Sudden, unexpected rudeness from people you thought were friendly.You can get this from some coworkers. They're sweet as pie to begin with then they suddenly shock you with their rudeness out of the blue.It's like they're waiting for their moment to show you your place in the hierarchy. As a foreigner, they think you belong at the bottom. Korea hasn't changed that much in 20 years.
Where I lived drivers sped like crazy and would slam on their brakes right before a turn and then turn and then put their signal light on. Oh yeah, every time you went to pass a car they'd hit their brakes. I know they did this to slow down to make your pass easier but it's dangerous as hell and till I got used to it nearly caused a rear-ender a time or two.
I have, and on a scooter no less. Got into 2 accidents (both totally my fault). Scratched up my friend's leg pretty badly. She was not a happy camper. She's from Taiwan, another country where riding a scooter is an adventure, and making it to your thirties without scarred up legs means you have some serious good luck.
If you been here for ages, you should upgrade to a car. Just a scooter as your transpo? No wonder you don't mind the pay? Ha ha.
My first partner teacher had the face of an angel. First impressions are important, and my impression of her couldn't have been better. Mid-30s woman who was always friendly and smiling. Fast forward to two months into the school year, as we are preparing for open classes. Head teacher is doing a meeting and my partner-teacher raises her hand. Out of nowhere she absolutely lays into one of the foreign women there. I'm talking exorcist looking facial animations here with teeth bared. The foreigner's crime? Apparently as they were preparing for open class she told her Korean partner teacher she would clean the room, yet failed to pick up the fire extinguisher and clean all the dust in and under it. Every foreign teacher in that room looked in absolute shock, but I remember the look on the Koreans, who seemed to just have normal look, as if this outburst was a common occurrence. Went from 0-100 in no time flat. Why didn't the Korean partner teacher just talk to the foreigner in private herself instead of having her attack dog do it in front of the school? We already know the answer to that question, don't we?I will always remember the next day even more vividly. The foreign woman (who was really nice, I may add) came into school and as she walked by our class (which was right by the main door) she poked her head in, looked at the Korean teacher, and sweetly said "Good morning, teacher" in an attempt to change the vibe between them. The Korean teacher looked at her with pure disdain and--I swear this to be true--showed her teeth and quietly snarled at her. I had never seen anything like it before. Luckily, I've never seen anything quite so bad, since. But this was an interesting introduction to Korean partner teachers and work culture in Korea. Why people weren't fired and heads didn't roll, well, at the time I didn't know. Now I do.
That was in reference to driving while vacationing in Thailand with some friends.Here in Korea I'm unfortunately forced to drive a car. Also, I'm not entirely certain that equating driving a scooter with low income is as valid as it used to be. I mean, yes, they're certainly cheaper, but they can also just be a lot more convenient depending on one's lifestyle.
