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OnTheOtherSide
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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 Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:08 am Post subject: Koreans are cool, peaceful, friendly people. Korea is good. |
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I've been reading Dave's for about 6 months and seeing endless posts about how Koreans are so bad in so many ways. When I came to Korea a month ago I was expecting the worst.
What is the truth? I have NOT seen the aggression, loudness, racism and other horrible things here that I keep hearing about on this site. I have had people act extraordinarily courteous, friendly and nice to me.
When I walk by people on the street they often smile at me, or just ignore me, but never anything bad. When I talk to cashiers at shops they always treat me with so much respect and friendliness. When I go anywhere, the vibe is pretty damn groovy.
I've had restaurant waiters chase me down the street because they accidentally overcharged me. I've had people profusely apologize to me for getting in my way a little bit. I've had men and women buy me beers just to be cool with me and show some love. I had a family take me into their home and feed me lunch when I was out on a hike in the heat. I've had so many small gestures of kindness shown to me that I can't even count.
The whole "Korean isn't friendly to foreigners" thing. Where is it? I don't see that? I saw that a LOT more in Japan. Koreans are pretty cool I think.
Don't get me wrong. This place isn't perfect. It is a little bit conservative and conformist. It can feel a little too much like 1950's, midwest America. The way people drive is a little bit too crazy sometimes. But these are all minor things. You all must have grew up in some sort of paradise if you really think this is so awful.
All of you people who really can't handle it here are whiners and babies. Or maybe you picked the wrong neighborhood to live in? Maybe you shouldn't have moved right into the heart of Seoul? Maybe you got screwed and landed a crap job and it's effecting your outlook? Or maybe you are just ready to leave, yet staying too long because of the money when you should just move on and find a new job? All good things must come to an end.
Korea is good. Down with the haters, up with the love. |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:18 am Post subject: Re: Koreans are cool, peaceful, friendly people. Korea is go |
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| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
When I came to Korea a month ago ...
What is the truth? I have NOT seen the aggression, loudness, racism
When I go anywhere, the vibe is pretty damn groovy.
The whole "Korean isn't friendly to foreigners" thing. Where is it? I don't see that? I saw that a LOT more in Japan.
Koreans are pretty cool I think. |
Enjoy it while it lasts dude, enjoy it while it lasts..... |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Koreans are cool, peaceful, friendly people. Korea is go |
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| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
| I came to Korea a month ago |
Bookmark this thread and check it in about 6-7 more months. |
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Css
Joined: 27 Sep 2004
Location: South of the river
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:26 am Post subject: Re: Koreans are cool, peaceful, friendly people. Korea is go |
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| seoulsucker wrote: |
| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
| I came to Korea a month ago |
Bookmark this thread and check it in about 6-7 more months. |
I feel the same as him after a total of about 3 years.... |
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samd
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:31 am Post subject: |
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Was pleasantly surprised that the thread title was non-sarcastic.
OP, I completely agree, and still feel that way after almost 3 years. Don't let the whiners get to you. |
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aka Dave
Joined: 02 May 2008
Location: Down by the river
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:34 am Post subject: |
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| I agree with you, Koreans have treated me quite well. However, the mad cow thing. I mean, my mom eats this beef. I don't quite get the hysteria over this. But personally, Koreans have been been great to me, excluding the taxi drivers! |
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OnTheOtherSide
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:39 am Post subject: Re: Koreans are cool, peaceful, friendly people. Korea is go |
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| seoulsucker wrote: |
| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
| I came to Korea a month ago |
Bookmark this thread and check it in about 6-7 more months. |
I'm an intelligent grown man. I know where it's at around here. I can see what the bad side of this place is already. And it's like a tiger with no claws to me.
I can already tell that I wouldn't want to live here really long term. From the beginning I have planned on doing my year here and moving on. Who knows, maybe i'll stay longer, but I havn't really considered doing that too seriously yet.
I have no illusions about what is up with this place. Maybe that is why I accept it. Or maybe it's because i've lived in some very, very bad places and situations before. So this is extremely tolerable and easy.
I'm not some spoiled rich kid, or some naive farm boy like a lot of the haters. I came here with zero b@llshit, and that's what i'm getting back in return. The day it goes bad and I start hating it is the day I go to the airport.
Down with the hate. Korea is all good. Give it a try people, just let go of the douchebag hate and see where it takes you. |
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jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:47 am Post subject: |
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| Day to day, they're not nearly as bad as they're made out to be. But they have a definite "you're not a person if we haven't been introduced" vibe when averaged out over a decent period of time. Especially those over 40. |
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OnTheOtherSide
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:51 am Post subject: |
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| jkelly80 wrote: |
| Day to day, they're not nearly as bad as they're made out to be. But they have a definite "you're not a person if we haven't been introduced" vibe when averaged out over a decent period of time. Especially those over 40. |
See, to me things like that are just no big deal at all. Yes it sucks, but whatever, it's just a minor thing. Every society had it's own stupidity, ignorance and bullcrap including the ones we all came from.
I know that I could write a HUGE list of complaints about my home. especially the way the people act, and the way society works there. |
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Sody
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:58 am Post subject: Re: Koreans are cool, peaceful, friendly people. Korea is go |
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| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
I'm an intelligent grown man. I know where it's at around here. I can see what the bad side of this place is already. And it's like a tiger with no claws to me...The day it goes bad and I start hating it is the day I go to the airport.
