Korean Job Discussion Forums

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

So today my new vice principal stopped by my new place and after giving me his phone numbers yet again began expressing concern over the fans in my house. His English is quite limited, but what he lacks in language skills he tries very hard to make up in miming skills. He's extremely hard working and serious, but trying to take him seriously as he closes the windows, turns on the fan, and pretends to suffocate is no easy task. Apparently even the A/C in my landlocked bedroom could do this to me as well, so I had best leave the door open a crack. But this might leave me at the mercy of the living room fan if I left it on right outside the bedroom. He was especially concerned about how to balance security with safety, as leaving the large sliding windows in my living room open a crack may leave me exposed to burglars, people who sneak in and out of open windows at night, as he demonstrated for me. In the end we found a compromise - I could leave the foyer door open a crack and then leave the small window in the ajoining bathroom open. This might leave me exposed to little flying creatures that go bzzzzzzzz, fly in circles, and land on you and bite you as you sleep, as he demonstrated for me, but would still be preferable to the alternative.

Believe it or not I managed to keep a straight face through 98% of this.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Well done. I dont think I could have managed it.
The teachers at my school were amazed that I sleep with a fan on all the time and have lived to this ripe old age Laughing

shawner88 · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

I must have heard this fan death crap 1000000 times while I lived in Korea.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

Oh, so you think that the fans are safe in China?

Laughing

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I think you deserve a hearty, "Well done, Mr. Yu". It is not easy to be non-reactive at certain times. Keeping in mind the intentions of the speaker helps while actively blocking thoughts of Rolling Eyes

billinkorea · Joined: 13 Jun 2005

Well done !!!!!!
I piss myself laughing everytime my boss/director tries to inform me of anything let alone this! Its not that im an idiot but its just that he does all of the miming to his 15 yr old daughter while explaining in Korean. Then she tells me, knowing full well i understood the mime and says he should learn English.

All very amusing till he choses the new textbooks and tells me he knows best!

I love the partial reality that is korea.

They havent done fan death yet! I cant wait

Tiberious aka Sparkles · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: I'm one cool cat!

Post of the month.

Sparkles*_*

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

minder: oh it's been so hot my daughter hasn't been sleeping at night.
CLG: yeah I've had my fans on to get some breeze going through my place
minder Shocked

that's very dangerous Shocked

CLG: umm do you want to hear his?
minder: what?
CLG: well if you do run a search in english of the words 'fan' and 'death' you'll find it's mostly sites talking about how weird it is that only koreans seem to think it exists.
minder: so you had never heard of it before coming to Korea
clg: no

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

I stayed in a nice hostel/guesthouse in Busan and the owners kindly warned me about the fan in my room. All part of the service, i guess.

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

in america they think it's dangerous to sleep with the window OPEN, because some crackhead might come in and rob you. now that's a real fear! maybe if we can raise the violence level in korea, they'll start acting rationally like us. hold on, i gotta reload, i see a black guy walking down the street.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Hilarious story but in all seriousness his concern for your safety and his willingness to put Marcel Marceau out of a job to convey it are rather endearing.
Give that guy a gold star and a wonjang of the month award!

and then a light 'boot to the head' for believing in fan death

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

sportsguy35 · Joined: 27 Apr 2005

My girlfriends father knew the kid that died last month. Thats what the big deal is now. 3 people have died this year more have died in the states from it, we just dont care that much about it. It makes the news here and nobody back home thinks twice about it. What stupid guy he is for caring and trying help you. I guess thats the western way, look out for yourself and if anybody tries to help, make fun of them. Nice post

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003