Korean Job Discussion Forums

[the eye]

listen. i had to take objection to you because your comments, and name calling, were purely judgemental. you assumed that he was blaming the new guy for his predicament, and you assumed he wished harm on the guy.

you don't know the asinine value that is placed on good looks here.
you didn't know the OP's intentions, you didn't know his history here, but you chose to bash him purely on your own assumptions.

and you have not even set foot in korea yet!

i guess i am old school, in that you should earn the right to impose your judgements on someone.... and that comes with the tests time.

sorry to pick a fight. it's just too often on this board that a useful discussion degenerates into useless 'shut up' style remarks....especially from those who misinterpret or take offence to another's observations.


anyhoooo. you are from guelph?...you said a while back? i have a good memory.
i am from grimsby(next to hamilton)

i'm sure we could have enough in common for a beer or twelve if the opportunity comes around.

no hard feelings?

[agraham]

To return to the OP for a sec...

The impression I get is that Kirk is not bitter at all, but playing the bitter card for comedic effect. And personally I find it halarious. I definately get the impression that he's smiling on the inside as he shakes his head at the cute little waygook.
Aparently some people around here are irony-impaired tho.

I was _exactly_ like that kid just a few short months ago. Running around like a chicken with his head cut off crowing about how fabulous this exotic country is. Yeah! Talk that crazy non-english talk of yours! Now I'm getting a little tired of Korean food every day.

Next year I'll be Kirked out and trashing the new guy at me school.

[eamo]

I've been both people too.

A. The new enthusiastic guy making the old guys look bad.
B. The old guy watching all the students and korean teachers cooing over the new, young and handsome guy.

I back up The Eye on this one. It does really grate to watch how Koreans go ga-ga over anyone good-looking. They put so much importance on looks it's scary.

[agraham]

[Kim Jong Jordan]

I know that I have a lot to learn about the ROK. But, tongue and cheek aside, I can't help but think that Kirk taking a shot at that dude "Adam" was unfair. He was. To whatever extent anybody interprets the sincerity of his remarks, is irrelevant to what was said. I can think of more creative and effective ways to express such feelings without offending. I consider it a talent. There is also a difference between being judgemental and constructively critical. I never called him a name or insulted him. I simply criticized him and the tone with which he tryed to express his point. Anybody with his experience in the English language could surely do better than a rant. How about a lively discussion on what "oldies" dislike about "newbies." Anything "constructive" would be better than "the eye" and myself exchanging bitter words over a few thousand miles of internet cables. For real. Its 2:17am in Ontario and I have to go to bed. Whether we agree or disagree, F*** it, its bed time in Ontario and I'm sleepy. It ends here. Captain Kirk obviously doesn't like that guy Adam, and as far as I'm concerned at this point, FINE. What do I care. I'll pave my own road. Thanks for the discussion though EYE, I really did enjoy it. I think its fun to engage in such activities. It keeps one sharp. No hard feelings. This board is all about opinions.

[Real Reality]

captain kirk,

You could be a nice "older brother."

Ask his opinion and help him share his joy.
Did he like the blue sky today? Did he enjoy seeing the clear blue sky with pure white clouds today? Ask him if he has had a chance during his new Korean adventure to walk through some lovely, thick grass fields?

You might also show him around some.
On Saturday afternoon, show him where Seoul Station is located. Take a taxi (or subway) to the Seoul Express Bus Terminal in Banpo-dong. Then, take a taxi (or subway) to Bupyeong Station in Incheon. Do not forget to stop at a few locations. You should walk with him at a nice leisurely pace as you look around in the spacious stores.

[Kim Jong Jordan]

This must be sarcasm.

[Son Deureo!]

Yep, and you'd only have to be here for about a week to know why.

[manlyboy]

[Real Reality]

captain kirk,

You might inform your "little brother" about the jumping at the Han.
1. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200405/23/200405232335541139900090409041.html

2. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200404/29/200404292232469309900090409041.html

3. http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200403/200403220018.html

4. http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200409/200409090026.html

5. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200404/13/200404132359526709900090409041.html

6. a. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200403/12/200403120011128779900090309031.html
b. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200403/15/200403150035038979900090309031.html

7. http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200409/kt2004090915522954060.htm

You might try an evening tour of town just before 10:00 PM. Make a quick stop at the ATM.
See
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=27672

[ajuma]

Kim Jong Jordan, I think all of us "old-timers" remember when we had the "wide-eyed innocence of youth." We're not knocking it, but sort of looking back on it fondly with a "if I knew then what I know now" sort of thought.

Think about how you look at 13 year olds (and how 13 year olds must look at YOU!). Same feeling, different age.

