Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kirya]

Hi,
I am going to start attending a pool for exercise during the free swim period. Is there anything I should know? I already bought the hat and goggles. Do they share lanes like in USA, if so how does one ask? Do I shower prior to swimming? Do I wear sandals while walking around the pool? Thanks~

[burnt-toast]

There will be 1 or 2 public lanes, in which everyone can free swim
There will be 5,6,or 100 lanes for lessons only
All Korean men will wear speedos
The butterfly stroke appears to be compulsary
You must shower before entering the pool
There are waiting lines in the lanes, with very strict social and behavioural rules which involve doing whatever you want whenever you want
The ends of each lane are designated ajumma meeting points
It can be very, very loud
The water at times can resemble the open sea- see point No.4
No need for sandals, tho you can if you want

I try to go often but its a struggle
Enjoy

[Troglodyte]

[schwa]

[joeteacher]

At my pool there are only 6 lanes. Usually 2 are for the walkers, 2 for swim lessons and 2 for the rest of us. I just asked someone the first day if it was ok to swim in this lane...I just said, "Su-young (swim) Kwin-chanayo (okay)?" It seemed to work. You'll figure out where to go.

At my pool, I'm the only weygook and in the morning, I'm the only guy. Thus, I'm surrounded by 20 adjummas. Adjummas who don't let you pass, swim in the middle of the lane, block the wall doing aerobics and steal the kick board you walked across the pool to get. However, most likely, you will be the best swimmer. So if there are any ajjoshis at your pool, they will be uber impressed with your mad skills.


And yes, shower first. Everyone wears a speedo and a swim cap (wear it at all times in the water).


So on a side note: Remember those weird guys who would come to the neighborhood pool that wore a speedo, then you realized that they were just European. Now, since I don't wear a speedo at the pool, and I'm the only one, does that mean I'm the weird guy here?

[jrock]

Swim for 8 seconds like you're being chased by a shark, and then stop because you're not an Olympian and can't maintain that pace for a whole lap. Take a 10 second rest, and then walk the remaining 80%. Hang out at the wall watching people swim. Turn around and unleash throaty phlegm bombs on the deck and splash water on them so they go towards the drain.

The best part was watching the instructors in wetsuits doing a dancing warm-up on the deck, as people followed along. Reminded me of the baseball cheer conductor.

[Sireno]

[burnt-toast]

quote:

"Swim for 8 seconds like you're being chased by a shark, and then stop because you're not an Olympian"

inspired

[Vagabundo]

[repeatpete]

are there many pools which try to make the swimming pool water like seawater? Has anyone else experienced that?
Also, even with goggles, I find my eyes really react something awful to the water.

[KimchiExplosion]

Be certain to blow dry your pubic hair when you're done showering after your swim.

[lille]

[son of coco]

You should also ensure you remain oblivious to the fact that there's anyone else in the pool.

Walk blocking the whole lane if you feel like it...Do a slow backwards crawl meaning everyone else has to wait...whatever you do, don't let the fact others are moving quicker than you stop you from waiting for them to get within 5m of the wall and then taking off. They probably need a rest anyway.

It's a bit like walking on the footpath or driving really

When you're practicing diving, make sure you lock your arms tightly behind your head before you take off. This means you can't do anything other than a belly-flop when you hit the water. Won't do much for your own confidence, but everyone else in the pool will think it's hilarious! As long as they're foreign. If they're not, then they're probably practicing the same thing.

And, as someone else mentioned, stick to the golden rule...which is, 4 strokes of butterfly looks much better than a couple of laps of a stroke you can actually do.

[Oreovictim]

When you swim here, the Rocky theme music starts playing, but as soon as you stop swimming, the music stops. And when you start swimming again, the music resumes. Sometimes it's the original Rocky music with the horns, other times, it's "Eye of the Tiger". They also play that other Survivor song that's, uh, not "Eye of the Tiger." You know- the one from Rocky 4 with the Dolph Lundgren/Sly Stallone training montage.