Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Provence]

[quote="peppermint"]

[SeoulMan99]

I always vote Libertarian, though I know they won't win a national election. Unfortunately coming from IL if you don't vote Democrat your vote is basically void in our system.

[SoCalRich]

[Bloopity Bloop]

[SoCalRich]

[NCdan]

I think the reason Canadians in Korea bash America so much is because they are jealous that America is considered the most important Western country from a cultural point of view. All the curriculum I've used is taught from a specific point of view: not Canadian, not British, not Australian, but American. I haven't even seen one cultural saying that is taught to the kids that isn't American. Koreans could care less about Canadians: the Korean teachers at my school don't even want non-Americans proofreading what they write. Take that you syrup sucking, moose loving, toothless hockey playing Canadians. I agree that America is going down the tubes, but we are still viewed as more important than Canada by the rest of the world. In conclusion I present this: http://www.casttv.com/video/7w9xve/weird-al-yankovic-canadian-idiot-video

[giwizzef]

From an American (the good, the bad, and the ugly of Americans�AKA, �My Country �Tis of the Thee�):

It�s very true that most Americans are ignorant of their own government�s foreign policies. To most Americans, America is the only country that matters. This is a sad (and somewhat embarrassing) but true fact. Somewhat in the general population of America�s defense, however, this mentality is largely fostered by�you guessed it�the American government (and furthered by the American media, which every American claims to distrust but mysteriously follows with religious vigor).

It�s a sad myth bought into by the rest of the world that most Americans believe Muslims are terrorists. The truth is that the majority of American�s couldn�t give a monkey�s backside what someone�s religion is or is not. Yes, we have a �Bible Belt�. We also have a pretty strong Jewish community, Muslim community, Buddhist community, Hindu community, atheist community, agnostic community, whatever-floats- your-boat community�Religion is the one thing that is a COMPLETE free for all in the U.S.

We�re embarrassed that Canadians are embarrassed by the forced association they have with us due to proximity. We actually like Canada, even though it doesn�t much like us. Most Americans find Canada very admirable as a nation. Australia and New Zealand also tend to draw strong kudos from Americans. I�m not sure if the admiration is based in idealism or realism, but it exists.

Most Americans can name the President of the United States. Many can even name the Vice President. Most have absolutely no idea who their state governor or local Senators and Congressmen are. Speaker of the House? Senate Minority Leader? Senate Majority of Leader? Secretary of State? Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? Most Americans will drool and stumble around on an answer for a few minutes before making up an excuse for why it�s completely unimportant to know this information.

To most Americans, there are two types of governments in the world: Democratic and Communistic. There is nothing else. Socialism in the United States is a synonym for �communism�. So is anything else that�s not strictly democratic. Again, very sad�but very true. Until everyone in the country who can immediately identify the political and historical significance of the name �McCarthy� dies, it will probably remain this way.

Most Americans think voting is something you do every four years for the candidate that least pisses you off.

All foreigners are Mexican, Indian, or Chinese to Americans, and all are �illegal� and responsible for overpopulating the country and stealing American jobs. This one is not just sad�it�s downright pathetic and, in my opinion, demonstrates that racism in America is just as rampant as ignorance.

Most Americans have never traveled outside of the United States (except maybe to Mexico or the Bahamas during spring break). A good many of them have never ventured outside of the state in which they live. This is due more so to the geographic makeup of the U.S. than anything else. The U.S. is a mostly self contained country and large portions of it are not within easy distance of other nations. Also, international travel from some parts of the United States is VERY expensive. That said, from the East Coast of the U.S., it�s cheaper to fly to many parts of Europe than to parts of the Western U.S.

The vast majority of Americans think capitalism is an inherent product of democracy�and they are okay with that.

Yes, I'm perfectly aware that the last post in this forum was in January. I hope I�m near my 25 posts now so that I can start PMing very soon. I�m running out of things to talk about on this forum and have important questions to ask of certain individuals.

[itistime]

"Perhaps, the "hate" America stuff comes from the actions of certain Americans who do not know how to live and work in a Foreign society while acting painfully unprofessional in their workplace and relationships."

Yup.

[itistime]

"A good many of them have never ventured outside of the state in which they live. This is due more so to the geographic makeup of the U.S. than anything else. The U.S. is a mostly self contained country and large portions of it are not within easy distance of other nations."

