Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shawner88]

Living near Suwon, I come across countless foreigners. You know: Them. The migrant workers in Korea. The ones that far out number Us, the English teachers.

Sometimes I see some of these people in the local mart. For some reason in my town, they're almost always from Bangladesh. Also they can speak Korean and English fairly well.

I don't know why, but I feel guilty when they talk to me. They ask me where I'm from, and I say America. Rather than feeling proud when I say it, I feel ashamed. For some reason when you say to them you're from America you feel as if you're trying to brag when you're really not at all.

It was just because I was "lucky" at birth, no other reason, that I am able to lead a comfortable life. With them, maybe they love their homeland, and I hope they do. But being born there, they were destined to leave, not for fun, experience, adventure, but to find work in a Korean factory for peanuts (although bigger peanuts than in their country).

They were only 26 years old, yet they looked much older, haggard.

My job? I answered English Teacher. I teach 20 hours a week and make probably 4 times what they do for 12 hours/day.

At one point I found myself wondering, Are these guys working legally? Meanwhile it barely occurs to me that in fact I am a migrant worker as well, cough cough, I mean teacher, oops, tourist.

What am I saying? I don't know really. Just it bothered my last night talking to those guys. Anyone else had this feeling?

[Eazy_E]

It sounds like you have some heartfelt sympathy for their situation, and I do too. Once I met a couple blokes on the bus who talked to me, and got around to asking me how much I earn per month. Besides the fact that I never tell that to anyone here, I didn't want them to know how much more I earn for a much easier and safer job than they undoubtedly have.

No need to feel guilty... just have a friendly chat next time you meet those guys. They probably appreciate it.

[wylde]

i had a job near suwon for a few weeks last year.. i met a few bangladeshis.. they were working as contract physic chemists or something that was too much for me to understand... i bet they are on a good wage. they were nice guys too.. just at the time australia beat them in the cricket.. of cause i stuck it in.

[rapier]

I've spoken with the occasional Indian, bangladeshi and even Azerbaijani. They were pretty cool. Generally i find Indians/bangladeshis a bit too clingy though. Too keen to make friends, too fast..
The azerbaijani girl spoke good English and was looking for a way into teaching, good luck to her.

[Tiger Beer]

The 'want a friend immediately' can be daunting. I have one Iranian friend who I actually feel bad everytime I see him. He always asks me 'why didn't you call?' or take it really personal. When I see him, I do like seeing him. But he's the only friend I have who actually makes me feel guilty at times for not keeping up my end of a friendship - which is a weird concept for me.

Realistically even with my really good friends, sometimes I go months without 'catching up with them'.. and it seems that people of other nationalities/cultures who aren't familiar with you personally, tend to take it a lot more personal than someone of the same cultural background - who could seriously careless if they don't hear from your for sometimes months at a time.

[rapier]

They want you as a friend because they see you as from a successful culture...you don't see them rushing to make friends with Nigerians or Libyans. Thats what puts me off- they want your friendship because they think they will somehow benefit from you..maybe one day you'll introduce them to a white woman.. or help them get a green card.. or sponsor them on a "tourist" visit to the west..
Sounds horrible, but it seems true at least some of the time...

[weatherman]

I feel bad when I hear them speaking Korean so well. I used to live in Suwon for a year during 97' & 98' so got used to seeing them around, but always too, felt a little guilt thinking that I got a better deal working in Korea than they did. Here in Gwangju the largest group are the workers out of the Philippines. They seem to stick to themselves. Hardly ever see them out, except maybe on Sundays looking around downtown. Most work out in the large Gwang-sun industrial district. If anything, I think we have more in common than we do that separates us. All foreigners are subject to a social and legal system that discriminates.

[Gwangjuboy]

[Juggertha]

My girl works for the GAP inspecting "factories" here. The stories she tells me about the housing conditions is disgusting. I have no idea why i was born in a country with such luck... but i'm thankfull for it.. and hope i can help others when given the opportunity.

[Skarp]

Sure we are lucky to be from richer countries.

But should we feel guilty?

As a Briton with some small knowledge of history I know where our wealth and fortune came from...the Empire. Indian gold. South African diamonds. I lived in Bristol and this is a city built on the slave trade.

Which if any 'successful' countries 'deserve' their wealth? Not Amercia of course. Canada? - well the country is stolen property after all. Ditto Oz and NZ.

Maybe Scandinavian countries have 'done it themselves'? But 1000+ years ago they were running amok all over Europe murdering and pillaging like it was going out of fashion.

My personal view is that any country with power will abuse their neighbours with that power. Countries like Korea, Bangladesh or India simply haven't had the opportunity.

And we all benefit from that abuse of power even if we or our particular ancesters did not participate.


My views - as always keen to hear others....

Skarp

[shawner88]

I totally agree with the clingy aspect. In less than a minute these two guys asked me at least 25 questions.

I told them I'm from America and then, remembering the AFN commercial about being aware of possible terrorism, I strategically informed them I'm a University professor at Jang An college, the college where I turned down the job. So if a bomb goes off there, you know why. Don't worry, though. I'll be at the kiddie hagwon, laughing insanely.

Also, if you hear that Tiger died from poison powder in his orange juice, you know he didn't call me for a month. He's my best friend now. He will never disappoint me.

[VanIslander]

"Us" English teachers on the island mingle with about 400 of "Them" foreign shipyard workers who are mostly from Europe: Estonian construction workers, Spanish managers, British engineers.

Mostly men in their forties separated from their families for several months at a time. I try to remember that when I see them paw the local young Korean women, to the chagrin of Korean men. Fortunately, the us/them distinction is well known to Koreans around here too, to my benefit (though "them" are respected by the locals for being "rich", "us" for being "nice").

[Demophobe]

I met 2 guys from Pakistan last week on the bus. They couldn't speak English so well, and I can't speak Arabic, so we spoke Korean. Really, really nice guys. One of them offered me a bite of his corn cob! Instant generosity. Very, very cool.
They make 1.5 million per month in a furniture factory and seemed really happy. One of them was a civil engineer in Pakistan, but lack of work brought him to Korea and he has been here for 5 years.
I am not sure if what I felt was guilt, but whatever feeling came over me, it made me realize how blessed my life is.
I am glad to have met them. They were a great inspiration to me.
When I pass them or meet them, I now make a point of smiling, a small bow and saying �ȳ��ϻ���?

[shakuhachi]

[Blind Willie]