Korean Job Discussion Forums

[citizen erased]

On the class schedule, every Korean teacher is listed by their first initial, this even includes teachers who have been at the school less time than I have. I am not listed by my initial but as "waygookin." This schedule is in the teacher's room and isn't something the kids see.


If you ask me, the reason this happens is that the other teachers make half of what I do and this is an easy way to assert some kind of superiority.

It bothers the hell out of me.

[reimund]

Nooooot really. I think you're reading much too into this.

[citizen erased]

i can accept that.


but what would be the reasonable explanation for this? it is just as easy to list me the same way but there is a conscious decision not to. i dont think i am wrong about this.

[jvalmer]

Maybe your initial is the same as one of the teachers, so to easily differentiate you it easier to put up 외.

[captain kirk]

Let's face it we're out of the loop. Unless you speak Korean and mingle. The Kcoworkers share the same culture, values, etc. They share the stand-offish attitude towards foreigners. It's bound to come out in little, symbolic things like referring to the 'waegookin' on the schedule. And not with a name, as would be more friendly.

My Kcoteacher refers to me, when speaking to other Kteachers, as the wanamin, 'native speaker'. Even though I'm right there five feet away they're talking about me using not my name but my role. I guess that's kinda professional but it's also stand-offish. It may be she doesn't want to say a foreign name, which my name is. And 'wanamin' is Korean.

It's farked up but what can you do? You're an outsider. I'm an outsider. If you're a foreigner you're an outsider. Kinda bleak for us. No bother to them. NO BOTHER TO THEM. They have their homeland, family, tightly knit co-worker group. Good thing to remember so as to stay cool about it. THEY are connected and comfortable.

[citizen erased]

[jvalmer]

When speaking in your presence, Koreans will tend to avoid using names.

[garykasparov]

OP,

I think you should continue to get angry about it. That seems to be working for you.

garykasparov

[regicide]

[Horangi Munshin]

[weatherman]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Asiablue]

We are teachers, not "waygookin" and have every right to be respected as such. We were invited and not conscripted. We teach out language, culture and indirectly, our value system. That includes respecting individuals. Koreans are racist and the best lesson you can teach them is how not be this way. As suggested above, erase "waygookin" and replace it with your initials. If they change it back or do it again, you should erase it and do the same thing agan.

[cdninkorea]

[hauwande]