Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Adventurer]

I was wondering if it is rather common to deal with complicated foreigners in Korea, male and female. Would you say they are the same percentage wise as the one back in North America or Europe? Of course, you'd think university graduates would be the cream of the crop of their countries, but not necessarily. I am sure many are......

[Julius]

"Complicated" is what westerners specialise in. The intrigue and the politics of a persons individuality. A complicated woman has sex appeal.
If you're not complicated, you're seen as dumb or frivolous.

By contrast the korean psyche is invariably similar from person to person. Its a host of contradictory nationalistic sensitivities rolled into one. Complicated, yes, but predictable across the board.

[LUCRETIA]

That's a really vague question.

[bobbyhanlon]

cream of the crop? haha.. i think anyone who's been to itaewon would dispute that!

[Adventurer]

[RACETRAITOR]

Keep in mind back in our home countries we had a much freer choice about who we could hang out with. Here the options are limited among foreigners, as there aren't large enough groups of like-minded people for everyone to stick with.

[Rock]

Dealing with foreigners abroad is a phenomena all on its own. Something psychological happens to those of us living abroad. It can kind of lead to a sort of Murphy's-Law mentality too, with some foreingers here being spiteful and quite out-of-the norm compared to those back home.

I, personally, have never met a more unlikable lot, both male and female, and have found most to be. . .well, not the sharpest tools in the shed.

Asia seems to attract such people too. This might have to do with the amoral attitude Asians display. Why not, then, live a neutral lifestyle and debunk all responsibility and integrity?

Then there are those who are personality mis-fits, or whatever, and you often find one joker who'll come to work not saying Hi to anyone, others who'll pretend they're better and say think they're the Real McCoy when it comes to teaching English; you'll find head hunters who'll adapt the same mentality of greed as the natives, those natives trying to use you and these foreigners use you if they can; and you'll find plain old naysayers who don't want anything to do with Asian culture and God knows only why, are here. The list goes on.

They're not complicated though. They're just more perplexing. I, personally, don't associate with them because I'm turned off by all the negativity the majority display. Most, too, feel this is their turf, and they're the genuine example of Western culture.

[Mix1]

^ I think there is a tendency to see a foreigner here and instantly try to categorize and group them, and this often involves making a judgement.

"What's this persons job, how are they dressed, do they speak more
Korean than I do, how are they adjusting here, am I doing better or worse than this person, why are they here, wait...why am I here?"

Whereas back home it would be just another person in the crowd.

[jajdude]

I think there are a lot of foreigners looking down on other foreigners. This board demonstrates this. It seems a lot of people really believe they are somehow better than average. I wonder what is behind this thinking. What makes any of us better than the average foreigner?

[SuperFly]

Not half as complicated this character from Apocalypse Now was...

[Adventurer]