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Lonewolf
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
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 Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject: Getting Koreans to understand western culture. |
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| Yes, I know I'm in South Korea. And I know how their culture works. But one would think since they invited us. They would take time to understand how our culture works as well. Being ordered around like a 2 year old is something I won't take at home and I will not take it here. I just wish they would learn to ask us to do things nicely. I'm not Korean and I don't live like one either. As a foreigner here we have to follow Korean laws that are much stronger than laws for the locals. So the when in Rome do as the Romans do would get us deported or worse sometimes. I have been here for way over 9 years and I still find the petty things as a big challange for them. If Korea wants to be part of the world stage not only do they need to learn the western language but also the western culture as well. Just saying. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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| If you live in small-town Korea and everyone knows who you are and knows someone connected to your school, you can get away with acting like a Roman. |
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Panda
Joined: 25 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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I might be nit-picking here, but why just WESTERN culture, is that because YOU are a westerner?
I am also a minority and I want to complain everyday why the hell Koreans dont speak a language that I understand better to me  . Also, they all should kill themselves after they drink too much Soju and start to yell.  |
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Robot_Teacher
Joined: 18 Feb 2009
Location: Robotting Around the World
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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Those who don't speak English expect me to speak Korean, but usually fail to uderstand Western culture. They're looking at things with a 1 sided view. It's a 2 way view with the kids though.
I just wish they not look down upon me for having runny nose, coughing, and getting sick syndrome and show all this phoney concern while saying things like, "You are so sick, I think it is serious, I think you a weak man." How hard is it not to understand this aspect of wester culture? I just brushed it off, but had I had alcohol in me when I heard that I would had went off.
Saying you are fat and weak is a direct insult. Gossiping about your illness and doctor visits is brash. How hard is it not understand this aspect of Western culture?
(Oh, but you must understand Korean culture.) Uh, yes, I do. It's called passive agressive tactics of engaging one another.
Understand Western culture is not a perfect end all nor are all Westerners slim ripped 6 pack movie stars who never get sick.
Last edited by Robot_Teacher on Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:45 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: Getting Koreans to understand western culture. |
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| Lonewolf wrote: |
| Korea wants to be part of the world stage not only do they need to learn the western language but also the western culture as well. Just saying. |
The irony.
When I was taking International Business classes, all the professors stressed learning the culture of the country we were in, and not to offend the locals.
I like to think of myself as a guest in someone's house. As a guest, I know to keep my mouth shut and not tell the homeowner how to do things.
On the flipside, the homeownder should be a good host and be hospitable.
You, as a guest, have the same option as everyone else who is treated rudely by the host. Get your things and walk out the front door. |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: Getting Koreans to understand western culture. |
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| Lonewolf wrote: |
| Yes, I know I'm in South Korea. And I know how their culture works. But one would think since they invited us. They would take time to understand how our culture works as well. Being ordered around like a 2 year old is something I won't take at home and I will not take it here. I just wish they would learn to ask us to do things nicely. I'm not Korean and I don't live like one either. As a foreigner here we have to follow Korean laws that are much stronger than laws for the locals. So the when in Rome do as the Romans do would get us deported or worse sometimes. I have been here for way over 9 years and I still find the petty things as a big challange for them. If Korea wants to be part of the world stage not only do they need to learn the western language but also the western culture as well. Just saying. |
Can you speak korean? |
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Robot_Teacher
Joined: 18 Feb 2009
Location: Robotting Around the World
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: Getting Koreans to understand western culture. |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
| Lonewolf wrote: |
| Korea wants to be part of the world stage not only do they need to learn the western language but also the western culture as well. Just saying. |
The irony.
When I was taking International Business classes, all the professors stressed learning the culture of the country we were in, and not to offend the locals.
I like to think of myself as a guest in someone's house. As a guest, I know to keep my mouth shut and not tell the homeowner how to do things.
On the flipside, the homeownder should be a good host and be hospitable.
You, as a guest, have the same option as everyone else who is treated rudely by the host. Get your things and walk out the front door. |
Agreed. If someone is rude, offending, and looking down on you, vote with you feet; not your mouth. My telling off a rude Korean was a worthless ineffective way even though I got him to feel ashamed of his bad behavior and an apology. I should had just stood up and walked out. And then when questioned the next day why I left a dinner early so abrubtly, I would explain why. The booze flowing made me think irrationally, but I was expected by my school principal and the other rmen to drink it. I will refuse the soju any time at future gatherings and just tell them, I'm looking out for my health as to keep a level head. Heck, maybe they'll not invite me out as I really feel insecure about sitting around a bunch of people who don't speak English and who feel insecure about me being there. It's awkward as trying to put a square peg in a small round hole. It's unncessary tension.
If you're going to invite a visitor, do it the right way. Be friendly, don't insult him, and not pressure him into drinking the worlds crappiest brew.
