Korean Job Discussion Forums

[interestedinhanguk]

After two years here, I can say that I appreciate ajummas a lot more than when I first moved here. I used to think it was all flying elbows and perms. But, I've come to realize the fact that they're probably the least fazed by my waygook-ness. Other than the occasional starer, I feel like I'm treated the most normal by them. When I go into their shop or restaurant, they're perfectly willing to deal with me and don't make a fuss about it.

I don't even know what I'm saying; I'm just writing on a boring Saturday afternoon.

[Radius]

well, sure. The males are the ones that feel most threatened by us. I like adjummas, they remind me of Italian women--fierce and fiery.

[machoman]

sorry to hijack the thread, but why do so many people spell ajumma with a D?? adjumma and adjosshi? where does the D come from? it's not there when u write it in korean. i don't get it, i see it so often here. (not an attack on you, radius)

sorry- do continue......

[interestedinhanguk]

ugh, start another thread.

[jamal0000]

forget cougar hunting, let's go ajumma hunting tonight!

[Caffeinated]

[trogdor]

Buy her a coffee first!

[Died By Bear]

Dude who asked about romanization - that's the old way teachers used to spell it back in the 90's before they changed the way we romanize Korean. I think it's also partly because of the way Hanguk sarram pronounce the word, or our poor understanding of they way they say it.

As for the adjumma, ajuma, the best ones to know are the ones that have their own shop in the veggie market. You get in with them, all the other ones selling different foods will be good to you too. It's all in the art of interacting with the adjuma. You gotta charm them like a hollywood star baby! These women built Korea -By Hook and By Crook, but they did do it, especially the ones in their 50's +

[cragesmure]

yeah, ajummas rock. Love them to bits. Harsh at first, to be sure, but after you get used to that, they are pure gold. Don't get the gawking from them, they are not put off by a conversation of broken Korean, they seem much more sympathetic than any other group of people here but are still confident and good to have a laugh with. And who doesn't love a woman in floral parachute pants? Stop. Ajumma time.

[redaxe]

Can you imagine having one as your mother, though?

[cragesmure]

Or waking up next to one every day? That's why I'd never marry a Korean. I'd like to see Bear Grills get out of that one.

[BaldTeacher]

The ajummas that you see today, the real ones, are products of a time when life in Korea was much different.

When todays 20-30 year old Korean chicks become ajummas, they will be quite a bit different.

[cragesmure]

[rumdiary]

[southernman]

Yes I have to agree, what you see is what you get, no games in general.

Saying that my first landlord was a fifty something ajuma after a few months I realised my paypacket was 60 000 Won short. I went to my bosses wife to get an explanation she was on to things straight away. It turned out my landlord was collecting money for my utilities twice. My Acadamy was paying from my pay, then my landlord was coming to me to get the same ammount from me.

My bosses wife rang her up (in front of me) and read her the riot act. Then calmly turned to me, smiled, and said no problems the money will be in your bank this afternoon and it was. Ah, it still brings back a smile.

Ajuma's rock... they can dish out the ocassional elbow or trolley slam but they also receive the return elbow or trolley slam without grumble (with stoicism) and maybe actually give you a little nod of respect or is it surprise