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Yesterday
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Land of the Morning DongChim (Kancho)
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 Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:23 am Post subject: What's with the "WHEN are you going to leave?" |
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Been here over six years...
and whenever I meet somone new (KOREAN) ...
usually the questions - after they have asked me.. "How long have you been here?" - and I tell them......
Usually the next few questions are.......
"Oh... you must like korea?"
(kinda asked in such a way - as if - what you ACTUALLY like korea - are you crazy?)
next....
"When are you going home? / or when are you gonna leave?"
(kinda asked in such a way - as if - SHITT!! - you already know too much about the truth about this place - please when you gonna leave so you don't tell everyone what its really like here..............)
WHY do I always get asked these same / stupid questions? |
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jackson7
Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Location: Kim Jong Il's Future Fireball
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:46 am Post subject: |
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They don't know much more English than that.
OR
They are sincerely interested in how long you've been here, if you do like they're country (that they are usually oh-so-proud of), and they'd like you to stick around a while (hence, the when will you LEAVE, leave usually being an more common verb to learn in the basics of a language than stay."
I think of that question, "When will you leave." I have a four-year plan for several things in my life here regarding studies, finances and travel, so I usually tell them how long I've been here, and how long I plan on staying. I've gotten surprised reactions, but usually they are pleasantly surprised reactions. Then I tell them the same thing in Korean just to make sure they understood me, and their smile grows bigger.
You can't control peoples actions or reactions, but you can control your own!  |
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Saram
Joined: 11 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:52 am Post subject: |
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| I just got asked that question 10 minutes ago by an ajumma who came into my apartment and told me she bought the place and I have a couple of weeks to get out. You would think that someone would have told me this sooner! |
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CiCi78
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:53 am Post subject: Re: What's with the "WHEN are you going to leave?" |
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"When are you going home? / or when are you gonna leave?"
(kinda asked in such a way - as if - *beep*!! - you already know too much about the truth about this place - please when you gonna leave so you don't tell everyone what its really like here..............)
WHY do I always get asked these same / stupid questions?[/quote]
Maybe they're just tossing a hint your way. |
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Saram
Joined: 11 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:53 am Post subject: |
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| jackson7 wrote: |
They don't know much more English than that.
OR
They are sincerely interested in how long you've been here, if you do like they're country (that they are usually oh-so-proud of), and they'd like you to stick around a while (hence, the when will you LEAVE, leave usually being an more common verb to learn in the basics of a language than stay."
I think of that question, "When will you leave." I have a four-year plan for several things in my life here regarding studies, finances and travel, so I usually tell them how long I've been here, and how long I plan on staying. I've gotten surprised reactions, but usually they are pleasantly surprised reactions. Then I tell them the same thing in Korean just to make sure they understood me, and their smile grows bigger.
You can't control peoples actions or reactions, but you can control your own! |
I know quite a few foreigners who also subscribe to that plan! |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 5:57 am Post subject: |
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"When all the koreans leave my country".
Should be your immediate answer.!! |
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icicle
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Location: Gyeonggi do Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:17 am Post subject: |
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I have been asked that question for the first time in 3 months here, 3 times in the last 2 days by older koreans who spoke some English who I met for the first time on buses or subway ... In the context in which it was asked I think that it is perhaps simply a way of asking how long are you planning on staying here ... rather than how soon are you going to leave...
It does stand right up there with how old are you? and are you married? as common questions asked ... just after do you like Korea?
Icicle |
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:20 am Post subject: |
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| Saram wrote: |
| I just got asked that question 10 minutes ago by an ajumma who came into my apartment and told me she bought the place and I have a couple of weeks to get out. You would think that someone would have told me this sooner! |
This happened to a friend of mine too: new people bought his building, and he was told No Foreigners. He even had trouble finding a new apartment, because several landowners in the area had the same policy. |
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normalcyispasse
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Location: Yeosu until the end of February WOOOOOOOO
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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| cdninkorea wrote: |
| Saram wrote: |
| I just got asked that question 10 minutes ago by an ajumma who came into my apartment and told me she bought the place and I have a couple of weeks to get out. You would think that someone would have told me this sooner! |
This happened to a friend of mine too: new people bought his building, and he was told No Foreigners. He even had trouble finding a new apartment, because several landowners in the area had the same policy. |
Woo, Korea Sparkling! Global hub Korea! Yeosu World Expo Korea so good international Korea! |
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mj roach
Joined: 16 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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Yesterday -
Because 'learning' English in Korea meant everyone memorizing the same dialog(ue).
When the 'script' has been recited, the questions stop.
The question is probably not meant to be agressive/offensive in most cases. |
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Newbie
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2007 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| No great mystery. They just know what we're too slow to clue in to: "why the hell would you be in Korea when you could be living in Can/US/Europe/Oz/NZ" |
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ajuma
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
Location: Anywere but Seoul!!
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 7:46 am Post subject: |
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| Actually, I think the reason that we're all asked about when we're going to leave is because probably every foreigner that they've ever met here HAS left. No point building a long-term friendship with someone who will be gone in a few months. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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| ajuma wrote: |
| Actually, I think the reason that we're all asked about when we're going to leave is because probably every foreigner that they've ever met here HAS left. No point building a long-term friendship with someone who will be gone in a few months. |
That's the good null hypothesis. I'd err on that one. Also small talk differs from culture to culture. We spend all our time teaching Koreans English but we never teach them the art of small talk. What are ice breaker questions in our culture? What are proper responses? etc. |
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ajuma
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
Location: Anywere but Seoul!!
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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mindmetoo:
Hijacking the thread a bit, what ARE some good "small-talk" questions that you ask someone you first meet besides the "Where are you from? Are you married? How old are you?" questions?
I DO teach "What are you into?" but I'm always looking for more "real" conversation for my students. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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| ajuma wrote: |
mindmetoo:
Hijacking the thread a bit, what ARE some good "small-talk" questions that you ask someone you first meet besides the "Where are you from? Are you married? How old are you?" questions?
I DO teach "What are you into?" but I'm always looking for more "real" conversation for my students. |
Favorites are always good "ice breakers". Although they should not be heavily weighted on "what's your favorite place in Korea?" "What's your favorite Korean food?" It ends up looking like the Korean is begging for compliments.
"What's your favorite movie?" "What's your favorite department store?" "What's your favorite movie theater?" "What's your favorite season?" "What's your favorite restaurant?"
In general, I think small talk works best when your questions imply you find the person interesting. People who find us interesting we tend to like far better than a person that simply appears to be digging for compliments or statistical data. |
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