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Roch
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:07 am Post subject: My Korean Co-Workers Eat Like Pigs!! |
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This letter was posted at about 7:30pm, Korean time but then deleted some time after.
Mods: Please explain.
After suffering in silence from the pig-like sounds coming out of my Korean colleagues mouthes, one of them suddenly said to me that the Korean staff are aware that their piggish ways greatly offend and disgust Westerners but they refuse to stop behaving in such a provocative, ugly, and primitive manner.
I smiled and said nothing to the 45 year old jerk.
Any opinions out there? |
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Dan The Chainsawman
Joined: 05 May 2005
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:09 am Post subject: |
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Wrong forum maybe..
However, can't say I fault you for being grossed out by people being deliberately nasty.
Disgusto... |
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oneofthesarahs
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Location: Sacheon City
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:16 am Post subject: |
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| It's just a cultural thing. Koreans just eat louder than Westerners are used to. It's a sign that the food is delicious. Just deal with it, or eat meals seperately from them. It's not worth the time nor the effort complaining about it. |
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The Hierophant
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:19 am Post subject: |
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| oneofthesarahs wrote: |
| It's just a cultural thing. Koreans just eat louder than Westerners are used to. It's a sign that the food is delicious. Just deal with it, or eat meals seperately from them. It's not worth the time nor the effort complaining about it. |
Yeah, true. The noise is no big deal.
In fact, I like it. It means I can eat like a pig too and not feel embarassed.
When in Hanguk, do as the Hangukians do. |
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Roch
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:23 am Post subject: Sarah's Reply to Roch |
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| oneofthesarahs wrote: |
| It's just a cultural thing. Koreans just eat louder than Westerners are used to. It's a sign that the food is delicious. Just deal with it, or eat meals seperately from them. It's not worth the time nor the effort complaining about it. |
As the 45 year old pig alleged, "it's a cultural difference." Well, this unacceptable cultural difference was not what ticked me off: It was their unnecessary dig/taunt directed at me for being a caucasian.
Hey, Canuck, how about I do something very offensive and hide behind the lame excuse/lie that "it's a cultural difference"? What do you think of that?
By the way, are you married or attached to a Korean?
Anyway, thanks for your reply.
R |
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Roch
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:29 am Post subject: |
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| The Hierophant wrote: |
| oneofthesarahs wrote: |
| It's just a cultural thing. Koreans just eat louder than Westerners are used to. It's a sign that the food is delicious. Just deal with it, or eat meals seperately from them. It's not worth the time nor the effort complaining about it. |
Yeah, true. The noise is no big deal.
In fact, I like it. It means I can eat like a pig too and not feel embarassed.
When in Hanguk, do as the Hangukians do. |
Knock people over when walking on an uncrowded sidewalk; pick and blow one's nose in public; refer to different races as inferior; drive like a maniac; cheat others in our employ; charge those from Africa, the Americas, and Europe 200-300% more for goods at the shijang; drink in an irresponsible manner and then act like a hostile fool before puking and/or urinating on a city street.
Shall I take your advice to heart? Please advise.
Yeah, I know you do not like me.
R
Last edited by Roch on Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:46 am Post subject: |
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Ah yeah, it's crazee the way people don't know how to close their mouths. We had a little 'party' last week where there was cake. Everyone got their cake and waited, so that we all started eating at the same time. Man I about spit my cake everywhere laughing at the ridiculous sounds they were making. It was like pigs feeding at a trough, with all the smacking and the unnecessarily forceful nose breathing. I really, really wanted to laugh, but decided not to draw attention like that.
This always reminds me of the taxi driver who explained to me quite gravely that in Korea it is considered very bad manners to make any noise while eating. He was really surprised that I was surprised at him telling me that.  That's when the ole' smile and nod comes in handy. |
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Roch
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:58 am Post subject: |
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| Qinella wrote: |
Ah yeah, it's crazee the way people don't know how to close their mouths. We had a little 'party' last week where there was cake. Everyone got their cake and waited, so that we all started eating at the same time. Man I about spit my cake everywhere laughing at the ridiculous sounds they were making. It was like pigs feeding at a trough, with all the smacking and the unnecessarily forceful nose breathing. I really, really wanted to laugh, but decided not to draw attention like that.
