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ReeseDog
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Location: Classified
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 Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject: ...and if you're not skinny? |
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| From reading posts here, I gather that Koreans generally have a chuckle at the expense of westerners who aren't cadaverously thin. That may be overstatement, actually, but I was curious about experiences of those teachers in Korea who aren't supermodel-skinny. Are the natives quick to point and stare? Does one need be clinically atrophied to avoid the comments? As a prospective teacher in Korea who packs a few extra pounds, I'd appreciate any intel I can get. Thanks much. |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: ...and if you're not skinny? |
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| ReeseDog wrote: |
| From reading posts here, I gather that Koreans generally have a chuckle at the expense of westerners who aren't cadaverously thin. That may be overstatement, actually, but I was curious about experiences of those teachers in Korea who aren't supermodel-skinny. Are the natives quick to point and stare? Does one need be clinically atrophied to avoid the comments? As a prospective teacher in Korea who packs a few extra pounds, I'd appreciate any intel I can get. Thanks much. |
odds are you'll get some looks and perhaps snide comments.
A friend of mine, who went to teach in Japan and Argentina (I love her but she is definitely overweight) had issues.
(I'm guessing by your words such as supermodel or cadaverously, that you're fairly overweight by even generous Western standards)
in Japan they'd ask her why she was "fat" (in that beautiful innocent way kids do, I couldn't help but laugh my ass off) and in Argentina, she caught the kids calling her "vaca" (cow) (since she's fluent in Spanish, that was a bit mean)
if you're thick skinned and you're comfortable with the way you are, just ignore it. But don't be surprised if it comes.
Last edited by bogey666 on Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:17 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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kingplaya4
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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I was going to say apparently you aren't in Korea, then I read the prospective part. Koreans are hardly skinny nowadays at least not in the southern city of Daegu. I'd say the average man of the younger generation is about 5'9-5'10 and about 160-170 pounds. That's not particularly heavy, but keep in mind they do tend to be a bit smaller boned than westerners, so most of them are looking a bit flabby. I see plenty of Korean women that outweigh me, I'm not a big guy at all, but still that would be pretty rare in a country like Japan or Vietnam.
Anyway, you don't sound like you're particularly overweight so I wouldn't worry about it. Your kids might joke about even a small pot belly though, they don't have the western sensitivity about such things, but they'll probably only call you "pig" malisciously if you're a good 50 pounds over or so. |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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| kingplaya4 wrote: |
I was going to say apparently you aren't in Korea, then I read the prospective part. Koreans are hardly skinny nowadays at least not in the southern city of Daegu. I'd say the average man of the younger generation is about 5'9-5'10 and about 160-170 pounds. That's not particularly heavy, but keep in mind they do tend to be a bit smaller boned than westerners, so most of them are looking a bit flabby. I see plenty of Korean women that outweigh me, I'm not a big guy at all, but still that would be pretty rare in a country like Japan or Vietnam.
Anyway, you don't sound like you're particularly overweight so I wouldn't worry about it. Your kids might joke about even a small pot belly though, they don't have the western sensitivity about such things, but they'll probably only call you "pig" malisciously if you're a good 50 pounds over or so. |
I'm going to bet that OP is a female. (no man would use words like supermodel thin or cadaverous)
frankly, I typically hear such words from American females in reference to other women who are NOT cadaverous nor supermodel thin, just merely "normal" (size 6 for e.g.)
and flabby/out of shape yet without unseemly bulges are one thing. Unseemly bulges are another.
I stick by original prediction.
(interestingly enough in a place like Cuba, which I love because they are so blunt/politically incorrect, they will nickname you based on your most obvious physical trait - e.g. gordo/a (fat) flaco/flaca (skinny) chino/china (Asian eyes) yet it's done without any malice - |
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ReeseDog
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Location: Classified
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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No, I'm not grossly overweight. I'm 6'3" and weight about 265 or so, but I carry it pretty well and have a fairly significant amount of muscle mass. No sixpack or anything cool like that, but not a tub of lard either. Certainly I don't hear derogatory comments at home. I was just wondering whether to develop a thick skin now or just not to worry about it.
By the way, I'm not female. |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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| ReeseDog wrote: |
No, I'm not grossly overweight. I'm 6'3" and weight about 265 or so, but I carry it pretty well and have a fairly significant amount of muscle mass. No sixpack or anything cool like that, but not a tub of lard either. Certainly I don't hear derogatory comments at home. I was just wondering whether to develop a thick skin now or just not to worry about it.
By the way, I'm not female. |
wow.. I would have lost a lot of money on that bet (female)
if you have no unseemly (non muscular) bulges, you'll be fine.
shit.. I wish I were 6'3.
look at it this way.. I don't think you'll have major issues with Koreans ramming into you (or if they do, they'll be in pain.. hahahahaha) |
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ReeseDog
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Location: Classified
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Being a big six-three isn't always cool. People always want you to carry heavy stuff. It's difficult to blend into a crowd (especially so in Asia, I imagine). My noodle is a phrenologist's wet dream. Chicks seem to dig it, though. I don't know.... |
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ReeseDog
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Location: Classified
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Bogey, you have an OUTSTANDING avatar, by the way. |
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spliff
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Can you post a current full body picture? |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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| ReeseDog wrote: |
| Bogey, you have an OUTSTANDING avatar, by the way. |
my way of crying for Latin America.
6'3 a perfect height. Not TOO tall, but effing tall.
linebacker height. If you can pack on muscle at that weight.. the end result is extremely impressive.
and you don't WANT to blend into a crowd.... unless you're trying to hide 
spliff.. rolling on floor, laughing my ass off. 
Last edited by bogey666 on Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:48 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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ReeseDog
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Location: Classified
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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Don't have one, Spliff. Nothing recently scanned, anyway, I think. I'll check.
Wait..you were kidding, right?  |
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spliff
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| I never kid! |
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OnTheOtherSide
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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When I get to Korea, my chiseled body and movie star looks will make the women want me, and the men want to be me 
Just kidding. Well, actually it might happen..... |
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ReeseDog
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Location: Classified
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| bogey666 wrote: |
| ReeseDog wrote: |
| Bogey, you have an OUTSTANDING avatar, by the way. |
my way of crying for Latin America.
6'3 a perfect height. Not TOO tall, but effing tall.
linebacker height.
and you don't WANT to blend into a crowd.... unless you're trying to hide
spliff.. rolling on floor, laughing my ass off. |
I'm not trying to hide. I can't. I just get a little self-conscious when people stare. I suppose I should probably get over that, though.
I was too slow to be a linebacker. I played defensive tackle. |
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spliff
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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I was a linebacker, all state, played college ball as well. Patriot league.
Last edited by spliff on Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:55 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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