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kangnam mafioso
Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Location: Teheranno
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 Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 9:37 am Post subject: Christmas Sucks in Korea |
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| One thing I don't miss in Korea is Christmas. You know, the one day off from work, no Christmas shows on tv, no chance to spend time with family, no Christmas lights on houses or really anywhere except maybe department stores, no Christmas foods, the lack of any national coherance of what Christmas should really be about. I'm not blaming them because it's predominantly a Buddhist country but .... it's all quite depressing. Come to think of it ... all holidays in Korea suck for foreigners. You can't go anywhere during Chusok or Lunar New Year because of all the traffic jams, every flight is full, every road leading from seoul is a mass exodus out of town. Forgetabout it!!! |
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Dan
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Sunny Glendale, CA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 10:17 am Post subject: |
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| koreans sleep on holidays and go get drunk. the only real time off is just to quit your job and mess around for a couple months. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Dan wrote: |
| koreans sleep on holidays and go get drunk. |
Damn, I'm turning more Korean than I thought..
I asked all of my students on Wednesday what their Christmas plans were.. none of them had any plans. Extreme indifference was more the impression I got. |
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Gord
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 2:40 pm Post subject: Re: Christmas Sucks in Korea |
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| kangnam mafioso wrote: |
| ... the lack of any national coherance of what Christmas should really be about. |
Christmas was originally a celebration and event where you went out with everyone, ate and drank too much, and basically lived it up. Then it was kidnapped and changed into a quiet family event, and then changed again with the commercial overtones.
Ironically, Korea hasn't taken anything from Christmas but have mostly returned it to it's original setting and what Christmas should really be about: drinking and celebrating. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: Christmas Sucks in Korea |
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| Gord wrote: |
| kangnam mafioso wrote: |
| ... the lack of any national coherance of what Christmas should really be about. |
Christmas was originally a celebration and event where you went out with everyone, ate and drank too much, and basically lived it up. Then it was kidnapped and changed into a quiet family event, and then changed again with the commercial overtones.
Ironically, Korea hasn't taken anything from Christmas but have mostly returned it to it's original setting and what Christmas should really be about: drinking and celebrating. |
Hmm, the original post is saying something along the lines of going to a Muslim country and griping that no one drinks. Hmmm.
Yo Kangnam, it seems you're sick of Korea so please, do Koreans and yourself a favor and leave. I think griping about your situation instead of doing something about it ain't healthy. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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I like Christmas in Korea.
1) No extreme commercialism like I would see back home.
2) No Snow...man I HATE SNOW. White xmas? Had enough to last me a lifetime.
3) No pressure. I don't have to go out and buy gifts for people "just because it is xmas". I mean my parents are so old now, do they really need more junk?
4) I can still get together with friends, have a good dinner, and have a quiet gathering.
5) Stores are open and people are outside. If you don't want to sit at home, you can actually go out and do something.
I haven't had an xmas at home in 7yrs. When I think about the things I miss, they aren't very much. Would be family, but my family gets wierd around xmas - so I prefer to visit them in the summers when things are normal and the weather is just beautiful. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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My answer is pretty much the exact same as Mr. Pink. I feel the same about X-Mas. Particularly the commericalism aspect I find overwhelming. Fortunately my family doesn't buy into it, so I don't feel any obligation whatsoever to buy anyone any presents.
Christmas Day if at my Parents house is depressing though. My Dad sits around and watches sports on TV all day long while reading the newspaper (same thing he does every Sunday) and my Mom is upset because she wants it to be "special". Its annoying to be around either one of them on those times. In addition all the stores and places to go are closed, so there is very little escapism for me to get away.
Seeing extended family is kind of fun though. Both of my parents come from big familys so I have a ton of cousins. But I definetely don't really feel any 'missing' feels at all if I'm not there. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
My answer is pretty much the exact same as Mr. Pink. I feel the same about X-Mas. Particularly the commericalism aspect I find overwhelming. Fortunately my family doesn't buy into it, so I don't feel any obligation whatsoever to buy anyone any presents.
