Showing posts with label korea quirk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label korea quirk. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Korea Quirk #3: Elevators
This quirk used to really annoy me.
When I go to my dance class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights (more on that later), I have to take an elevator to the 5th floor.
In the lobby (or 1st floor) there are TWO elevators.
So here's a question : On a given evening, both elevators arrive at the first floor at the same time. Does it matter which elevator I take?
"Not unless one of them is really stinky...?" you might answer.
W R O N G.
The elevator on the LEFT only goes to odd-numbered levels.
The elevator on the RIGHT only goes to even-numbered levels (plus the 1st floor).
This is especially irritating if the elevator which could take you directly to your desired floor happens to be stuck on some upper level for an unreasonable amount of time, while the other elevator is dinging its way merrily from floor to floor, opening frequently on the ground floor level to tempt you and taunt you. You know it's not a big deal to take the "wrong" elevator to the floor above your desired floor and walk down a flight of steps. You know this, but you are stubbornly resolved to waiting for you designated elevator because dangit, elevators are there so you don't HAVE to walk up or down stairs.
But, like I said at the beginning, though, this USED to annoy me. Then I researched the phenomenon, and I found out that there is actually a logical and even mathematical reason for creating floor-specific elevators. Here are 3 of the types of floor-specific elevators I learned about - all of which can be found in parts of Eastern Asia.
ODD/EVEN ELEVATORS:
Ok. So I have to admit that this makes sense. If there are 2 elevators, and 10 people waiting, only half (give or take) will enter the odd numbered elevator, and the rest will enter the even numbered elevator. Even-floor people don't have to wait for odd-floor people, and vice versa. Efficiency in action. And if there's one thing I'm a fan of, it's efficiency. (Just ask my husband)
EXPRESS ELEVATORS:
This makes sense, too. If there's a really popular floor at the very top of a building, shoot the interested elevator-riders directly there, and have different elevators for people visiting other, less-popular floors.
SKIP-STOP ELEVATORS:
These are elevators that skip floors for the express purpose of making people exercise more.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I like exercise, and I think it's great to encourage people to do more of it. "Yay, let's be healthy!" The USA could definitely use some healthy living motivation. On the other hand, I want elevators to do their jobs. When I'm headed to my dance class where I'm going to have the tar whipped out of me by a tiny, screaming Korean lady, I don't want my elevator giving me sass and forcing me to exercise before my class even starts!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All that to say, Korean elevators do let you cancel your button push with a double button push. This is fabulous for people like me who are occasionally prone to pushing the wrong button, and it makes me feel better when having to wait for my odd-numbered elevator.
...
When I go to my dance class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights (more on that later), I have to take an elevator to the 5th floor.
In the lobby (or 1st floor) there are TWO elevators.
So here's a question : On a given evening, both elevators arrive at the first floor at the same time. Does it matter which elevator I take?
"Not unless one of them is really stinky...?" you might answer.
W R O N G.
The elevator on the LEFT only goes to odd-numbered levels.
The elevator on the RIGHT only goes to even-numbered levels (plus the 1st floor).
This is especially irritating if the elevator which could take you directly to your desired floor happens to be stuck on some upper level for an unreasonable amount of time, while the other elevator is dinging its way merrily from floor to floor, opening frequently on the ground floor level to tempt you and taunt you. You know it's not a big deal to take the "wrong" elevator to the floor above your desired floor and walk down a flight of steps. You know this, but you are stubbornly resolved to waiting for you designated elevator because dangit, elevators are there so you don't HAVE to walk up or down stairs.
But, like I said at the beginning, though, this USED to annoy me. Then I researched the phenomenon, and I found out that there is actually a logical and even mathematical reason for creating floor-specific elevators. Here are 3 of the types of floor-specific elevators I learned about - all of which can be found in parts of Eastern Asia.
