Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rapier]

Have you guys started to behave as Koreans do in any way?
I noticed yesterday that I generally do a slight bow of the head now, without thinking, as a greeting...however its usually coupled with a wave of the hand. I can't even remember when I started doing it..
Also, I don't let women through doors first anymore- just walk in front of them every time. Its probably because when I used to hold the door open, they seemed confused and waited for me instead..so now I don't bother..
Likewise crossing the road. In the west I always wait for cars to pass first. Here I've learned that any relatively slow moving car will slow down, or give pedestrians right of way. They expect you to walk out right in front of them anyway, so I just do...
Come to think of it, there's plenty of things I now do without even realising, that I never did before I came here. Standing, and making my way to the airplane exit before it has stopped taxing on the runway is another, last time I even beat the Koreans to it!!

[SuperFly]

After 36 months in Korea, I found myself bumping into people without realizing I was invading their personal space.

[rapier]

I tend to be a lot more pushy now...used to be a bit more considerate. I definitely have the "me first" mentality, everything's a competition..

[Mashimaro]

sorry, but I just have to ask the question.. how do you spell mannerism??

edit: ok the typo has been fixed now

[marista99]

I've gotten used to the cashier saying hello when I walk into a store--that used to freak me out. Also, even though it's only been a few weeks that I've been here, I'm now accustomed to giving a little head nod/bow as a hello or goodbye or whatever.

[PatrickSiheung]

1. I've noticed Korean curses now roll off my tongue as comfortably as any English curse word.

2. I feel like I've been bowing since I was born.

3. I bump and get bumped without getting phased anymore.

4. I slurp my noodles and take much larger bites when eating.

5. I don't think twice about checking my teeth in the mirror at the gimpap shops.

6. Now that it's summer I carry a hankerchief and fan everywhere.

7. I can talk on the phone in public.

8. I've developed a complete indifference to people looking at me.

9. Handing things to people with just one hand feels so rude.

[Corporal]

I spit at will.

I drink to excess.

I beat my wife.

...err, my husband. He likes it though.

[captain kirk]

That slight nod of the head type of 'bow' is one of the things I like about Korea. There's lots of complaining about ajoshis but it's not unusual some guy will give me the nod like that as a way of saying hi, I see you, welcome to and enjoy Korea...a kind of acknowledgement which is positive. Their faces look friendly. There's much mention of 'stony faced Koreans', also. So this friendly nod thing is around, and a charming custom. I guess every foreinger adopts the 'nod on the run' kind of bow.
Plunk goods close to the cash register butting in between the register and someone in the process of buying something and nobody squawks or makes a scene, as would happen in the West. This is good.
And yeah, spitting is ok. I can swish a bit of mouthwash between classes and spit it into the garbage at work with kids and folks whizzing by and be exercising my Korean right to spit freely as it pleases me. Same goes for horking. What a great place.

[the_beaver]

It's funny about the spitting.

Before I came here I spit like like a llama getting dry humped by an undesired chimpanzee. When I got here I thought I was in expectorating heaven so I was lobbing loogies like a trooper. Then one of my students told me that it's actually considered rude and it's even illegal. I decided that I didn't want to be associated with the rude people so I stopped spitting here in the home of spattering spit.

[marista99]

[toomuchtime]

[yangban]

I live in the States. I bow at work sometimes. It just happens. In traffic, I complain in Korean, somtimes at work too. I beckon people using the Korean method: palm down, fingers waving. If I see people do it the other way, I look on, horrified at their rudeness. Then I realize that it's normal, and I'm not. I still remove my shoes at home.

[ladyandthetramp]

Wow, I've picked up most of the aforementioned mannerisms. Here's a few more I can add:

Sleeping on the subway

Giving everything with my right hand and almost never with my left

Filling up someone's glass as soon as it's empty

Holding my glass with two hands when it's being filled

Asking people their age

Speaking Korean

Dropping the trousers of a little boys pants and complimenting him on the astonishing nature of his pecker ���� (actually, I only saw this once even though I've heard about it many more times - seems this mannerism is fading away, for the better)

[just because]

Guarding the elevator.

When i went back to Australia for a bit I always saw myself strategically positioning for a fast elevator entrance.

[PatrickSiheung]