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xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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 Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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| samcheokguy wrote: |
Russians say hello to me
In Russian...and I talk to 3D workers and sailors as well. Almost 75% of the time they speak better English than your average Korean. And they seem happy to talk. Esl Teachers are a gloomy anti social bunch. |
Yeah, I also get tired of hearing all the stories of how successful everybody was before, for whatever reasons, they decided to come teach in Korea. |
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samcheokguy
Joined: 02 Nov 2008
Location: Samcheok G-do
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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| I was reading a really funny article how in China "all English teachers were previously members of a secret govt. organization, or else CEO of a fortune 500 company." |
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bobbybigfoot
Joined: 05 May 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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| samcheokguy wrote: |
| Esl Teachers are a gloomy anti social bunch. |
Quite a few are gloomy and anti-social.
Another bunch are elitists.
Another bunch are just losers.
Half to three quarters of the ESL teachers in Korea are of lowish quality. |
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xingyiman
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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| samcheokguy wrote: |
| I was reading a really funny article how in China "all English teachers were previously members of a secret govt. organization, or else CEO of a fortune 500 company." |
Oh yes, I've met my share of "corporate big wigs" here in Korea. Remember the MM2 troll poster who landed in the 7 figure gig back in Canada when he went home? He used to sit in his luxury office on the penthouse of some skyscaper and still have time to post an immediate reply to whomever he was arguing with on Dave's. Until the economic downturn back home I was beginnign to think I was the only expat in Korea who ever made less than $90,000 a year. |
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harlowethrombey
Joined: 17 Mar 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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I dont say hi to most Koreans. . .
oh, its a racial thing. I have to feel bad for not saying hi to people of a certain skin color. |
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP
Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Electron cloud
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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HELLO HELLO HELLO!!!!!
WHERE ARE YOU FROM? HEY YO MAN!! HEY YO!!
ARE YOU CLAYDGEE? OH SO CLAYDGEE!
OH YEAH BABY BABY!!!! |
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP
Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Electron cloud
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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| BabaNaja wrote: |
| asmith wrote: |
| I can't tell you how many times I pass English teachers on the street. I try to wave and say hello. Most just pretend they don't see me. I'm tired of this unfriendliness. |
I think it's mainly a cultural difference when people don't respond, and not meant to be unfriendly. Remember that English teachers come from seven different countries, and there are often significant differences even within those countries, especially varying between small towns or large cities.
For instance, I am a southerner from the US, so I also smile or say hello to everyone I pass on the street, foreign or Korean. If I'm on the subway, in a store, or at a bus stop I'm going to have some sort of conversation with nearby people. However, I recognize that is because of the culture I was raised in, and I don't expect everyone to act in the same way I do.
If a Korean was to visit where I live then hopefully they would understand that people aren't being rude just because they don't bow to each other. Instead people say 'sir' or 'ma'am' or covey respect in another way, it may just not be immediately obvious to an outside eye.
So don't take it personally when people don't respond. Keep smiling and saying hello because that's a part of you and your culture, but remember that you are living around people from different parts of the world. Respect the fact that they can still be friendly, even if they don't behave in the same manner you do. |
True I have a friend who gets really angry when fellow foriegners don't say hello back and I feel kind of embarrassed when he gets angry about it.
Where I'm from people think you're a nutjob if you strike up a conversation in public with someone you've never met, so I don't tend do do it here either... well maybe in a bar but not out in the street or subway (unless you're a cutiepie and you're giving me the eye...)
Personally though I find my home country odd. When I was in London people who had lived there many years but had immigrated from other countries, were more friendly and open to talking to strangers in public and I liked it, it's like we're a human community, you know. Most natives will look at you like you've been let out for the day and nervously shuffle off somewhere whilst wearing a false smile or they'll bury their head behind a newspaper or magazine...  |
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ardis
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:29 pm Post subject: |
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I never would. First off, I look Korean, so people just assume that I'm a Korean chick trying to hit on them. Not my idea of fun.
