Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Culture: Do Not Rush!

G, since you missed my Korean commentaries, I dedicate this one to you. :)

A public signage can tell you a lot about a culture... Spotted this at the train station on my way back from Seoul back in January 2006.

~ DO NOT RUSH! ~

Indeed though, that's the impression I've formed about Korea while working there.

Everything is a BIG rush... Everyone is always driving irrationally, and running lights. People sometimes shove their way through queues just so they can be ahead in a line. Jobsites are being run like a military drill, where everything is all about being fast and not about quality. It's all about being "palli palli" (빨리 빨리) ~ FAST FAST!

My take on it... rushing doesn't necessarily mean you're going to end up doing something faster. Worse, you could really get people all fired up emotionaly, works could end up in mistakes, or even cause fatalities.

Instead of rushing, couldn't the focus be more on EFFICIENCY, or just NEW METHODS of doing something, and DOING IT RIGHT THE 1ST TIME? I guess it's hard to drill this mind-set into the population of 49million people in Korea, and change has to start from me.

That being said and done, I'll set my alarm clock 15 minutes early, so I don't have to be rushing like a mad man to the airport tomorrow... *Hint hint ;)

8 Comments:

At May 24, 2006 12:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Where are you going tomorrow?

 
At May 24, 2006 1:22 PM, Blogger Johanna said...

Yes, where are you going?

 
At May 25, 2006 8:30 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am curious too!!

 
At May 25, 2006 11:16 PM, Blogger Johanna said...

People, he's in KL. Will be in Sabah on Sunday. Well, according to Felix, that's where he is, and that's when he'll be back here.

*whispers* Actually, I backed him up against the wall and forced it out of him.

Hehe..

 
At May 26, 2006 1:45 AM, Blogger Kurios1978 said...

Ha ha ha, Johanna, good one! Yeah, back in KL/PJ for a bit. Just a wee break. In fact, just got back from Perth. Will have to blog about that too isn't it? :)

 
At May 27, 2006 8:49 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, I have to agree with you on that.

Though, I have heard rumblings from my many friends, acquaintances, and coworkers about the negative effects of this "bbalibbali" culture. So, changes are in the wind. Who the hell knows how long it will take for the society to change, though?

By the way, I feel all warm and mushy inside having a whole post dedicated to me.

"I'm not worthy!" (I'm bowing now.)

 
At May 28, 2006 10:59 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You were in PERTH? o_O;
How was it?
Gawd, I miss the good ol' place.. especially Joondalup city. :(

 
At June 22, 2006 3:11 AM, Blogger Max said...

As I used to joke with a friend, "빨리 빨리? 아니오. Pump yo brakes!"

 

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