Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PatrickBateman]

This has probably been covered, but I was too lazy to use the search function.

For some reason, I almost feel obligated to acknowledge them(even though I never want to do so). I might smile, but that's the extent. I just hate the fact that I even feel like I should acknowledge them. I don't even know where this mindset came from.


What do you do?

[Bloopity Bloop]

I just keep on walking.

[nomad-ish]

it depends on where i am. if i'm in a place with loads of foreigners, i don't bother, but if i'm in my neighbourhood and there's a lone foreigner, i'll try to smile at them. if i'm having a bad day though, i just walk on by.

[KuroBara]

I don't say anything unless they say something to me. But to be honest, I would like to greet foreigners each time I see them, which despite living in Ilsan, is not often for me. They are comforting to me, but I know most foreigners don't feel that way and I am just a stranger, so I respect that and say nothing. Even in America, I greet strangers, guess it's a Deep South thing, but I know not to do that here.

[rowdie3]

Depends on the foreigner. I love watching the weird ones who sing along to their MP3 players and generally act strangely without being seen. I usually smile when I walk past another foreigner, though I find that most avoid eye contact especially in Itaewon.

[Cerriowen]

I point at them and scream WAEGOOKIN! WAEGOOKIN! GO home dirty foreigners!!!

But since I live in a small town with only about 10 foreigners and we all know each other... they usually just make rude gestures.

If I see someone I don't know, I usually smile and nod.

[Moldy Rutabaga]

Brief eye contact and slight nod or smile. Maybe more if they're hot. But not usually more, because they may not even be an English speaker.

It's a pet peeve of mine that so many people believe they are too cool to be pleasant to other foreigners, but I understand that we're still strangers, and it doesn't entitle me to run up and hug them or ask for $20. So I give people their space unless they approach me.

[redaxe]

I blush, get nervous, and avoid eye contact at all costs!

lol, nah, generally i treat them the same as i treat strangers back home, but if they make eye contact i smile or say "hey what's up" if it feels appropriate. if it's in hongdae or itaewon and i'm drinking, then i'll go out of my way to make conversation with people.

but there is one foreigner who i always see at the coffee shops in my neighborhood, and i don't want to say hi or introduce myself because then i'll feel like i have to say hi every time i bump into him, which is a couple times a week, and it's going to be awkward.

[ekul]

I say hi to people I've met, a smile to people that look normal, a smile to really old waegs and avoid eye contact with fat, middle aged or weird looking people.

[cruisemonkey]

I run up to them and ask - "How old are you?"

[fermentation]

I ask them if they think Kimchi is spicy.

[ardis]

If it's another girl, I will usually say "hey" or make eye contact. If it's a guy, nothing. They think I'm hitting on them and it has gotten weird fast.

[reactionary]

I wink at them.

[asmith]

I wrote about this issue. I find the unfriendliness puzzling.

http://highfidelityrecords.blogspot.com/2009/05/english-teachers-in-rok.html

[Moldy Rutabaga]

>I ask them if they think Kimchi is spicy.

I compliment them on how well they can use chopsticks! If they are female, I ask them why they aren't married yet.

I like Asmith's post on this, and the ape picture scowling. Kind of a like a Russian girl I acknowledged with a polite smile as I was stepping off the subway and she stepped on, a week ago in Daegu. She glared at me. Yes, you don't have to be my best friend because you're a foreigner too. But glaring is effing rude.