Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sean02]

A file here of my impressions, for anyone interested. Sean

http://www.box.net/shared/tx20up2u9c

[ddeubel]

Thanks for that. I'm going to use it in some form as a culturally relativistic primer in one of the courses I teach.

All I can say is that you really need to A) experience and live a little more before attempting this kind of "authoritative" voice and style of writing B) learn and study a little of what a culture IS (no culture is "shallow" or all the other terms you assign - that might only be one's experience of it. )

I'm sorry you view things with such a grey filter and myopic ethnocentric blinders. Mustn't be easy to wander the world and see it so cloudy.

In technology, we say, "garbage in = garbage out." Seems to me, you've only seen what you are.......

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

PS. Please don't take this as "personal". I'm only reflecting on the small amount that you wrote.

[Zantetsuken]

Yeah dude...don't be using those myopic ethnocentric blinder thingies. Make sure you get a set like ddeubel has...his blinders are 우리나라 approved!!!!

[climber159]

So, you've managed to explain in this garrulous piece that things are different in Korea from what you are accustomed to back home. I've been here two years and there are plenty of aspects of Korea that I'm fairly certain I will never understand or enjoy; but, it's far more interesting and enjoyable if you at least try to figure out how you can manage in a different place. Might I suggest you first get rid of the notion that the UK is the zenith of culture and being.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Are you this guy's - http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B05EFD7123DE433A25754C1A9649C94649ED7CF - great-great grandson by any chance?

[oldfatfarang]

I thought this guy nailed it. There's nothing in this article that I haven't heard about (or experienced) in Korea.

However, I can see how his Oxford Professor, analytical writing, style would bug some of our North American bretheren.

I think this should be re-written in plain Englisheeee, and given out to newbies at orientation. It would save a lot of heartache, all round.

[redaxe]

OMFG LOL... how are English people STILL this condescending toward other cultures? This reads like those essays Jack London wrote about Korea about 100 years ago. Hilarious, a must read!

[fermentation]

Before I read all that, can somebody tell if its worth reading?

[benji1422]

Please resign yourself as the resident east asian academic as you have just wasted your time writing 10,000 words which are barely writing... only typing (I only got through 4 pages ) of drivel with seemingly no thesis and naive, superficial statements which never end. Some of your observations have merit as to a "why?" but you have failed to investigate any of them except with the most purile explanations... . I think your problem is this school wanted to impress the white guy, elevated you to some kind of high status, with money and respect, and you now believe their bulls--, that you actually KNOW something more than the rest of the uneducated peons. Believe me, you are completely wrapped in a naive arrogance which is cute when you are in college, but is annoyingly dangerous in the end, and stunning dangerous to export back to the home office... as we have seen with the foreign policy of the last 10 years coming from the geniuses in the U.S. government who think they have all the rubes in the non-white world figured out and can impress on them their superior way of behaving.

Suggestion: get the hell out of that godforsaken hick town, move to a city, (Seoul) get some Korean friends, get some hard knocks, get out of your internet bubble, fight an ajumma, learn the language, date some locals... and then make your astute observations.

[RufusW]

[Zantetsuken]

Even though I'm a septic and of ill-repute...I thought it was pretty good. I didn't agree with everything he said.....but he made some observations that I never thought of.

[Sean02]

Hey, delighted to read those replies, good stuff.

ddeubel, I'll be gratified to think my words may find a place in your courses- there's no such thing as bad publicity.

The writing style is mine though and I'm certainly not particularly trying to immitate the academia if that's what you meant. Actually if I proof read it again I could smarten it up further but I'm a bit sick of it and thinking about Korea generally.

Also I would argue with you that some cultures are richer than others, despite doing philosphy (& Feyeraband (or whatever his name is now) & Winch & Wittgenstein etc) at uni...

Climber 159- actually I'd criticize England at least as much as Korea and have no great love for it, but that's another essay.

Oldfatfarang- Kind words.

redaxe, I didn't expect your kind of reaction so much. I criticize Korea because I think there's good reason, but I certainly criticize other cultures too, more or less, and I have similar files if you want them; actually I can tell you I've travelled in over 75 countries, mostly independently.

benji422, thanks for that, though we're going to have to disagree, and I in fact I've already done a few of your suggestions at the end.

RufusW- have fun.

Zanteksuken- cheers.

Yu Bum suk- that link didn't seem to work for me.

[valkerie]

I liked this bit

the boys� washrooms include movement sensing flushing and heated seats but in none of them is soap, paper or even water for toilet use provided: sanitation is generally poor. It shows again one culture�s purloining of another�s material development, leaving other elements as before in wild incongruity because it hasn�t put it in context or even properly understood it; either this, or they have the minds of madmen. They have high speed internet and luxury cars but are oblivious to washing their hands after using the toilet, unlike indeed in many other developing countries, going straight outside from the cubical to communal eating or wherever: the imported technology is incommensurate with the rest of the society and the situation gets on your nerves.

[Struessel]

Like some other readers I take issue with the condescending tone of the essay. Standing alone it seems written from and overwhelmingly Eurocentric perspective. From posts here it seems the author has a similar level of disdain for his native culture - it would mitigate the apparent bitterness of his writing if he would mix in some comparative complaints of western culture, or alternatively rewrite the whole thing with a more lighthearted rather than critical vibe.

I haven't read the whole thing yet, only about half. He makes some interesting and accurate criticisms, as well as many more observations which seem to me to be fatally flawed by a misinterpretation of behaviour and a lack of comprehension of the root cause. I think that a year is enough time to form an accurate well-rounded opinion of the Korean culture, but that this particular budding anthropologist failed to remove all his blinders and preconceptions while delving into our country.

[Sean02]

Struessel