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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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IncognitoHFX
Joined: 06 May 2007
Location: Yeongtong, Suwon
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 Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject: Asian vs Western culture |
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http://www.scribd.com/doc/492094/East-Vs-West-A-good-observation-represented-pictorially-to-understand-culture-
I really enjoyed that.
Lately I've been trying to wrap my head around Korea and it's people; and more than that, the people of Asia. Asian cultures do have quite a few fundamental connections to each other in terms of culture, and in order to really enjoy my time in Korea I'm in the process of educating myself on them and unraveling the mysteries a little bit.
Unlike 95% of you, I don't actually hate Korea. I don't think very negatively towards it either. In fact, I plan to stay. My problem is that I am very, very confused in some critical areas of play here and since I am the kind of person who literally can't rest until something is understood, the cultural differences are affecting me a bit more vividly than they would affect someone just here to have a good time and then go home.
Maybe it's just the knowledge that I've written myself off here for several years, as did my family and friends back home.
Anyway, I need some more online resources regarding critical differences between the East and the West. I don't have any credit cards so I can't make online book purchases, so if you can direct me to a place to purchase a book about it I would be very much in your favour.
Lastly, I live in Anyang. If anyone in my area senses that they are in any way interested in discussing and other adjusting-type things over coffee, I'd be more than happy to. Don't let my "personality" here scare you off, it's all for show/my personal amusement. |
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rD.NaTas
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Location: changwon
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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| you also have an internet persona!! |
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Don Gately
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Location: In a basement taking a severe beating
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: Asian vs Western culture |
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| IncognitoHFX wrote: |
| Unlike 95% of you, I don't actually hate Korea. I don't think very negatively towards it either. In fact, I plan to stay. |
I mean, do you even read this stuff before you post it?
How can anyone read that and hit "Submit," rather than thinking, "Wow, I sound like a pretentious prat talking down to the rest of the community, many of whom have been here a good deal longer than I have and know a whole lot more than I do or ever will," and hit delete? |
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IncognitoHFX
Joined: 06 May 2007
Location: Yeongtong, Suwon
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:07 pm Post subject: Re: Asian vs Western culture |
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| Don Gately wrote: |
| IncognitoHFX wrote: |
| Unlike 95% of you, I don't actually hate Korea. I don't think very negatively towards it either. In fact, I plan to stay. |
I mean, do you even read this stuff before you post it?
How can anyone read that and hit "Submit," rather than thinking, "Wow, I sound like a pretentious prat talking down to the rest of the community, many of whom have been here a good deal longer than I have and know a whole lot more than I do or ever will," and hit delete? |
No. I don't know how you extracted pretentious from that. Just because I point out the fact that %95 of the people on this boards don't like Korea that much (no shock there) doesn't make me pretentious. Would I be less pretentious if I pretended to hate Korea to fit in? ...and way to completely ignore my query. |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry to say this, but I regard you as being a complete simpleton. Not that you need to care about my opinion, but I just thought I would throw it out there anyway.
BTW, how are your plans to visit North Korea coming along? |
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Justin Hale
Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Location: the Straight Talk Express
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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Two words: Honeymoon period.
I've never known anyone to live in Korea for over 2 years and not have absolute contempt for the society and culture. With so much xenophobia and anti-Americanism (including support for Osama Bin Laden and 9-11) it's a de facto Axis of Evil country and I have personally written to Mr Bush expressing as much.
In terms of getting laid and earning bucks, no question it's totally worth it, but being here for any other reason is indefensible.
I'm 100% uninterested in anywhere in Asia that wasn't a former British colony and this ought to be the position of all who possess wits, taste and decency. |
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BreakfastInBed
Joined: 16 Oct 2007
Location: Gyeonggi do
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject: Re: Asian vs Western culture |
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| Don Gately wrote: |
| IncognitoHFX wrote: |
| Unlike 95% of you, I don't actually hate Korea. I don't think very negatively towards it either. In fact, I plan to stay. |
I mean, do you even read this stuff before you post it?
How can anyone read that and hit "Submit," rather than thinking, "Wow, I sound like a pretentious prat talking down to the rest of the community, many of whom have been here a good deal longer than I have and know a whole lot more than I do or ever will," and hit delete? |
C'mon now, honestly. I can't get away from the belief that any objective reader of this forum could come away with any other opinion than that the vast majority of posters here do not like it in Korea and are generally not happy with it. That may not actually be true, we've all read about how this is a place to "vent" and know that people are more likely to speak out when they are upset about something than when they are content or happy, but coming away from here, exaggeration though it may be, it often feels like 95% of the people here "hate Korea." The thought of a sunshine and rainbows forum is nauseating to me, but the negative tone of much of this board seems pretty obvious to me. Mr. Hale essentially comes out and tells us he hates Korea. |
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Atavistic
Joined: 22 May 2006
Location: How totally stupid that Korean doesn't show in this area.
