Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zackback]

Anybody know of any cultures that it is acceptable to belch and break wind in public?
Growing up my family became friends with this other family from Italy (I don't know which part) and when they came over for dinner they would just burp loudly and think nothing of it.
I heard in China they don't really care about passing gas out loud in public. Is this true?

[yodanole]

A lot of my American guy friends don't seem to mind. However, I don't regard them as the norm for American culture ( whatever that may be considered to consist of ).

[highstreet]

I know westerners that burp loudly in public. It's not cultural, they just never grew up I suppose

[nautilus]

[andrewchon]

In the middle-east, it is a good manner to burp after a meal. Haungarians belch after meals. Askennazy Jews loosen their belt. All are signs that the meal was good and the host or the cook has done a good job. As for Korea, passing gas (either way) was never Yangban-style. There are many humourous stories about newly-wed brides desperately avoiding flatulance before their in-laws.

[SpiralStaircase]

As I read this post the native Chinese teacher feels it necessary to hand out single slices of white bread for Chusok. She bought five loaves from the bakery across the street. She refuses to leave the bread on the communal �free food� table and insists on handing out each slice.

Death by lip-smacking.

[SMOE NSET]

My best story about flatulence is at my wife's grandfather's funeral.

In Korea when a family member dies and is to be buried in a casket, the grieving family and friends watch as the morticians wrap the body and then put it in the casket. The immediate family and close relatives are then allowed to say their final good-byes over the body before it is closed.

I was standing there next to another older gentleman that I had never seen before. My wife's family were all crying and saying good-bye and I was standing behind them. When all of a sudden, the guy next to me rips a huge one and acts like nothing even happened.

You would think he could hold it in for a little bit out of respect. My wife's uncle and I both noticed but no one else. I told my wife about it later and she laughed pretty hard and just said, "Yep, typical old Korean man."

[heavymetalpancakes]

[Gorf]

[nautilus]

[cj1976]

Farts are timeless comedy gold in the right situations, and toe-curlingly bad in other situations. Travelling in a car with your buddies is a good time to let one go, but nobody is going to laugh it off at a funeral.
I'm not sure about the Korean view on the fart game. I have been in situations where you would think it isn't the best time to cut the cheese, but people still let rip without a hint of embarrassment. Not just ajossi, but women in their twenties who clearly don't care who heard it.
Somebody needs to explain the fart protocol to me.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

[12ax7]

[nautilus]

[12ax7]