Korean Job Discussion Forums

JaphieR · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Location: Bundang

Badmouthing the Japanese is a great way to make new friends.

Wisco Kid · Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Location: Changwon

I'm here for 11 more months and if I pick up any Korean habits please shoot me.

The Man known as The Man · Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 3:30 pm Post subject:

Why wait?

batman · Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 4:54 pm Post subject:

[quote="ladyandthetramp"
Dropping the trousers of a little boys pants and complimenting him on the astonishing nature of his pecker �� (actually, I only saw this once even though I've heard about it many more times - seems this mannerism is fading away, for the better)[/quote]

While out with my son (walking, playing, what have you) Korean women have tried this on many an occassion. Before they get far in their attempt at sexual assualt on a minor I grab them by their wrist and bend it as far as it will go without actually breaking it. Damn disgusting custom from this father's point of view.

Other habits I have picked up in Korea? Hard to say. Haven't slept on a bed in over 10 years. Haven't willingly shaken a hand in 20 (always prefered a slight bow instead as I alway found that most men in Canada do not know how to shake hands properly and I always think of the germs associated with shaking hands). Still tie and untie my shoelaces. Still don't believe in aborting a fetus simply because of the sex. Refuse to urinate outside. Still think that laws should apply equally to all instead of just to those with neither friend nor money. Don't smoke. Hate the H-H-H-O-O-R-R-K-K of spitting. Still see women as individuals. Still sit anywhere I please in a movie theatre. Guess I will go with the following:

- will yell 'yo-gio' loudly and proudly in any circumstance
- drink beer happily on the beach, while walking down the street or anywhere else I please
- happily wear agoshi shirts
- drink dong-dong ju on a inter-city bus or anywhere else I damn please
- will swear in Korean at the slightest provocation
- think that is normal to have at least one public holiday per month

Drakoi · Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Location: The World

I'm constantly saying Ai-ish! under my breath.

agraham · Joined: 19 Aug 2004 Location: Daegu, Korea

One habit I've picked up and am trying to rid myself of again is starting half my sentances with "maybe".

T-dot · Joined: 16 May 2004 Location: bundang

here's one i hadn't really noticed.

if i agree or mean to say "yes". it comes out as "uh" with a slight nod of the head." anyone else do that?

shawner88 · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Lately I've gotten the habit of "falling alseep" whenever an old person needs my seat. I used to stand up every time but having to take the train everyday for an hour each way and rarely getting a seat can do that to you.

HamuHamu · Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: Seoul

I call taxi drivers ajosshi

When I tell them where I am going and they repeat it, Isay "yeeehhhh."

I can finally yell "YO GI YO!" in a galbi restaurant.

I don't think of beer in terms of pints and pitchers but instead "Oh bek CC" and "Sam chon CC."

I won't have a cigarrette unless I can see other women smoking.

I walk into my local super and stick my money on the counter and wave my ice cream bar at ajosshis face without regard to whoever else might be in line....

....but yet I still get angry when others do that to me. ....ahhh still Canadian at heart..... Very Happy

peemil · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Location: Koowoompa

Too long here. Two years. Then a break. When I come back I realised that I was just moving at a hundred miles a minute.

coolsage · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:36 am Post subject:

I guess that I'm not very adaptable. When there's a herd of Koreans coming down the sidewalk in my direction, and there's clearly no space for me, I refuse to give ground (and put a little extra shoulder into the primate who is directly in my face). I suppose that it's some compensation for the blatant crap that I have no hope of correcting: i.e. the spitting in the ashtray that I'm using; the spitting on the pavement that I'm using; and on the weekends, the vomiting on the pavement that I'm using. This is truly a dysfunctional society. I think I've been here too long.

iiicalypso · Joined: 13 Aug 2003 Location: is everything

I say "uhhh" in response to everything. Often I don't know what it is I am responding to, but I am really good at saying "Uhhhh..."

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

When I'm lit, I'm full-on ajossi. Spitting, swearing, the swaggering 'one foot out, while leaning back on the other one, while tugging on an endless smoke'. I work 9-6 at an office and am asked to keep the Korean to a minimum, but when I go out after work, all the suppressed cultural adoptions come out, and my co-workers are all 'WTF'? Laughing

flint · Joined: 11 Apr 2004

Saying "yeah-yeah".

My first trip back home I made the mistake of saying that to my mother instead of yes. Got a swat on the head for that one. Surprised

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

The comments from this post over at: http://oranckay.net/blog/?theDate=200503052 really got me thinking.

I have been here in Korea for a long time, (9 years) and my wife sometimes worries that I have become too Korean, and have lost some of my home countries sensibilities. As stated in the comments of the above post: