Korean Job Discussion Forums

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I had a rather cool moment yesterday. I had just got off the subway and was waiting for a bus to take me out to my city. I hear this elderly Korean man asking this women how to take the bus out to my city.

Now while the bus system may have changed in Seoul some of the boonie buses still operate under a old system and she couldn't find the bus in question.

So I rechecked with the man where he was going and offered to show him where he was going, which he took up.

Felt nice after all these random acts of kindness I have recieved here in korea to be able to help someone else. Also what was cool was that I was able to do it without speaking any english! Lets hear you're payback stories.

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:26 pm Post subject:

The concept is actually "pay forward" and you did.

I just gave my Buena Vista Social Club tape to somebody on the street who said he liked spanish music but couldn't find it often.

I am in Korea partially as a way to pay forward the kindness shown me when my car was stranded on a snowy winter night on a nearly deserted highway.

I'd love to hear more examples of it.

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

Some Japanese woman looked me up on a Web forum and asked me if I'd help her find a place in LA. I said I would and I met up with her in LA last weekend. She was a bit wary of hanging out with a total stranger (as she should have), but at the end of the evening, she was like "Gosh, I should do something for you" and I responded, "Don't worry, be happy."

Some of the Japanese I've met have really screwed me in the taking advantage department but well, giving is giving without expectation of return (though return is nice).

rNS · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Location: Macheon Dong, Seoul

Isn't she 'paying back' Korea for the 'random acts of kindness', the concept of 'paying forward' is that you do an unrelated good act for the one that has happened to you, it does not involve any connection to be made between the acts other than kindness itself...........

At least thats how I understood it, christ im bored, argue with me if you want, at least it will pass the time... Confused

Don't know if this counts but I helped one of those people who collect paper the other day, he was well old so I carried this big box for a while for him and helped him unload it onto a bigger cart...loads of korean people stopped to laugh and point at me in my shirt and tie doing this, which was good of them..........didn't do it for any other reason than he was ridiculously old and thin and I didnt want him to keel over in the street, it wouldve made the place look untidy.........

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:28 pm Post subject:

The simple idea of pay forward is presented in the Kevin Spacey Hollywood flick Pay it Forward based on a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde:

tommynomad · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Location: on the move

....and before someone made a so-so film with a predictable, shttiy ending based on the concept.

I helped some guys push a stalled car a ways last week. No English spoken (unless I grunt in English).

peppermint · Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 3:30 am Post subject:

Years ago, when I was a starving student in Tornto, there was an impessionist art exhibit that I really wanted to see but tickets were around twenty dollars, and that just wasn't in the budget at the time. I went to the museum anyway, and figured I'd look at the permanent collections and distract myself. Anyway, I was the only person standing in line to pay for the cheap tickets, and a woman asked if I wanted to see the exhibit, and said she had an extra free ticket.

Anyway, when I moved back to St. John's I got showered in tickets to preview movie showings, and I almost always had at least one extra. I'd go to the theatre a little early, and give them to anyone who looked interested.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Nice you could do a kindness like others you've received.

But to be picky, "pay back time" does imply revenge. Anyway it got my attention.

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

Oh, you want to be kind to ME, ajumma!?! ME!?!

What the hell are you thinkin'??

Take THIS subway seat!

And HERE, let me carry those bags for you -- how about THAT!

You want a piece of kindness from me?!? HERE!! Go ahead and sqeeze in front of me in line at McDonalds.

Now get out of here before I push you over!

At least give back with spunk.