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Well since 95% of the board is full of whiners, why not just PM the people you like, approve of, and enjoy. Then you can go off and have your happy little conversations. |
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BreakfastInBed
Joined: 16 Oct 2007
Location: Gyeonggi do
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Atavistic wrote: |
| Well since 95% of the board is full of whiners, why not just PM the people you like, approve of, and enjoy. Then you can go off and have your happy little conversations. |
Now what fun is that? Besides, my conversations are neither happy, nor little, but full contact no holes barred orgies of positivism. No, I have bad days, I like to rant, and I enjoy dwelling on negative stuff sometimes. Plus I like the general messiness of things here. I just wanted to draw attention to the ridiculousness of ridiculing the OP for pointing out something that merely feels accurate. And I want to mention that I'm sure your cheeks look just like plump, ripe strawberries when you blush. You're a remarkable human being, don't let anyone tell you you weren't made to soar with angels. |
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Atavistic
Joined: 22 May 2006
Location: How totally stupid that Korean doesn't show in this area.
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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| BreakfastInBed wrote: |
| And I want to mention that I'm sure your cheeks look just like plump, ripe strawberries when you blush. |
I have naturally rosy cheeks. They always look like strawberry blossoms at first blush. |
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BreakfastInBed
Joined: 16 Oct 2007
Location: Gyeonggi do
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Atavistic wrote: |
| BreakfastInBed wrote: |
| And I want to mention that I'm sure your cheeks look just like plump, ripe strawberries when you blush. |
I have naturally rosy cheeks. They always look like strawberry blossoms at first blush. |
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nateium
Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Justin Hale wrote: |
Two words: Honeymoon period.
I've never known anyone to live in Korea for over 2 years and not have absolute contempt for the society and culture. |
I've been here over two years, but I don't feel contempt at all. I love my life here, and I just feel sorry for those people who have to live like ants.
You can't really blame people for their ignorance about the outside world when they've had such little contact with it. All we can do is try to make some local friends and/or educate them one by one. |
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IncognitoHFX
Joined: 06 May 2007
Location: Yeongtong, Suwon
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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| caniff wrote: |
Sorry to say this, but I regard you as being a complete simpleton. Not that you need to care about my opinion, but I just thought I would throw it out there anyway.
BTW, how are your plans to visit North Korea coming along? |
Why am I a simpleton again? Aside from asking about the North Korea trip, which two people have asked about since I posted about it.
Anyway, I think you're a complete retard. Justification? None. Not that you need to care about my opinion, but I just thought I would throw it out there anyway.
Last edited by IncognitoHFX on Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:15 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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samd
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Justin Hale wrote: |
I've never known anyone to live in Korea for over 2 years and not have absolute contempt for the society and culture. With so much xenophobia and anti-Americanism (including support for Osama Bin Laden and 9-11) it's a de facto Axis of Evil country and I have personally written to Mr Bush expressing as much.
...
I'm 100% uninterested in anywhere in Asia that wasn't a former British colony and this ought to be the position of all who possess wits, taste and decency. |
When you first arrived on this board with some helpful Korean language tips, I thought you were OK, but lately you've shown your true colours.
1) I've been here 2 years + as have many friends, and none of us have anything close to contempt for the society and culture. In fact, the opposite is true.
2) Your axis of evil thing is ridiculous.
3) You attitude towards Asia and British colonies is astounding. I feel sorry for you. |
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Cheonmunka
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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It's not that good Ingonito. A lot of your thinking about the place will depend on where you come from and what stage you are at in your life here. Each of us has different reasons for staying and often those reasons take precedence in your mind.
When you are poor and the exchange rate favors being here, one stays feeling happy they are getting ahead financially. When you have a lady friend and she massages you and cooks for you, life is blessful.
When the economy breaks down you can't count the amount of western people heading for the airport and you might wish you were part of the exodus. If the relationship between your girlfriend and yourself starts getting strained, well, it would be the worst place in the World, eh?
For me, I often find myself vacillating between the days. Some days I meet and have to spend time with and discuss stuff with some really ignorant people, it really gets me down and makes me feel like throwing in the towel. You realise there is as much ignorance where you came from and so if you can get those people out of your life here, then that makes it easier to live.
But, the longer you stay, the longer and deeper your ties and the harder it is to get rid of them. |
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