Korean Job Discussion Forums

[poet13]

So yesterday at volleyball practise, I went up and spiked the ball down onto my vice-principal. He's only about 57 or so, on the team, and very active. Everyone seemed a little shocked. After practise he drove me home. He said he was impressed with my competitiveness, and happy that I didn't treat him like an old man (yes, his english was pretty mangled, but I got that much of it). But today, the captain of the volleyball team warned me off of doing that, saying it was wasn't appropriate. Last year at our inter-school soccer game, I steamrolled the principal of the adjoining high school, who incidentally, is going to be MY proincipal after the summer break . Again, the other players were a little shocked. He's about 50, but fit and fast and looks younger than my 42. It was clean, and after the clear I helped his wobbly self up. Since then, he has complimented me on my 'fighting spirit'.

For those of you who play competitive sports with your fellow teachers, is there any kind of etiquette you show to older players other than good sportsmanship? Would or do you back off on someone just cause he or she is your elder or superior?

It's kind of a bind as I would rather NOT play than only play half-way on some people. (my son is going to be in deep trouble when we start playing sports together )

[Yu_Bum_suk]

After sports day and physical fitness day proved me the superlative runner at any distance at my (girls) school the teachers had very high hopes that I might be able to provide to a volleyball team what I could to a relay team. Were they ever disappointed to find out that I wouldn't be facing your delemma in the slightest.

[oskinny1]

I play that sport where you kick a ball around a big grassy area and hope to get it into a large net with my fellow teachers and against other schools often. I play 100% with everybody. Just be a good sport about it.

On the other side, I noticed I win the ball quite a bit when I play with the students. Are they pulling the "He is older so I have to let him win" or am I just a regular Terry?

[shantaram]

I got told I would be the star player of the volleyball team at my school. Lol. I had never played volleyball in my life. In fact I hardly ever play sports, mainly due to fear of being 'spiked' like poet13 mentions in his post. Is it really necessary to be so aggressive in sport? Anyway I rather quickly got sat on the bench at their next interschool game, reportedly due to there being too many people on our team. Our team then had its numbers made up with people from the other school. On a happier note, I have since discovered water polo, and have built up enough confidence to rejoin volleyball! However, if anyone 'spiked' or 'steamrolled' me, that would be my official resignation from sports for the rest of my life.

[soju pizza]

It must suck to be younger than your sparring partner in a boxing ring

[hellofaniceguy]

Hey..if they want to play the game.....can't stand the heat...get out of the kitchen.
You did fine...it's only a game after all.

[MANDRL]

I play basketball with a lot of my coworkers. I always go full speed, and so do my coworkers. They play a little differently, like no "change" when you make a basket warming up, and they don't take the ball out up top for every possession when playing half court. So, when in Rome...

[yingwenlaoshi]

It depends. When I played some pick-up soccer with my cousin and his friends I got shat on for digging in too hard.

Relax, man.

[Smee]

I'm 5'7" but am the designated blocker on our volleyball team. I don't block on my principal or on some of the more delicate teachers they platoon in front of me, but by and large I go 100%. Things get really heated during our games and tournaments. I think I'd get in more trouble for dogging it than for easing up.

[ddeubel]

My question is , given the Korean propensity for "competitiveness"..... have you ever got pulled from the line up, because of your "foreigness" ummmmm, "unofficial" "assistant" position?

I had a friend who was. Quite disappointing for me and one of the few blemishes I have upon the Korean way of doing things at work...

DD

[poet13]

ddeubel ... you make an interesting point. No, it hasn't happened yet. I say yet, cause anything is possible. my co-teachers are very competetive in sports, and i believe becaus of this they put player skill advantage over nationality, but they also recognize the diplomacy in not crushing their opponent. i believe they truly do like me...not suggesting they dont.
At that soccer game last year, I steamrolled the principal, cleared the ball (very nicely ) to our center who was wide open. He trapped and scored without having to dribble. Trap. Kick. Goal.
Later in the game we scored another goal for 2-1. Later, I got open when their striker AND fullback got behind me. The goalie was rushing me, and I lateral passed to our open center standing in front of the goal. Couldn't miss. He did. The explanation? 2-1 ok. 3-1 bad. Still 8-10 minutes on the clock. Strangeee.
I dont know what it is, but it just feels really really wrong to not go 100%....on anything. I didn't grow up that way. I developed that in my late teens and early twenties, and it has held me in good stead for twenty years. I'm not going to change it, but on the other hand, I don't want to stop playing sports with my colleagues.

"It must suck to be younger than your sparring partner in a boxing ring"
...especially if your sparring partner rings your bell.

[ddeubel]

[poet13]

ddeubel...thanks for the good words. As far as getting out for a game? lol... I'm not good enough enough to play against any other than ajoshiis...lol. At 5'9", I can't seriously even pretend to be a REAL voleyball player. All I have going for me is energy, passion, and competitiveness.

PS - for an old guy though.......getting better.....this summer, I will be able to grab the rim of a regulation basketball net....got about half now.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[kingtout]

Same as in the West. Do you crush your boss when you go golfing together (even though you're better)? Sometimes you just gotta be the Smithers to your Mr. Burns.