Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bloopity Bloop]

Warning: Vent

After getting back to my officetel, absolutely exhausted after a packed day holding a bunch of melting ice cream among a ton of other stuff, I pressed the button on the odd floor elevator and waited for it to come down from the 11th floor. Right when it gets down to the 3rd floor, these 2 absolutely stupid 30-something year old women come out of nowhere and press the down button on both elevators. Of course, even though I'd been waiting RIGHT in front of the elevator, they walk right in front of me as I'm picking up my bags and press... you guessed it... B1. Even though they knew I was going up, I guess they decided they were somehow more important than me. EVEN THOUGH THE F-ING STAIRS WERE LITERALLY ACROSS FROM THE ELEVATOR. EVEN THOUGH I HAD LIKE 6 F-ING BAGS THEY DECIDED TO GO DOWN ONE FLOOR INSTEAD OF WALKING DOWN ONE FLIGHT OF STAIRS THAT WERE, LIKE I SAID, RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE ELEVATOR. EVEN THOUGH THE OTHER ELEVATOR WAS ALSO COMING DOWN AND WAS AT FLOOR 2 WHEN MINE HAD ARRIVED (the even elevator also goes to B1). And of course, even though I let out a huge groan and a dropped a long, fat, f-bomb, they didn't look me at all, apologize, say anything, they just looked at themselves and adjusted their hair, make-up, etc. with their mirrors and continued talking about whatever undoubtedly mindless drivel they were talking about before--something about how they wish their boyfriends had more money. As lucky as I am, when I started going up, 4 people got on at the 1st floor. 2 got of at the 3rd floor, 1 got off at 5, and 1 got off at 7. FML.

I know I'm overreacting, but sometimes the people that are so in-your-face rude make me hate living here. It's a very brief, passing feeling, but sometimes I can't help but attribute rudeness I encounter to Koreans. Like I said, it's a passing feeling, but when I get it, like today, it sets me off. Can't wait for the apologists to come in and talk about rude horror stories from abroad, or to say they've heard this a million times, GET OVER IT. I've never personally encountered so much blatant rudeness back home.

Is this behavior not rude in Korea?

[NYC_Gal]

This is why I'm glad that I learned how to reprimand for rudeness in Korean. My grammar might not be perfect, but
a) they're flabbergasted that I speak more Korean than hello, thank you, and how much does this cost?,
b) I talk to them as if they're children, which is fun, and
c) they usually back off, humiliated because they're afraid of a 5' tall girl.

[pangaea]

NYC_Gal wrote:

[LL Moonmanhead]

talking to adults in banmal is a surefire way to get a (thoroughly deserved) punch in the face.

hope your way of dealing with percieved rudeness works out for you nyc girl!

[NYC_Gal]

I once had to yell at an ajumma who tried to cut in front or me at Homeplus for a taxi. There was a very old woman just ahead, and I was waving for the taxi to move up for her, so that she could get in first (I care about the elderly, not pig-headed middle agers) and I'd take the next. He understood, and as I was picking up my grocery bags, this ajumma walked right in front of me to the taxi that pulled up to me and opened the door. I yelled (in Korean) No! Grandma first, me second, you third! Are you a pig?
I'm sure my grammar was off, but boy did she get my point!
Her eyes bugged out and she got out of the taxi. The driver laughed the duration of the trip.

[CentralCali]

[NYC_Gal]

I speak in informal polite most of the time. People can only lose respect. I start them at 100%. It isn't perceived rudeness. It's rudeness. When someone sees you picking up your bags and walks past you and opens the door to the taxi that just pulled up to you, that's rude. My Korean friends agree.

Also, nobody's going to punch me in the face. They'll get choked out or stuck in a wrist lock before they know what happens.

[hellofaniceguy]

No one can use you or abuse you or screw you over UNLESS YOU let them.

[Louis VI]

[Globutron]

I prefer the British way, where people apologise to ME for ME bumping into them

[ReeseDog]

[conrad2]

[Mr. BlackCat]

[farfromhome]

[oskinny1]