Korean Job Discussion Forums

Fredbob · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:57 am Post subject: How quickly things can go sour.

So I'm joking with my director of one week and we're trying to get me switched from an E2 to an E7 or C4 or who knows what.

Up until now we've gotten along fine, I don't tend to mix my personal life with business so the relationship has been pretty professional.

We were complaining together about how difficult dealing with immigration could be so I crack a joke, "Maybe I should just marry your daughter, it might be the cheapest option."

His response, kind of chuckling was,"That would ruin my daughters life, its insulting". Then he said a friendly goodbye as he was in the process of leaving.

Who the heck knows where things will go from here but right now I feel like actually meeting his daughter and knocking her up, after of course kicking him in the balls.-just venting

I hate when rascism just sneaks up on me like that.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

Yeah, gotta love that matter-of-fact casualness of something so offensive, don't you?

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

Is it racism or classism? I mean seriously, people here do seem to take certain types of jobs as being more important than others. Not to excuse him or anything. Of course it could have been a complete joke, including saying "it's insulting"

Fredbob · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:47 am Post subject:

I'm going with the racism card, he spent enough time in the US to know my qualifications and I'm actually working as a consultant, not an ESL teacher and not for a hagwon.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I'm going with the "Stay the balls away from my daughter!" response.

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

No offense, but if you casually mentioned marrying my daughter in such a flippant manner, you'd be lucky not to have to get around using your knuckles to propel a skateboard that carried you on your bloody stumps. Just joking. Go for it, knock her up.

Fredbob · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:12 am Post subject:

You know RT- you have a point, it's probably not correct but I have younger sisters so I can kind a get the negativity, I'll hope he's just a protective daddy and let time tell if he's rascist.

Been reading this board to much, I let the pessimism get to me Embarassed

Thanks for the jokes too, the knuckling dragging comment and me reaching for my keyboard for a sec.

My luck is somehow I will end up meeting his daughter in Osaka or something and accidently knocking her up, never having met her previously of course.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Reminds me of when I was waiting for my boss to get here and open the hagwon. I was standing outside, reading a large poster that advertised the hagwon's program, written all in Korean except words like READING and QUIZ. He walks up, looks at what I'm doing, and says, "What are you doing? Ah.. just reading the English, huh? Hehe.." Given that I understood 90% of the sign, and he knows I study Korean, it pretty much pissed me off. Impossible for whitey to learn Korean.

I think you're right that flippant, insulting comments can damage a relationship. I did harbor some bitterness for awhile, myself. You probably will, too, I'd imagine.

Homer · Guest

I think that he reacted like a dad more than like a racist. You cracked a joke about his daughter...what did you expect?

I think he responded in such a way because you bulldozed right into his personal family life with a flippant joke...he reacted kinda normally if you ask me.

If he comes back andtreats you like crap then perhaps you offended him or perhaps he is just racist (I think this possible but not the most likely scenario at this point).

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

If I'm ever lucky enough to have a daughter, I'll be one of those over-protective dads, I know it. I wouldn't be as rude as him though. That sucks OP, I feel for you, as sadly I let stuff like that eat me up. Mind you, I'd never dream of saying something so stupid to a Korean guy about his daughter!

Fredbob · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:39 am Post subject:

I'll come totally clean, I said it a few minute after he "jokingly" suggested I married my girlfriend for the visa.

gang ah jee · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: city of paper

numazawa · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Location: The Concrete Barnyard

Julius · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

Haha..funny, but you got a rather expected comeback.

Its too easy to become over-familiar with your principal, I sympathise. Especially when they give you the constant smiles. But yes, they can change in an instant. I failed to bow once and it was all over. I don't think they ever forget, either. Sensitive.