Things that haven't caught on in Korea

Off the top of my head...

Pudding pops
Socks with sandals
Bananarama
The snuggie
Truck balls
Catwoman
The Macarena
Legwarmers
Bedazzlers

I had to google them to find out what they were but I reckon truck balls would break some kind of law in my neck of the woods! If nothing else it would make you a cop magnet.

I haven't had pudding pops in forever. I've got some unused instant pudding mix that's just sitting in my cupboard, I might need to buy a mold so that I can finally use them.

You do realise that in other countries people don't always take off their shoes and put on slippers when entering their home without freaking out about dirt and disrespecting Korean culture don't you? It happens all the time in Australia.  Perhaps you should encounter some other cultures occasionally and get out of your bubble. It could be quite liberating for you. Imagine not having to worry about having holes in your socks.   

Remarkable-
- Talks about other countries and cultures, then suggests that this is something that is Korean-focused. Oblivious to the fact that this is done in countries all over the world and within cultures, including our own. Which, anyone who knows other cultures would know isn't limited to Korea/East Asia.
-Doesn't grasp that repeatedly doing this without someone cleaning after them will lead to a buildup in filth and faster wear of their household, as well as significant increase in risk of things like mold, fungi and pests being introduced.
- Doesn't consider the possibility that I've experienced other cultures or grew up in a house where shoes were left on.
- Doesn't consider the possibility that one could conclude that wearing shoes/dirty feet inside the house is dirty and disgusting, independent of culture.
- Doesn't consider the possibility that doing it deliberately to antagonize someone and making them having to clean up after you, then laughing at them about it is disrespectful, petty, and immature, especially to your SO.
- Accuses others of failing to consider other cultures and showing consideration, while failing to consider others' culture and showing consideration.
- Doesn't maintain their clothes well enough to discard worn socks.
- "Ajosshis are gross for spitting on the ground."..."Hurr... I'm going to wear my shoes that touched said ground all over the house. Who cares about dirt?"

Spitting in public is gross, but wearing outdoor shoes indoors is unforgivable, especially if one has carpeted floors. 

Spitting in public is gross, but wearing outdoor shoes indoors is unforgivable, especially if one has carpeted floors. 

What about wearing indoor shoes outdoors and then continuing to use them indoors? 

What about wearing indoor shoes outdoors and then continuing to use them indoors? 

Well, that clearly gets a pass because it's an *entirely* different matter! 

Spitting in public is gross, but wearing outdoor shoes indoors is unforgivable, especially if one has carpeted floors. 

If this is in response to Marti's last bigoted rant forgive my ignorance as I didn't read past the first line. Anywho what are your thoughts on going completely shoeless, ie nude in the foot the department?  I do agree that it isn't wise to drag dirt into the home hence I avoid walking in possum and koala droppings and clean my feet on the welcome map after frolicking about in the garden shoe-less. I also agree on going shoeless inside to minimise the wear and tear on our expensive polished Jarrah floor boards, my wife can't bare the idea of carpet.  However, I do keep my shoes on when visiting friends and relatives. It would freak them out no end seeing my smelly socks with holes in them and nobody provides slippers in my neck of the woods.

Going shoeless in the summer was never a subject for debate where I lived...you just did. Although, jandals were a better option outside of grass, smooth concrete, and sand.
If you feet were dirty, you either brushed them off, or walked on the side of your feet to the bathroom for a wash.


* Jarrah floors, that's nice. My last house (in NZ) also had hardwood T and G from top to bottom. I ripped out all the old
   carpet, and sanded the lot. Beautiful!

When it get's really hot in summer I do wear thongs/flipflops on the paved areas and driveway though. It get's hot enough to burn and blister your feet very quickly at our place.

Anywho what are your thoughts on going completely shoeless, ie nude in the foot the department?  I do agree that it isn't wise to drag dirt into the home hence I avoid walking in possum and koala droppings and clean my feet on the welcome map after frolicking about in the garden shoe-less. I also agree on going shoeless inside to minimise the wear and tear on our expensive polished Jarrah floor boards, my wife can't bare the idea of carpet.

- Simply wiping your feet on a mat won't prevent you from tracking in dirt and other particles that could scuff the floorboards.
- None of that addresses you getting a thrill about antagonizing your wife with it, making her clean up after you, and then laughing at her about it.

It would freak them out no end seeing my smelly socks with holes in them and nobody provides slippers in my neck of the woods.

- An easy solution to this is to practice basic hygiene and regularly wash and treat your feet, shoes and socks and also purchasing new socks. But that would require not behaving in an entirely filthy manner and the humility to acknowledge that your way isn't always right.

You don't get it do you Marti. Everybody else would have their shoes on and wonder why the f@*k I have taken mine off. 

I thought you hung out with a diverse bunch of people who all understand other cultures? Surely someone taking their shoes off at the door shouldn't be some big source of surprise, yes?

Or are you and your circle of friends actually that unaware and non-diverse?

Point taken Marti. Next time I arrive at a function of family and friends, I'll insist that everyone else take off there shoes and provides slippers so my wife isn't offended.   

