Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jaderedux]

Okay, I mostly have no problems living in Korea. I have learned some Korean and try to speak it. By no means fluent.

I have been going to the same gym for about 4 years. I go very early at 6 A.M. that is my recharge time I have my mp3 player on to drown out the T.V.s and horrific music. No one bothers me. I am wierdo foreign lady who lifts weights. The owner knows me and is really nice and always helps me break down the weights left on the machines.

For some unknown reason one of the older guys who is a regular has made it his mission to teach "us" stupid women about the gym. I have noticed a rise in women actually doing some weight training. Apparently he is not happy with this situation. For the last few days he has been going around "showing" the women the proper weights and machines to use. He stops them mid-routine and lowers the weights and babbles on endlessly. One women was doing squats on one of the machines and he stopped her and told her not to use the machine.

Well yesterday was my turn. Saturday ended up being an arm and chest day. He comes running over while I am doing some flys and says...in broken English..kudos for the English by the way...Woman..no big muscle...walking machine...muscle no! I just sort of waved him away. The owner takes a powder once the place is open and people are there. So he is gone and super adjossi couldn't find him to explain to me.

So I am doing some bicep and tricep work and he brings over smaller weights and repeats the infamous phrase..woman..no big muscle... and tries to hand me the smaller weights. I stand up and am eye to eye with him and just tell him to go away and don't touch me again!

He almost has a stroke! Sputtering and saying somewhat unflattering things about me in Korean. I just laugh as he walks away to tell his friends about the awful wayguk foreign lady who won't listen to his sage advice.

FYI --> I am not lifting super heavy. I have bad shoulder and can't. But I am slowly working up to a nice level to keep me toned and since I am not a young whipper snapper it is very important to do weight bearing exercises as it can help stave off osteoporosis.

What I don't get is why he thinks this behavior is okay. But lets give the devil his due. He had the cajones to try to bully a wakguk broad and speak some English. Progress?

Jade of the Big MUSCLE.

[TheBrain]

A Gym jerk. He probably can't do much in the gym, anyway.

[BS.Dos.]

Good for you.

Don't let it put you off attending. If he confronts you again you can always use the global international language for 'Go away you stupid man!'

[Yo!Chingo]

I'd have a stroke if some dick came up to me in the gym and tried to stop me from doing my free weights. Who the hell does he think he is? The gym god? Good for you for standing up to that ass, and good for you actually working with free weights. I find most women are intimidated by free weights and really they're the best. Much better than machines.

[SuperFly]

You might consider getting yourself a gaurd dog. I know a couple of homeless dogs who would love to hang out at your feet and growl at guys like that...guys who aren't afraid of being eaten by some wmipy Korean guy at the gym. Sparky, a German Shepherd 3 years old. Teddy, Pyrenese mountain dog...lost his owners in a car crash... both are available and looking for a gal like you.

[Mashimaro]

good on you for putting the little man in his place

[freethought]

Next time I suggest you reciprocate in pointing out 'facts' to this man and say in english or korean:

Korean man, small p-enis, yes

[SuperFly]

Tedy would bite his p.enis right off, just for you...

[Oreovictim]

Ugh! I feel for you, man.

I've been going to the gym, but I just do cardio right now. (I gots me some tennis elbow going on.) I've heard so many stories of Koreans bothering foreigners about proper technique. From what I've seen, they are the last people I'd want to take gym advice from; a lot of them have horrible technique. Even the ones who do know their stuff should just mind there own business.

[pest2]

[Areut]

[pest2]

Its not just you. I've worked out at 3 gyms in Korea. 2 of them w/my fiance. The other I went to with a female friend. In each case, there's some big dumb guy there to 'overhelp' the ladies. Korea is a cheauvanist country... And thier knowledge of athletics, science, and kinesiology is 30 years behind. And they go for fads; some women in Seoul are afraid to use the subway because of the extra muscle they might get on thier legs from walking up the stairs. Put it all together, and thats what you get.

Keep lifting, get stronger than him, and beat him up with your power!

[Grimalkin]

Good for you!


Next he'd have you walking at a lady-like pace on the treadmill with a book balanced on your head to improve your deportment.

[twg]

[ella]

Well done, jaderedux. This kind of thing goes on in U.S. gyms, too, although more subtly.