Korean Job Discussion Forums

coolsage · Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 9:13 am Post subject:

Yes, beat them at their own game. The gods didn't bless these people with the gift of periphiral vision; combine that with the ubiquitous cellphone and you have a recipe for obtuse blindness. Dodge them if you can; some will still invade your personal space, because they have no concept of that. Three times I've had the experience of someone walking so close to me that he has taken the lit ash off my cigarette. I hope it burned a hole in his shirt, the lout. And this has not much to do with a 'densely populated place'. The Netherlands is at least this crowded, but civility reigns there. There's simply no excuse for the barbaric social conduct in the Land of the Mourning Clam.

uberscheisse · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.

just three days ago i saw some dumb lady drive through a red light and hit a guy on a motorbike - not hard enough to knock him over, but still it was stupid...

she was text messaging while driving.

unrelated to this thread, but still boggles the ol' mind.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

Call this the land of epilepsy and dyslexia. That's how people walk and act. Swing their arms out and whack someone walking by, walk randomly, whether it be speed or direction, and thinking only of #1.

matthewwoodford · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Location: Location, location, location.

[vent]Can't say I have a problem with Koreans walking in a straight line and the motorbikes on the pavement don't bother me either.

What gets me is the infuriatingly slow pace at which they walk on the subway even during rush hour coupled with the annoying habit of walking right in the middle of any free lane so that you can't get past on either side. Why can't they just move to either the right or the left?!

I'm programmed to get on that subway and to the free seat a.s.a.p. but time after time I'm thwarted by some guy who sure enough has to walk right through the middle of the doors and then step ponderously on a path equidistant between the seats on the right and the seats on the left. Meanwhile the free seats are filling up and the only way I can get past is to shove him aside. One of these days....![/vent]

peppermint · Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 4:08 am Post subject:

Anybody else find CBS(crystal ball syndrome) too common here on the subway? You know, the adjoshi who must have his legs spread so wide to protect the family jewels that he practically needs two seats.

desultude · Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 5:21 am Post subject:

I seem to have stumbled into another "these "beep" can do nothing right" thread. How can you guys bear to take their money?

uberscheisse · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.

yes, yes. everything about korea sucks. especially the great food, the friendly people, the beautiful women, the incredibly cheap textile products and beer, the scenery, the history, the architecture, and the fact that when you make friends with a korean person they're your loyal, caring friend for life.

seriously, GET ME the HELL OUT OF HERE!

or wait - are people generally quiet until they have something valid to complain about... and is culture shock and adaptation a common gripe among foreigners in korea?

hmmmmmm...

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Can Koreans walk in a straight line? This seemed the favourite topic of a father and son I used to know, who both worked teaching. The son played hockey, loved to fight, and suffered from chronic migraines so he wasn't in the best humour. One time he was walking in a straight line along the sidewalk and a guy on a scooter made it a point to come directly at him when he had a whole lot of room. So he gave him a hockey body check. The driver continued, swerving and wobbling from being struck and then ran into a nearby tree. These guys figured that Korean people just gravitate towards other people in some intrinsic/instinctive/intuitive way just to be social or recognize each other. Maybe like bees communicate by pheremones and crawling all over each other Laughing

. So if you're walking it's sociable to 'play chicken' and almost run into each other thereby politely recognizing each other's existence as opposed to the western habit of 'minding one's own business'. Maybe it's about face, pride, and acknowledgement. The hockey playing son also liked to trip Koreans who got into his straight line walking way. Once he tripped an older Korean man and his father stopped to help the old man back up onto his feet. Tripping meandering Koreans became a kind of sport. Like 'the more in my face they are the harder the fall'.
I just said I don't notice anymore. Then did once they mentioned it. When they said oh, so you notice now. Like it was some national crime.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

The Man known as The Man · Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 12:34 pm Post subject:

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

peppermint · Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 6:31 pm Post subject:

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

Desultude: We don't have to like everything about a country to stay and earn money. I certainly don't like everything about my home country, but I'll go back and earn money there. A little healthy venting never hurt anyone and I'd say the people the vent the most on here probably are happy to get it out of their systems before stepping outside.

And I think the inability to walk correctly is genetic. I had two friends that were Korean twins back in college and walking with them was inordinately difficult. Finally, I realized I was a good 50 pounds heavier and 8" taller, so I just let them run into me (didn't hurt either that they were cute). Maybe Korean genetics throw their hips outta alignment?

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street