Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pangaea]

I know this is a relatively small matter but it makes me INSANE. Yesterday I was standing in line at Mcdonalds with one other person in front of me at the counter. An older Korean man walked in front of me and stood next to the man at the counter. At first I thought maybe he was waiting for food that he had already ordered but nope-he placed an order. This was just the most recent time this happened. It's happened to me at the airport, the grocery store, the movie theater-everywhere I go. I was at the airport with a friend once waiting for an attendant to come back to the counter when two people in the space of 45 seconds walked in front of us and threw their luggage on the scale. Fortunately, one of the employees was standing there and turned them away both times, explaining that we were there first. So...is this happening because I'm a foreigner and people just assume (correctly in my case) that I don't speak enough Korean to really do much about it? Or is this something that just goes on here, like pushing onto the elevator or into a room before other people have the chance to come out? Like I said, a small issue-but all the small things tend to build up until all the last one really makes me want to snap. I guess I'm just getting burned out on Korea and I need to take a break.

[spliff]

The guy was probably just a slow waiter...I'm the same way here. When you're in a foreign country you should do things the way the locals do. A line? What's that?

[blaseblasphemener]

unfortunately, it's just what a lot of koreans consider to be ok behavior. As much as I destest that kind of behavior, usually I let it slide, because that's the way they like to roll in this country, and it would drive me insane getting stressed out about every rude thing they do. Just think to yourself, if they weren't so rude and competitive with each other, there wouldn't be such a demand for teachers here, and I might not have the sweet job I have.

[spliff]

Teaching English in South Korea is a "sweet job"? You have to be a Nova Scotian...

[xCustomx]

you could always learn korean for "i was waiting here first"

i'm sure just about everyone here has had that happen to them at some point.

[spliff]

Then you get the death, dumb and blind act.

[GoldMember]

I actually had a Korean Buddhist Monk, push in line in front of me once.
Learn this sentence, you'll use it a lot.
"Non Porooshi Opta". This means, you have no manners.

[crescent]

[faderama]

Learn to keep your elbows out wide and keep them STIFF. This works best with both hands in the jacket pockets.

And then learn to look away like you don't see though line cutters coming and crack them one wherever your elbow might hit them.

I think I've perfected the art of it not looking intentional, but it wakes them up and they *beep* off.

I sometimes put up with it if it's an older lady who doesn't know any better, but anyone else is fair game...

...this also goes for people that walk into you on the street obivously.

[Mi Yum mi]

Even easier is Na Cha rai! My turn.

[poet13]

Words? Silly people. Beat one to death with the cash register, and the rest will line up. You might have to do it in each place you go though...

[Chris Kwon]

I think some older people do it, because well "older people are always right", and most Korean kids don't have the balls to call their elders out on it. This is one of the things I hate most about Korean culture. Age has nothing to do with rightness.

[steroidmaximus]

if you stand too far away from the counter, they assume you aren't waiting. Similarily, if you don't tailgate the car in front of you when driving, someone will try to squeeze into the 1.6 metre space available.

[ryouga013]

[JustJohn]

I've just accepted this as the "Korean way" and don't usually get upset over it anymore. Just stick to the person ahead of you like glue, and it won't happen much.