(Untitled)
Despite much frustration, I emerged victorious from my most recent trip to Seoul. The frustrations included spending about forty-five minutes explaining first to DHL and then to the post office that I needed a self-addressed, stamped envelope so my passport could be returned to me by the Bangladesh embassy after my visa was processed. ( Short version: I have my visa! Long version: under the cut )
Comments 2
Reply
In my speech, I skipped the obvious stuff (use two hands or "symbolic" two hands; take off your shoes but keep the socks; don't blow your nose in public, etc.) and tried to cover etiquette tips we teach our trainees during their first week of orientation. I talked about bowing to colleagues throughout the day (do it often, and do it hierarchically!); giving gifts (do it often!); looking your best (to show respect for your colleagues); minimizing public displays of affection; trying the food; waiting for the oldest person to begin eating before you pick up your chopsticks; polite things to say in Korean before and after meals and before leaving for the day; stuff like that. The second half of my talk was on Korean popular culture. Now, I think they heard this during their orientation; but if so, then why don't they do these things?!??
Is there anything particular you're curious about? There are a LOT of small things one can do to be polite here.... ^^
Reply
Leave a comment