People are stupid
So we had a little "meeting" at work today. Why do people continue to have meetings when it seems that 95% of people find them utterly useless? In the Korean world the longer the meeting the more effective it is. Clearly that is effective time management. During our meeting our supervisor was attempting to infer something. I couldn't really tell what the hell he was trying to imply because his English is spotty and since my co-worker and I don't speak Hangul we rely on his English. Here's an abbreviated transcription:
Supervisor Dude(SD): The parents would like to communicate more with the teachers.
Me: Good.
SD: They would like to speak via the telephone to the teachers sometimes.
Me: Don't the Korean teachers talk to them every other week?
SD: Yes, but we (this is where it gets interesting) think maybe they could talk to the Native teachers (English speakers).
Me: Umm, okay, I don't speak Korean and the parents don't speak English. How do we go about this? Wouldn't it be easier to have them ask you or the other teachers what they want to know and you can relay that to us?
SD: Yes, yes. But sometimes when I call the parents the children answer and get excited when they hear me speak English. So, what if you where to be talking to the children on the telephone and calling them.
Me: So, you want us to call the children at home?
SD: No, no.
Me: I don't understand.
SD: We think it's a good idea to talk to the children on the phone.
Me: So, do you want us to call the children at their house.
SD: No. But it is a good idea to talk to the children on the phone.
Me (I've gotten irritated at this point): What are you getting at? Do you want us to call the children at their house or not?
SD: Is it a possible?
Me: Have you ever spoken to a 6 year old on the phone? They don't want to talk to you. You want me to call the kids and say "Hello" and then hang up? I don't understand what your getting at.
SD: But sometimes it looks good if the children are talking on the phone. We would have to set up a time for the children to answer and for the teacher to call.
Me: This makes no sense. The children can barely speak English, but you want me to call them at home so I can say maybe 4 words to them? I just don't understand what your getting at. If you want us to call them say so!
SD: No, no. Just forget it.
This is an abbreviated version. I felt bad about getting a little abrasive, but jeebus why is it so difficult to come out and say what you mean? When there is a language barrier surrounding two parties isn't it best if inferred rhetoric is best left to the wayside? At least when it is intentional? I really like the Supervisor Dude, but sometime's it seems he get's entangled in his own backwards logic.
I went out last Friday with the Supervisor Dude for some beers. He's a really cool guy when he let's his guard down. I found he deplores the owners more than the teachers do. I don't think the owners of the place are bad, just stupid. But back to the Supervisor Dude. You've probably read from some of my emails how Korean has a bit of bassackward's logic. You don't know the half. The Supervisor Dude was explaining to me how he can't understand why he has to work on Saturday's. He works 60 hours a week to begin with. He get's all his work done by Friday night. The owner's still ask to him to come in on Saturday, even though he has nothing more to do. He's asking me why. Hahah. Dude if you can't even understand your countries work logic, then I don't stand a chance.
Peace
Supervisor Dude(SD): The parents would like to communicate more with the teachers.
Me: Good.
SD: They would like to speak via the telephone to the teachers sometimes.
Me: Don't the Korean teachers talk to them every other week?
SD: Yes, but we (this is where it gets interesting) think maybe they could talk to the Native teachers (English speakers).
Me: Umm, okay, I don't speak Korean and the parents don't speak English. How do we go about this? Wouldn't it be easier to have them ask you or the other teachers what they want to know and you can relay that to us?
SD: Yes, yes. But sometimes when I call the parents the children answer and get excited when they hear me speak English. So, what if you where to be talking to the children on the telephone and calling them.
Me: So, you want us to call the children at home?
SD: No, no.
Me: I don't understand.
SD: We think it's a good idea to talk to the children on the phone.
Me: So, do you want us to call the children at their house.
SD: No. But it is a good idea to talk to the children on the phone.
Me (I've gotten irritated at this point): What are you getting at? Do you want us to call the children at their house or not?
SD: Is it a possible?
Me: Have you ever spoken to a 6 year old on the phone? They don't want to talk to you. You want me to call the kids and say "Hello" and then hang up? I don't understand what your getting at.
SD: But sometimes it looks good if the children are talking on the phone. We would have to set up a time for the children to answer and for the teacher to call.
Me: This makes no sense. The children can barely speak English, but you want me to call them at home so I can say maybe 4 words to them? I just don't understand what your getting at. If you want us to call them say so!
SD: No, no. Just forget it.
This is an abbreviated version. I felt bad about getting a little abrasive, but jeebus why is it so difficult to come out and say what you mean? When there is a language barrier surrounding two parties isn't it best if inferred rhetoric is best left to the wayside? At least when it is intentional? I really like the Supervisor Dude, but sometime's it seems he get's entangled in his own backwards logic.
I went out last Friday with the Supervisor Dude for some beers. He's a really cool guy when he let's his guard down. I found he deplores the owners more than the teachers do. I don't think the owners of the place are bad, just stupid. But back to the Supervisor Dude. You've probably read from some of my emails how Korean has a bit of bassackward's logic. You don't know the half. The Supervisor Dude was explaining to me how he can't understand why he has to work on Saturday's. He works 60 hours a week to begin with. He get's all his work done by Friday night. The owner's still ask to him to come in on Saturday, even though he has nothing more to do. He's asking me why. Hahah. Dude if you can't even understand your countries work logic, then I don't stand a chance.
Peace
posted by Sexyredkid at 1:03 AM
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