Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Starla]

Does anybody else work at a school where they feed you constantly? At my public school, I eat the standard Korean lunch. Before that, somebody usually brings some of food in the morning. Today it was chocolates and sticky rice cakes with red bean paste the head teacher brought. They're always offering me their coffee mix too. Two hours after lunch, it was mandu dumplings the head teacher purchased...3 full packages for 6 people. They ate it all and I didn't touch one. I told them I can't eat all the food they offer me. An hour before that, somebody handed me a piece of baked potato in my hand. They wouldn't take no for an answer.

On any given day, I am offered food about 3 times on average with the exception of lunch. My co-workers eat it all but at times, I'm not hungry and I also want to watch what I eat. But I don't know if I'm being rude by refusing. My co-teacher is always asking me to "join us" as they wolf down some food. Or they say a certain food was made just for me so I have to take it of course. After I try it, they ask me if I like it. Geez, I didn't want to eat it and now you're asking me if I like it. No, I don't like to always eat rice in every form imaginable but I'll grin and pretend I like it most of the time.

Would it be rude if I started refusing? I think some of the food they offer me is nutritionally empty anyway and I'd rather waste my calories on something more satisfying at least...something greasy and Western. And what annoys me about all these women I eat with is that they're skinny as hell. I'm not overweight in the least but if I ate like them, I think I would be since they're not physically active either. What gives?

[cruisemonkey]

It depends on how you refuse it.

All the K-teachers at my school now know not to try and give me rice cakes and/or persimmons.

[tzechuk]

You should accept it once in a while. Rejecting it all the time makes you feel like you are not a part of the group.

I have, however, often use the excuse that I am on a diet to refuse food. hah! Works every time, cos korean women are always on a diet!!

[EzeWong]

Yeah I'm kinda of a douchebag too.

The teacher next to me offered me peppero and i'm like "sorry no chocolate diet thanks... :> )"

And then like 30 seconds later the vice principal tries to give me one and I'm like "oh thank you tthank you."

I looked like a total ass.

I'm jsut gonna keep my mouth shut say yes and eat everything.

Oh btw starla, If you are watching what you eat, it may actually be better for you. You'll eat less if you eat intermittenly through the day. Eating about 6-7 small meals will control your weight. And all those permissions and dok is pretty healthy... But as we both know, chocolates a big no no lol.

[IAMAROBOT]

Sometimes, I just say something gives me a stomachache, like the terrible coffee mix.

[exit86]

It is a strange situation. I am on a really restrictive diet, so I often must refuse food. It is silly because it really is less about the actual food than it is about group conformity. A lot of the locals just don't get the idea of
personal choice, particularly when it comes to food (all the office goes out and everyone eats the same thing: greasy-ass fatty pork).

My advice: don't forget that you aren't Korean. Do what you think is best for yourself; others have no choice but to respect your choices.

[drunkenfud]

Watch what happens. Your skinny Korean co-teachers will eat a lot, then go to the toilet very shortly afterwards. I think Bulimia is institutionalised here.

[maingman]

at my last - Public school my main/ co teacher would just invariably leave and go onto luncheee her own !
slightly rude IMO, or 2 mention she was going and not wait
or 3 say she was goin to lunch

I would then sometimes , not all time foollow a few mins later and they would be d.stairs - with another member of admin staff !

[wylies99]

Just tell them you'll eat it later and then give it to one of your students. Students are always FAMISHED and would eat their textbooks if you put hot sauce on them.

[jkelly80]

I never eat with them, as usually its sickly sweet persimmons or steamed sweet potatoes. Flavor does not have. I'm not Korean, I'm not in the group.

[Starla]

[bundangbabo]

This is a total non-issue - smile sweetly and put it in your draw and say you'll eat it later - and then when they are all at their teachers meeting - chuck it in the bin - thats where all the rice cakes go anyway - bleurgh! Mind you I eat most of the stuff they put in front of me and I bring in stuff for them in return - bringing harmony to the staffroom!

[vampirepirate01]

[JJJ]

I'm not a fan of the red bean products they love here and my school co-worlers know it but they keep on setting it on my desk. So, I say thanks, put it in my bag later on and take it home to dump or keep it there for later on when kids are walking around the office and I surprise one and hand him/her the present.

So, just smile, take it and do with it what you please later on. No harm, no foul.

[egrog1717]

I usually just accept whatever is offered, take it home and stick it in my fridge for a few days... Whatever doesn't get eaten gets tossed... As for at school, tell them that you're full from a big breakfast and lunch