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marista99
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
Location: Incheon
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 Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:42 pm Post subject: Is this normal "korea time" behavior? |
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So my boss handed out a flyer to all the classes telling them to come for a picnic at the park from 11am to 3pm. She asks me to come at 9:30 to help her set up. We get there at 9:30 and half the kids are already there! Everyone was there by 10, and by 2:30 we were packed up to go home.
I had always heard that Koreans tend to run on the late side--why did our picnic run early? Was it just a weird flukey thing, or did everyone just know that if the flyer said 11, they should show up at 10? |
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peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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The Koreantime thing is pretty outdated now. If someone's late it'susually because of traffic not culture.
I suspect that the reason the kids were early was because that's when they usually have classes and either soemone forgot to tell them, or their parents didn't bother to make alternate arrangements |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 1:32 am Post subject: |
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| peppermint wrote: |
The Koreantime thing is pretty outdated now. If someone's late it'susually because of traffic not culture.
I suspect that the reason the kids were early was because that's when they usually have classes and either soemone forgot to tell them, or their parents didn't bother to make alternate arrangements |
i disagree. I still find that koreans are predictably late for any non-work related appointment, averaging 20-30 minutes -without fail. The traffic is a problem- but surely after a while you would start to set out earlier to allow time for this potential delay?
Ireland was simlar: always late. when people said 3 o'clock, it always meant maybe sometime between 3 and 5.
It seems to be so normal and usual, that you make a mental note to pitch up half an hour late yourself anyway.
I believe its a subtle, subconscious way to get an advantage over you. By being late, they're actually saying "I'm more important than you..I hlead a busy life". Women are famous for being late for dates, for example, by way of a test to see if you put up with it, get riled, or whatever.
The key is to show your displeasure. Don't let them away with it..Always make some comment or complain, and you'll find it miraculously doesn't happen again. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 3:34 am Post subject: |
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| rapier wrote: |
. Women are famous for being late for dates, for example, by way of a test to see if you put up with it, get riled, or whatever.
The key is to show your displeasure. Don't let them away with it..Always make some comment or complain, and you'll find it miraculously doesn't happen again. |
Translation: I rarely get a second date.
j/k |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 4:01 am Post subject: |
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| I'd rather have a second date based on respectfully pitching up on time, than one where she thinks she can pitch up any time she wants and I'll still be there waiting patiently like a nice boy. |
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just because
Joined: 01 Aug 2003
Location: Changwon - 4964
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| Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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| marista99 wrote: |
| I had always heard that Koreans tend to run on the late side--why did our picnic run early? Was it just a weird flukey thing, or did everyone just know that if the flyer said 11, they should show up at 10? |
There are two main reasons why the kids came so early.
1. The moms don't want their sons and daughters falling behind so if one child gets there 1 hour early, then mine must as well as they will fall behind or miss out so the theory goes.
2. Another reason is to palm the children off to you as a babysitter so they have something to do. i noticed some of my kids can't wait to go back to school because they are bored. |
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