Korean Job Discussion Forums

krats1976 · Joined: 14 May 2003

I'm sure we've all been bumped a fair number of times. As justified as our annoyed reactions are, sometimes it's backfired on me. Example:

Recently I was shopping at HomePlus and an ajumma hit me in the butt with the corner of her cart. This was especially bad since I'd just endured two shots to the same cheek from the sadistic nurse at my local hospital. Evil or Very Mad

Assuming the woman hadn't even noticed and didn't care if she had, I whipped around to give her my patented "weigookin look-of-death" when I saw her look of mortification and heard a very sincere apology. I was so shocked, I hardly had time to say ��ƿ�.

Embarassed

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

I remember standing in line somewhere in England, and this little English lad jumped in front of me. I said, "Uhh...I was standing here," and he nearly exploded with apologies. "Oh.. I'm sorry, sir," and so on. Whether he tried to pull a fast one or not, he apologized over and beyond. Imagine a Korean kid doing that, I don't think so.

The point is, Koreans, even when they're wrong, go on with this stone-faced ö�� expression, as in its understood they were wrong and lets all go about our business. Well, its not understood to me, and I say let them know it.

Manner of Speaking · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

Usually when that happens I just reach behind and pull the front of the cart to one side, so that it's not hitting my butt. I don't look at the person, don't even acknowledge them.

When I was in Seoul I used to get these dipsticks on the subway, standing in front of me reading a newspaper...and pushing back as far as they could get. Eventually I learned to handle them: I'd wait for the subway car to come to a stop, then press forward like I was making to get off. Then once the doors closed, I'd stand in front of the guy (all this new comfortable space) and step slightly backwards so the newspaper was jammed too close to his face for comfort. Cool

The trick is to brush away the annoyance without even acknowledging that the offender is there. It's more insulting than the westerner glare...and more satisfying. Laughing

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

periwinkle · Joined: 08 Feb 2003

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

kermo · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:03 pm Post subject:

I'm starting to resemble the "crazy white lady" more and more, but only on the inside. I'm not pushy or hasty, which is why people often end up in front of me. It doesn't bother me in the least, unless they *elbow me* in order to get there, or jump in line when it's clearly not their turn. I have started saying incredulous and sarcastic things like "Nice!" or "Go right ahead!" but maybe this will motivate me to either a) be more forgiving or b) learn more Korean so I can sass them properly.

periwinkle · Joined: 08 Feb 2003

Oh, they can figure-out the English real quick. I was trying to get out of the elevator when an uneducated cellar-dweller got in before I got out and blocked my way. I just commented disdainfully "How rude~" to my co-worker. I think she was somewhat obvlivious to the comment but the others in the elevator got it.

I missed the shuttle bus from work to the subway because some idiot didn't want to move to the back (stop me if you've heard this one before...). If I had only shoved the people stuck in the doorway, or yelled, "Chamkamanyo", maybe we could've gotten on and not frozen our butts off.

It doesn't pay to be polite sometimes~ when in Rome....

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Homer · Guest

Oh Satori,

That was almost a clever retort. Keep trying little one, and one day, you will have a working brain of your very own and you will be able to read and comprehend.

Until then...keep puffing what you are puffing.

My point here about the shoping cart incident: why stoop down to the lowest level of behavior instead of trying to solve the issue with a little more class and maturity?

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

There are many things you could've done. You just did one of them.

Can't believe some of the flak you're getting here. Calm and PC is not always the way things should be done. I thought what you did is perfectly ok.

I might've turned around and did a "what's going on?" kind of thing after the first butt hitting incident. Who knows though? Sometimes I want to see if it'll happen again so I can give someone hell for invading my personal space.

That lady shouldn't have been so screwed up to hit you more than once (or even once). A lot of people in this world are really in their own little world. Even when driving.

Do you think she was doing it on purpose? That would be weird.

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

I also think one shouldn't worry about a lack of Korean skills in a situation like this. It really shouldn't matter what you say, but how you say it. And I'm sure they'll get the message according to your tone and expression.

Once you start using Korean, you've given them the advantage, should a verbal fight ensue.

Merlyn · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Location: Korea

I have to agree with Homer on this one. The original poster overreacted with their kick of the cart. Think of the Ajumma as a woman who doesn't know better, or more like an animal. If you're playing with your dog and it bites you a bit too hard do you kick him. I hope not. And then when she spilled her drink over herself, a little I'm sorry was in order for your outlandishness. You have to have better control over your feelings than that. Everyone's been in that situation before.

periwinkle · Joined: 08 Feb 2003