Korean Job Discussion Forums

[v88]

Is it just me, or are kids being much more polite these days?

I can remember my first year the constant "Hi, Hellos" which I didn't mind as well as the constant "Waaa, Miguk!". Sometimes I'd get the "Pucking America!".

Now my students all talk about their different school teachers from New Zealand, the US, Canada or the UK, and seem curious to see if we are much different. Kids at the school I go to once a week all bow to me, even if I'm dressed in nothing but jeans and a t-shirt. No more screaming at me from across the road....nice.

[kimdeal54]

I was just saying this a few weeks ago.

I was here from late 2005 - early 2009, and gone for most of last year... now that I'm back, I've definitely noticed this change - less stares and almost no kids yelling at me. I get a few polite 'hello's from time to time, but nothing like what you described (and what used to happen occasionally).

[Chet Wautlands]

Did you guys perhaps change cities? I noticed a huge difference from Gyeongsangnamdo (lots of 'hello waygugin') to Gyeonggido. It makes sense that Korean kids would be more used to us at any rate.

[kimdeal54]

No change of city... spent 1 year in Incheon, 2 years in Seoul, and am back living in Incheon again, but working in Seoul.

Even as I travel around areas of both cities that I'm familiar with, I've noticed a definite general change in how children are reacting to me.

[nautilus]

[sharkey]

The children are very immature.

[Forever]

The kids are so used to us now - there is one of us in every Public school etc.

They see us everyday now, which is different to 4~5 years ago - when most foreigners were only seen at Hagwons.

I noticed it about a year ago, when I was able to walk anywhere past children on the streets and none of them even looked at me twice.


Although, I did walk past a Taekwondo academy the other day and the students were coming out and the Taekwondo instructor had them lined up to get in his van.

A 10y.o. ? boy at the front of the line pointed to me and shouted "Megook Sarram ida" to the Taekwondo Instructor.

The Taekwondo Instructor ignored it - until I shouted back (pointing at the boy) Hanguk Sarram ida".

That embarrased the Taekwondo instructor so much, he raised his hand and hit the boy on the head whilst shaking his head in disapproval.

[oskinny1]

I have noticed this also. I taught a couple years ago and then came back to the same neighborhood and it's like night and day. I pass by kids all the time and the only one who says "good morning" to me is a former camp student.

[v88]

Ironically I've returned the the very first place I came to in Korea.

Things have changed due to the English teacher in every school things has started. I thought it was a stupid idea, but perhaps it has made things better in a way I had not expected. It seems that Korea has just gotten a little more sensitive to the rest of us.

I wonder what it's like in the tiny little rural villages. I had some really interesting experiences while travelling back in the day. Kids didn't just point, they ran after you in swarms. It was almost like being in some remote third world village, except these kids didn't beg for money, chocolate or pens. My wife says her father used to do that.

Even my university kids no longer freak out on the first day of class with a foreigner.

It feels much more relaxing around here these days.

[Paladin Brewer]

I just got here to Korea on Wednesday, and I get all the hi, hellos, and screaming I think one of them called me lardo, but I will pretend I misheard. Which is actually possible anyway

[mithridates]

I felt a hello coming on the other day from a group of high school kids but it turned out to be a comment allez-vous (first time ever), but besides that haven't gotten a single hello in any language from kids on the street for who knows how long.