cargo+Duffel+Bag+with+Shoulder+Strap.jpg
I sling it on my back with the shoulder strap when I'm travelling about the country on the weekends and I carry it to work some days of the week with books, drink, snack, mini-umbrella, cell phone, id, whatnot. It's not heavy or big, so there's no need for a backpack, the shoulder strap is fine. If I'm going on a longer trip, for a three day weekend, I might have enough weight to shift it from shoulder to shoulder at times, but really no problem in terms of carrying. I haven't used a backpack since college except for my hiking backpack which is too big to lug around usually.
To each, their own. |
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languistic
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| NYC_Gal wrote: |
I like to drink a lot of water every day. I pack a water bottle. Have you ever seen things cleaned properly here? I see a bunch of dirty rags pushing dirt and water around. I've never seen the floors cleaned with soap. The coolers are great for boiling water, but I'd never use them for unsterilized cold water.
As for food, sure. I pack lunch. Not everyone eats the meat-laden stuff provided at their school. I also pack my laptop, as the one at my school is entirely in Korean and has a floppy disk drive!  |
"here". Yep...there you go. It's a wonder how anyone survives in this filth, huh?
Anyhow, your adamant defense is illustrative of your knowing that the backpack has some certain negative charms. |
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languistic
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Lose the backpack already... |
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| The Gipkik wrote: |
Some people assimilate Korean culture a little too readily, me thinks. Next time you see one of these backward bucolic backpackers walking about, I suggest you shout at him and physically assault him. A dazzling roundhouse should get his mind straight. Then as you're leaving, give the forlorn fella a lesson in haberdashery and appropriate accessories for a delightful and unencumbered night out on the town. And don't forget to flick that annoying hay from the farm boy's hair. Not elegant! That should get the point across in a much more proactive way. |
All good ideas, but these types are often left to themselves; these forums make it clear the backpackers can do themselves in much more effectively than I could.
So, Korean culture states no backpacks, of do they have their time and place? Its not black and white, after all. Now, back to your thesaurus, hidden deep in your linty sack. |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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| I carry a backpack at all times, but I cleverly divert attention away from this fashion faux pas by being massively overweight and wearing the same clothes I bought at least 5 years ago. Now nobody even notices the 50 litre Jansport bag. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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| The Gipkik wrote: |
| Steelrails wrote: |
It's not that backpacks are wrong, its just that most people's backpacks don't match their attire. Or do so in such a way as to scream still in undergrad/High School.
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Well, this is the discrepancy. A lot of people don't wear a backpack as a fashion statement or as an overall accessory. It's strictly functional, meant for moving objects from point A to B to Z--books, laptops, groceries, gym clothes, athletic equipment, snacks, mp3 players, the works. It is a question of comfort and convenience over aesthetic demands or public statements. I wear a pair of jeans and a T shirt for comfort and a backpack while on my bike for convenience and safety. The funny thing about serious or recreational hikers in Korea is how astonishingly and ridiculously matched their apparel, including the backpack, tend to be. This conformist sense of personal dress is not how I express myself. This matching functions, like a lot of fashion, as a socially sanctioned uniform more than an expression of personal identity.
This is not to say that I don't dress up; but for daily, utilitarian purposes, I'll take the backpack thanks. It's a good one though.  |
Jeans and a T-shirt is just as conformist as an adjumma's hiking suit.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, you're really a rebel back home if you wear A)Pink/Pastels B)A sweater vest C) A Tie
Sure a big part of it is convenience, but an even bigger part of it is if you wear those things everyday people will think you're "weird" and constantly heckle you over it.
Also in cold to mild weather a suit is far more comfortable and practical than jeans and a t-shirt. Think layers and pockets.
But you're right the fun thing about breaking out of the mould is that once people get used to it, you stand out in a good way. |
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The Gipkik
Joined: 30 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
Jeans and a T-shirt is just as conformist as an adjumma's hiking suit.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, you're really a rebel back home if you wear A)Pink/Pastels B)A sweater vest C) A Tie
Sure a big part of it is convenience, but an even bigger part of it is if you wear those things everyday people will think you're "weird" and constantly heckle you over it.
Also in cold to mild weather a suit is far more comfortable and practical than jeans and a t-shirt. Think layers and pockets.
But you're right the fun thing about breaking out of the mould is that once people get used to it, you stand out in a good way. |
Conforming in my book takes effort, but to a certain degree wearing any kind of clothing is conforming to some standard of acceptance, so it's a moot point.
Wearing a suit is never more comfortable than wearing a couple of high quality layered shirts. That's conservative society and thinking coming through there, but I'll agree that it is ultimately a matter of taste and habit. There is no better here. You might not look good in a T-shirt and jeans, so a suit will cover these inadequacies. You might need the suit to impress at your job or to cover some confidence deficiency. Heck, you just might have a great tailor who turns you out like Cary Grant.
