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markincal
Joined: 12 Apr 2011
Location: California
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 Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:43 pm Post subject: Ulsan is pretty good, but... |
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| I've been in Ulsan for about three weeks now and I find I enjoy living and working here. The people are friendly for the most part. My only difficulty so far has been trying to figure out how to accept/deal with two behaviors: cutting in line, and weird bus behavior. The cutting in line business wouldn't bother me if I saw Koreans doing it amongst themselves, but I haven't. I've seen it happen often to foreigners, and it happens regularly to me. Even when it's totally clear that I'm next in line, Koreans will regularly squeeze between me and the counter and prosecute their business. So that's pretty frustrating. The bus thing is a bit different. If the bus gets crowded, the empty seat next to mine is the last one filled, and then only reluctantly. What's the deal? Do I smell bad? Am I so physically unappealing that they can't bring themselves to sit next to me? I know these are small things in an overall experience that has been overwhelmingly positive, but some insight into dealing with and/or understanding these things would be appreciated. |
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Mr. Peabody
Joined: 24 Sep 2010
Location: here
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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The reason Koreans cut in line in front of you (and other foreigners) is because you aren't standing close enough to the person in front of you. Remember this expression the next time you're standing in line, "nut to butt".
As far as the seat thing goes, I don't know. Just be happy it does. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Mr. Peabody wrote: |
The reason Koreans cut in line in front of you (and other foreigners) is because you aren't standing close enough to the person in front of you. Remember this expression the next time you're standing in line, "nut to butt".
As far as the seat thing goes, I don't know. Just be happy it does. |
Koreans abhor a vacuum. It's the same on the roads.
When driving with my wife recently I told her that I could make the silver SM5 on the lane to my right change to our lane by the power of mental telepathy.......so I slowed a little to allow a 3 car-length gap to open up between me and the car in front. Quel surprise, the SM5 popped right in there. |
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daunting
Joined: 05 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 5:52 am Post subject: Re: Ulsan is pretty good, but... |
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| markincal wrote: |
| If the bus gets crowded, the empty seat next to mine is the last one filled, and then only reluctantly. What's the deal? Do I smell bad? Am I so physically unappealing that they can't bring themselves to sit next to me? |
This happens to me on the subway in Daejeon, and I'm pretty sure I'm not smelly/physically unappealing to most Koreans. It's just because you're foreign. People generally sit next to people that are similar to themselves. For example, as a woman, if I had to choose between an empty seat next to another woman and an empty seat next to a man, I'd almost always choose the former. I wouldn't worry about it too much. |
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furtakk
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:01 am Post subject: |
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embrace the extra leg space. and the nut to butt rule is on point.
don't really notice the seat thing much in seoul these days, but i primarily ride line 2 so i mostly never have a seat anyhow. |
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pegasus64128
Joined: 20 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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| furtakk wrote: |
embrace the extra leg space. and the nut to butt rule is on point.
don't really notice the seat thing much in seoul these days, but i primarily ride line 2 so i mostly never have a seat anyhow. |
It's way worse in China. In China, you are seen as space. If you can be made to walk out of the way, then you were never in the way. It's like a constant game of chicken. My only advice: Take the less traveled, less efficient, more scenic route at all times and make a point of enjoying the space. |
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