Comments on: Being A Foreigner in Korea http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/ Serving on the Forgotten Frontier Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:34:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: “Teachaa wear purple bras! I see her!” « Waygook Next Door http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-188553 “Teachaa wear purple bras! I see her!” « Waygook Next Door Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:50:49 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-188553 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] @Tuttle: The students here don’t do it to embarrass you, they do it because they don’t know any better. Students who love me say things like this just as often as students who hate me. There is something about Korean culture that separates foreigners from the rest of “humans”, and so we are often treated by different, lower standards. It’s not always a conscious thing, either. When I bring attention to my students’ behavior by saying something like “Would you say that to a Korean?” and they say “uhhh…uhhhh….no”, only then does it seem to dawn on them that they are subconsciously treating us foreigners as someone of a lower social stature. It’s highly irritating, but it’s hard to get TOO angry at them, as it’s not the students themselves, but the culture. There’s some good commentary on the topic here: Being a Foreigner in Korea [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[...] @Tuttle: The students here don’t do it to embarrass you, they do it because they don’t know any better. Students who love me say things like this just as often as students who hate me. There is something about Korean culture that separates foreigners from the rest of “humans”, and so we are often treated by different, lower standards. It’s not always a conscious thing, either. When I bring attention to my students’ behavior by saying something like “Would you say that to a Korean?” and they say “uhhh…uhhhh….no”, only then does it seem to dawn on them that they are subconsciously treating us foreigners as someone of a lower social stature. It’s highly irritating, but it’s hard to get TOO angry at them, as it’s not the students themselves, but the culture. There’s some good commentary on the topic here: Being a Foreigner in Korea [...]

]]> By: April http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187657 April Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:33:20 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187657 CPT Kim: “How Can you see with those eyes?”, Kim in the U.S."As far as the focus on the boobs are concerned, very natural. I still look at the big ass and big boobs of “Americans” to this day–though the reason is very different; it is no longer a novelty as much as “holy shit! don’t they interfere with daily functions.” So, it is natural to stare and question a woman's private parts but it is rude to wonder if the shape of the eyes interferes with seeing? I'm from "redneck country" and the only time I've seen foreigners accosted by adults was when they were a-illegal or b-carrying their rude treatment of customers to the US, where customer service does matter and you will be called on it if you are rude. Yet here in Korea, adult Koreans accost Americans all of the time. And the Korean children make fun of my children and their half-Korean friends for being American (or just having an American dad). No one should be harassed, here OR in the USA, for their appearance. But children are both curious and mean everywhere (one reason mine are homeschooled) and I exclude them from all the observations I make about Koreans. CPT Kim, the same kids that picked on you for being different also picked on any kid that was fat, skinny, pimply, wore glasses, was poor, spoke a little differently, etc. So, while it IS rude, I don't get upset about the way Korean children harass my children and their friends on the playground. Curiosity is natural and does not bother me at all. I don't even care when the adults stare at us because we do look a lot different than they do. I don't mind when anyone, adult or child, tries to converse with us. Sometimes they try to speak to me in Korean and even if I can't understand them (and they are probably insulting me), I respond in a friendly manner. And I am always happy to let Koreans "practice their English" on me, even if it gets tedious on a loud, crowded train to strain to hear them. I think responding kindly to these children, even if you are politely correcting their conversation etiquette, will eventually help improve Korea. I know my children enjoy conversing with adults, and I treat other children the way I want other adults to treat my children. CPT Kim: “How Can you see with those eyes?”,

Kim in the U.S.”As far as the focus on the boobs are concerned, very natural. I still look at the big ass and big boobs of “Americans” to this day–though the reason is very different; it is no longer a novelty as much as “holy shit! don’t they interfere with daily functions.”

So, it is natural to stare and question a woman’s private parts but it is rude to wonder if the shape of the eyes interferes with seeing?

I’m from “redneck country” and the only time I’ve seen foreigners accosted by adults was when they were a-illegal or b-carrying their rude treatment of customers to the US, where customer service does matter and you will be called on it if you are rude. Yet here in Korea, adult Koreans accost Americans all of the time. And the Korean children make fun of my children and their half-Korean friends for being American (or just having an American dad).

No one should be harassed, here OR in the USA, for their appearance. But children are both curious and mean everywhere (one reason mine are homeschooled) and I exclude them from all the observations I make about Koreans. CPT Kim, the same kids that picked on you for being different also picked on any kid that was fat, skinny, pimply, wore glasses, was poor, spoke a little differently, etc. So, while it IS rude, I don’t get upset about the way Korean children harass my children and their friends on the playground.

Curiosity is natural and does not bother me at all. I don’t even care when the adults stare at us because we do look a lot different than they do. I don’t mind when anyone, adult or child, tries to converse with us. Sometimes they try to speak to me in Korean and even if I can’t understand them (and they are probably insulting me), I respond in a friendly manner.

And I am always happy to let Koreans “practice their English” on me, even if it gets tedious on a loud, crowded train to strain to hear them. I think responding kindly to these children, even if you are politely correcting their conversation etiquette, will eventually help improve Korea. I know my children enjoy conversing with adults, and I treat other children the way I want other adults to treat my children.

