Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kimiki]

Does Korea have a plethora of volunteer firemen sprinkled around each city? I'm trying to figure out what's behind this phenomenon of men (usually) who seem to be incredulous about the fact that they have to occasionally wait in line. On a somewhat regular basis cashiers seemingly suspend my order to accommodate a visibly impatient man, who's often waving cash in the air and looking inexplicably indignant.... There's a lot of bizarre tension in these moments, the cashiers quickly pick up on the man's irritation & seem to blame me for not being fast enough, and so does the guy, of course, meanwhile I'm just taking out my money at a normal pace and baffled as to what the problem is. Does this happen because I'm a non-Korean female or is this just how it is across the board? It's getting to me lately.... Are people getting ruder in general or is it just my imagination? The random ajummas who strain their necks and stare too hard and too long at what's in my grocery cart, too. And...well a few other things too but I'll stop now & save this from becoming a full-blown rant.

[World Traveler]

[Tallgesse]

....Is world traveller an angry Korean trying to convince foreigners to leave the country? On the one hand everything he posts screams troll....And I hate using that word....On the other hand I'd expect someone from the most wired country on earth to know how to use a qoute button....

[sadguy]

happens to me too. ajosshis will just stand next to you with money and order something even though the cashier is ringing you up.

i think they just feel entitled since they're older than you. btw, i'm an asian male so i doubt it's because you're foreign woman.

[kimiki]

[kimiki]

[highstreet]

I've seen it happen, but the cashiers always make them wait or go back to the end of the line. It's pretty funny to see them get all sad.

[Steelrails]

I don't mind if they're buying something with exact change and its a single item, like a coffee or a pack of cigs as long as the clerk just takes their money and continues on.

Now if its to completely cut with a six pack, candy, and needing some smokes, I make a point of "wait your turn".

Use it to your advantage. Go ahead and cut yourself if you're just getting a coke or something. Why wait for 2 minutes in line when you can just cut ahead hand the guy exact change and head out the door?

But yeah, you should have your money ready when you reach the register.

[UknowsI]

I haven't had any problems with queues in grocery stores, but I find the queuing in front of elevators to be annoying. I usually push the button and stand a meter or two in front of the door and wait for the elevator to come. Since there is some space in front of me, very often people will simply walk pass me and stand right in front of the door. It seems like it's not considered a queue at all, but it's quite obvious that we are both taking the same elevator. It has happened a couple of times that I've had to wait for the next elevator because of this kind of behaviour, but it's not enough to make me hug the elevator door.

[kimiki]

[kimiki]

[joeteacher]

Happens all the time. I like the move that many people (usually older women) use: They cut in line, ask how much something is (eventhough the price is on the item or clearly marked in the store, so they are just playing dumb) and continue to pay for the item. This happend to me and a woman in front of me at Homeplus last winter. We both moaned at the woman but let her go without saying anything. She dropped her scarf on the ground. The other woman and I looked at it, looked at each other and didn't say a word to her. She walked out without realizing and a nice wave of calm rushed over me. No cuts, no butts, no coconuts.

[BigBuds]

Just say in Korean not to push in line. Works wonders every time, from adjosshies to ajummas, as they aren't expecting it. Works well with people who try to steal your taxi as well.

Sorry, the Korean doesn't seem to be working on my keyboard but it's, "Set chegi hagima".

Has stopped them dead in their tracks every time I've used it.

[northway]