RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

Gotta get in one more rant before vacation!!

I've told my CT several times that I like spicy food, yet every time we contemplate eating something that has even the slightest hint of spice she goes "oh but it's spicy.. I don't know if you can..." HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL THIS WOMAN I LIKE SPICY FOOD.

Today she brought in that spicy ramen I guess because she thought it would be funny for me to eat it. I've tried it before, and I told her so. She talked about the videos she saw of foreigners trying it and how it's so funny. I asked her if she likes it and she said no, it's too spicy.

So she's got this thing in her head about me not being able to handle spice because I'm not Korean, but our spice tolerances are about the same. She will not accept this fact, and makes me watch famous waygook in Korea youtube videos of them eating spicy foods. I told her my family members love spicy food and have really high tolerances and she looks at me with her eyes wide and asks "did you ever eat spice before you came to Korea?" She actually thinks Korea is the only country that has spicy food.

Why can't she get it through her head that some non Koreans like spicy food? Why does she have some mental block against absorbing new information?

Just a thing- there is a chance that there was some incident where a previous foreign teacher either was totally intolerant of spice OR said they like spicy things and then got something that was too spicy and freaked out.

Don't take it too personally.

Wow!  So, regardless of what they told their coteacher, the fact that she may have met 1 person in the past who didn't/couldn't eat spicy food means she can continue to believe that all non-Koreans are incapable of eating spicy food?  Really, when a similar associative argument is made against Koreans (you change "all" to "some" in many of your pointless replies) you have a conniption fit and mount that high horse of yours and gallop to save Korea's good name.

They told their coteacher that they can eat spicy food, they have demonstrated this to her many times, she refuses to change her stance. 

I wonder if she also flips out when she sees non-Koreans use chopsticks!

Following your logic, i once saw a Korean peeing in the street, so, i will treat all Koreans as if they do the same.

Don't take it too personally.

That wasn't my point. What I'm saying is that she is undoubtedly worried about her having some sort of negative reaction and getting angry/sick/going hungry because of it. She is acting out of concern (unlike your pee example).

There's nothing wrong with being cautious and concerned for someone you have a working relationship with. The lady would probably feel mortified if she did eat it and it WAS too spicy and probably thinks she'll hate Korean food forever or something.

All I'm saying is that we don't know what prior interactions took place that caused this excessive caution. We also have to remember that for every foreigner that has been fine with the spice, our CTs have probably encountered one who couldn't handle it at all, and one who thought they could handle it but couldn't.

And again, this is not the same as forming a bigoted negative opinion about someone. Acting out of concern is not the same as acting out of bigotry and hostility.

The mental gymnastics you use to come to this conclusion are really something.

How did "desk-warming" days become a "thing"?  When I first came to Korea I lived in Jeollanam-do (10 years ago) and nobody ever did a desk-warming day. Ever.  We did long-ass camps (4 weeks), but we got paid for them (like double our salary).  Our main co-teacher was there and helped as well.  It could be fun because the schools had funds to make them so. I didn't mind doing camps, cause I was paid and I had sufficient funds to make them memorable....
What the **** happened? Camps are included in our pay, and there seems to be minimal funds to aid us in our efforts to even make camps fun anymore.....I've used my own funds in my camps........what a ****** wrong-doing on all levels...

Many moons ago foreigners would hear about some other guy at different school with a better vacation; thus, calling MOE to complain. The guy that told us this at the EPIK orientation said MOE would get like 30+ calls a day when the vacation time approached. So a standard amount of vacation became more like a quick band aid instead of just giving us the whole vacation off like a normal public school teacher. I imagine they force us to be at school to not piss off the schools that just in case - for whatever reason - the school wants you to be there.

Considering the education department is broke, you'd think they'd be shaving off extras costs - camp/deskwarming - but it seems like they just keep in policy out of spite, because it's not benefiting anyone, just wasting money.

The mental gymnastics you use to come to this conclusion are really something.

It's not mental gymnastics to conclude that the person MIGHT be genuinely concerned about you freaking out over some spice based on passed experiences with other foreign teachers.

We all know some Koreans are obsessed with how people feel regarding food. Is it really a stretch to imagine that one is worried sick about her NET eating something spicy and having a bad reaction?

The mental gymnastics you use to come to this conclusion are really something.

It's not mental gymnastics to conclude that the person MIGHT be genuinely concerned about you freaking out over some spice based on passed experiences with other foreign teachers.

We all know some Koreans are obsessed with how people feel regarding food. Is it really a stretch to imagine that one is worried sick about her NET eating something spicy and having a bad reaction?

I don't buy this line of thinking. If she was so concerned why would she have bought the spicy ramen? Read the original post. She thought it would be funny to see his reaction.

The mental gymnastics you use to come to this conclusion are really something.

It's not mental gymnastics to conclude that the person MIGHT be genuinely concerned about you freaking out over some spice based on passed experiences with other foreign teachers.

We all know some Koreans are obsessed with how people feel regarding food. Is it really a stretch to imagine that one is worried sick about her NET eating something spicy and having a bad reaction?

I'd probably say it isn't general concern, most likely not really listening to what the OP is saying.

Gotta get in one more rant before vacation!!

I've told my CT several times that I like spicy food, yet every time we contemplate eating something that has even the slightest hint of spice she goes "oh but it's spicy.. I don't know if you can..." HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL THIS WOMAN I LIKE SPICY FOOD.

Thirteen years here now and they still ask me if I can handle the spicy food. To be fair, my old co-teacher was perfectly aware I liked it spicy. The new ones seem to be taking a long time to catch on.

