That Takis stuff looks really good, where is it from?

ohh wow I had no idea! Actually, it sounds rather suprising because I thought that it is particularly in Korea where the rules of politeness and courtesy are stricter that anywhere else that people would ask you twice for your permission before doing anything!;) and strangely enough it seems to work just the other way round! 🙂 Thank you for your long explanation; I reaaaaally appreciate it; I wouldn’t be able to learn such cultural facts from any book… 🙂 that’s why I love this blog so much ^_^

So how did Mr. Gwons aunt like the Takis? haha

Yes. Especially if it’s food. Food is expected to be shared in Korea. Even if it’s a gift, even if it’s special to you. Now that doesn’t mean everyone does that. A lot of older people will read the situation well and think, “Oh they probably don’t want me to take this.” But there are always people who take advantage and deliberately don’t pick up on body language.

Hugh was always surprised in Australia if I was cooking something at home and my dad comes in and is like “oh can I have some?” and I reply with, “I only made a little bit and it’s for me.” and My dad will be like “oh ok”.

It’s not just an older thing either, it’s a cultural thing of sharing food. Which can be a really nice thing, but there are always people who take advantage. Everyone who has been in a share house with Koreans has had the experience of that one person who never cooks but eats everyone else’s food. When Hugh was working with Koreans and I packed his lunch (I’d make amazing lunches for him) but he’d go sit in a corner by himself and eat to avoid the Korean social norms of sharing. For us, it’s unlikely we’d ask someone else for some of their lunch right? But for Hugh, he knew others would, and if there are 5 people asking, by the time everyone took something he’d have no lunch left.