Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dev]

What is/are the most difficult adjustment(s) you've had to make in Korea?

Mine are:

1) Getting used to the lack of pedestrian traffic rules. Unlike in most countries I've been to, there's no agreed side of the sidewalk people should walk on in Korea. I am forever playing chicken with Koreans and getting fed up with it. I don't know who should move out of the way, so I just let my mood decide. Then there are cars and motorbikes on the sidewalks. Very tough to get used to this.

2) Sitting on floors in restaurants. It doesn't bother me that much, but I can't say that I like it. I don't like it. Maybe it's a case of Western manners. Sitting on the floor in public is too casual. Can you imagine bringing a date to a restaurant back home that didn't have any chairs? This reason explains why I don't seem to mind it in my own home. I sit on the floor while eating dinner and watching TV all the time. It's funny how I don't like to do this in restaurants.

[kermo]

Kiwi salad dressing.

[mnhnhyouh]

I like sitting on the floor. I have had a number of dinner parties where we all sat on the floor.

h

[hubba bubba]

No breakfast restaurants.

No Sunday morning football.

The smell of dried squid.

The smell of sewage on a hot summers day.

[Oreovictim]

I agree about the sewage, the floor sitting, and definitely the lack of traffic rules.

But there are two things that I still can't get used to: the old men in their trucks with the loud speakers. (Reminds me of 1984 or something.) And I still can't get used to how much the females whine when they talk. It drives me up the wall.

[Bibbitybop]

The lack of burrito bars all around the city.

No backporch bbqs.

Very little good beer, especially chocolate stouts.

I'm waiting for someone to say no ganja.

[rawiri]

Yeah lack of drugs is pretty tricky for a few guys i know, not really me personally. You can score weed here but it wouldn't amount to much i'd imagine. A few nice pills or some mushrooms would be sweet.

Anyways, the only thing i will never adjust to in this country is pedestrian crossing ettiquite. You are taking your life in your hands every time you cross the road. Just madness.

[poet13]

Reasonably priced steak.

[tumbleweed_marijane]

trashing toilet paper

having to substitute milk tea with various other (korean) tea.

changing my style from gypsy tinker-bell to a blanket bundle.

[Qinella]

Most difficult adjustment for me was the food/kitchen situation. I was a vegetarian when I moved here, and like many vegetarians, really enjoyed cooking. Nearly every day, and especially on weekends, I'd cook up a storm, trying to find better and better recipes. But in Korea about 1/5 of the ingredients are available, and the little kitchenette thing just kills any desire I would have to try to cook.

[jaderedux]

I hate sitting on the floors in restuarants. Little kids running around without any supervision deciding I am a jungle gym. Everyone clucking about how cute it is. My husband restraining me from picking up little Min-su or Su-jin and returning the little buggers back to their parents.

I don't wear my shoes 2 or 3 sizes larger so I can just slip them on and off. And in the winter I wear docs. Takes me a freaking lifetime to get them on and off.

Don't mind the food at all but absolutely hate taking my damn shoes off and on. I am not a newbie at all just hate it.

I am not fond of the communal eating but it is their way. But if I am at Outback or a place like that...you touch my food you die. It is a good way to lose a finger. Korean co-workers think it is funny....husband just tries to sneak some to pi$$ me off.

Breakfast restuarants.

People wearing their shoes half on and half off drives me insane. More a thing from my Mom. I can hear my Mom now. Pick up your feet and tie your shoes and stop ruining the heels of your shoes...do you think money grows on trees.

Jade

[stumptown]

Sitting in a sports bar on a Sunday morning eating a breakfast burrito and watching all the NFL games.

Decent taco stands...it's getting better though. When I first came here there was only Pancho's (Rauncho's?)

And yes I will be the 1000th person to say this on this board: DECENT BEER!! I have to chase shots of soju with gulps of beer just to get a decent buzz. Otherwise I'm going through about 7 oh-becks.

[DaeguKid]

NHL.com radio...not the same as the television, but its better than nothing.

[cornie_man]

I miss having a big dump and not having the toilet fill up to the brim with water. It seems my heavy bodily waste is too much for the local plumbing. Double flushers are losers!

[Gaber]

Painfully small living situation and no buds. Otherwise easy(ish).