Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ThreeDogNight]

The way I see it, there are two types of energy that are used, one in particular regarding Korea. These two types of energy are 'reserved energy' and 'expended energy.'

Being in Korea, reserved energy seems to be the most taxing and to take the biggest toll on an individual. Expended energy, ie. the workload, hours, and the type of work, aren't too bad. The 'reserved energy,' however, which is dealing with the culture here, 'the work environment,' and the other struggles of living in another culture, are what I believe is the most difficult.

I say this because 'reserved energy' is that which we don't do, but which you have to keep yourself from doing. You have to hold in what you think, believe, and face from day to day. It means maintaining patience amidst turmoil and stress, calm amidst questionable circumstances, and certainty amidst doubt. In short, it involves what you think and feel rather than how you act or react to life here.

The reason I say reserved energy is the most difficult here too, is because Korea is a difficult and doubtful place at times. The inward life is not expressed outwardly, ie saying what one really thinks or feels. Albeit Koreans are emotional and vocal, they aren't outspoken, particularly when faced with a problem one on one. They tend to speak out in groups. But for a Westerner, one accustomed to speaking out as an individual, or acting as an individual, there's no freedom to act as you choose here since your voice and actions will not be heard, or even worse, you'll probably be misunderstood, unless you really understand yourself and guage every action. Nonetheless, Korea is a place where "actions do not speak louder than words."

Korea is also a place where differences of opinion or what one thinks aren't clearcut. Watching a Western movie the other night, a comment was made about what someone thought about a certain people, or rather, a negative comment was spoken about their way of life. The response of the other person? "They are what they are."

This, I believe, can also apply to Korea. In Korea there's really no clear-cut definition of the Korean mindset, whereas we get a pretty clear picture of what other peoples are like, in a greater or lesser degree, because of their societal values, norms, outspokeness, civic behaviour, and political philosophies. Korea seems to be a mystery in some of these areas.

Irregardless, reserved energy is the energy it takes to maintain patience "in light of what you think." It means restraining judgments and actions, thoughts and opinions, until the appropriate time and place, a place and time you deem fit, even if it means 'throwing a fit.' This is an art that I've failed at severely. Perhaps that's why I've learned to expend some energy shouting at trees in the mountains and throwing rocks at the tiled roofs of my enemies.

[sistersarah]

i mostly agree with your theory. my hour outing to the grocery and department store today was more stressful than an average day of teaching. but then again, i don't like large crowds of people, and i enjoy being in the classroom....this could differ for others.

but i do believe we're paid what we are for all that "reserved energy", ie day-to-day stresses, and not so much for the expended energy.

[captain kirk]

That's a very well presented and applicable theory and I totally agree. The 'expended energy' flows smoothly to where it ought at work. But the off hours, especially the weekends, seem to be a real, heavy weight. I want to speak, and speak out, but have to hold my tongue. For example some little thing bothering me, and I want it changed. At the pcbang the clerk has the cash register computer spouting out sappy, sickeningly sweet k-pop where a young male is crooning and reaching various peaks of sweet epiphany but it just drives me bonkers. I look around and the other computer users seem oblivious, but this syrupy bombardment is super annoying to ME. I want to tell him, as I pay, that it's like a potpourri of (gag) lavender and cinnamon to my ears. He knows something's got my goat. But I know that if I say something like 'turn off that honey dripping spout or I'll take my business elsewhere' (irate and mostly using 'sign language') he'll have to say he LIKES that music, along with just about everybody else. But that would involve him being a mind reader in the face of my 'communications'. I have earplugs and it still seeps through like insistent honey. But there's no saying ARGGHH! It's a small percentage of these type of songs that have some kind of interesting musical thing going on, otherwise they just swell and recede, heave and lower, like an audible sea of poop. ARGGH!
As an aside to the serious topic of k-pop, at the new place where I work the foreign teacher does a lot of SERIOUS joking with the staff. The boss has this hard-core style of joking too. I think getting onto that variety of 'venting' is going to 'rock'.
Anyway, the reserved immobility mode is alarming, yes indeed. The shuddering and mad shaking like a repressed volcano is fearsome yes that's so true. Good to highlight those two modes of energy and liberate the reserved mode in some way(s), or else WHA-HOOO!

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

What's worse even than the K pop at pc bangs is when another user tunes into those sites where they can listen to an annoymous non-singer doing norae-bang stuff over some pop song backing. They have it loud man, and sometimes the singing is excruciatingly bad. What gets me is that it's so easy to plug headphones into the pc speakers and voila, you get your buzz and save people years off their life due to unnecessary stress.

[Tiger Beer]

It's all about the energy.

[Richard Krainium]

Why are you guys digging up these dinosaurs of TDN's? They're old and dead for a reason.