Down with the hate. Korea is all good. Give it a try people, just let go of the douchebag hate and see where it takes you. |
ROFL! One month in! I wasn't gonna say anything with your first post because you are a noob but your second post has removed all doubt from my mind that you don't know what you are saying. How do you expect people to take you seriously when you post that at the first sign of trouble you will bail? Good luck with your stay.
Message to everyone on this board - not all ranting and complaining on this forum is bad. Often it is the only outlet than many of us foreigners have. There is a huge difference between complaining about our jobs and lives here and complaining about Korea. Complaining that your job is horrible because you aren't getting paid the overtime you are due is more than reasonable. Complaining that your co-worker is being difficult is also fine. Complaining that kimchi sucks is pretty pointless and doesn't contribute to this forum in anyway.
Sody |
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OnTheOtherSide
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:12 am Post subject: Re: Koreans are cool, peaceful, friendly people. Korea is go |
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| Sody wrote: |
| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
I'm an intelligent grown man. I know where it's at around here. I can see what the bad side of this place is already. And it's like a tiger with no claws to me...The day it goes bad and I start hating it is the day I go to the airport.
Down with the hate. Korea is all good. Give it a try people, just let go of the douchebag hate and see where it takes you. |
ROFL! One month in! I wasn't gonna say anything with your first post because you are a noob but your second post has removed all doubt from my mind that you don't know what you are saying. How do you expect people to take you seriously when you post that at the first sign of trouble you will bail? Good luck with your stay.
Message to everyone on this board - not all ranting and complaining on this forum is bad. Often it is the only outlet than many of us foreigners have. There is a huge difference between complaining about our jobs and lives here and complaining about Korea. Complaining that your job is horrible because you aren't getting paid the overtime you are due is more than reasonable. Complaining that your co-worker is being difficult is also fine. Complaining that kimchi sucks is pretty pointless and doesn't contribute to this forum in anyway.
Sody |
I won't bail at the first sign of trouble. I've already encountered lots of obstacles and trouble. I will bail if I start to become hateful and resentful about my life here. If I wake up one day and realize that I really hate it here, then it's time to go.
The second part of your post. I totally agree with. Having a crappy job or getting screwed is a legitamite complaint. I'm just sick of seeng all the overgeneralizations about Korea and it's people. And seeing people complain about stupid little things that they should brush off. |
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Toon Army
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:14 am Post subject: |
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well as you may have well noticed Dave`s isn`t exactly a fair representation of the whole expat community here....at least in my opinion. Mostly you get all the bitter whingers and moaners on here or looking for a good rant. Any remotely positive postings will usually be ridiculed/get shot down in flames......
Yes there are plenty of crap things that go on here but equally I know of tons of teachers over the years that have had very good experiences. The people who generally have good experiences don`t come/or have the need to post on here. |
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asylum seeker
Joined: 22 Jul 2007
Location: On your computer screen.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:23 am Post subject: |
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| If you want to be one of the cool kids on Dave's ESL you gotta hate on Koreans. |
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Sody
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:56 am Post subject: Re: Koreans are cool, peaceful, friendly people. Korea is go |
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| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
I won't bail at the first sign of trouble. I've already encountered lots of obstacles and trouble. I will bail if I start to become hateful and resentful about my life here. If I wake up one day and realize that I really hate it here, then it's time to go.
The second part of your post. I totally agree with. Having a crappy job or getting screwed is a legitamite complaint. I'm just sick of seeng all the overgeneralizations about Korea and it's people. And seeing people complain about stupid little things that they should brush off. |
Ok, fair enough. I must of misunderstand what you wrote, I take back what I said. Yes, I agree with you as well. I honestly believe that you can be happy in any country in the world, even Korea. You don't have to be a hater to be cool on this forum either. It doesn't matter what an Internet stranger thinks anyhow.
I posted what I did because I wanted new teachers to feel like they have a place on this forum to vent. It's necessary in Korea. I remember my first year in a public school and feeling very alone and with no one to talk to. The Korean teachers didn't want anything to do with me and I didn't have any support even for simple things like setting up a phone. I walked into a shop and was simply told not to touch anything and that none of the phones were for foreigners. They didn't tell me to leave but I knew I wasn't going to get any service so I just left. Korea isn't a bad country but the potential for things to go wrong for a foreigner are huge! It helps to have people to talk to or complain about even if it's just an Internet forum because you certainly can't criticize or complain to Koreans.
Sody |
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DongtanTony
Joined: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Bundang
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:00 am Post subject: Re: Koreans are cool, peaceful, friendly people. Korea is go |
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| OnTheOtherSide wrote: |
You all must have grew up in some sort of paradise if you really think this is so awful.
All of you people who really can't handle it here are whiners and babies. Or maybe you picked the wrong neighborhood to live in? Maybe you shouldn't have moved right into the heart of Seoul? Maybe you got screwed and landed a crap job and it's effecting your outlook? Or maybe you are just ready to leave, yet staying too long because of the money when you should just move on and find a new job? All good things must come to an end.
Korea is good. Down with the haters, up with the love. |
Well said...especially the moving into the heart of Seoul part.
I'm glad I lived in Gumi my first year...and Dongtan (Hwaseong City) for my second...I've had a wonderful time here.
It's about time more people started posting stories like these...keep it up!! |
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