Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vlcupper]

Can somebody please explain why the secretary opens all the windows and doors to our school when she first gets here? It's freakin' freezing in here! I can barely feel my fingers! Why do Korean people do this? My last boss's anal retentive husband did it too.

[riverboy]

Koreans actually hate winter so much that there is a secret conspiracy to speed up Global warming. By opening the wondow every day during cold weather it a) helps heat the local environment and b) increases the consumpton of harmful greenhouse gasses.
I thought everyone knew that sheesh.

[eamo]

Don't worry. After the place has been freezing for an hour or two they'll turn the heating up to 'sauna in July' level.

Hot or cold. Never medium. Thats how Koreans control temperature.

[thorin]

Fresh air is good for health except when it's warm outside. In summer, moving air is dangerous. Something like that. I've noticed that more people wear surgical masks on really cold days (like today). I guess there are more germs when it's freezing cold?

[peppermint]

I know the gas heaters they often use herearen't vented properly. Took a mild case of carbon monoxid poisoning to realize why they open the windows so much at my school.

[thorin]

[Cymro]

I used to do the same thing at home. That was to let in the fresh countryside air though.

Korean city air isn't all that fresh and healthy, but it's still good to freshen up what you breathe at work.

Just think of all the air-borne particles floating around the average institute that have been projected from the mouths and noses of a hundred kids. Then add the gases that they've emitted from the other end. Then think the same of the staff and visiting parents, only add some second-hand smoke and the stench of beer from that foreigner who was out drinking until god-knows-what-time. A *beeb*(mix) of other odours, some natural and not too pleasant, some quite nice and out of a bottle. Then, factor into the equation that there's a bathroom just outside in the stairwell where you'll struggle to place your feet somewhere dry of splashback and bad aiming.

It must all make for a good atmosphere, but I'd rather freshen the place up every morning.

*beeb* = the word for a mixture, usually of drinks, that starts with c and ends with -tail. (We'd all agree that's silly, so let's not turn this thread into a swear filter discussion.)

[I_Am_Wrong]

the buildings in Korea are not built with the same venting as they are in North America...espcially the bathrooms which have no venting in Korea. It's just for air circulation...no big deal. some people wear the masks because they are sick but lots of people wear the masks because they don't like breathing in very cold air.

[itaewonguy]

It happend at a kindergarten I use to work at.. she would arrive about 20 minutes before me and have all the windows open.. the first day I arrived I just shut them all and then started saying "who opened all the windows"?
the she said I did.. I always do that!.. I said really? well please dont do again! thats just stupid! the little children need a warm place to arrive from the cold! think about that!!
then she replied.. NO NO.. its for fresh air to stuffy in here..
I said NO!!! Its 0 degrees and its freezing and I think the mothers dont want their kids sitting in the cold.. and frankly I dont want to be teaching in the cold! so dont do it agian!!
this is not helping the children in anyway.. they are 4 years old!!!!
and of course koreans are so stupid.. she did it again.. just to test me..
so I gave it to her!
shouted at her and called her a stupid woman in front of the other korean teachers who would all say OHH CHOOWO every woman we would get in there.. so I gave her the rings.. went and shut all the windows again..
and told her.. dont make a bad mood here the front door brings in more than enough fresh air! the kids all have colds do you think arriving in a freezing classroom is gonna make it better?
I know its like talking to a brick wall but I tried..
finally it took some mothers who would come in early with their kids to say something about the cold rooms.. for her to listen..
DUMB WOMAN!! and of course her ENglish was terrible,..
you now the type I am talking about right... hahahaha

[Reflections]

The idea of using those masks is actually a joke. Koreans have the right idea initially when they put it on their face when they are sick; to stop the spread of illness.

But as soon as they take it off, they then proceed to cough or sneeze in your face. They haven't learnt that a hand over ones mouth is sometimes better than a mask.

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

Koreans are very obsessed with air ventillation. They believe bad air circulation will actually kill you, hence the whole fan death thing.

[Cymro]

[tzechuk]

[Zenpickle]

Funny thing at my hagwon a few weeks ago.

Coming back from Christmas vacation, the director went around letting the "bad air" out. He then closed the windows and cranked up the heat. Two hours later, we heard this sickening crack.

The faux-marble floor in the lobby had warped. There was not a huge speed bump next to the shoe shelves. I personally welcomed a new method to keep the kids from running.

But it was fixed that afternoon, with one of the lackeys just standing there over the workmen "supervising."

[Sage Monkey]