]]> By: Kalani http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187624 Kalani Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:36:10 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187624 What sometimes takes you off-guard is the brutal honesty they display. They haven't yet learned the finer skills of pleasant civilized speech -- even in Korean -- and coupled with their minimal English vocabulary what can come out of their mouthes may feel like rabbit punches to the belly with a right cross to the jaw. But it all said with such a sweet smile that you know it was not malicious. I enjoy kids coming up and practicing their limited English. I wish more would do it, but I wish they wouldn't do it in groups which makes you feel like you're being attacked. Actually, in the past, I've had some rather nice conversations with young'uns while sitting with my dog on the beach or in the hills. What sometimes takes you off-guard is the brutal honesty they display. They haven’t yet learned the finer skills of pleasant civilized speech — even in Korean — and coupled with their minimal English vocabulary what can come out of their mouthes may feel like rabbit punches to the belly with a right cross to the jaw. But it all said with such a sweet smile that you know it was not malicious.

I enjoy kids coming up and practicing their limited English. I wish more would do it, but I wish they wouldn’t do it in groups which makes you feel like you’re being attacked. Actually, in the past, I’ve had some rather nice conversations with young’uns while sitting with my dog on the beach or in the hills.

]]> By: TGV http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187602 TGV Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:48:14 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187602 What is the problem with the kids talking to someone? At least they are interested and I think that is why they don't engage Koreans like that - they are not interested. At most, it is teaching them to be outgoing which is somewhat lacking among Korean adults. I think we are in the midst of a cultural change that must occur over generations - when those kids are of ajuma/ajossi age I think they will be very different from what we have now. Sometimes I am not in the mood, granted, but there is no malice from the kids who approach you. What is the problem with the kids talking to someone? At least they are interested and I think that is why they don’t engage Koreans like that - they are not interested. At most, it is teaching them to be outgoing which is somewhat lacking among Korean adults. I think we are in the midst of a cultural change that must occur over generations - when those kids are of ajuma/ajossi age I think they will be very different from what we have now. Sometimes I am not in the mood, granted, but there is no malice from the kids who approach you.

]]> By: RWPEDO http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187369 RWPEDO Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:39:16 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187369 RW sounds like so many pedo creeps that touch girls, and pure Korean girls. RW are you a PEDOFILE! MOLESTER RW. RW sounds like so many pedo creeps that touch girls, and pure Korean girls. RW are you a PEDOFILE! MOLESTER RW.

]]> By: R.W. http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187338 R.W. Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:34:06 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187338 You guys are being kind of harsh. All I saw in that video were some outgoing schoolgirls who were interested in the foreigners. I really don't see a problem with that. As much as I agree with most of the political opinions blogged on this site, I do get the feeling that there's a lot of racism behind the scenes here. You guys are being kind of harsh. All I saw in that video were some outgoing schoolgirls who were interested in the foreigners. I really don’t see a problem with that. As much as I agree with most of the political opinions blogged on this site, I do get the feeling that there’s a lot of racism behind the scenes here.

]]> By: chimper http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187135 chimper Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:33:27 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187135 I just pretend I’m Charleton Heston in Planet of the Apes and it gets me through the day. LOL "Take your stinking paws of me you damn dirty ape! I just pretend I’m Charleton Heston in Planet of the Apes and it gets me through the day.

LOL

“Take your stinking paws of me you damn dirty ape!

]]> By: Kim in the U.S. http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187100 Kim in the U.S. Sat, 02 Aug 2008 06:05:01 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187100 King Baeksu: If I were "confronted with foreigners," I too would be "most awkward and uncomfortable." And I am from Mars. As far as "Koreans . . . equivalent to rednecks." Possible. You can place a redneck in Chongno, but you may not be able to put Chongno in the redneck. Some of my good friends are rednecks, folks that I can trust under any difficulty--like in bar fights. But they are still rednecks. King Baeksu: If I were “confronted with foreigners,” I too would be “most awkward and uncomfortable.” And I am from Mars.

As far as “Koreans . . . equivalent to rednecks.” Possible. You can place a redneck in Chongno, but you may not be able to put Chongno in the redneck.

Some of my good friends are rednecks, folks that I can trust under any difficulty–like in bar fights. But they are still rednecks.

]]> By: King Baeksu http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187098 King Baeksu Sat, 02 Aug 2008 06:00:40 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187098 Ugly American? Guilty as charged. I do wish I was more handsome, but alas I can only work with what I have! Ugly American? Guilty as charged. I do wish I was more handsome, but alas I can only work with what I have!

]]> By: Kim in the U.S. http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187086 Kim in the U.S. Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:48:47 +0000 http://rokdrop.com/2008/01/28/being-a-foreigner-in-korea/#comment-187086 And that is the reason why the "ugly Americans," with the emphasis on "ugly" came to be attached to a specific "nationality." So get off your high horses. And that is the reason why the “ugly Americans,” with the emphasis on “ugly” came to be attached to a specific “nationality.” So get off your high horses.

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