"Then why did you smile at me?"
"...Because you're obviously a foreigner and I am too?"
Not so cool when you have to state it out loud, you know?
I guess it's different if you're part of the white-foreigners club, though. Maybe then, I'd smile at everyone. I doubt it, though. |
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fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:11 am Post subject: |
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| I guess the unfriendliness of the culture rubs off on foreigners. I would like to say hi to foreigners but they'll probably think I'm just another Korean who wants to practice Englishee. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:29 am Post subject: |
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I live in the stix and we have like 10 other FTs here. Maybe 9.
I've met 6 of the FTs here just by going up and saying hi. But, I'm naturally outgoing and not afraid of people's reactions. It's probably why I don't mind the 'hellos' from the Korean kids.
If you are in a small city, the FT is probably going to be happy that you said hi to them. Some had been there for a while and were pretty lonely. Plus if you say hi and start organizing events like a weekly dinner or something it gives you a chance to network and share materials and lesson ideas and things like that. It's helped our FT population go from an isolated batch to developing a social and professional circle.
Seriously just say 'hi' what's going to happen? If someone's enough a tight cheek that they think you saying hi to them is some kind of foreigner on foreigner racism then whatever.
If you say good things can happen or bad things can happen, but if you don't say hi at all, nothing good will happen.
I say hi to random Korean people too. It takes a bit more courage, but if you get a good vibe about someone, buy em a beer and have a chat. I've turned a few lonely nights at the bar into a 3AM stumble home fest with singing and joking with the locals. Of course a few other times they just grunted thanks or said nothing and left, but oh well.
I have to say that this is not all natural, I had to learn a few of these skills, and had some stumbles on the way, but anyone can do it.
I likes my alone time and all, but that is what my room is for, or the wilderness. If your in the city or the neighborhood you are there to socialize.
People just don't know how to be neighbors these days. I just don't get the constant walking around town with your ipod or cell phone out thing. |
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coralreefer_1
Joined: 19 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:02 am Post subject: |
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I just spent the night couchsurfing with another expat in Yeosu. Even before I met the woman, another expat from Cali passed on his bike and yelled "waegookin" and came over to ask me if I was a new teacher, what's going on...etc.
I can guess some would find that annoying, but frankly I liked the fact that the guy acknowledged me and was friendly, enough to turn his bike around and come back for a chat.
I can say I spoke to more foreigners in Yeosu in a matter of 4 hours than I have in Daegu in almost 5 years. Frankly I enjoyed being in an area where the expat group was tight , and in such a small town they see each other almost everyday.
There were even a few shipworkers who were in port we encountered on the street, one of whom was drunk (if the bottle of soju he was drinking while walking down the street wasn't enough, I could smell it on his breath from 2 meters away) and they even came up and said hello..where are you from...etc. There was no looking the other direction or quickly opening the phone to avoid eye contact, but a friendly hello and greeting, even from drunk shipworkers looking for a nightclub.
There was a nice feeling of closeness there. |
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kentucker4
Joined: 03 Sep 2007
Location: Georgia
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:18 am Post subject: Re: Please say hello to me! |
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| asmith wrote: |
| I can't tell you how many times I pass English teachers on the street. I try to wave and say hello. Most just pretend they don't see me. I'm tired of this unfriendliness. |
quit being such a sissy, no one wants to talk to strangers just because they are white |
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LaffertyDaniel
Joined: 30 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:57 am Post subject: |
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I never would. First off, I look Korean, so people just assume that I'm a Korean chick trying to hit on them. Confused Not my idea of fun.
"Then why did you smile at me?"
"...Because you're obviously a foreigner and I am too?"
Not so cool when you have to state it out loud, you know? |
lol. When you have to verbally state your intentions, all the magic is kind of lost. Ah well, is that as bad as when a Korean person starts talking to you in rapid korean-speak because they think you're a native? I hate when that happens.
"Um. sorry, chunchunhee malhaejoo-saeyo." |
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