Korean Job Discussion Forums

[phaedrus]

The reason I ask is that my skill with chopsticks is better than a lot of Korean's.

I am not bragging, but I wonder if you notice this with yourself; and how good are you with chopsticks?

[the_beaver]

Been using chopsticks since I was 11. Motor skills were good enough to learn how to do it properly and I've been doing it years.

[shawner88]

I figure foreigners like me are better with chopsticks cause they usually learn as an adult rather than as a toddler. Much in the same way I learned to hold a pencil wrong and have held it that way ever since, Korean kids learn the wrong way.

[phaedrus]

[schwa]

Years ago I was taken with the (probably spurious) story that Confucius, a vegetarian, promoted the use of chopsticks at the table over utensils that hinted at butchery.

I used them customarily for years before I came here but the slender stainless steel units were a bit of an adjustment. I'm a convert now -- the wooden jobs feel clunky -- but I havent mastered the reverse cutting motion that Koreans do so deftly.

By the way, is there a trick to consistently breaking apart wooden take-out sticks reasonably evenly?

[ryleeys]

I actually brought my own chopsticks with me from America. I am far more accustomed to the Japanese style than the Korean or Chinese styles, though I am getting a little better with both.

I also have difficulty understanding the technique Koreans use with holding the chopsticks together. I've tried it, and it doesn't work. When I hold my chopsticks, the bottom rests in the crook at the top of my thumb, same as everyone else. But then the "top" stick, I hold very far away, a good 2-3 centimeters from the other, to maximize my ability to pinch. The greater angle of contact at the point also allows me to apply more pressure.

[SuperHero]

Been using chopsticks since I was 13.

The real test is how fast you can eat a bowl of rice one grain at a time.

[katydid]

When I came to Korea 2 years ago, I had *no* idea how to use chopsticks. You know what is a great teacher? Hunger.
I soon learned how to pick up everything, including those slippery pieces of seaweed.
Now Korean people tell me I use chopsticks very well.

[Homer]

Jesus people..this is hilarious!

You are discussing ability with a basic eating utensil and then patting each other on the back for being able to use it well

Then, some of you proceed to enter into a pissing contest by saying you are just "better" then the locals at eating with basic utensils...whoo hooo

Whats next
I can see it now: " Hey did you know I can use a spoon better then (insert group of your choice)"

[katydid]

I, myself, was writing my post with a sense of irony, and wanted to share my admittedly pretty pathetic tale of how I *only* leanred to use chopsticks just two years ago. Any other attempts in the past were pure comedy.

[ryleeys]

Anytime you have to do something new, it's going to be of interest. For many people, using a "simple utensil" is a new part of life to deal with here, and therefore of interest.

If you're not interested, spend the two minutes you used to type that you're not interest doing something useful... like looking up NASA photos!

[jajdude]

I found it interesting to notice that different countries use chopsticks differently. In Korea they often use them like a knife to divide the food before eating it. I did not see this in Taiwan. When I did it I think it looked unusual there. They usually just picked up the bigger piece and bit off some and put the other amount back in the dish.

They are rarely used in Thailand. I think only one or two (local) dishes there use them. They also have a certain etiquette though, with the spoon in the right for eating, and the fork in the left as a helper, cutter of food, not the eater.

I could be wrong. Please say if it's so.

[phaedrus]

[jajdude]

That is true. I had never used them before arrival in Korea! Utensils are used differently all over the world. It is kind of interesting. And some meals are hands only! YUM

[Zyzyfer]