Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ella]

I just read the "Anti-smoking Day at my Elementary School" thread. It sounds like it's okay smoke anywhere, anytime and people do. Restaurants, coffeeshops, malls, PC bangs, workplaces, even in fitness clubs it's okay to smoke? Is that true?

[Qinella]

[ella]

If it's okay to smoke in the restrooms in places that are otherwise "non-smoking," does that mean there are no truly non-smoking places?

[SPINOZA]

They're few and far between, Ella.

[ella]

Wow. Being a Los Angelean, I never even considered that. Thanks for the info.

[Wangja]

[RACETRAITOR]

I worked with a female Canadian once who smoked. Our boss told her she'd have to quit if she wanted to keep her job. He said she was only allowed to smoke in cafes and bathrooms. We almost lost a major contract (all my students) because one of the fathers saw her smoking outside, away from any kids. Every time we were away from work and she lit up in public, she got ugly stares from tons of people. She lasted exactly one month.

[Hollywoodaction]

[ella]

I am not a smoker. It's not good news for someone with asthma/RAD. I may have to look for another country. I'll give it some more thought. I meant as a Los Angelean it didn't occur to me that there wouldn't be many non-smoking places. Where I'm from, it's the smoking places that are few and far between; they're almost non-existent.

[Wangja]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[eamo]

[Wangja]

Well, Eamo, getting closer. Scotland now has the same paucity of smoking areas and England follows next year I think.

Theoretically, France banned smoking in restaurants some time ago but it's a bit hit and miss ....

[eamo]

[JongnoGuru]

I was at a bank here in Korea once with two girls. Sisters, one in her late teens and the other in her early 20s. We were sitting on the benches that banks have along the windows. Sunny and comfy, with women's & sports magazines and ashtrays, like all banks set out for their customers' convenience & leisure.

So the older girl lit up a cigarette and started smoking. A moment later, this old bank guard, maybe in his 60s, walked up out of nowhere, grabbed the cigarette from my friend's mouth, threw it on the floor and slapped her across the face. This prompted squeals of pain and astonishment from the girls and "WTF!!!?? WTF!!!!?" from me (a western dood).

The incident ended with a great show of remorse and much bowing by the bank guard, for he had no way of knowing that these women weren't Korean. They were, in fact, Korean-Japanese who spoke less Korean than I did and were only in the country for a summer to study the language of their grandma. A little cultural misunderstanding that I remember as clearly as if it were yesterday, when actually it was last month. (Okay, okay, more like 10 years ago. *sniff* Them was the days... )