ODD/EVEN ELEVATORS:
"Each elevator is assigned odd/even and only serves those floors" - Wikipedia
"...This would increase the value of each call - the average number of people entering/exiting on every call would double. This would lower the useless stop problem. Proof: As of now if you are going to an odd floor, you can go in any elevator. if it were [changed], you could only get into a specific elevator. The proportion of odd floor people in that elevator would be doubled; therefore, for a given odd floor, the average number of people exiting on that floor would be double.
This would also improve the worst case scenario of stopping at every floor."
Ok. So I have to admit that this makes sense. If there are 2 elevators, and 10 people waiting, only half (give or take) will enter the odd numbered elevator, and the rest will enter the even numbered elevator. Even-floor people don't have to wait for odd-floor people, and vice versa. Efficiency in action. And if there's one thing I'm a fan of, it's efficiency. (Just ask my husband)
EXPRESS ELEVATORS:
"An express elevator does not serve all floors. For example, it moves between the ground floor and a skylobby, or it moves from the ground floor or a skylobby to a range of floors, skipping floors in between. These are especially popular in eastern Asia." - Wikipedia
This makes sense, too. If there's a really popular floor at the very top of a building, shoot the interested elevator-riders directly there, and have different elevators for people visiting other, less-popular floors.
SKIP-STOP ELEVATORS:
These are elevators that skip floors for the express purpose of making people exercise more.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I like exercise, and I think it's great to encourage people to do more of it. "Yay, let's be healthy!" The USA could definitely use some healthy living motivation. On the other hand, I want elevators to do their jobs. When I'm headed to my dance class where I'm going to have the tar whipped out of me by a tiny, screaming Korean lady, I don't want my elevator giving me sass and forcing me to exercise before my class even starts!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All that to say, Korean elevators do let you cancel your button push with a double button push. This is fabulous for people like me who are occasionally prone to pushing the wrong button, and it makes me feel better when having to wait for my odd-numbered elevator.
...
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Korea Quirk #1: Public restrooms **
Interactions with public restrooms in South Korea are not unlike those of Europe: you have to have the alertness and observational powers of a ninja-assassin to have a successful trip to the loo.
Normal concerns include:
- Is there a public restroom, or are the proprietors of this restaurant going to invite me to use their family bathroom?
- Is there a lock on the door of my stall?
- Is there a hook to hang my purse/jacket/bag on so I don't have to set it/them down on the smarmy, muddy, germ-laden floor?
- Is there enough or any toilet paper? (Always carry tissues...)
- Is there soap with which to wash my hands after? (Always carry hand sanitizer...)
- Are there any hand-drying apparatuses available, or will I be using my pants?
In Europe, there was an additional concern:
- Am I going to be charged for using this facility? [And follow-up: Do I have any cash or coins in the correct currency to pay for my right to pee? Is there a bathroom attendant who will expect to be tipped for pointing me to an empty stall? Do I have enough coins to tip her and keep her from being insulted by a paltry amount and retaliate by spitting on my shoes?] (always carry a couple dollars/pounds/euros/francs in change...)
In Korea, there are several additional concerns:
- Is there a toilet? If the "toilet" is just a hole in the ground, better to hold it and wait, because if you go for it anyways, you will end up peeing on your shoes (trust me).
- Did the jerks who made this restroom put the toilet paper OUTSIDE the bathroom stalls or inside? I am not kidding - they actually do this. Your ninja-like observational skills come in very handy at this point: If you notice the TP placement BEFORE entering the stall to relieve yourself, you can snag some TP and have a successful visit. If, however, you have a vague memory of successfully visiting a certain restroom before, but you fail to remember the necessary step of retrieving TP before entering your stall, you will not have a successful visit. (unless of course, you always carry tissues with you...)
- Are you in the correct restroom for your gender? Just because there is a urinal does not mean you are in the men's room. Go back and check the little bathroom pictures carefully:
...If you are still confused as to which image is male or female, or why this seems to be a restroom for chubby children, wait : and with your ninja-assassin powers of observation, note whether the next person entering/exiting the restroom in question is of the same sex as you. If not, use the other restroom.
