Job Discussion Forums

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

How about Korea, guys? When I was there, I was treated so well and made so many friends so fast.

The unfriendliest country: Germany. After 6 months, I only knew my students (who were great people) but outside class I met almost no one.

jaytee · Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 16 Location: China

I am not terribly well traveled, I have only been to four countries, but I found that Thailand was the friendliest place. That isn't to say the happiest place, the people were not very happy with the conditions they had to live in, but despite this they were always smiling and always friendly.

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

i always find it amusing that many countries which claim to be the friendliest are those which seem, from my experience anyway, to have some of the most unscrupulous characters ive ever met. Indonesia, specifically Jakarta, comes immediately to mind. Thailand, Bangkok, is another place where ie found some of the most damning behaviour( sorry to disagree with the OP but i do refer only to my experiences in Bangkok). I agree that city residents in any country do not represent the population as a whole, but it reminds me nevertheless. I have never heard anyone say that British people are 'very friendly'. In fact, even British people themselves would generally not even dare to make this claim (rightly so, I suppose).
However, I have to say that Syrians, both those in the city and in the regions, seem to be extremely kind and helpful. I have spent around 3 years here in total and have never ever felt threatened in the way I frequently felt in Jakarta. Poverty and struggle for survival amongst a rapidly growing population are clearly among the reasons for this but, on the other hand, it does not mean that such damning and unscrupulous behaviouir should be justified.
regards
basil