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asmith
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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 Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:42 am Post subject: Please say hello to me! |
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| I can't tell you how many times I pass English teachers on the street. I try to wave and say hello. Most just pretend they don't see me. I'm tired of this unfriendliness. |
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lorenchristopher
Joined: 25 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:48 am Post subject: |
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I generally smile and nod to other foreigners, but if I'm in an area like Hongdae, Gangnam, or Itaewon then forget it. Don't take offense to it though....I've had days when I'm walking around and maybe in a bad mood for some reason, and I just don't feel like waving and smiling when I see a fellow whitie.
No big deal. |
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asmith
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:58 am Post subject: |
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| lorenchristopher wrote: |
I generally smile and nod to other foreigners, but if I'm in an area like Hongdae, Gangnam, or Itaewon then forget it. Don't take offense to it though....I've had days when I'm walking around and maybe in a bad mood for some reason, and I just don't feel like waving and smiling when I see a fellow whitie.
No big deal. |
So you just smile and nod? You never actually use the word "hello"?
Why is that, Loren? |
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ppcg4
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:19 am Post subject: |
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| I wouldn't smile and wave to you at home, so why would I here? |
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lorenchristopher
Joined: 25 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:35 am Post subject: |
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| asmith wrote: |
So you just smile and nod? You never actually use the word "hello"?
Why is that, Loren? |
Is it really that insulting to you if I don't use the word "hello"? A smile and a nod isn't enough? Would you rather I strike up a conversation with you on the street?
Hehehe....sorry. I already have plenty of friends and my own life here, I will smile at you....if you want to talk to other foreigners then go to a bar in Itaewon or post an ad on craigslist that you're looking for friends. Good luck to you! |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:35 am Post subject: Re: Please say hello to me! |
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| asmith wrote: |
| I can't tell you how many times I pass English teachers on the street. I try to wave and say hello. Most just pretend they don't see me. I'm tired of this unfriendliness. |
This is in the wrong thread. You need to re-post it in the "Let's all complain about Korea" thread.
Whitey won't talk to me.
WAHHHHHHHH! |
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PigeonFart
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:47 am Post subject: |
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It all depends on where you live in Korea. In rural locations it's expected to acknowledge each other on the street....in the center of Seoul it's not expected.
If you want to keep saying hello, then go ahead and do it. But don't be hurt if another wants to avoid eye contact, it's nothing personal....maybe they're just shy or busy. |
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MrMr
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:13 am Post subject: Please say hello to me! |
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This thread comes up in various guises from time to time and there are always those who defend not acknowledging othe foreigners because they are strangers and they wouldn't say hello back home or because they feel that being of the same race doesn't mean they belong to the same social club.
Maybe I'm missing something but isn't it ironic then that many of these people come onto a forum like this and respond to and instigate numerous topics with strangers everyday. I think it's strange that the friendliness or lack thereof of the natives of countries visited or lived in is often evaluted in rating our expeience in that country yet some of us feel no need to be friendly to other travelers and are even insulted by a simple greeting from them.
Now i know I'm a little over the top. I say hi to just about all foreigners I meet and in small towns I say hi to most Koreans. When I know I'm going to be ignored I give a loud cheerful hi and a big ear to ear smile. It's about the most provocative thing i do in my life.
Oh and when I'm back home and encounter people who appear to be from countries I've visited I usually try to strike up a conversation. The opportunity to reminisce is part of what I enjoy about travel.
I'm an old guy, travelled a fair bit, been in korea sinse 01 and am happy to say that I'm not jaded yet.
Ok the only responses i want are from people who would say hello to me on the street. |
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blackjack
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: anyang
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:15 am Post subject: |
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| If some one looks at me or talks to me I might say hey, but otherwise I am an antisocial bastard so ... |
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BabaNaja
Joined: 12 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:39 am Post subject: |
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| asmith wrote: |
| I can't tell you how many times I pass English teachers on the street. I try to wave and say hello. Most just pretend they don't see me. I'm tired of this unfriendliness. |
I think it's mainly a cultural difference when people don't respond, and not meant to be unfriendly. Remember that English teachers come from seven different countries, and there are often significant differences even within those countries, especially varying between small towns or large cities.
For instance, I am a southerner from the US, so I also smile or say hello to everyone I pass on the street, foreign or Korean. If I'm on the subway, in a store, or at a bus stop I'm going to have some sort of conversation with nearby people. However, I recognize that is because of the culture I was raised in, and I don't expect everyone to act in the same way I do.
If a Korean was to visit where I live then hopefully they would understand that people aren't being rude just because they don't bow to each other. Instead people say 'sir' or 'ma'am' or covey respect in another way, it may just not be immediately obvious to an outside eye.
So don't take it personally when people don't respond. Keep smiling and saying hello because that's a part of you and your culture, but remember that you are living around people from different parts of the world. Respect the fact that they can still be friendly, even if they don't behave in the same manner you do. |
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pootle
Joined: 05 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| helloooo! |
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Emeliu
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
Location: Korea, i'm OMW
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:26 am Post subject: |
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I usually go out of my way to avoid saying hello to people I don't even know, and I find it awkward when people I don't know say hi to me, even a nod is uncomfortable for me.
In my town there are a lot of southerners who moved here to farm, and its hard to deal with their friendliness. I only say hi to people that are my friends or I spent any significant amount of time with. If i were in a foreign country it wouldn't be any different. |
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peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Emeliu wrote: |
I usually go out of my way to avoid saying hello to people I don't even know, and I find it awkward when people I don't know say hi to me, even a nod is uncomfortable for me.
In my town there are a lot of southerners who moved here to farm, and its hard to deal with their friendliness. I only say hi to people that are my friends or I spent any significant amount of time with. If i were in a foreign country it wouldn't be any different. |
I thought you were planning to go to Korea to teach? If a simple nod from a stranger makes you uncomfortable, then I'd think teaching in Korea would be the very definition of hell on earth. Talking to a whole bunch of people you've never met is basically the job description, and getting the "hello chorus" from a gaggle of school kids is a commonplace occurrence. |
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Emeliu
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
Location: Korea, i'm OMW
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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| peppermint wrote: |
| Emeliu wrote: |
I usually go out of my way to avoid saying hello to people I don't even know, and I find it awkward when people I don't know say hi to me, even a nod is uncomfortable for me.
In my town there are a lot of southerners who moved here to farm, and its hard to deal with their friendliness. I only say hi to people that are my friends or I spent any significant amount of time with. If i were in a foreign country it wouldn't be any different. |
I thought you were planning to go to Korea to teach? If a simple nod from a stranger makes you uncomfortable, then I'd think teaching in Korea would be the very definition of hell on earth. Talking to a whole bunch of people you've never met is basically the job description, and getting the "hello chorus" from a gaggle of school kids is a commonplace occurrence. |
haha, I meant strictly on campus at my uni. Of course I have to change when i go to a different country, I have to meet new people etc. |
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benji1422
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: Los Angeles & Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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| I thought your blog was funny. The 'voice' was really engaging. It makes me never want to read Brian in Jeollnamdo or Michael Hurt again. |
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