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When you see another foreigner, what do you do?
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PatrickBateman



Joined: 08 Jun 2009
Location: American Gardens Building, West 81st Street

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:34 pm    Post subject: When you see another foreigner, what do you do? Reply with quote

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?
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Bloopity Bloop



Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Location: Seoul yo

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just keep on walking.
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nomad-ish



Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: On the bottom of the food chain

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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KuroBara



Joined: 15 Oct 2008
Location: Goyang-Si with a bit of Paju mixed in

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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rowdie3



Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Location: Itaewon, Seoul

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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Cerriowen



Joined: 03 Jun 2006
Location: Pocheon

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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

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

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



Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Location: Ansan, Korea

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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redaxe



Joined: 01 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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

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.
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ekul



Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Location: [Mod Edit]

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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cruisemonkey



Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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



Joined: 22 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I ask them if they think Kimchi is spicy.
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ardis



Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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reactionary



Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Location: korreia

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wink at them.
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asmith



Joined: 18 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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

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



Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Location: Ansan, Korea

PostPosted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

>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.
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