Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

Yes, it's that time of year again. The days are warm, the nights are cool and your cement floor is ice cold.

The object of the sweepstakes is to delay as long as possible the ceremony of turning on your floor. This contest is based on the honor system, so honesty-challenged people need to exempt themselves.

I tried to make it to Oct. 1, but failed. Last night (Wed.) I caved in and turned mine on for about 20 minutes.

Post here when you turn on.

[Real Reality]

Are you joking?
I cannot control the heating. The building manager (university) has complete control over the heating (ondol and water). The floor heating (ondol) will probably turned on in November or December. It does not matter if it is cold outside. The date (or time of year) seems more important than the temperature.

[matthews_world]

Figuring out how to use the properly is a rite of passage for foreigners every season.

I hope most of you turn yours off during the day when not using it.

I have yet to turn it on. It's not that cold here yet.

[pet lover]

Well, I'm not turning on the ondol any time soon---sleeping with the windows open every night. Will have to start using the a/c though as the *beep beep beep beepity beeping beeps* went through the neighborhood last night spewing their poisonous chemicals and I BARELY made it home (running the whole way with my backpack against my nose and mouth and at least four drunks nearly falling out of their chairs laughing) in time to shut the windows. The little one was woozy and coughing for hours afterwards. Really, who can I sue over this????

That said, Ya-ta Boy, much as I love your writing and stalk you on every thread to read more, I'm going to have to call you a wimp. Yes, wimp. Turning on the ondol already? What have you been doing? Sleeping nude directly on the floor?

[Free World]

You caved already? I had the AC on for a few hours after work last night.
I'm not saying it was too hot outside (my reason was the poison trucks were spraying double time so I had to have the windows closed) but it's definately too early to heat the floors in my place.

[jaderedux]

What the heck....no ondol here ..the nights are cool and I open windows and sleep like a baby....not nearly chilly enough for ondol yet. But I am cold weather person.

Jade (nanuk of Korea)

[thursdays child]

Defitnly not time for heating..... Slightly off topic, the 'Mogi Man' aka insecticide spraying vehicle.... it absolutely horrified me when i first came to korea, but now i'm a little ...ahhh, it's part of life as we know it. Has anyone get the facts on the 'stuff'.

One time, a boss organised for the Mogi Man to come into my one room and blast that!!!! I managed to divert the situation but only just.

[djsmnc]

Haha ondol?

What is this, ���� era? I have a central heating system, thank you.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[eamo]

It's still September for gawds sake!!!

My ondol rarely goes on before November.

Masculine curtains....mmmmm....hard one.

I would use the same system that I use to choose deodorants if I'm not sure which ones are for men and which ones are for women. If it's black or has pictures of boats or race-cars on it...... It's for men.

[ilovebdt]

I can't imagine turning on my ondol for at least another two months. It's too warm in my neck of the wooods.

[tzechuk]

[Ya-ta Boy]

As usual, tzechuk is a font of wisdom. And no calling anyone a wimp, either. Thank you for both.

[the_beaver]

A/C is on right now, as it has been pretty well every day since last May.

[kermo]

The Ondol Turner-Onners, in order of Nationality:

1. South Africa
2. New Zealand
3. Australia
4. U.K.
5. America
6 (or possible not on the list at all) Those wacky Canucks.