School lunch - *NEW POLL!*

[hiphopopotamus]

I ate school lunch for the first 2 months then realized I don't like Korean food. I told my co-teachers I want to start bringing my own lunch. When they asked why, I told them I don't really like Korean food with the exception of the pork and beef. I don't think they took offense.

I've been bringing salads (usually lettuce, tuna, hard boiled egg, almonds, grapes) and a piece of fruit (apples or bananas usually). They are curious. I do participate in the work dinners and snack time in the office to help make up for some of it.

If you don't like the food, don't pay for it. Don't eat it. My advice: don't worry about them finding it disrespectful. And don't lie. Just say you don't like the taste if it's true.

Welcome to the world of sack lunches!

[flasyb]

I tried to stop eating school lunches. I was at my desk eating my packed lunch when the principal marched into the room, snatched my sandwich from my hand and mashed it into the industrial shredder next to my desk. He then swiped the rest of my food off the table with one swing onto the floor, jumped up and down on it and said, "Eat that now English dog!" After that, he put a gun to my head (I think it was the starter pistol they used on sports day) and marched me down to the dining room and kept the pistol pressed firmly at my temple whilst insisting that I say hmmm delicious after every mouthful.

Since that incident, I revised my decision to not eat school lunches and unless you want the exact same thing happen to you, which I believe is standard treatment for NETs who opt out of school lunch, I suggest you continue to eat school lunches.

[creeper1]

I like the previous post.

To the OP, I don't accept the pretext of your question. It is quite clearly absurd to think that a lunch so high in veg content would make you fat. What are you going to substitute it with? High calorie western crap?

[gilbert.a.h]

Sure, you can get out of it. I did. My reason was because of my medical diet and because I can't eat the "bounty of the sea" very well without throwing up all over.

Just tell them that you will finish up what you paid for and then just bring your own. Who cares if it is rude? You gotta do what you gotta do.

[natale_laplante]

I like the previous post.

To the OP, I don't accept the pretext of your question. It is quite clearly absurd to think that a lunch so high in veg content would make you fat. What are you going to substitute it with? High calorie western crap?

What pretext? Not all lunches are "high in veg content." A lot of it does have high sodium; especially when they serve dried seafood. And the curry rice we had today certainly isn't low in calories or fat. And not all western food is "crap" either. I eat better with what I prepare at home than I eat at school.

[Davey]

Please stay on topic.

I pulled out; as others have said, it depends on the school whether they get offended, but, ultimately, they can't force you to eat and pay for food that you don't want to eat.

[KKelley]

I always look forward to lunch.  I am on my 4th month in Korea.  The first two months I tried to at least taste everything, and I was constantly asked by my co teachers what I thought of every thing.  When ever we had something I did not like I would just say "its not my favorite."  Now I am a little pickier with what I put on my tray, and when I go to the cafeteria with my co teachers they do not expect me to eat the squid, but are very happy to see me enjoying rice and kimchi jigae.   
Besides when I think about it, the lunches here are much better than the soggy pizza, chewy burgers and cold tacos, that american schools serve. 

[#basedcowboyshirt]

Now at my new school, were all the teachers pay 75,000 a month for lunch (not optional) and we have AMAZING lunches, i take photos to boast to my friends

 :o

I don't know if I'd want to pay nearly 4,000 won a day for lunch.  That seems a bit ridiculous.  It better be good.  I pay 20,000 a month (1,000 a day).

I pay the same (75,000) for lunch per month. And it's generally pretty bad. I could go to a Kimbap Jangook and get healthier, fresher, cheaper food every day.

[Alida]

I know of many people who do not eat lunch at school, just find other ways to be more involved in the school like joining the volleyball team or something to show that you still like Korea and want to be part of the school stuff.

At my school the daily kimchi is usually the only form of vegetables given - and I don't eat kimchi so I understand your pain

[#basedcowboyshirt]

I tried to stop eating school lunches. I was at my desk eating my packed lunch when the principal marched into the room, snatched my sandwich from my hand and mashed it into the industrial shredder next to my desk. He then swiped the rest of my food off the table with one swing onto the floor, jumped up and down on it and said, "Eat that now English dog!" After that, he put a gun to my head (I think it was the starter pistol they used on sports day) and marched me down to the dining room and kept the pistol pressed firmly at my temple whilst insisting that I say hmmm delicious after every mouthful.

Since that incident, I revised my decision to not eat school lunches and unless you want the exact same thing happen to you, which I believe is standard treatment for NETs who opt out of school lunch, I suggest you continue to eat school lunches.

Okay. You just made me legitimately laugh for the first time today. Thanks!

I'm considering opting out of my school lunches, because they cost me more than my dinner and breakfast combined usually do. My school charges around 4,000 per day of lunch, and you have to pay for a whole month regardless of how often you eat it. It works out to about 75,000, when my entire food budget aside from that is about 110,000 per month. So, I feel like I'd be savging a ton of money if I opted out. Also, because my school's been suffering from financial difficulties, they've made the food ridiculously budget without lowering the price.