Point taken Marti. Next time I arrive at function function of family and friends, I'll insist that everyone else take off there shoes and provides slippers so my wife isn't offended.   

You know, it really isn't a big deal. You just politely ask- "Do you mind taking your shoes off?" Also, as a guest you can do the basic common courtesy of asking "Should I leave my shoes on or take them off?" Or maybe have a modicum of awareness and look around and guess how things might be done.

You might also do yourself and any hosts the basic courtesy of maintaining basic, non-filthy levels of hygiene, doing the equivalent of regular washing of your hair and clothes to your feet, and not wearing hobo-level sockwear.

I love how at no point do you consider that you possibly are doing things wrong and that the way you were raised and what you practice MUST be right. Why? Because it was the way YOU were raised and it is the way YOU do things, which obviously is the single best way in the entire world.

You know, it really isn't a big deal. You just politely ask- "Do you mind taking your shoes off?" Also, as a guest you can do the basic common courtesy of asking "Should I leave my shoes on or take them off?" Or maybe have a modicum of awareness and look around and guess how things might be done.

Ok so you really don't understand as you haven't lived outside of Korea and your previous ethnic diaspora. Nevermind, my apologies for ridiculing your ignorance.

They have nachos now, and that terrible hamburger is gone.  They had a pretty good chicken salsa wrap for a while but they seem to be gone.  The calzone is back.

Their calzone is just amazing. Brings me back to Brooklyn

My dad used to go into the local Euro deli and pick up loaves, weighing them in his hand, buying the heaviest loaf. A thick slice of that with duck lard spread on it or with Swiss cheese and a slice of green bell pepper, or some salami or head cheese, and sprinkle some salt on it, and call it a lunch. It was a food equivalent of a pint of Guinness.

Getting back on the bare feet topic, a previous academic director of mine use to stroll around  our offices and staff room bare footed in the summer. He was an Englishman but there were Korea staff members present. They must of been having a fit on the inside. I could only imagine Marti's reaction.






 

I have seen Korean teachers clipping their fingernails in the classroom.

It makes toilet paper on the desk and toothbrushes in pencil holders tame in comparison.

Cultural differences can be shocking.
Usually they are funny! (Better to laugh than frown, reflecting on one's expectations.)

I have seen Korean teachers clipping their fingernails in the classroom.

It makes toilet paper on the desk and toothbrushes in pencil holders tame in comparison.

Cultural differences can be shocking.
Usually they are funny! (Better to laugh than frown, reflecting on one's expectations.)

That reminds me of my reaction to one of my first dining experiences in Korea and seeing one of these fixed to the wall alongside the table at which I was eating. 
 



That said the notion of 'culture bumps' does make for interesting subject matter in an language classroom. It's a feature in the first week of our ELICOS programs.  Perhaps I should share some the reading material used. Some of it was developed with a mind for rookie NESTs working in China specifically as the target audience but it would be equally appropriate for Korea.

Abstract
Ever since English became one of the main languages of international communication, native-speaking EFL teachers have played an important role in English language education in many countries. When they teach abroad they often immerse themselves in cultures that are very different from their own, so what might be called 'culture bumps' are inevitable. In order for the teachers to carry out their work successfully, the ability to develop an appropriate perception of these cultural differences, and so learn how to cope with them, is extremely important. This paper reviews Archer's and Thorp's ideas about the most frequently encountered culture bumps, or 'confused encounters', and offers alternative ways of perceiving and handling them. It also stresses that the fundamental values of a nation should be considered in dealing with these cultural variations, and suggests six principles for perceiving and handling them.

https://academic.oup.com/eltj/article-abstract/55/4/382/401805?redirectedFrom=fulltext

 

Sounds like the kind of arsehole that takes off his shoes on a plane and makes everyone smell their filthy feet.

Pretty sure most people, not just Koreans would be irked by someone walking around barefoot all over the office.

You know, people who have basic manners, consideration, respect and decorum. But that isn't to be expected in the kind of person who deliberately tracks grime into their house, then laughs at the person who cleans up after them.

https://outbacktourist.com/barefoot-in-public-australia/
If you are newly visiting Australia, you might be surprised to see a lot of people walking barefoot in public places. For people in the US, going public without shoes might be a bit weird. But Australia is different. It is pretty common for people to go barefoot in public Australia. In this article, I will explain this odd case of barefoot culture in brief.

https://academic.oup.com/eltj/article-abstract/55/4/382/401805?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false
I'm honestly surprised why your obnoxious bigotry is tolerated by the moderators. 
Nonetheless, you'd be wise to read this article and try to get over your issues.
Good luck with it. I've attached it as a PDF down below.

Step 1 is Adopt an Impartial Attitude.

So good...savs in a bun with sauce. Joining Costco is now on my bucket list.

You haven't lived till you've tried that free onion ketchup and mustard salad!
That said you don't actually eat it. You just pile as much as you can onto to a plate and leave it there because that shows how classy you are by not actually having to eat it. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW0x3TGQzt0