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Yu_Bum_suk

Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject: Things that suck about having Korean friends |
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- the age thing. It's not hard for Koreans to get over it when it comes to waygooks. Smoke in front of me if you're 10 years younger or female, I don't care. If you're older and want me to pour your soju with two hands I'm happy to. There's only one problem: what if you have more than one Korean friend in the same place at the same time? Suddenly everything's fucked. Getting together with a group of waygooks age 22-55 is no problem. Throw in a reciprocal group of hangooks intermixing with the waygooks and things couldn't be more awkward. It seems that if you want to do anything with hangooks and be relaxed they all have to be within five years of each other and the same gender or work for the same school / company.
- being shown off. Yes, you've got a waygook friend. Aren't you ever smart, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan. Now let's make a grand display and show off the waygook to all your lesser hangooks. Imagine spending a whole night drinking in a 'foreigner' bar full of Koreans and you're the only one with a foreigner, footing an expensive bill. Instant big-shot status, that.
- the past history factor. Oh no, I can't go to that place because of blah blah blah. I don't want to go if she's coming because of blah blah blah. I don't think I can answer your call because you're friends with him and blah blah blah happened between us. Oh, who is she? Do I know her? I don't know if I can be her friend too because I've never met her and maybe there will be some problem. Like I give a damn about every Korean's schoolboy / schoolgirl squabbles.
Don't get me wrong. I like having Korean friends and I enjoy hanging out with Koreans. But damn is it ever frustrating sometimes being around people who make things as awkward as humanly possible. As if workplaces in Korean can't be stressful enough, is it really necessary to make socialising a chore? |
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princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: soul of Asia
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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I enjoy having Korean friends. I have more Korean friends than waygook friends. I am Christian, but what kind of bothers me if I am friends with a Korean who is also Christian, is that they always have to bring up church or studying the Bible when I meet them. Like they know everything about God, etc. and I don't.  |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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They apparently think I am the Energizer Bunny, without any sleep requirements whatsoever. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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Stop hanging out with yuppies and old people and you'll rarely have these problems. |
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Bibbitybop

Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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The women friends aren't down with "friends with benefits." Usually. |
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EFLtrainer

Joined: 04 May 2005
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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In groups where you are the only foreigner, the slow slide into 100% Korean and them not even noticing you're bored out of your mind. (Yes, I need to improve my Korean, but when do basic manners come into play?) |
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indytrucks

Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Location: The Shelf
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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I've got plenty of Korean friends and have never once experienced any of the things you're talking about.
Maybe you just need some new Korean friends. |
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mateomiguel
Joined: 16 May 2005
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 12:14 am Post subject: Re: Things that suck about having Korean friends |
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Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
people who make things as awkward as humanly possible |
This is the summation of the entire culture right here.
Its as if that right bastid Confucious sat down with his disciples and said, "Ok, guys, lets imagine the most singlemindedly awkward culture that we can ever possibly create in our opium-induced delirium, write it down, and spread it around asia. its gotta catch on somewhere!" and were terribly, horribly right.
indytrucks wrote: |
I've got plenty of Korean friends and have never once experienced any of the things you're talking about. |
Do you ever put them in the same room? Its like getting two strange cats together. I have experienced everything that the OP has mentioned numerous times.
Bibbitybop wrote: |
The women friends aren't down with "friends with benefits." Usually. |
You sure? Cuz my experience is that that's all they're down for, and its a bit frustrating. I don't know whether to laugh or cry now that I'm on my third round of friends-with-benefits. |
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Julius

Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 1:21 am Post subject: |
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to be honest my korean friends have been wonderful and I'm not sure how I coped without them before.
In addition to teaching me a little Korean, they have surprised me with gifts many times- clothes, shoes, evenings out. At the moment they're storing my stuff for me as I'm on a break from work.
Kind and generous:) |
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wylies99

Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 1:44 am Post subject: |
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The women friends aren't down with "friends with benefits." Usually. |
I have known one, but she didn't want ANYONE to know. She didn't want ANY physical contact outside of her apartment.
Korean guys want to drink- HEAVILY. |
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Wrench
Joined: 07 Apr 2005
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 3:47 am Post subject: |
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Koreans are very unreliable period. |
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n3ptne
Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Location: Poh*A*ng City
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 3:51 am Post subject: |
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Yeh man... my Korean friends are straight up awesome... I have no idea what I'd do without them. They go to the wall for me all the time. |
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Saxiif

Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 4:10 am Post subject: |
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Wrench wrote: |
Koreans are very unreliable period. |
What? Maybe in business relations. But with friends, its a whole other story. |
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Young FRANKenstein

Joined: 02 Oct 2006 Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 4:41 am Post subject: Re: Things that suck about having Korean friends |
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Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
- the age thing. |
Thank dog my Korean friends are all relatively the same age.
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- being shown off. |
I don't have any Korean guy friends, so I don't have to deal with this crapola. The ladies don't seem to really care about showing me off.
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- the past history factor. |
Maybe it's the quality of people I choose to become friends with, but I haven't encountered this yet. Or maybe I've unconsciously pre-selected them out of contention for friendship by the time it gets to being considered GOOD friends. I tend not to put up with a lot of nonsense. |
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Julius

Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 4:43 am Post subject: |
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Saxiif wrote: |
Wrench wrote: |
Koreans are very unreliable period. |
What? Maybe in business relations. But with friends, its a whole other story. |
Strikes me as another case of East vs West opposite approach again. In the west i'd never be a minute late for a business appointment but I'd feel free to show half an hour late with casual friends. Here its the opposite. |
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