Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sharkey]

Usually, nothing really bothers me. However, today there was a newspaper delivered to the school. Its called The Kids Times. It had an article inside about a hypothetical foreign student in Korea.

I'll post it in its entirety. It seems the author went a long way to get the message of being accepting. I'll let you judge for yourselves.

Leon: Oh my God. We have a very weird guy in our class. ( a foreign student )

Jess: Whats up? Is there something wrong? I heard you guys have a new student.

Leon: Yeah, we sure do. And he stands out a lot. He is from the US.

Jess: Isn't that cool? I guess he can teach you English.I would love to have a friend who is from another country. WHy are you so shocked? I dont get it .

Leon: Well, he isn't Korean-American. He is a mix. I think his father is African American. And his mother is probably Korean. So, he has dark skin. I am not sure why he is here.

Jess: Ah, don't say that. There's nothing wrong with having dark skin. Don't tell me you and your friends are leaving him out.

Leon: Actually, he seems so different from us. ANd I don't feel comfortable around him. Everything is so different. His hair, skin, face and everything about him is new to me.

Jess: Imagine you went to another country to study. I bet you would become and outsider too. Hey, we are living in the global era. Its a smart thing to mingle with foreign people.

Leon: Hmm.. I do agree. If I went to the US., I would automatically become an outsider. I guess it would be a nice thing to approach him.

Jess: You got the right picture. DOn't believe that he is different from the rest of you. Of course there are cultural differences. But such things should not matter at all.

Leon: What if he turns me down? I dont know how kids are in the US. I dont want to offend him in any way.

Jess: Believe me. If you approach with a smile, he will smile back at you for sure.



I think that went a long way to get to the message. I don't know maybe its jut me and I'll delete the thread.

[Old Gil]

It's aimed at kids it's not supposed to be Shakespeare.

[ulsanchris]

what are you bothered about it?

[redaxe]

Yeah that was pretty long. Here's a summary:

A: This guy is different from me!
B: So? Be nice to him, and he'll be nice back to you.
A: Oh, OK.

A lesson that most people could stand to learn.

That reminds me, anyone else noticed the anti-sexual harrassment cartoon posters on the subway trains lately?

[asams]

The Kid's Times is a load of crap.

[Yesterday]

----edited---- (I would rather not talk about this on Daves)...


.

[Forward Observer]

Wow Yesterday! Good job man, you did well. *thumbs up*

[fermentation]

That's some amazing stuff. I couldn't find anything in the Korean media.

[Papa Smurf]

i dont get it? what's your problem?

[Yesterday]

----edited---- (I would rather not talk about this on Daves)...


.

[Bueongi]

It sounds ridiculous to those of us who have grown up in the West, but articles like this one are what Korea needs to begin to emerge from ignorance. The concept of racial tolerance is completely foreign to most Korean youth. Children need to be gradually introduced to the idea that people who seem really different from them not only are okay but can also potentially be their friend and equal. Korean society has a long way to go in promoting tolerance. For example, I know a Korean guy majoring in social work at a university here. He told me about a project he was assigned to regarding the bullying of racially mixed students in elementary schools. His group was to come up with a solution that would help stop this behavior. Their solution was to develop an "I Love Korea" program for the racially mixed students. This program was to teach the misfits all about the glorious country they were living in- for example, showing them hanbok, having them try Korean food, etc. All this for kids who have lived their entire lives in Korea, probably not even understanding how they are different! I am told that programs such as these are the normal approach to solving this bullying problem in Korea. It's obvious that they believe that the fault lies within the racially mixed children themselves. If they could just be more "Korean", then all their classmates would suddenly stop the bullying and accept them. In my opinion, Korea desperately needs to promote racial tolerance and the concept of equality to young people through the media. Even silly feature articles like this one are better than nothing.

[cdninkorea]

You did a really good thing, Yesterday.

[fermentation]

[CrikeyKorea]

Firstly, I think the story in the paper was a good one, it provided a nice way to imprint the idea that people who are different are still people, in a meaningful way to kids.

Secondly, that rescue story was freaking cool.

[makemehavefun]