Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ekim]

I just walked into a restaurant today and ordered my kimchi jigae - first time in 14 months here I've ordered it - and noticed the owners having dinner. It's a kimbap restaurant, but they had the samgyupsal and galbi cookin' and invited me to sit down. I thought it would just be a bite or two, but they stuffed me with a whole meal, while waiting for my, what now seemed to be, side order.

I get my kimchi jigae, go sit down, and they still bring over a plate of meat and leaves to wrap it all in. Jesus, I finished up, paid, thanked them, and came back with my own gift to them of ice cream. Cheesey, I know.

It was only last night that a friendly Korean I sometimes drink with at the nearby pub insisted on paying for the two tequila shots I ordered to celebrate his promotion. The tequila (doubles) must've gone straight to my head, cuz a little later I thought I'd order a couple shots of whiskey to keep the friendly mood going.

Dumb thing to do, I realized two seconds after the order came out of my mouth. Next thing I know they're discussing in Korean how you can't just have shots, you gotta buy the bottle, and again, I'm not gonna be allowed to pay for it any way it goes down. I tried to talk them down to a cheaper alcohol, like tequila or burbon, but no dice. To cede defeat to a bottle of JD in front of his younger, foreign, friend would be too much shame for this hard working Korean. So he pays the 80~100,000 won (whatever it is) and they kept a tag on it for other appearances - my name and his, underlined by "to friendship".

Why am I writing this? Well, I've had two great - damn near embarrassing - experiences with Koreans in two days, none of the bad stuff. I know the bad experiences will come around here or there, sooner or later, as they always do. But it's rare for anyone to write about their good experiences with Koreans. Every email I write home usually covers the bad things.

There've been a lot of emails. But I've had more than enough opportunity to write some good things about Korea, from the day I got here and the lady at the store kept giving me free snacks to go with the beer I was drinkin' outside. My Korean friends have been incredible to me. The local shop owners and businesses have been plenty friendly. Even my students have been more or less great.

These are the things that make me feel bad every time I bash Korea so harshly, which begs the question, why do I do it? Maybe it's human nature to complain. Maybe it's too easy to go with the flow, and since everyone else is bashing Korea, why not? I had plenty of ammunition with which to attack Korea before I even got here, all second or third hand info.

I'm not saying all of Korea is great and honky-dory. I've had my fights and my trouble. But the good stuff is equally impressive. It's definitely a love-hate relationship with this country. So for all the hatin' I've done, here's some love.

[Guri Guy]

Korea is good and bad just like any other country. Imagine that.
I have seen kindess and pure ignorance here. It is nice to hear positive stories I'll admit. Makes me feel better about the country.

[Hapkido-In]

I guess we've all had good and bad experiences in Korea. I think we hear about the bad one's a little more simply because it's nice to vent when you're mad/angry. And it's also nice to hear a reply or two from people that feel exactly the same as you do. Even though you might feel alone in Korea at times, you can at least know that some one else feels the same way that you do. I guess it's sort of validating in the 'I'm not insane' sense.

Personally, I have good experiences every night in Korea (training hapkido). From the Master showing me how to fine tune my techinques, to the 19 year old uni student trying so hard to communicate with me. (And he's really not trying to get free English lessons from me, as he'll combine English with Korean and body language, anything he can to communicate).

I also have bad experiences every day, but I try not to dwell too much on them and try to remember things will turn around.

I actually think that Korea is very close to being a paradise for most people, but because of a few very glaring problems, is not. And that it's rather frustrating when a really great life dangles right infront of your face, but out of your grasp. But life is like that in any country.

Anyways, nice to hear that you had two really great experiences like that. Hope they keep on coming.

[Mitch Comestein]

Thanks God for a post like this!

Everyone (No, I know not EVERYONE) disses Koreans for being "Blah, Blah, Blah" or whatever, but most of the Koreans that I have ever had real contact with have been some of the nicest people I have ever met! Also, may I note, I am from the southern US, where hospitality is the name of the game.

I think that Koreans get a bad rap. I also think that people who have a hard time with Koreans deserve it.

Koreans want to impress people with their hospitality. So far, they have done it with me.

[Imbroglio]

I've never, ever had a lick of trouble in Korea.

In fact, I don't understand what everyone is talking about, shoving...pushing? I've always been given the right of way everywhere I go. When I get on the subway, middle aged ladies hold the door for me!

Where do these lies come from? Why is everyone so down on Korea?

I've been here ten years and all that bad stuff ain't never happened to me. Maybe because I'm a great looking model for Korean billboards? I don't know, and I don't care, because here in Korea...Im a movie star!

[Guri Guy]

[Satori]

The good things and the complaints are equally valid for me. I'm not a misanthrope or a romantic idealist.

When it comes to generosity a lot of Koreans will give you the shirt of thier back. But ask them if it's ok if you marry thier daughter, you might see another side of things...

[joyfulgirl]

of course korea is good and bad, like anywhere. i thought it was pure bliss for ages. i never got the whole...'watch out for the elbows in the subway' thing, er whatever...but, then i don't ride the subway that much.

anyways, lately my job situation has gotten so stressful, and i'm so angry at my boss, that i find myself walking home angry at the WHOLE country...which is lame and stupid. and last week i sullenly walked into a convenience store near my place and asked for ciggies, and the sweet old guy behind the counter threw in a pack of chocolates as service. and i smiled again.

not that the chocolates makes the stress of work go away, of course, but it snapped me out of whatever i was thinking about 'bloody smiling koreans'...

the only thing that's ever bothered me about this place is my job situation lately, really.

it's as good a place as any, more so oftentimes. and less so, if you're having a rough time. people just vent when they're angry, not when they're happy.

[ekim]

Yeah, that daughter thing may hold a lot of weight. There can be limits. I often feel like I'm walkin' on shells when people are kind, like I could mess it up pretty badly with one wrong move or statement.

Most of my bad experiences involve alcohol. Damn near all of 'em. I'm not sure if alcohol is the reason for all of 'em, but it didn't help the situations.

One non-alcohol related complaint I have quite often is how simple things get over complicated! Jesus! It's just an ice-cream CONE, or a re-fill of Coke I'm willing to pay for if I have to!

Then I remember Vancouver airport and Canadian red-tape in general, and it brings me back down to earth in a hurry.

It's funny that I used to complain to my Taiwanese friend in Taiwan about their "unprofessional" ways of doing things. Whenever I thought back on Canada, however, it was exactly that which appealed to me about Taiwan.

Korea ain't bad. Can't say I miss Canada.