Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Barefootbelle]

Help, my husband and I have just arrived in Korea and when we went to visit the monestary on the mountain above our hagwon, one of the monks invited us to dinner. We have no idea how to behave. All the Koreans will tell us is to relax and enjoy ourselves. Does anybody have any other advice?

Christine

[Hater Depot]

Your friends are giving you the right advice. I've never found Koreans to be anything other than perfectly gracious hosts. Any breaches of Korean etiquette I mistakenly commit have always been totally ignored. And believe me I've made mistakes in my attempts to have a Korean conversation that would have earned me a beatdown had I not been a foreigner.

[Swiss James]

I've eaten with a monk before, no need to fret you'll have a great time.

Can't think of any do's and don'ts- monks are by definition very chilled out people, the food was great too.

[joe_doufu]

It'll be a vegetarian meal, so hide some beef jerky in your pack and sneak it out if you feel desperate for a meat fix!

[Swiss James]

[fidel]

Some tips for eating with Buddhists

Never shake their right hand
Don't look them in the eye
Always try to position yourself so the top of your head reaches no higher than their chin
Before eating cross your fingers and bow your head swiftly three times
Always eat food before you from right to left
If you have finished eating, clap once

[kangnam mafioso]

1. bring a gift : fruit or non-alcoholic drinks or something like that wrapped and looking fancy.

2. try to bow

3. when handing or receiving something, use two hands.

4. let the host eat first

5. laugh and smile a lot and pretend you don't know anything about korean customs, but appear to be very interested

6. for your own sanity, make up an excuse so you can leave fairly shortly (but not too soon) after dinner

[Ya-ta Boy]

I have some advice: relax and enjoy yourself.

[sheba]

I've heard that youre not allowed to leave ANY food on your plate.... you must eat every piece of rice.

[Swiss James]

[Hater Depot]

I've heard that if you really clean your plate like that, it was traditionally considered a sign that you didn't think the host had given you eneough food. And hence was considered quite rude.

[thekingofdisco]

Not with the monks though... I believe that they are indeed supposed to finish everything.

Anyway this is all moot to the OP - just enjoy yourself~!

[Swiss James]

when I heard the clean plate thing it was whilst eating from a buffet- so I can see that being true;

'take what you want but want what you take' isn't that the motto?

When I ate with a monk he gave me a pickled plum that was the sourest thing I've ever eaten, it literally brought tears to my eyes. You know when you eat something and you're still not sure afterwards whether you enjoyed it or not?

[desultude]

I understand that it is really taboo for a woman to touch a monk. Just bow, don't shake hands or make bodily contact.

On the other hand, monks generally have a great sense of humor and are gracious, so anything and everything will be forgiven. Buddhists are the ultimate relativists.

[the eye]