Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mithridates]

[indiercj]

[Gunshake]

[quote="periwinkle"]My co-worker is very educated; has lived/studied in the west; married a kyopo. We were having a small celebration at work yesterday, and he asked me, "Can you use chopsticks?" I thought he was being funny, and the question struck me as so absurd (he knows I've been here for 4 years), that I busted out laughing. I asked him if he was serious, and he seemed really confused that I thought it was a funny question.
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[unquote]

Riding on the subject of 'chopsticks', I will introduce you a Japanese table manner related with using them. There's a lexical form of noun in a Japanese dictionary: 'nigiribashi' with the '-g-' pronounced as 'g-' in 'go'.
It means a way of handling chopsticks not ordinarily and correctly among the thumb, forefinger and the middle finger but grasping both pieces in your palm so that the tips stick out of the blade of your hand downward or in the opposite direction upward. Using chopsticks are not so easy even to orientals, and many children, or low teens in some cases, maneuver them in 'nigiribashi'. In Korea, it is not a problem more than of a laughing stock. In Japan, however, it could be an example of outrageously bad table manners, esp. when elders are around.

A few generations back, assasination was one of the many murder patterns committed in the country, for terminating political foes, simply for a vendetta between feudal rivals, or for whatever purpose. Various weapons were used, but without any other decent tools, chopsticks could be one of the wonderful substitutes to take an unsuspicious victim by surprise on a totally unexpected occasion, for example at a hospitable luncheon given by the victim.

Now no one denies that Japan is one of the most safe and peaceful countries in the world. But 'nigiribashi' is a horrible threat instantly evoking an association with the people's sanguinary past history deep rooted in their genetic memory cells.

Why should 'nigiribashi' by an innocent, nose-running preschooler deserve a harsh reprimand in such an orderly society now? You can call that a social stereotype or collective prejudice or in many other ways as you please.

It is less than a score of years since Korea started to host so many civilian Westerners in its society. You are still 'other people' from unfamiliar cultures using different languages, though one of the major media is English that Koreans strive to learn with so many efforts and difficulties. You are people still to be strenuously understood not to converse with in jests and witticism. Misunderstanding you could cost your Korean interlocutor what you cannot easily imagine.

This is a Korean social stereotype as far as dealing with foreigners is concerned, no matter how your Korean co-worker is proficient in English. You are asking too much of him if you want him to double up with every piece of your offhand jokes. Otherwise, you are nothing but one of small storkes in a huge picture of sarcasm. I am not saying you are in the wrong feeling frustration with dense, humorless Koreans. But it is my recommendation that you had better not employ 'nigiribashi' at a Korean luncheon table.

[keithinkorea]

[quote="Gunshake"]

[Bozo Yoroshiku]

[coolsage]

[indiercj]

Well, like it or not, that's a way to make yourself a 'jerk' in Korea.

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Of course I am not suggesting it is a bad thing or anything.

[Leslie Cheswyck]

[tommynomad]

My gf can be quite dry at times. And she gets sarcasm--I'm a daily victim of it. She also enjoys fart jokes--the complete woman!

My favourite Korean zinger:

I popped some black licorice into my mouth.
Ten eight-year-olds: Oooo! Candy! Teacher, candy!
Me: It's not candy, it's medicine.
Smart kid: Geritol?

[chronicpride]

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[Bozo Yoroshiku]