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Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:09 am Post subject: The unwinnable korean coversation. |
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I've come to the conclusion that any conversation with a korean guy is basically an endlessly repeating dead end, and they are to be avoided and ignored at every turn, no matter the ill feeling generated. Here is why: every twist of it the Korean will infer injury from.
And..do you have any recent stupid/funny conversations to relate?
This one i was sort of forced into having because it was "a friend of a friend."
Ajosshi: What do you think of korea?
me: "I like it."
Ajosshi: (disbelieving look of surprise) Really??? You like everything here?be honest.
Me: The food is great. But.. Ok then, i don't like the overcrowding, the rudeness, the way the Tv makes esl teachers look bad, the dirty air, etc.
Ajosshi:(stricken) So..why come Korea?
Me: korea invited me to come here, they want English teachers. Also, I dislike living in the west.
Ajosshi: What? You don't like your own country? how can you say that?
me: Ok..some things there are better than here.
Ajosshi: So, your country is better than korea?
Me: no, just different. All places are different, with advantages and disadvantages.
Ajosshi: What do you think of korean women?
Me: They are ok...
Ajosshi: You don't like Korea women? They are the most beautiful in the world!
Me: Yeah, you're right, a lot of them are hot.
Ajosshi: You have korean women??!!
me: Sure.
Ajosshi:(pained look) But they just because to learn english.be careful. Its easy for korean woman to make foreign boyfriend, because english. but korean man very hard to make Foreign girlfriend.
me: look: Korean women already speak English: we just see eachother because we like eachother.. Besides i don't want to teach English to anybody, girlfriends or not. i do enough of it at work.
Ajosshi: but want english, you me best friend, ok?
Me: Sorry but i have no time, too busy.
Ajosshi:Why you not speak korean ?
me: But we are speaking korean.
Ajosshi: But, I mean, speak good. How long you here?
Me: 2 years.
Ajosshi: 2 years? You must speak korean!
me: Listen..I have never had a korean lesson.no time. Korea people study English everyday for ten years -and still cannot speak it.
ajosshi: yes, English very difficult..
me; korean more difficult. (I say "hi" and count 1 sylabble, then say "Annyeong haseyo" and count 5 syllables on the other hand.) Korean words too big.
Ajosshi:Have a beer!
me: Its ok, i can buy my own.
Ajosshi: You don't want to drink with me??
Me: Not if you keep knocking my beer. we've already said cheers 3 times, just drink.
etc etc etc........
Oops: i forgot the later triumphal epithet to this conversation:
Ajosshi: Sorry sorry for being drunk, i nice guy really. just let me buy you a beer, sorry sorry,
Me: Only if you apologise to that waitress for yelling at her. She is a nice woman.
Ajosshi: what? how can you ask me that? i am korea man!!
Me: just say sorry to her.
Ajosshi to waitress: (with great difficulty) Sorry to be bd, i am drunk..I love you, you my girlfriend, Ok?
waitress: laughing, winks over at me.
Ajosshi: (stupified groan of resignation: she likes you????!!..
Hahahahahaha 
Last edited by rapier on Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:28 am; edited 1 time in total |
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livinginkorea

Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:27 am Post subject: |
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Impressive that he said this all in Korean after no lessons and 2 years. Wish that I could do that  |
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shakuhachi

Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Sydney
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:37 am Post subject: |
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hey, you left out the part where he calls you shippal nom. |
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livinginkorea

Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 3:43 am Post subject: |
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shakuhachi wrote: |
hey, you left out the part where he calls you shippal nom. |
Or grabbing your manhood!  |
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Corporal

Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:55 am Post subject: Re: The unwinnable korean coversation. |
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rapier wrote: |
I've come to the conclusion that any conversation with a korean guy is basically an endlessly repeating dead end, and they are to be avoided and ignored at every turn, no matter the ill feeling generated. |
That's cool, since many of us long ago came to the conclusion that any conversation with Rapier was basically an endlessly repeating dead end, and they are to be avoided and ignored at every turn, no matter the ill feeling generated... |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:09 am Post subject: |
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For the first time ever I have agreed with Corporal. Wonders never cease.
You had a lousy conversation with one drunk ajosshi and you conclude that all Korean men are not worth talking to. Amazing.
Maybe if you didn't think conversations were competitive you would have better luck, although probably not with this guy. |
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Corporal

Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:44 am Post subject: |
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Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
For the first time ever I have agreed with Corporal. Wonders never cease. |
Really? I'm pretty sure I've agreed with you on more than one occasion. Let me do a past post check just to make sure.  |
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ed4444

Joined: 12 Oct 2004
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 6:16 am Post subject: |
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I would point to a recurring monologue I have listened to about Canadians repeatingly pointing out the differences between Canadian culture and American culture to Non-North Americans.
Does this imply that Canadians are one-dimensional and therefore not worth communicating with? I doubt it.
It is true that some first conversations with adjossi's in bars may sound the the one above but maybe its the equivalent of an national insecurity formality that needs to be established before having conversation about something else.
Also conversation flow is controlled by two people. If you see it wandering into repeated patterns each time you communicate maybe you need to be more pro active. try asking a question instead of answering one. |
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Apple Scruff
Joined: 29 Oct 2003
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 6:32 am Post subject: |
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Oh, shut the *beep* up. Rapier made some very valid, very true points. I've had this kind of conversation many times with many Korean men. Stop being offended by stuff you know has some truth to it. |
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ed4444

Joined: 12 Oct 2004
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:14 am Post subject: |
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nice comeback. good point.
Last edited by ed4444 on Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:27 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Corporal

Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:27 am Post subject: |
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Apple Scruff wrote: |
Oh, shut the *beep* up. Rapier made some very valid, very true points. I've had this kind of conversation many times with many Korean men. Stop being offended by stuff you know has some truth to it. |
Please. "I've come to the conclusion that any conversation with a korean guy is basically an endlessly repeating dead end"? That's a valid point? I'd hate to see what else passes for reason and logic in your world. |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:34 am Post subject: |
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ed4444 wrote: |
Also conversation flow is controlled by two people. If you see it wandering into repeated patterns each time you communicate maybe you need to be more pro active. try asking a question instead of answering one. |
That presupposes i have an interest in what they have to say.
seriously though I've met a few nice Korean dudes (usually in their 20's)but the last thing a waeguk wants here is to spend his free time with lots of Korean males.
It'd be Ok if they started out on the right foot and showed some glimmer of depth or etiquette. But invariably they come at you like a guard dog: they bark at you (shouting= speaking here) some silly sounding greeting, then attempt to break your hand with a shake..immediately try to buy your time by ordering drinks. You can see that there is genuine curiosity, but the idea that they want english lessons or a free English conversation provider is always at the forefront. They force themselves on you then emotionally resent your lack of interest (I know how an attractive woman feels now ).
Anyhow..no funny conversations to share??
here's another one from a few weeks back :
Gym Ajosshi:L look, there is harabojji. He is big boss, I intoduce you
me:No, no, its ok..stop...err, Umm, ok..hi (dismissive glance)
Gym ajosshi (later) He is big, big boss. Why you don't bow??!! In Korea we have to bow, or big big trouble!
Me: But he looked at my gochu in the shower one time.
Gym ajosshi: shakes his head in dismay. what?
me: I caught him looking at my co*k in the shower one time. I don't like that.
Gym ajosshi: But in korea we must show respect for others! |
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Corporal

Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:41 am Post subject: |
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Here's a funny conversation:
Me: Rapier, how many years have you been in Korea?
Rapier: quite a few now...
Me: How many Korean guys do you know well?
Rapier: well, not that many really..
Me: Why is that, do you think?
Rapier: oh, I dunno, probably because they're all just defensive c*ckblockers who want to keep me away from their women (who all want to sleep with me by the way)
Me: hmm, have you ever actually tried to get to know any K-men?
Rapier: *whines* They only ever want to stare at my gochu in the shower room! I'm just going to avoid and ignore them from now on. |
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ed4444

Joined: 12 Oct 2004
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:42 am Post subject: |
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I have a little advice that may be of interest. If you go out on the town with a few Korean male friends it can be of great benefit in meeting Korean girls.
They see you as someone that has been "approved" as not being a freaky waygook. Of course this can backfire if you are an actual freaky waygook and the korean guys are just using you for free language lessons.
it benefits the korean guy too because any girl that he talks to will be impressed that he is sophisticated enough to have a foreign friend. |
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ed4444

Joined: 12 Oct 2004
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:58 am Post subject: |
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sorry for posting too much on one topic but I just wanted to mention.
I am off to jeju in the near future and thanks to a korean businessman i helped out, i am staying in the place below for free with my gf for 4 days. Damn glad i managed to have more than one conversation with this guy without getting bored.
http://www.shineville.com/ |
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