Last edited by Robot_Teacher on Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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gazz
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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Robot Teacher:
You sound like such a stress head!
Do you get up in a morning and break into a cold sweat trying decide what top to wear?
Do you look at youself in the mirror at least 5 times (from every angle) and tell yourself your sexy?
If so.....................................
Your well on the way to becoming a fully fledged Korean!
Lighten up!!! (that wasn't a dig at your weight by the way  ) |
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Robot_Teacher
Joined: 18 Feb 2009
Location: Robotting Around the World
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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LOL! Good one. Of coures, I'm a stress head as I think too much. Being educated and reasonably smart is a burden for me, but this was my destiny instead of not going to college, being average dude, never traveling, and working a regular job at home like most folks back home.
I'm just over here throwing a lemon around as snot runs out of my nose for weeks on end. LOL |
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michaelambling
Joined: 31 Dec 2008
Location: Paradise
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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| gazz wrote: |
Robot Teacher:
You sound like such a stress head!
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And you sound like an ass.  |
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Panda
Joined: 25 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: Getting Koreans to understand western culture. |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
The irony.
You, as a guest, have the same option as everyone else who is treated rudely by the host. Get your things and walk out the front door. |
Owned.
I think WESTERNERS would feel more natural than irritated if others dont take things in the WESTERN way in an EASTERN society. You need to go to Beijing or Taipei or whichever a big metropolis to see how westerners there speak fluent mandarin and act in an authentic Chinese manner.
The centre of the world is yet in the East but it might be (sooner than we think). <A guide to good international etiquette> will need timely editing.
As the case Roboter_teacher ponited out, its so typical a complaint I have heard, if you noticed how Koreans themselves greet by asking : you look so sick, or you need to see a doctor. you would understand its nothing worthy of feeling bad about at all. They care ya is all. |
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tefain
Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Location: Not too far out there
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:02 pm Post subject: Re: Getting Koreans to understand western culture. |
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| Robot_Teacher wrote: |
| If you're going to invite a visitor, do it the right way. Be friendly, don't insult him, and not pressure him into drinking the worlds crappiest brew. |
They were serving you American beer.  Koreans ARE inconsiderate. |
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Rusty Shackleford
Joined: 08 May 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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| gazz wrote: |
Robot Teacher:
You sound like such a stress head!
Do you get up in a morning and break into a cold sweat trying decide what top to wear?
Do you look at youself in the mirror at least 5 times (from every angle) and tell yourself your sexy?
If so.....................................
Your well on the way to becoming a fully fledged Korean!
Lighten up!!! (that wasn't a dig at your weight by the way ) |
You do know Robot-Teacher is the poster fomally known as Sojourner, right? Not trying to take the piss or anything, just saying.
All the threads where I mention this tend to get deleted, though. Is pointing out new usernames against the terms of service? |
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Lonewolf
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes, I do speak Korean. Not fluently. But it has nothing to do with bad treatment. I'll just keep in mind when I'm back in the real world how they treated me here and do the same in return. And then blame it on when in Rome do as the Romans do. I bet that would fly like a lead balloon. |
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Goku
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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It's about time these lowly Koreans barbarians learn the proper civil western ways of doing things.
Uncouth savages need to get out of their rice huts and soju drenched aquaducts and learn how to use a fork and knife like civilized people.
My next class I'm bringing teacups, crumpets and biscuits with vicotrian gowns for the ladies to wear and powder wigs for the men so we can all have proper civil conversations.
Ok, saracsm aside... And this coming from a man who teaches manners to all his kids, I ONLY agree partially.
Kids SHOULD learn manners, respect, and etiquette. However, the expectation that they learn OUR code of manners is absolutely out of frame of mind of their perspective.
Once, I invited Sudanese transfers from my school over to my house. If they expected me to know their culture, that's actually ironically un-mannerly. It is the expectation of the guest to know the manners of the host, not the other way around. And this is a UNIVERSAL expecatation. Very little of manners is universal however this principal seems to be common for all cultures.
Sure it would be a great guesture if I knew their culture and etiquette, but that's not a REQUIRED rule of etiquette. That is technically going beyond the call of duty and it's a nice extension of manners.
So to all expats, don't expect that Koreans are informed of Western manners or customs. It seems like half the expats aren't even aware of Korean customs in the country they are living in, how can they very well expect the reverse? Just something to consider.
I'm pretty aware of the Korean manner system and courtsey rules but I would NEVER expect someone to know western ways of etiquette. I do teach it to my kids, but that's so they will know how to act with westerners....
But honestly it's the FT's that have taught the kids the rude things already. All this high fiving crap is getting on my nerves. What they think I'm some sort of slapping machine? ><
This post is a lot angrier than my other posts, I'm hepped up on coffee |
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