Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SweetLou]

so it took me two months before the ajumma at the restaurant came over as I was eating my bibimbap and yanked the chopsticks out of my hand, replacing them with a spoon....

what are some of the other Korean dishes you eat with a spoon? I'm pretty sure curry dishes are eaten with a spoon, but beyond this, I have no clue.

trying to minimize my foolish-lookingness as much as possible,

-SL

[Horangi Munshin]

You eat rice dishes with a spoon, noodle dishes with chopsticks. Of course you use chopsticks for side dishes.

But at some cutlet places, they think they are Japanese so you don't get a spoon.

[Zyzyfer]

When it's mixed up and sloppy and has rice in it, you usually use a spoon.

[ulsanchris]

ONly use chopsticks with rice when it has nothing in it. Even then just eat it with a spoon.

I remember this one strange woman I worked with. She tried to eat her bokumbap with her chopsticks. I advised her to use a spoon and explained that koreans eat their rice with a spoon. A couple of weeks later i'm having lunch with her again and she is using her chopsticks to eat her bokumbap. I again point out that she should use her spoon. A few weeks later she was using her chopsticks again.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[Corporal]

Ok, this makes me angry.

Who cares what Koreans do? Why LET them make you feel silly? If you want to eat bibimbap with your chopsticks--or your fingers for that matter--then go for it. I would have picked up the chopsticks again and said calmly in Korean, "I like to use chopsticks, so don't bug me". It starts with little things like them thinking they can decide what eating utensil YOU use to eat YOUR food, and next thing you know the boss is getting you to clean classrooms on Saturdays during your own time, borrowing money from you, etc. etc.

Don't be pushed around by Koreans, least of all by those old crones.

[little mixed girl]

when i was in korea no one really cared what i ate with.
the one time i ate bibimbap in korea i used a spoon cuz in the states my friend told me i could eat it faster with a spoon rather than chopsticks, and i knew koreans used the chopstick/spoon combo.

even when i was in korea and ate out with korean-american friends we mostly used chopsticks....so whatever.

[desultude]

I usually eat everything but soup, and then even the big bits in soup, with chop sticks. First, I learned to use chopsticks with Chinese food. Second, its a bit of a personal challenge in terms of chopstick proficiency. Last, I use them because they make me eat slower.

Now this is unKorean in several ways, not the least of which, Koreans eat so fast! When I eat slower I eat less.

I do find that I feel a bit self-conscious at times, but no one has ever said anything. Perhaps people in Daegu are just polite.

[Corporal]

[rowdie3]

I too have experienced the ajuma kindly taking my chopsticks away and giving me a spoon. She looked very confused when I later returned to using chopsticks. I like chop sticks okay! Plus, I agree with the eating slower = eating less theory. Don't feel bad though. My roomate got bibimbap and didn't stir it all up cause she likes her food to stay seperate, and the ajuma grabbed a spoon and got right in there stiring for a good five minutes. Poor Alison, wasn't really hungry after that.

[Butterfly]

It makes more sense to eat bipimbap with a spoon, you'll be there all day otherwise.

Same with soup.

I'm certain the lady meant you no malice.

[desultude]

[Corporal]

Nope. Nowhere in the Bible does it say "Thou shalt not say s.h.i.t".

Incidentally, s.hit a.k.a dung is a quite natural aspect of life, like sperm, urine, or spit. I fail to see anything offensive in it.

But you knew that, you're merely being ridiculous again, trying to be clever.

[bucheon bum]

[rapier]

CORPORAL: Well said, - they may just do it to be friendly, but it annoys the h**l out of me just the same. It makes you feel like a baby in a high chair. I prefer to cut my own meat as well- in fact any "serbis" from the old crones I usually see as interference. Food, eating, is a personal thing. If you go near my pet cat when she has a mouse in her mouth, she'll scratch your eyes out!! i'm the same.
So, how about letting us have some of your Korean phrases to use in the restaurant next time it happens? Any chance you know how to say the following?:-
" I prefer to use chopsticks please"
" Please, let me eat my food how i want to. i paid for it, its mine"
"thats ok, i can do that myself".

They'd be very useful phrases to know.......

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