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Korean coworkers fishing for info about you
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passport220



Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Location: Gyeongsangbuk-do province

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 1:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I made up some background stuff and told it to my co-teacher to satisfy her questions. The stuff I made up was straight forward and easier to explain than the real.

It came in handy that I told my co-teacher that I had a background in accounting (true) and my sister had a small business that I helped her with (untrue). It came in handy as I could say I needed to meet my sister online to go over some bookkeeping issues for her business. This gave me a gracious excuse to bow out of unwanted drinking outings with the other teachers. Cool
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oldfatfarang



Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

TheUrbanMyth wrote:
oldfatfarang wrote:
[q
I guess I worked at a hagwon in another reality to the posters who can't see the relevance (or intent) of these questions.
]

What people are trying to point out it is not the "answering any of these seemingly innocuous questions [that] will let a Korean employer know if they can exploit you"

It's all in HOW you answer the questions.

We've even provided examples for you...no no don't thank us, it was our pleasure.

If you still are having problems, try this exercise. Pretend you are a Korean employer. Now look at my answers to your questions. How exactly would you "exploit" me based on those questions/answers?


Aha, I see. Trolling again. Well done that man. Carry on.
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NYC_Gal



Joined: 08 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

confucian wrote:
NYC_Gal wrote:
When my students ask my age I tell them 비밀 (beemil) and mime zipping my lips, or that I'm 500. Then I pretend to haduken them and say "You die!"


"no"

not only does it work for the children, but it works for the child-like idiots asking those questions who are above the age of 21-I do it for their own good.


Well when I say 비밀 I do shake my head.

I prefer the Streetfighter method, though. It's how I got the teeny 2nd graders to come out of their shells and play during lunch. That and bench-hop tag.
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nomad-ish



Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: On the bottom of the food chain

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i don't care if the kids and teachers know my age; in fact, during the very first class i write some random things on the board (my age is one of them) and i have them guess what each means. in korea, i think knowing everyone's age helps with the hierarchy thing.
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NYC_Gal



Joined: 08 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It does. That's why I don't tell them. 500 means I'm all powerful (hence the Streetfighter).
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TheUrbanMyth



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

oldfatfarang wrote:
TheUrbanMyth wrote:
oldfatfarang wrote:
[q
I guess I worked at a hagwon in another reality to the posters who can't see the relevance (or intent) of these questions.
]

What people are trying to point out it is not the "answering any of these seemingly innocuous questions [that] will let a Korean employer know if they can exploit you"

It's all in HOW you answer the questions.

We've even provided examples for you...no no don't thank us, it was our pleasure.

If you still are having problems, try this exercise. Pretend you are a Korean employer. Now look at my answers to your questions. How exactly would you "exploit" me based on those questions/answers?


Aha, I see. Trolling again. Well done that man. Carry on.


Don't 'project' your actions on to me and don't assume that everyone enjoys the same thing you do. The only one trolling is you. You complained and people gave you good advice. But clearly you weren't interested in finding a solution but just some xenophobic trolling.


Last edited by TheUrbanMyth on Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:00 pm; edited 1 time in total
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curiousaboutkorea



Joined: 21 Jan 2009

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh come on now, don't worry so much. They already know your height, weight, any medical conditions and more from when they all passed around your medical check to look at. Your marital status and such pales in comparison.
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TheUrbanMyth



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

confucian wrote:
NYC_Gal wrote:
When my students ask my age I tell them 비밀 (beemil) and mime zipping my lips, or that I'm 500. Then I pretend to haduken them and say "You die!"


"no"

not only does it work for the children, but it works for the child-like idiots asking those questions who are above the age of 21-I do it for their own good.


Welcome back, crusher of heads.
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TheFoodie



Joined: 18 Jan 2010
Location: Ebay Central

PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 4:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PastorYoon wrote:
My best advice? Cut. It. Out.

Life is easier for me now. Nip it.

You sound too nice. I was too nice when I first came here. I will be nice again when I return to the states. Korea is not a place for nice people.


Have to agree with you.
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eljuero



Joined: 11 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

oldfatfarang wrote:
We all learn to dodge the marriage nonsense. I just tell them I'm "too young to get married, yet." Koreans' reaction to this is hilarious, because I'm way over 30, and they can see it. If they don't get the mind-your-own-business message (usually they don't), I tell them I'm "going to get married when I'm 70." That really stirs them up, and I have lots of fun explaining how this is very common in my culture, bla, bla, bla.



I really enjoyed this part of your post for what it's worth. I get the "are you married?" question a lot as well. Students sometimes ask if I'm gay because I'm not married.......

When I ask if there's a curriculum for the students I teach I get - it's the Korean way, we can't ask about it, it's too direct! Rolling Eyes


Last edited by eljuero on Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:56 pm; edited 1 time in total
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eljuero



Joined: 11 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:54 pm    Post subject: I hate to agree Reply with quote

TheFoodie wrote:
PastorYoon wrote:
My best advice? Cut. It. Out.

Life is easier for me now. Nip it.

You sound too nice. I was too nice when I first came here. I will be nice again when I return to the states. Korea is not a place for nice people.


Have to agree with you.


I hate to agree on this I really do but the longer I'm here I've found it leads to trouble (for me). I'm increasingly likely to set limits on things, say no more often and not give responses to things unless all the bases are covered and clear.

While it's not everyone, I've seen a pattern emerging of people's initial friendliness turning into other things - pressure to give privates to their kid, edit their test questions and more.
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iwillteachyouenglish



Joined: 07 Jul 2010

PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When people self-disclose, they expect it to be returned. I'm pretty sure this is a norm in most societies. I'd keep my dirty laundry to myself and just tell the good stuff.
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