I don't have such issues with java and have used openoffice on many occasions.
Also, since there are many incompatibility issues with open office and MS
documents, i would reccomend you download a virtual box from
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads and install windows to it (if you have
it) and MS Office. Although I suspect there is a java setting issue since I
don't have the issue you have. When I used OpenOffice in windows I didn't have
such issues either.