Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DanielP]

Hey peeps!
With the help of DaeguKid, I decided to make a poll to see how many of us display a national symbol when you go out.

For example, when I was a kid living in Spain, my mom made me wear a T-shirt with an American flag on it. Needless to say, I made sure I wore a sweater over it for my safety.

Do you carry a Canadian Maple Leaf with you? Or perhaps an American Baseball cap? What are the types of response you're getting?

Lol, in France we had an American SUV that wasn't being made in Europe (Pontiac Transport we brought from Texas. Yeehaww!) and had those design American License plates and drove it around France and next to their little 2-door cars. Needless to say, we got some "interesting" responses from Les Francais =)

Daniel

[leebumlik69]

[Qinella]

It sounds like you had an interesting childhood, DanielP.

To answer your question, no, I never let on that I'm American unless someone asks. It has nothing to do with worrying about America's national identity. It's more to do with the fact that birthplace is arbitrary and thus unimportant to me.

[thebum]

[kangnam mafioso]

i'm a bit leery of people who are overly-nationalistic. nothing wrong with a little pride in one's birthplace, but i don't see any reason to flaunt it in other countries.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Nothing wrong with being proud of your home country, but I do find it tiresome when people carry around a mini flag to display on their desk to go along with the flag decal on the backpack. Those people tend to refer to 'back home' a lot more than I care to hear about.

[DanielP]

I agree with you Ya-ta Boy. Being proud especially holds true during world olympics or world cups =)

Granted, being arrogant about it is not good, nor is it healthy =P. Especially when it comes to having to defend yourself and foreign policy at every other conversation.

Yeah, I was/am, like you, very fortunate for having lived/living overseas. I truly wish every person could spend one year living in another country, as it would remind all of us that we are not alone and that the world is bigger than one thinks.

[uberscheisse]

i have yet to meet anyone who has found themselves under attack or even undue scrutiny for their nation. for their skin color and 'other'-ness maybe, but not for the fact that they're american, swede, aussie, whatever.

so no. i don't care where anyone's from. why would the rest of the world?

[RACETRAITOR]

I make a point not to ask someone where they're from when I meet them. It doesn't really matter. I don't ever wear a Canadian flag, even though I'm patriotic, because I think it upholds the image of Canadians being in-your-face about it.

Here's a funny story. I was standing around in Hongdae Park with a group of foreigners, mostly Canadian and Australian. Some guy wanders over and says "Hey, are any of you American?" I shoved my friend Paul over and said "He is." Then we all turned our backs on the two of them.

[Ron Stevens]

i've spent decade plus living in other countries so i don't even think about it, though it is nice meeting people from my homeland generally i don't give a stuff where cnts are from

[contrarian]

I have a Korean flag on my Jacket and an American flag on my backpack (put it on there about 2 days after 9/11). I'm Canadian.

[Cerebroden]

I do, but I'm from texas. It's not like I need any help standing out in this culture anyways. I've got red hair and most of the time I'm out walking my pittie.

I'd rather not listen to people bitch and moan about my country or my president. So atleast they know to keep it to themselves when I'm around. (that goes for when I'm at my in-laws as well)

[sock]

This is what I wear to work every morning. I want people to know that being American is the best thing that can ever happen to you, like being born Paris Hilton. I also want them to know that I'm not afraid to dress for success.

Oh yeah, and like Princess, I want everyone to know that I'm not fat!!! But my horse is, that's why he has to cover up, the disgusting slob.

[mindmetoo]

Sometimes I wear a McGill hoodie. Sometimes I wear a University of Washington hoodie. I have a small Korean flag on my backpack and a Korean flag on my laptop. When I'm an actual traveller I will place a small Canadian flag pin on my backpack, but living here I only go with the Korean flag pin. I figure any nationalistic Korean might have a hard time reconciling my apparent honoring of Korea with the idea that I'm here to consume their wealth and then spit out their marrow-less bones. And steal and despoil their women.

[Zolt]

For me to publicly display my national pride would be the same as for an ajosshi to walk with his zipper open: Nothing much to see, and none of it wholesome.

On the other hand I like to collect stickers and stuff from the countries I go to. I don't think that count as national pride, unless you mistake me for a japanese or taiwanese, which is kinda hard.