This too. Some people have never seen an ocean, much less make it past downtown.

[Shapur]

This thread is really interesting. Cheers to all

Interesting to see some people mention the borderline behavior and insecurity of so many Canadians though.
Over the years I noticed the same thing and always wondered why, so it's enlightening to see the Canadian posters here explaining where that insecurity comes from.

Met a couple of dozen Americans over here and most were great people.
Only met one ugly American in SK. so far but by God this guy was so incredibly, unbelievably obnoxious he left me wondering if he was real, or just a distillation of every negative stereotype anyone has ever had about "ugly Americans" and then magnified by ten.
The guy was like a nightmare in the flesh haha
The funny thing was I never really thought of him as American because every American who met him had the same reaction I did - appalled disbelief^^.
I'll never forget my American coworker's reaction after substitute teaching in the ugly American's branch.
"How was it in Jongno branch?"
"Oh ok, but there's this guy over there.... [refers to the ugly American by name].
(Then screws up his face as if he's in physical pain).
Whaaaat a cu**!"
Good times^^

If the OP's still reading this thread after all this time - My sympathies, I have heard quite a bit of the kind of American bashing you mentioned.
If someone's rude enough to give you a hard time and hold you personally responsible for the real and imagined wrongs of your government's policies, just see it for what it is.
Sometimes it's a sign of low intelligence.
And some people just have really poor social skills.

[rollo]

Yes I hear this stuff all the time when I meet certain North Americans. Mostly I laugh it off. Who cares. They use American technology watch American films and are to a great degree dependent on the American technology.

What I do not like is the assumption by some that we know little about our own history or culture. Some poster once wrote on here that he had never been to the U.S. but since he had an internet connection he knew as much as any U.S. citizen since that is how U.s. citizens learned about their own country.

It is laughable. I am from Miami. over 75% of the people there were born in another country. they seem happy to be in the U.S.

No I do not want to know about the avro arrow. The war of 1812 we fought the largest empire in the world to a standoff. Not really interested.

I worked in a situation once where the North American head teacher said when introducing me " another goddam American" She meant it and showed it every day and every way. the two British teachers and the other North American at the school were totally embarassed by her and went out of their way to be kind.

But it is mostly harmless. Except when drinking a beer i really do not want to be lectured or hectored.

So I do not hold grudges but do occasionally like to zing residents of country to North of the U.S.

[hallazgo]

[methdxman]

[methdxman]

[wiganer]

I'll tell you a true story.

During the GEPIK orientation in 2008. I roomed briefly with an American gentleman, I interupted his bible study on his bed and introduced myself, on finding out I was British, he made a wisecrack about rotten teeth and how all us Brits had horrible teeth. I told him my teeth were fine and probably in better nick than his own.

'No..' he laughed 'I don't believe that'

'Check them then'

'You sure?' said the yank.

And he went over and checked my teeth and conceded I had a pretty good set of gnashers! We had a good laugh, he was an allright guy and I knew it was a joke and he was playing on a stereotype.

I don't think anyone flies all the way to Korea with the thought of needling Americans once they get there. I have to be honest though people, after watching 'Ferris Buellers Day Off' I was pretty happy to meet Americans and make friends, I have to be honest though and say despite a few really good people amongst their number, most I met were dorkish, judgemental, unfriendly, socially inept and really really tight fisted. My last straw was when I was at a mates birthday bash in Gangnam and though I put extra money in the bill book - most of my mates fellow Americans not only itemised every thing they ate on the bill and paid the exact amount, some of them welched and started accusing others of not paying and I was treated to the sight of my mates girlfriend covering the rest of the bill - I walked out - it was a disgrace that our mate had to pay for his own dinner and drinks during his own birthday party.

Getting on to a more general point. As we are all rather intelligent and want to talk about deeper subjects that last nights dinner - politics comes up in coversations between each other. So points of view you may not agree with come out. I don't personally do this because being British I know how it feels for the rest of the world to hate your guts but hey - the British do not give a shit! You hate my country and we are all ugly with bad teeth? We don't care! You are right most of the time with your observations!

But basically, what it boils down to is that we have to tiptoe around the nationalisitc sensibilities of our hosts and I am sure we're dammed if we are going to do it for a load of Americans! We are not in your country - we are in Korea, so, get a grip, get a thick skin and debate it if you don't like what you are hearing. And stop talking about Europe as if it is all one country either!