Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ed Provencher]

Drive-by English can be annoying to me sometimes. I'm more accepting of children who do it than I am of teenagers. I think teenagers should understand that shouting "Hello!", "Hi!", "How are you?!" maybe followed by a giggle as I walk/ride my bike past them is not going to help their conversational skills.

I could be way off on this one. Is it simply their way of being courteous to foreigners?

For those of you who lived in a different foreign country, did the people there also use drive-by English?

[wayfarer]

[kiwiduncan]

It's better than the "*beep* off gook!" that so many Koreans, Chinese, Thais and others experience in New Zealand.

One young Asian student was even pinned between a fence and a car driven by a couple of white trash rednecks in sunny little provincial Nelson a couple of days ago.

[Adventurer]

[Ed Provencher]

I'm curious if it is a Korean thing to do this or if it is done in other countries as well. Anybody have experience teaching in another country that can compare with Korea?

[Css]

[Lekker]

Japan. "Heeeeeyyyyyy doooood!"

In America, New York City. My sister and I are walking in Queens, some Cubans are sitting on the steps of their building. My sister has red hair. "Hola Mama Cita Firecracker!"

[tigerbluekitty]

Yeah, Japan. I was there with a hot caucasian friend, random Japanese girls kept approaching us and wanting to take pictures with him. He got quite a few phone numbers too.

[dino.sue]

I lived in India for a stint, and it happened there with people of all ages. It happens to my sister, who lives in China. Westerners�"white people"�are still foreigners in the most basic sense of the word�we're foreign, we're different, we stand out. Koreans are making contact. Perhaps the Koreans are making fun of us. But our cultures do the same to them in our comedy acts.

[Scotticus]

[aka Dave]

I get this at least a couple times a day on the walk to work. I always smile and say hi. Sometimes they'll burst into laughter - I don't get this, it's inappropriate, but I don't think it's being rude, it's just that I live in a provincial town, Cheong-ju, and the kids haven't seen many foreigners.

Sometimes they'll respond with "what's your name?" and I'll reply naturally. Often I'll hit them with "What's up dude?" or "How's it going?" They want English? I'll give em English.

[Cherbear]

I think it's adorable when little kids say hi. It's usually said so excitedly, how can you take offense?

[Young FRANKenstein]

[yingwenlaoshi]

I got the small group of older kids doing the "Puck you" and few times when I was in their viscinity. Sometimes it's just hard to know how to react to that. It's not like they're saying it to your face. That would be different. I just said "That's great" but not directly at them. They heard me.

[Draz]