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UlsanBoy
Joined: 19 Jun 2011
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 Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:10 am Post subject: Koreans and Chairs. |
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I know as a guest here it's not cool to criticise the host, but sorry I've cracked and I'm going to do it. I had a work thing today. We had to go for a meal.
It all went fine the food was hot but I eat it without complaints, we laughed and joked and all around it was a fun night out but the one thing I could not take was sitting on the floor for four hours.
Why do Koreans love sitting on the floor? It hurts like hell and frankly it's dangerous. It can cause blood clots. It may sound trivial but it's the one reason I won't be renewing my contract next year. |
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myenglishisno
Joined: 08 Mar 2011
Location: Geumchon
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:59 am Post subject: |
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They grew up sitting on the floor. It's comfortable for them.
We grew up sitting in chairs. Our bones and muscles aren't adapted to sitting on the floor. It's uncomfortable for us.
In any case, there are ways around it. Tell them that you're really uncomfortable and that you need to lean against a wall for support or take three or four of those little pillows and stack them or do both. If you can't do either, make up an appointment and say you have to leave early. |
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DaHu
Joined: 09 Feb 2011
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 11:57 am Post subject: |
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| It's not cool for hosts not to think about their guests, so why can't you criticize them? |
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Setaro
Joined: 08 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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| DaHu wrote: |
| It's not cool for hosts not to think about their guests, so why can't you criticize them? |
You expect them to drag in a chair and high table just for the foreigner? Trad. Restaurants here have 12 inch high tables, it's not like they can get just get a chair for the foreigner and he can eat alongside them, lording it from above.
Jesus OP, you don't have to sit crosslegged, sit with your legs out at your side or something, it's not like you have to hold the lotus position for 2 hours. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| DaHu wrote: |
| It's not cool for hosts not to think about their guests, so why can't you criticize them? |
Are they supposed to read his mind?
What the last poster said is correct. You don't have to sit crosslegged. Lean back against the wall and stretch your legs out. Stack a few piilows underneath you and a couple between the wall and your back. |
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tiger fancini
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Location: Testicles for Eyes
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| DaHu wrote: |
| It's not cool for hosts not to think about their guests, so why can't you criticize them? |
I'm trying to imagine a Korean person eating in a restaurant in a Western country and complaining about having to sit on a chair. Should said restaurant provide floor seating for the Korean guest? |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| DaHu wrote: |
| It's not cool for hosts not to think about their guests, so why can't you criticize them? |
OP should have done a little more research on the dining customs of Asians before taking a job here. |
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wishfullthinkng
Joined: 05 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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| myenglishisno wrote: |
They grew up sitting on the floor. It's comfortable for them.
We grew up sitting in chairs. Our bones and muscles aren't adapted to sitting on the floor. It's uncomfortable for us. |
the human body was not designed to sit in any fashion and there is a lot of scientific proof to back this up. americans are used to sitting in chairs so that is more comfortable for them. asians are used to sitting on the floor. neither is correct.
so the moral of the story is, no matter who's doing the sitting, they're doing it wrong. |
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Horangi Munshin
Joined: 06 Apr 2003
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Good solution for this is to get up often and move to say hi to other teachers. Only a problem if you work in a small public school or a regular sized hagwon. |
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One Shot
Joined: 23 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:02 am Post subject: Re: Koreans and Chairs. |
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| UlsanBoy wrote: |
| Why do Koreans love sitting on the floor? It hurts like hell and frankly it's dangerous. It can cause blood clots. It may sound trivial but it's the one reason I won't be renewing my contract next year. |
I'm not really wild about sitting on the floor while eating either, but I hope you're exaggerating if that's the only reason for not renewing your contract for next year. |
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Squire
Joined: 26 Sep 2010
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:29 am Post subject: |
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It's literally a pain in the arse but one of those things you just have to put up with  |
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Skipperoo
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:34 am Post subject: Re: Koreans and Chairs. |
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| UlsanBoy wrote: |
| It may sound trivial but it's the one reason I won't be renewing my contract next year. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 1:40 am Post subject: Re: Koreans and Chairs. |
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| UlsanBoy wrote: |
I know as a guest here it's not cool to criticise the host, but sorry I've cracked and I'm going to do it. I had a work thing today. We had to go for a meal.
It all went fine the food was hot but I eat it without complaints, we laughed and joked and all around it was a fun night out but the one thing I could not take was sitting on the floor for four hours.
Why do Koreans love sitting on the floor? It hurts like hell and frankly it's dangerous. It can cause blood clots. It may sound trivial but it's the one reason I won't be renewing my contract next year. |
If sitting on the floor is uncomfortable it is because of bad stretching and exercise habits (or a severe condition). Invariably people who have a problem with this are overweight and have poor exercise habits (or a severe condition)
I love to relax in a chair at a roast meat place, but if sitting on the floor ever becomes that awkward, the problem is with me and my health, not with the custom.
I recommend 20 minutes of stretching exercises in a day. It will become comfortable in no time and promote long-term joint health. |
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myenglishisno
Joined: 08 Mar 2011
Location: Geumchon
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 3:23 am Post subject: |
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| wishfullthinkng wrote: |
| myenglishisno wrote: |
They grew up sitting on the floor. It's comfortable for them.
We grew up sitting in chairs. Our bones and muscles aren't adapted to sitting on the floor. It's uncomfortable for us. |
the human body was not designed to sit in any fashion and there is a lot of scientific proof to back this up. americans are used to sitting in chairs so that is more comfortable for them. asians are used to sitting on the floor. neither is correct.
so the moral of the story is, no matter who's doing the sitting, they're doing it wrong. |
That's what I was saying. It's two sides of the same coin. |
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isisaredead
Joined: 18 May 2010
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 4:02 pm Post subject: Re: Koreans and Chairs. |
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| UlsanBoy wrote: |
I know as a guest here it's not cool to criticise the host, but sorry I've cracked and I'm going to do it. I had a work thing today. We had to go for a meal.
It all went fine the food was hot but I eat it without complaints, we laughed and joked and all around it was a fun night out but the one thing I could not take was sitting on the floor for four hours.
Why do Koreans love sitting on the floor? It hurts like hell and frankly it's dangerous. It can cause blood clots. It may sound trivial but it's the one reason I won't be renewing my contract next year. |
THAT'S the only reason?! i know of about thirty people who would love to take your job then. |
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