Christmas Day if at my Parents house is depressing though. My Dad sits around and watches sports on TV all day long while reading the newspaper (same thing he does every Sunday) and my Mom is upset because she wants it to be "special". Its annoying to be around either one of them on those times. In addition all the stores and places to go are closed, so there is very little escapism for me to get away.
Seeing extended family is kind of fun though. Both of my parents come from big familys so I have a ton of cousins. But I definetely don't really feel any 'missing' feels at all if I'm not there. |
I don't miss the Xmas frenzy at the malls and such. Don't forget, December is one of the WORST months for robbery, assault and stuff considering how many people have big cash to go shopping.
I thought I missed Xmas back home, but no, I don't. This was my first Xmas in the US in nine years and uh, well, I wasn't missing anything AT ALL. |
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Mashimaro
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: location, location
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: Christmas Sucks in Korea |
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| kangnam mafioso wrote: |
| because it's predominantly a Buddhist country |
Is Korea predominantly Buddhist? Just wondering.. |
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Holyjoe
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: Away for a cuppa
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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| But on the flip-side, you can have a fair bit of fun with all the Buddha's Birthday celebrations out here in May... |
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Barking Mad Lord Snapcase
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: Christmas Sucks in Korea |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| Yo Kangnam, it seems you're sick of Korea so please, do Koreans and yourself a favor and leave. |
It's always the apologists who glorify the midnight run so frequently. Be careful with the advive you give; someone might just follow it ... |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: Christmas Sucks in Korea |
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| Barking Mad Lord Snapcase wrote: |
| It's always the apologists who glorify the midnight run so frequently. |
Hmm... never heard that before. |
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Barking Mad Lord Snapcase
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: Christmas Sucks in Korea |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| Barking Mad Lord Snapcase wrote: |
| It's always the apologists who glorify the midnight run so frequently. |
Hmm... never heard that before. |
The problem is with the "if you don't like it, leave" attitude that you read on so many threads here. True, there are a few excessive whiners here and there; but the delicious irony is that the "whiners should leave" crowd are far more negative and defeatist than the "whiners" who are staying and toughing it out. I guess most "whiners" simply need objective advice from those with similar experiences, or assurance that they are not alone with their problems. It depends on the situation. However, telling someone still experiencing culture shock that "if you don't like it, get out of here" is just plain stupid. Those with exceptionally bad experiences would reach that conclusion anyway. The rest of us take time to adjust, or do things to keep us sane ... or simply grow more and more bitter. You know the latter type; they're the ESL equivalent of the annoying relative at the reunion party who wanders around in a drunken haze interrupting every conversation, then stands on the table and screams "Why the ---- isn't everyone ----ing happy!!!??"
I actually agree with the "Muslim country" analogy, but any sane, objective argument should either end there, or steer itself into a less personal dirtection. |
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ratslash
Joined: 08 May 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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| ohhhhh yeah. this xmas is definitely one to forget about. |
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dogbert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210
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| Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 8:07 pm Post subject: Re: Christmas Sucks in Korea |
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| Yaya wrote: |
| Gord wrote: |
| kangnam mafioso wrote: |
| ... the lack of any national coherance of what Christmas should really be about. |
Christmas was originally a celebration and event where you went out with everyone, ate and drank too much, and basically lived it up. Then it was kidnapped and changed into a quiet family event, and then changed again with the commercial overtones.
Ironically, Korea hasn't taken anything from Christmas but have mostly returned it to it's original setting and what Christmas should really be about: drinking and celebrating. |
Hmm, the original post is saying something along the lines of going to a Muslim country and griping that no one drinks. Hmmm.
Yo Kangnam, it seems you're sick of Korea so please, do Koreans and yourself a favor and leave. I think griping about your situation instead of doing something about it ain't healthy. |
That's rich. What are you doing instead of griping about Meskins in the U.S.? Maybe time to do a "run for the border", so to speak. |
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