Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mayorgc]

1. Lack of Zaniness

I was expecting Japan level of weirdness, but basically, there isn't much of it. In Japan, you see giant robots, Cosplay and wacky tv shows. I can't really think of anything in Korea that's zany. Not that it's a bad thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPuljdNvLMw

Kasou Taishou show, Batman performance

2. Attitude towards Cats

China Loves cats, Japanese love cats, but Koreans, not so much. Obviously, every country is different, but it's strange that a country that's sandwhiched between two cat lovers is actually more of a cat hater. I'm sure there are reasons for it.

3. Level of Economic development.

I was expecting Korea to be a bit more underdeveloped than it actually is.

[hockeyguy109]

Wait till this summer when all you can smell in the subway station is Kim Chi sweat. You'll have an awful nice surprise then.

[tzechuk]

Chinese don't like cats that much, you know...

[oskinny1]

[mayorgc]

Is it a regional chinese thing? I've never actually run into mainland Chinese who disliked cats. I've run into Chinese who were indifferent to animals, but never one that actually hated cats. So I assume that most Chinese love cats. My parents think they're related to luck and fortune.

[flakfizer]

One of the things that surprised me the most was how disrespectful some of the students (kids) were. In the States we hear about how respectful Asians are toward teachers and their parents. I was stunned to see/hear some of the things I did my first year. I learned most of the Korean swear words my first few months from hearing my students use those words and asking about those words back in the teachers' lounge.

I was also surprised at how spread out Seoul is. When I envisioned Seoul, I imagined a denser, taller city. When I came in 1994, there were even fewer skyscrapers then. I was expecting a much more impressive skyline.

I was surprised to see eggs unrefrigerated in many stores.

I was surprised at how kind and generous some of my adult students were. One lady made it her mission to be like my mother away from home. Sometimes, it felt awkward, but mostly I was very grateful for her efforts. She was also shocked to hear/see how the kids in class behaved (I taught both her and her daughter at my first hagwon and her daughter would tell her some of the things students would do/say).

I was surprised at how nice my first apartment was. Too nice apparently as the director eventually moved us to a smaller one about halfway through the contract. The smaller one was still not bad, though, and was closer to the school.

I was surprised to see our TV had a channel called "AFKN" that played lots of American sporting events live.

I was surprised to see boys hold hands or lock arms in class.

I was surprised the first time I tasted the contents of a bag that said, "Cheetos" on it.

[tzechuk]

[andrewchon]

Then the Nepalese must really love the cats.
They named their capital KAT-MANDU.
(mandu is a Chinese meat filled pastry)

[Forward Observer]

Someone once told me that some Japanese still look for cats to kill so they can make strings for shamisen out of their guts.

[NovaKart]

I realize I'm hijacking this thread even further but .......Anyone ever see the movie Gummo where the two teenagers kill cats to sell? That's the weirdest movie I've ever seen in my life and I've even seen Fellini movies. Well maybe it's a tie between Satyricon and Gummo.

[beercanman]

Seems like it depends. If Korea is/was one's first trip abroad or maybe to Asia anyway, the number of surprises is apt to be endless, no matter how much you learned before going. That was the case for me long ago, and I entered knowing next to nothing. It also depends where you come from. I'm from a small town. Back then all I knew were houses and lawns, front and back, with driveways, a good deal of grass, quite a clean town really. Slow paced and quiet. Spaced out, the opposite of crowded. Pretty much a white person world.

Enter the Korean/NE Asian world. Depends where, which city. Which bloody neighborhood, which job, whatever. I couldn't believe the buildings contained so many businesses and had so many signs, so much neon. How dense everything was, a lack of space, too many people and cars, too much pavement and concrete. Of course how everyone looked at me/us/the other. How poor and scarce English was. At work, and a co-teacher or two who couldn't hold a good conversation. A boss who could barely say "good night" but seemed friendly enough. The kids who really didn't a give a damn.

How strange it was. The food, with ten dishes. The street selling. The lack of food variety, well not at first. The drinking in public. The cheapness of a drink that could get ya drunk on a few bucks. The rarity of non-Asians in a city of a million. Also the friendliness of many locals eager to talk to a white guy. How attractive the girls seemed, and all over the place, as even a Canadian female roommate mentioned. The demand for English despite or because of its scarcity.

All this and I suppose a lot more was strange and surprising the first few months or year, or even now sometimes. It's a different world.

[Privateer]

First time I bit into what looked like a sugared jam donut off a street vendor - turned out to be something digustingly greasy and salty with ketchup!

I was surprised.

Was also surprised to find people wanted to pay me just to talk to them...

[Oreovictim]

[Ya-ta Boy]

I was surprised to see so many Nazi swastikas displayed openly...until I found out they were Buddhist symbols.

I was unpleasantly surprised that many pastries at Paris Baguette were booby trapped with icky red bean paste.

I am still surprised at how unfailingly friendly the vast majority of Koreans are, especially when I'm confused by a map.

I was surprised at the level of anti-Americanism so openly displayed by so many Canadians. I hadn't run into it before.

Even in '94 when I arrived there were a lot of American products available. I was not expecting that.

I'm surprised every time I hear an old American song on the PA when I'm in a bar or shop. California Dreamin' anyone?

I'm frequently surprised to hear an adult say he/she is afraid of cats and thunder. Who is afraid of cats and thunder?

I'm often surprised when I run into a friendly taxi driver who goes out of his way to be friendly and helpful.

[lizlemon]