When kirk said that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, we all know he did neither. He'll take the guy for what he is and be there when reality sets in.

[susans70]

to the OP - perhaps you can both get something out of your new and forced relationship...maybe you can take in a little bit of the new guy's enthusiasm and remember what you like about being in korea and what's kept you here for so long (or at least laugh at him and enjoy his naivety, which is what i think the op was about)...and maybe, as others have suggested here, you can take a moment to pass on some of the wisdom you've gained from being here without intentionally dampening his over the top enthusiasm - as has also been said, he'll probably hit a low at some time (as is only natural in life) and you'll have another choice at that point as to if you want to show HIM the positives of being here or encourage his newfound negativity
all that being said...bear in mind that i am even less than a newbie with another 3 wks to go before arrival in korea. given that, i can only hope that i arrive with the excitement and positive attitude of this newbie AND have the luck to meet a vet with the ability to both laugh at me, enlighten me, help me out and not try to kill my understandable excitment for my new experiences

[captain kirk]

Man, I haven't seen such kafuffle in awhile on a thread .
The original post is meant to be humorous. I was stepping back from really not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and getting a laugh out of it.
As far as being forty and 'still working in a hagwon'. Yes, that was on my mind encountering him, looking at me as if I was too old for the game. I don't think in terms of age, but upgrading to a 750cc from a 500cc motorbike recently is a 'middle age' thing. I realize that being 23 may make such a motorbike needless. Such a body is a big bike Oh well, next incarnation
And right, he IS a great guy. We kind of got off on the wrong foot. The boss wanted me to talk to him quickly to check him out, when he was being interviewed. So I lunged in and asked him if he'd be able to stick it out, and not bolt. Because the job is boring, mundane, at its worst moments (which can be eternal). He looked at me and sort of chuckled and said, 'well, I don't know what will happen in the future' and looked at his recruiter as if, 'well, aint he a funny old duck' . I thought that was a smart ass answer, but whatever, and told the boss he seemed like a normal guy(because the last two guys bolted after a month, with drama). Later, she came back around and said that he'd never taught before and had only been in Korea a couple of days. She hadn't told me this . So to him my question was pushy, and to me his answer was 'impudent'.
Today he was less can-do-anything and constant effervescence. It IS not a job anyone can do well immediately. And just off the jet he's realizing that, and the boss is realizing that. So why did she hire a newbie? Because he's enthusiastic and looks good as a strong base, I guess.
For example, getting over his 'boy angel' looks, which he's quite conscious of as an asset (I was talking with him, had chapped lips, and he whipped out a stick and glossed his own probably repelled by my Shrek-ish old demeanour), I've wondered, like he's wondering today, how's he going to 'teach'. The kids are used to me knowing a host of Korean words and being really fast with the dictionary. The classes and I've got the timing and class management down, the pace is fast and effective. With him I think the kinds might, once over his novelty, be wanting him to be more stimulating, educational. So the boss is giving him a few classes at first, and he's obviously bored in between times already. Empty staffroom for an hour will do it all right.
He has the Western Canadian competitive thing going on, which I remember from Canada. Walks with a swagger, like he's got a gunbelt (hey ) I'm from Western Canada, pardner
I wasn't feeling well yesterday, anyway, so 'he' bothered me, the whole hoopla about somebody 'young and good looking'. And Eamo's right, in Korea youth and looks, maybe in all the world, are gah gah great . I varnished a bunch of boomerangs and didn't leave the window open enough. It's getting cooler and I don't have a thick quilt. So I was stunned and debilitated by the solvents in the varnish. Anyway, you all got a laugh out of it, 'maybe he'll get hit by a bus' and all. Good times, man.
Joni Mitchell's got a lyric which goes, 'the old hate the young, that's the cruel, heartless thing'. My Dad once said to me, 'life gets harder as you get older'. On the other hand I found being 23 confusing and intense. And it irked me how the jobs were difficult to get, difficult to do, and not high paying. Like the established oldsters, the middle aged, had it all figured out. He's got a good thing going out here, that's for sure

[Kim Jong Jordan]

No hard feelings Kirk. In hindsight it appears that I was perhaps a little harsh in my assessment of your OP. It was also like 2 in the morning here and I had had a few barleys. That mixed with my unrelenting enthusiasm for a good argument and BOOM! words on fire. They say wisdom comes with age, and you've got 16 years on me. Next time I'll just listen up. Good luck, and enjoy your bike!

[captain kirk]

Hey, I like a good squabble now and again . Beats the blank looks of impersonal passersby. It's good to think one knows what they're talking about and get uptight about it, I do it all the time