And honestly, the only people that would, hypothetically speaking, heckle me in Korea, would be other foreigners. LOL |
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Tiberious aka Sparkles
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 4:43 pm Post subject: Re: Lose the backpack already... |
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| balzor wrote: |
| I don't have a manbag, I call it a satchel... |
Indiana Jones had one. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
Those are stylish. Them or a murse/messenger bag/satchel/purse are fine.
But the Under-18 public school backpack is seriously sad. The hiking bag can be pulled off, but you have to be "The Wanderer" outdoorsy type of teacher who's always taking the kids outside and walking them amongst the local park/forest explaining to them outdoors words in English.
It's not that backpacks are wrong, its just that most people's backpacks don't match their attire. Or do so in such a way as to scream still in undergrad/High School.
General rule of thumb- If you can fit a bowling ball and change, it should probably be left at home. |
The trick is to make it a pack that matches absolutely nothing. I needed some warm boots for my school during the winter, and caved and bought some Ugg[lie]s, but refused to get them in black or brown, because they'd only match what I was wearing half of the time, so got them in royal purple. I've got loads of black packs and handbags, but prefer a bright color any day. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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| JMO wrote: |
| AmericanExile wrote: |
| JMO wrote: |
Hands free for what?!? Might have to wrestle a bear? Sexually arouse a moose?
You wear a backpack in a city and you like look a hick, end of story. Buying groceries? How about this, use a reusable grocery bag.
For the love of God, show some self respect. And stop wearing hiking boots everywhere also. Buy some nice sneakers that are flat and designed for a city. Maybe buy some trousers that aren't ill fitting jeans.
Yes, I'm judgemental but god you people need help. Convenience? What the hell does convenience have to do with anything. The only people who get to dress for convenience are the pregnant, mothers of young babies, the clinically obese and people who use bikes as their primary means of transport. That's it. the rest of you, develop some style and stop offending my eyes. |
Are you seriously suggesting you don't find hands useful? This may qualifies you as moron of the week.
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Yes that is exactly what I'm saying, that hands are not useful. I use my feet like Christy Brown. You correctly surmised the entire point of my post. You are a wise and astute American, one of many I presume. |
Hands free to hold onto one of the subway rails instead of falling. Hands free to hold onto the the bus handles, instead of falling. Hands free to work my iTouch. Hands free to slap high-fives to the students I see in my neighborhood. Hands free to answer my cell. Hands free to make shadow puppets and play peekaboo with babies.
I know you were joking, but I couldn't resist. I'm joking too, if my sarcasm didn't translate well over text. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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| NYC_Gal wrote: |
| I needed some warm boots for my school during the winter, and caved and bought some Ugg[lie]s, but refused to get them in black or brown, because they'd only match what I was wearing half of the time, so got them in royal purple. |
Ugglies are the worst trend in fashion since the ruffle skirt. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| languistic wrote: |
| NYC_Gal wrote: |
I like to drink a lot of water every day. I pack a water bottle. Have you ever seen things cleaned properly here? I see a bunch of dirty rags pushing dirt and water around. I've never seen the floors cleaned with soap. The coolers are great for boiling water, but I'd never use them for unsterilized cold water.
As for food, sure. I pack lunch. Not everyone eats the meat-laden stuff provided at their school. I also pack my laptop, as the one at my school is entirely in Korean and has a floppy disk drive! |
"here". Yep...there you go. It's a wonder how anyone survives in this filth, huh?
Anyhow, your adamant defense is illustrative of your knowing that the backpack has some certain negative charms. |
I didn't use the cold water spout for the cooler back in NYC due to the same unsanitary practices, but at least the cleaning lady cleaned my office properly.
Sure, people survive. Some people just prefer to live a tad cleanlier. I don't Lysol everything, but I wash my hands with warm water and soap, and clean my floor with more than a wet rag that's never been properly laundered. I also use cleaner! Don't tell me this isn't the norm here. I'm sure some people use cleaning products, but one of my friends had the unfortunate experience of having a cleaning woman try to use the same rag she'd just wiped the toilet with on his stove. Ick!
As for knowing that the backpack has some negative charms, sure. If you're carrying an EMS backpack anywhere other than on a trip, you look silly, but some packs are quite fashionable and are made for daily use, like those with padded pockets made specifically for laptops and electronics. I do use a medium-sized pack when I'm staying over a friend's for the weekend. I don't need to carry a heavy piece of luggage for a couple of dresses, undergarments, and toiletries, and the ones with wheels aren't really made for the brick paving. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
| NYC_Gal wrote: |
| I needed some warm boots for my school during the winter, and caved and bought some Ugg[lie]s, but refused to get them in black or brown, because they'd only match what I was wearing half of the time, so got them in royal purple. |
Ugglies are the worst trend in fashion since the ruffle skirt. |
Agreed, but they kept my feet warm during the winter. I'd never wear a pair back home, though. My school was freezing, and the central heating wasn't enough. I had a hard time allowing them to get me a school-board approved radiator, and it was late in the winter by the time they did. I'd used one of the illegal ones and my coteacher went nuts, saying it was forbidden. Sure they are, but everyone uses them, but she's a wee bit paranoid.
My feet remained warm, albeit unfashionable. |
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