Korean Job Discussion Forums

[richinlondon]

What is the idea behind this persistant and irritating cultural phenomena?

If I were to stop and entertain any of these calls, the person in question wouldn't be able to speak any other word of English no doubt, all walks of life as well come with this.

Is there an in depth post on this someone could direct me to?! It must have been posted before. I can never get the search facility on this website to work.....

What is the idea? Is it a piss take? Proudness of one's English? What?!

[Jenrose]

Where I live here in Canada there are quite a few Koreans around, and I am always tempted to do the same to them in Korean here. I haven't done it yet... LOL

[crossmr]

I've had 2 occasions where someone has said hello to me out of the blue and not talked to me any further. The first time I was at one of the big palaces and a group of school kids all said hello to me.

the second time another foreigner (from his sports jacket likely an american) snuck up behind me on a cold winters day, said hello from behind and kept on motoring without another word.

The other times people who say hello to me start a conversation and ask me something. Like do I want to teach at their school, or have I heard about jesus..

[VanIslander]

"Hi"

[phoneboothface]

I'm guessing this isn't happening to you in coex or something.

A friendly kid walkin alone the other day said hello to me, he got a hello back. He waved and smiled and seemed sincere like lots of kids his age. But normally these kids are takin the piss, especially hs kids in groups.

안녕

And you're right, there have been plenty of threads about this. Don't waste your time... just judge it based on the situation right?

[beercanman]

You know, the same thing happens often enough in China. A group usually, occasionally a solitary person with more sincerity perhaps, but usually a group so they have mates to laugh with, will do the "hi" and "what's your name?" and all that. I've yet to figure it out. There is no actual friendliness in it whatsoever. They absolutely, and perhaps, never in their lives will have any meaningful contact with anybody from any other country, ever! To us, or to me at least, this is astonishing, and to many people, just normal. So I guess part of it might be the human thing to have some sort of even fleeting and superficial contact with people from another country, but they go about it wrong, awkwardly, which I guess is the only way they know how. I like to think some of the laughter is at themselves and their embarrassment with themselves, being utterly clueless about people from other countries. Not their fault I guess. A little self-reflection might just show them how small their world is.

If they are kids, fine, but when they are over 20, man, you know they are hicks, and just leave it alone. They are the same ones who'd crap in their pants if you put them in the situation you are in, in a foreign country surrounded by strangers who mostly are not used to you and have little idea how to act with anyone different.

In the same vein, it happens sometimes to Asians abroad too. They'll sometimes get the "ni hao" be they Japanese or whatever.

[AgentM]

There was a lot of that when I was there. I was very tempted just to give them an odd look and say "Spraken ze Deutsch!?"

[richinlondon]

[travelingfool]

The "HELLOOOO!" thing only happened to me once. I was out hiking with a Korean lady friend when we passed what looked like middle school kids. It never happened when I was alone. I must have a really angry look on my face

Does this happen mostly to younger teachers or do old farts get it too? I am in my mid 30's so maybe that has something to do with it?

[richinlondon]

Im mid 20's and staying in Gwangju, a mid sized city. I think if your in the country it won't happen too often or a big city where the locals are probably more familiar with foreign faces.

All said, its been happening almost everyday recently, maybe the more it winds me up, the more it will happen. There must be a certain look or way to dress when someone is going to think, there goes a professional foreigner, id better keep my trap shut?!

[Robot_Teacher]

I get the hello from kids every time I leave my apartment, but never from adults. Consider it a good thing if the local kids, your students, like you. There is no making friends with the adults as they're too inward thinking and just don't have it in them to associate with foreigners and include them into their community in any manner other than ignoring. It's striking how everyone really notices you as if you're a celebrity, but only the kids have the balls to even acknowledge you. And there is no way of fitting in for relaxed anonymity all celebrities so wish they had. Now I understand why celebrities are the most unhappy people in the world despite not actually being a celebrity; just an uncommon sighting outside of Seoul. In Seoul, the kids are higher English level where they ask me where I'm from, but not scream in amazement, "hello!," when they see me at places like one of the ancient palaces.

This is my experience in a small town of about 2000 people in a rural county which is one of the most rural areas, yet, I don't know nor interact with my neighbors and townspeople other than to buy their basic wares, becuase they're not friendly despite my efforts to speak the language, be friendly, and respectful. It's like they don't and won't ever accept me, but they tolerate me. During my trips to Seoul, I do find myself talking with Korean college students and adults as people normally do around the world, but I find so many Korean salary men do not like me in Seoul as you can easily see what they think by observing their body language, nunchi, in public. I always was sensitive and couldn't help my reading into body language, while many people just don't do that. In small town, they just put me on ignore and act very neutral without that Seoul grudge, but still have little respect and regard for each other from a Western perspective.

Really, the kids have the guts to say hello, becuase you're fascinating to them and when they know you and like you, they're expressing you make them feel happy. I have no problems with kids helloing me to the point of no return, but I would greatly appreciate some friends in the age range of 20 to 115 years old.

[Straphanger]

I've been here in Lake Wobegon for over a year now and I got a "What are you doing?" the other day.

I was carrying remaindered metal tubing up to my apartment to make a very large antenna.

I said "I am helping the Earth."

They said "shalashalashala... Recycle! Good teacher!!!" and ran off.

Seriously, "Hello!" to me is met with a wave or a "hi" in response. Yelling my name is met with "YES, I AM HERE!!" which they think is funny as hell, but realistically, if you yell somebody's name in any English speaking country I've ever been to, you'll be met with "What?"

[Papa Smurf]

i only get it from kids. just cos you're like a celebrity to these kids, i guess. harmless fun.

[Kurtz]

[richinlondon]

I read on a post that these things that grate come in cycles and I'm guessing this is my current cycle right now.


Bunch of middle/high school students the other day:

Hello
I am your friend
Handsome
I love English

all in the space of three seconds, quite amusing in retrospect. I have to get my girl to ask what the deal is next time I'm in her company though, how can you be so compelled to not feel any restraint when theres another Korean right there. These are mainly small groups though who nudge their friend to let them know a foreigner is present.

Don't get me wrong, an individual with curiosity who genuinely wants a chat, that's all good to me.