If it is so late at night that no-one enters or exits either restroom after 5 minutes of waiting, then it doesn't matter which room you choose. Pick the one with toilet paper and soap.
Luckily for all of you, I have gone through enough restroom mishaps to safely advise you through the process should you ever be in Europe or South Korea.
You're welcome!
** I would like to clarify that the title of this series of posts is not, in fact, politically incorrect. I am perfectly aware that many of these Anna-labeled "quirks" are only regarded as quirky by me (and other foreigners) because they are different from what I (we) are used to. The title of this post series is really "Cultural difference awareness #__". However, I don't think that's as catchy as "Korea Quirk # ___", which might sound to some like I am assuming that anything different from my idea of normal is strange and quirky in and of itself. But that's not at all the meaning I was going for, thus the existence of this disclaimer to set anyone straight who was condemning me for my cultural insensitivity. I promise that I am very culturally sensitive, and that the phrase "Korea Quirk" is merely an expression of poetic license. Thank you for your understanding.
Normal concerns include:
- Is there a public restroom, or are the proprietors of this restaurant going to invite me to use their family bathroom?
- Is there a lock on the door of my stall?
- Is there a hook to hang my purse/jacket/bag on so I don't have to set it/them down on the smarmy, muddy, germ-laden floor?
- Is there enough or any toilet paper? (Always carry tissues...)
- Is there soap with which to wash my hands after? (Always carry hand sanitizer...)
- Are there any hand-drying apparatuses available, or will I be using my pants?
In Europe, there was an additional concern:
- Am I going to be charged for using this facility? [And follow-up: Do I have any cash or coins in the correct currency to pay for my right to pee? Is there a bathroom attendant who will expect to be tipped for pointing me to an empty stall? Do I have enough coins to tip her and keep her from being insulted by a paltry amount and retaliate by spitting on my shoes?] (always carry a couple dollars/pounds/euros/francs in change...)
In Korea, there are several additional concerns:
- Is there a toilet? If the "toilet" is just a hole in the ground, better to hold it and wait, because if you go for it anyways, you will end up peeing on your shoes (trust me).
- Did the jerks who made this restroom put the toilet paper OUTSIDE the bathroom stalls or inside? I am not kidding - they actually do this. Your ninja-like observational skills come in very handy at this point: If you notice the TP placement BEFORE entering the stall to relieve yourself, you can snag some TP and have a successful visit. If, however, you have a vague memory of successfully visiting a certain restroom before, but you fail to remember the necessary step of retrieving TP before entering your stall, you will not have a successful visit. (unless of course, you always carry tissues with you...)
- Are you in the correct restroom for your gender? Just because there is a urinal does not mean you are in the men's room. Go back and check the little bathroom pictures carefully:
...If you are still confused as to which image is male or female, or why this seems to be a restroom for chubby children, wait : and with your ninja-assassin powers of observation, note whether the next person entering/exiting the restroom in question is of the same sex as you. If not, use the other restroom.
If it is so late at night that no-one enters or exits either restroom after 5 minutes of waiting, then it doesn't matter which room you choose. Pick the one with toilet paper and soap.
Luckily for all of you, I have gone through enough restroom mishaps to safely advise you through the process should you ever be in Europe or South Korea.
You're welcome!
** I would like to clarify that the title of this series of posts is not, in fact, politically incorrect. I am perfectly aware that many of these Anna-labeled "quirks" are only regarded as quirky by me (and other foreigners) because they are different from what I (we) are used to. The title of this post series is really "Cultural difference awareness #__". However, I don't think that's as catchy as "Korea Quirk # ___", which might sound to some like I am assuming that anything different from my idea of normal is strange and quirky in and of itself. But that's not at all the meaning I was going for, thus the existence of this disclaimer to set anyone straight who was condemning me for my cultural insensitivity. I promise that I am very culturally sensitive, and that the phrase "Korea Quirk" is merely an expression of poetic license. Thank you for your understanding.
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