This always reminds me of the taxi driver who explained to me quite gravely that in Korea it is considered very bad manners to make any noise while eating. He was really surprised that I was surprised at him telling me that. :lol: That's when the ole' smile and nod comes in handy. |
Lonely Planet's entry on Korea says that making noise at the table is a major violation of ettiquette but 99.999% of the folks here do it every time they have anything in their mouthes. The gum snapping has compelled me to ask at least ten Koreans to knock it off. As I posted on here last March, I've gotten physical with a lot of Koreans for the obnoxious, in-your-face, wild-eyed "Hello!!!!"
To make a point out of letting me know that they refuse to even follow a basic rule of ettiquette shows me that they are hostile people. Come to think of it, about half of the Koreans I've worked with had major chips on their shoulders and openly dissed and insulted us on a frequent basis.
Last edited by Roch on Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:03 am; edited 1 time in total |
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The Hierophant
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:02 am Post subject: |
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| Roch wrote: |
Yeah, I know you do not like me.
R |
Eh? I don't even know you 
I just don't think that eating noise is something to get worked up over.
Still, I feel your pain. Sometimes living in this country drives me to the brink of madness. |
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Roch
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:18 am Post subject: |
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| The Hierophant wrote: |
| Roch wrote: |
Yeah, I know you do not like me.
R |
Eh? I don't even know you :)
I just don't think that eating noise is something to get worked up over.
Still, I feel your pain. Sometimes living in this country drives me to the brink of madness. |
Again, it's the metaphorical middle finger that was stuck in my face with their sudden announcement that they know such shit is bad but they refuse to stop.
So, what do you suggest I do to gross them out? |
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Matt_22
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:29 am Post subject: |
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| I would just crap my pants and paint my face with my own excrement during staff meetings. Tell them it's "American custom." |
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The Hierophant
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:51 am Post subject: |
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| Roch wrote: |
So, what do you suggest I do to gross them out? |
Blow your nose loudly while at the dinner table (toward the food).
Wear filth-encrusted boots indoors (and put your feet up on the desk as you lean back in your chair).
Hmmm, lemme think of some others... |
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Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:03 am Post subject: |
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| "Don't take off your shoes, don't take off your shoes, we don't take off our shoes in the house." 맞다. |
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jaderedux
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Lurking outside Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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Well I do take off my shoes at my house and other people's homes but since I have had 2 pairs of good sneakers stolen from the downstairs lockers I don't take off my shoes and change until I get to the teacher's room.
I am frequently frowned at and once asked why I can't change downstairs. I told them why and they were horrified. Things never get stolen here they informed me.
I have been pick pocketed twice. Once during world cup (the first one) pro job. Once recently but the thief was at least sympathtic I found my wallet shoved in my mailbox in a brown envelope...sans money but everything else intact.
At school the following have been stolen...1 mp3 player from teacher's room. In my drawer not exactly in plain sight. Money. 2 DVD's. 2 Uno games. Lent a pair of fairly nice headphones to a teacher and she lent them to someone else and weren't returned and since the person was older I couldn't demand them back without making a scene. From the Villa I lived I had one bicycle stolen and one bicycle seat stolen. Live and learn.
When I tell my co-workers (korean) they are shocked and assume it must be the other foreigners stealing the bicycles. As for the stuff missing from school...I must have lost it. Koreans simply don't steal things. So I continue to tromp upstairs and change my shoes in the teachers room and suffer the tsk tsking I get now and again. I lock up my desk even when I go to the bathroom. (a topic of conversation now and again in the teachers room) And never under any circumstances leave my classroom unattended. And lock every single cabinet because if it isn't locked up it gets "lost".
Happens everywhere but get tired of hearing how it doesn't happen in Korea. And by the way I teach in the so-called "good" middle school in my town.
Jade |
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ChopChaeJoe
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Roch wrote: |
Again, it's the metaphorical middle finger that was stuck in my face with their sudden announcement that they know such *beep* is bad but they refuse to stop.
So, what do you suggest I do to gross them out? |
I think you're in the wrong here. Offending you = bad?
The world does not revolve around you. Some Koreans make slurping noises while eating. They did it before you got here. They aren't doing it to offend ou. they'd be delighted if you joined their custom. Why should they change just because it offends you. Do Hindus go into a mcDonalds and start shouting about the horror and profanity of people eating cows?
On the other hand, soliciting help to deliberately offend someone strips you of any rightousness you were aiming for. |
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