The only reason I still eat the school lunch is so I can talk with the other teachers.

As for how okay it is - I'm sure it's fine. I'm sure each and every one of us has inadvertently done something much more feather-ruffling than opting out of lunch.

[mjlee322]

My coteacher and I both will opt out of school lunches in July! 
it's nice to have someone on your side.. But really, it is for our diet... because all that Rice day in and day out is probably a factor in my weight gain      :)
i'm sure you'll be fine!
Get someone else to join you in your new diet plan!  GOOD LUCK!

[cassie]

Another case here of not eating school lunch.  My school understood because I am vegetarian and almost everything had meat in it. You may get asked why, but be honest and there shouldn't be any issue. I've not felt that there's any different treatment because of it.
I tried bringing my lunch to school twice and 2 times it ended in disaster. The first time, I took my lunch to the cafeteria and I got so many stares, questions, and poking in my lunch that I couldn't stand to eat like that.
The second time, I thought I'd eat at the table in the teachers room with some of the adjuma teachers. As soon as I opened my container (leftover cold fettucine alfredo), chopsticks swooped in and ate my entire lunch before I even got a bite. They offered me their squid and kimchi in return.  :'(
Now I just go home for lunch and nobody knows or cares what I eat for lunch. It's great.

[Jozigirl]

I didn't eat school lunches for the first three months and it was never a problem.  The other two NETs at my school don't eat lunch in the cafeteria and I don't eat there every day.  If anyone ever queries why I didn't have lunch at school, it's more out of concern that I've actually eaten lunch on that particular day rather than where I actually ate it.  I'm lucky in that my school doesn't charge me for my lunches.  It's your choice as to what and where you eat. 

[laughter627]

I don't eat the school lunch and it is a MAJOR problem for my teachers... I actually had to meet with the DMOE (I work for EPIK) this year because of this very fact. My principal and my VP did NOT want me to stay another year because I didn't eat the school lunch and that apparently equals that I'm not a social person in the school. The DMOE told me I need to be a "cultural ambassador" as well, and eating school lunch is part of that. Re-signing my contract is now up in the air, and I may not be asked back. I think my case is extreme and I think my VP/P may be a bit crazy.

What I suggest is that if you choose not to eat a lunch, know that many teachers will be upset and offended by it. Food is such an important aspect of their culture and you will notice you spend MUCH less time communicating and talking to the other teachers. I don't think it'll be a big problem as long as you do what another poster said and make more efforts to foster good working relationships with the other korean teachers by spending time with them and communicating with them in other ways. Good luck with it!

[natale_laplante]

I don't eat the school lunch and it is a MAJOR problem for my teachers... I actually had to meet with the DMOE (I work for EPIK) this year because of this very fact. My principal and my VP did NOT want me to stay another year because I didn't eat the school lunch and that apparently equals that I'm not a social person in the school.

That's what I'm afraid of. I guess it's a sort of d*mned if you do, d*mned if you don't thing.

[FMNY]

In my school there are many teachers that do not each school lunch a bunch of teachers in my offfice usually all share food from home. I ate the lunches for a while they were not bad but they didn't make me feel well so I just told my head teacher and she said it was a good idea since I had been so sick. I just sign the paper no every month. There are still some teachers that don't realize I stopped eating school lunches so they still aske me everyother day to come eat with them but I just remind them I don't eat at the school anymore I eat my own food. No worries

[firebreaker]

You don't have to if you don't want to. I don't like Korean food, so I don't eat it. I've never had any problems. I just tell them it's too spicy. I don't even eat in the cafeteria. I eat in my classroom/office. They don't really care as long as you teach well. Most of kids I've spoken to and the teachers, generally don't like the school lunches anyway. HAHA.

[rohski]

Being a vegetarian, I opted out of the school lunch.  I used to my co-teachers and other non-homeroom teachers, but they'd all analyze whatever food I brought from home, and barely talk to me.  I'm cool with my co-teachers, but they barely talk to me during lunch, and if they do, they sort of whisper??  Needless to say, I just stay in the classroom now  ;)

[southernman]

Two of my K co-teachers don't eat the school lunches.  I can sympathise about you putting on weight,  I did myself last year.  I was at 3 rural schools and the lunch ladies really piled on the food,  even when I asked them not too.

At my new school  I have a token piece of kimchi, no rice at all and it's all good.  I told everyone I was on a diet and they're now saying  that I've lost weight and am looking better. 

But I agree with others  it does depend on you school but for health or weight issues it shouldn't be a problem if you choose not to eat your school's lunches

[pizza hamburger]

In general?  No, it's not cool.  But really, it just depends on with whom you work.

From what I've observed, "I'm on a diet" is the one excuse that can work.  In some cases, though, they might still get offended.  Maybe you can still eat your packed lunch with them and offer them some of your food (pack a little more)?  And pack some things that are Korean?