I'm so sick of camp. I try to stay positive but 10 days spread across three weeks is too much. I just want it to be over so I can go on my (very short) vacation. I developed a terrible cold over the weekend and I'm not in the mood to smile or do anything today.

I'm so sick of camp. I try to stay positive but 10 days spread across three weeks is too much. I just want it to be over so I can go on my (very short) vacation. I developed a terrible cold over the weekend and I'm not in the mood to smile or do anything today.

I feel you. I'm on camp number 3 right now. I still have conversation classes to do next week too. And I got the flu or something last week and the room keeps spinning. We can do this though! Good luck!

I hear you, camp is the worst. Comes in second only to speaking tests.

And there's very little to prevent me from becoming that guy, sometimes. But at least I still have students who appreciate my work, even though they'd rather not have to come to camp at all. xD

About the spicy food thing has anyone ever said (part of) his/her family came from Mexico?Proceed to explain the origin of the chili pepper. Enjoy what comes next?

About the spicy food thing has anyone ever said (part of) his/her family came from Mexico?Proceed to explain the origin of the chili pepper. Enjoy what comes next?

I think people are more tolerant/intolerant to different foods (spices) depending on what they grew up eating. I do find some Korean foods spicy; mostly, due to the overuse of 고추장. This somehow makes Koreans think that if you can't eat spicy Korean food well then all spicy food must be impossible to eat.

However, cue the scene of me, Korean wife and in-laws at an Indian restaurant. MIL tries a spoonful of Vindaloo and reaches for water straight away and there's me continuing to eat the same Vindaloo but the inevitable question comes up from her: "Isn't it spicy?"

I think people are more tolerant/intolerant to different foods (spices) depending on what they grew up eating. I do find some Korean foods spicy; mostly, due to the overuse of 고추장. This somehow makes Koreans think that if you can't eat spicy Korean food well then all spicy food must be impossible to eat.

However, cue the scene of me, Korean wife and in-laws at an Indian restaurant. MIL tries a spoonful of Vindaloo and reaches for water straight away and there's me continuing to eat the same Vindaloo but the inevitable question comes up from her: "Isn't it spicy?"

This is true. Sometimes it's just a matter of taste and what you're willing to tolerate or acclimate to, in that regard.

The mental gymnastics you use to come to this conclusion are really something.

It's not mental gymnastics to conclude that the person MIGHT be genuinely concerned about you freaking out over some spice based on passed experiences with other foreign teachers.

We all know some Koreans are obsessed with how people feel regarding food. Is it really a stretch to imagine that one is worried sick about her NET eating something spicy and having a bad reaction?

OP told the teacher numerous times that she had no problem with spicy food. So the CT is either a complete moron, or her English listening ability is not great.

The CT also brought in extra spicy noodles for OP to eat. Does that sound like concern?

The mental gymnastics you use to come to this conclusion are really something.

It's not mental gymnastics to conclude that the person MIGHT be genuinely concerned about you freaking out over some spice based on passed experiences with other foreign teachers.

We all know some Koreans are obsessed with how people feel regarding food. Is it really a stretch to imagine that one is worried sick about her NET eating something spicy and having a bad reaction?

I'd probably say it isn't general concern, most likely not really listening to what the OP is saying.

Gotta get in one more rant before vacation!!

I've told my CT several times that I like spicy food, yet every time we contemplate eating something that has even the slightest hint of spice she goes "oh but it's spicy.. I don't know if you can..." HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL THIS WOMAN I LIKE SPICY FOOD.

Like I said, that in spite of this, the CT might have had a past experience where someone freaked out over spicy food and she is worried about this happening again.

As I said, some Koreans can get hypersensitive about food and while "It's not for me" may be no big deal to us, to some Koreans it can be a borderline insult/disapproval towards them and/or their country.

Or the CT could be a complete ass. I'm just saying that there can be more than one explanation for the reason a person acts a certain way and sometimes those are based on life experiences and there is justifiable cause for concern.

My 15 minute bike commute is now an 80 minute bike/subway/walk commute...and back

My 15 minute bike commute is now an 80 minute bike/subway/walk commute...and back

You should probably go back to cycling, then.
 

Why did at least 50 Korean people pass through the gates unmolested at Seoul Station to go on the KTX, but little old waegookin me gets picked out for bag X-ray and the wand treatment looking for weapons or sharp objects all to the horror of Koreans and small children looking at the spectacle?

Was it being non-Korean? Or has there been a spate of foreign attacks on the KTX?

Somehow, I think it was the former; tw&ts!!!

Why did at least 50 Korean people pass through the gates unmolested at Seoul Station to go on the KTX, but little old waegookin me gets picked out for bag X-ray and the wand treatment looking for weapons or sharp objects all to the horror of Koreans and small children lookng at the spectacle?

Was it being non-Korean? Or has there been a spate of foreign attacks on the KTX?
Somehow, I think it was the former; tw&ts!!!

They do security checks at the KTX station? I've never noticed that, and I go through there pretty often. Lucky me, I guess.

I remember back when I was in high-school I had my hair (badly) dyed in all sorts of colours, piercings, and was dressed in the height of grunge fashion. Needless to say, whenever I crossed a border I got the "random" security checks too.

I'm not implying anything here, but I used to have a friend by the name of CJ, and... well... if you're him, they probably need to check you more often and more thoroughly. 

My 15 minute bike commute is now an 80 minute bike/subway/walk commute...and back

You should probably go back to cycling, then.