Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bekinseki]

Anyway, in the spirit of this thread, I'll add a couple stories.

I was recently on a long-distance scooter ride through Gyeonggi-do, and my hands were cold because I'd lost my gloves. Some Korean bikers noticed, and one of them got off his scooter at a red light, pulled out an extra pair of gloves, and handed them over to me.

[bushell1212]

Just cycled 2000km around the Korean coastline and met some awesome Korean people, always with a smile on their face and an encouraging smile and "fighting" fist pump when they heard my story and travel route.

Got a puncture late at night during first week and the inners I had wouldn't fit right for some reason. Nice Ajumma let me leave my bike in her shop overnight and called me a taxi back to the last town I went past. Stayed in a Sauna for the night got it fixed in the morning and headed back. She gave me some food and water for the journey and wouldn't accept any cash in return.

Lovely gestures that transcend all the barriers we come across

[Chris.Quigley]

This thread is absolutely awesome!

[tiger fancini]

My fridge is starting to fill up with fresh 김장김치 (Kimjang Kimchi), homemade by my awesome housewife students. I've tried telling them that my fridge is only small and it won't all fit it, but they keep bringing it! Tastes so much better than what you buy in the supermarket, and of course it's totally free too

[piratebryan]

I had a cabbie offer to steal Namsan Tower for me so that I could always remember Korea when I was in the US. He then made this grand gesture of pretending to yank Namsan off the mountain and shove it in his jacket, only to pretend to hand it to me at the next stop light. Still a great memory.

[Seoulman69]

A female employee was rude to me in a Department store so I complained to the manager. The manager apologized and he made the woman apologize to.

[wishfullthinkng]

i made a comment in passing a while back during a drunken nite to my ceo that i wanted to fly more within the company and this week he told me i was doing a great job and he hadn't forgotten about my desire to get in the air and will be making sure it happens.

that made my month.

[Adventurer]

Well, at the corner store, they like me a lot, and they're super friendly, and one time, out of the blue, I was given a free vitamin drink. I thought that was very nice.

[alongway]

Held the door for a dad with a baby stroller the other day. He gave me a "thank you" in English, and the mother (in-law) behind him gave me a big bow and a "감사합니다"
the next day on the subway as soon as someone stood up, the older guy sitting there started patting my arm and telling me to sit down, but that's pretty common. I get a lot of middle-age to elderly folks making sure I'm having a seat on the subway.

[chasmmi]

I almost never carry an umbrella around (haven't owned one in ages in fact). Even when it is raining I don't use one except in times of torrential downpour (when I then remember that I do not own one).

Anyhow, I have lost count of the number of free umbrellas I have received in Korea.

[eventually]

thank you for all the lovely stories. you make me feel excited about my upcoming journey!

[Feloria]

The lovely owner of the "hole in the wall" corner store by my apt NEVER lets me pay the change I owe if it's less than 500 won.
Ex: 5,400 won; she insists I only pay 5,000!

A guy also let me go ahead of him at Home Plus the other day--I know it's no big deal, but at that moment-- with the kind of day I was having; it really meant a lot

[pegasus64128]

I find I have mostly benign and pleasant experiences in Korea. Unfortunately, I've become a bit desensitized to it and don't appreciate it enough. Maybe it's the cold.

[wishfullthinkng]

one of my korean friends gave me free tickets to walker hill's bash on nye's and for the seoul electronic music festival last nite at kintex. starting off 2012 very well!

[happiness]

ive lived in Korea for near 12 years, and I really need to remember the spirit of this thread. im sure i have tons of these stories, but i shut them out for some reason..