::A Geek in Korea::

My upper level students were doing their listening intensive book today. There was a section about shopping. We would listen to scenario, then talk about what the person was trying to buy. One of the scenarios was hauntingly familiar:

Man: I love living here, but it’s so difficult sometimes to buy things I need.
Woman: Like what?
Man: Like deodorant or toiletries. I go to department stores, pharmacies, or even supermarkets. No one has anything I need. It makes things very difficult
Woman: Why is that?
Man: Well, because when I run or exercise, I sweat. Without deodorant, I can’t feel comfortable around people due to my odor. I usually have to stay away from people on very hot days.

I was laughing because I’ve had this problem living in Korea. Finding good strength deodorant is absolutely impossible. I wasn’t the only person laughing. The students were too, for entirely different reasons. They asked why foreigners needed deodorant. These were younger teenagers, around twelve years old. I told them that people tend to stink after they sweat, so deodorant helps keep those smells under control. I asked them how they deal with sweating after running or exercising in gym class.

One boy raised both of his arms and said, "Like this!" He then pretended to waft the funk around the room, as if he was some sort of oscillating stink machine. He said everyone in his Korean elementary school class did the same thing. What a pleasant smell that must be. Another boy put his hands in his armpits, pulled them out, the blew the girls in class a "B.O." laden kiss. It was equal parts hilarious and disgusting. I almost vomited in my mouth while laughing at the same time.

The students thought I was crazy for suggesting that placing something under their arms to control bodily odor might be a good thing as a societal practice. I told the students that, generally, body odor is viewed as rude, or at least unfavorable. To come home reeking of perspiration, alcohol, or the various foods that you ingested wouldn’t be something an average person does. The students told me their parents and people they know stink after a good night out.

Lack of odors being desirable isn’t an opinion shared by Korean people it seems. Ew.