Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Len8]

I've often been accosted by smart arse kids who try to speak to me in a too familiar fashion. They do it even when their parents are with them, or they do it in passing. It's the loud rude "Oh high" which iff you ignore will get repeated even louder, until you're totally pissed off.
Sometimes they will all talk loud about you in the bus or in other places, and you are standing within hearing distance. I'm usually always caught unawares when it happens, so I'm not quite ready with the right reply.
Other day I said "Nagata" repeatedly until the brats left with red faces, but within 10 minutes they were back again trying to give more lip. Luckily though an older Korean guy sitting nearby who saw and heard everything said something in Korean to them, and they hurredly took off.

Anyone know good replys one could use in such a situation.

[mourningclam]

If they call you "mi gook saram", just point at them and call them Japanese, "il bon saram". Or if they do that "oh, wae gook in", just say "mwul(?) ba, nappeun ae", which means "what are you looking at you bad kid". Sometimes that might work.

With that, does anybody know how to say "Shut up before I eat you and your entire family"?

[Corporal]

I usually have no patience whatsoever for the chatty brats. Especially when it's just the screeched "hi" and the dash to hide behind Mommy's legs should you look less than thrilled with their presumptuousness.

That said, when a ten or eleven-year-old girl came up to me yesterday in Walmart and said, pointing to the baby, "She is so pretty," I could hardly be annoyed.

[Ody]

[schwa]

I generally dont mind kids being kids. 3 times out of 4 their greetings are genuine & well-intentioned -- they assume we're teachers & are taught to greet teachers, & speaking to foreigners is encouraged in their english lessons. We are of course cultural anomalies to them too & some of them get overexcited (ok, call it silly & stupid -- but hey, theyre only kids). I gauge my response -- I'll return a pleasantly-spoken greeting, or just smile & nod if I sense theyre gonna overreact.

The upfront goofballs, I dont acknowledge them at all. Most days it doesnt bother me but the odd time it does, catching me at a grumpy or preoccupied moment. Its like a little wake-up call to soften my mood.

If you snap at every kid who says 'hello' your grump-meter is off the scale.

[Toby]

I always ignore them. they do tire.

Or just smile and keep walking.

Or turn round and point at their head. Laugh like a maniac, pointing. That is the point they get a little worried and leave you alone.

[Shincheon_Blues]

[Mashimaro]

Don't even bother, it will only make you more frustrated.
I know it sucks, but we don stand out.. Kids want to get a reaction from you to make their friends laugh.. If you just ignore them they look kind of stupid and are less likely to do it again.

[uberscheisse]

anyone getting their panties in a bunch about being said "hi" to by a kid on the street should learn to find the remote and turn off channel WHINE. seriously, man up.

[gypsyfish]

[Crois]

Pull out your fella and that shuts them up.

[oneiros]

I agree. If it's the usual "Hi", I always say hi back. If they say "mee-gook sarum", I usually just correct them and say "Canada sarum imneeda".

On the very rare occassion when I kid is trying to be rude, ie swearing at me, I just give them my very best angry teacher stare and say, firmly, "hajima", which embarrasses them enough to stop, especially if it's in a crowd and everyone turns to look.

[katydid]

I haven't had to deal with anyone rude lately. On the contrary, I kind of feel like a rock star here, saying hi to all my students and their brothers and their friends.
I remember one time last year when I was in Seoul, I was waiting for the subway, and some kid pointed at me and said "Wa! Miguk sarum!" and I pointed back as a joke and said "Wa! Hanguk sarum!" and turned and walked away. Then I heard the kid's mother smack the kid. That was a bit extreme.
I really don't care if a kid comes up to talk to me. I don't think the kids are really laughing at me or being rude to me. I KNOW when they are. What drives me bananas is the "Hi drive-by": they wait until they are just past you then they all shout "Hi Hello How are you Nice to meet you OK Bye bye."
There are the times when it gets old and I think "Haven't they ever seen any movies or TV shows with white people on it??" but generally I just think the kids are curious and I can deal with it.
Banmal hajima works to shut up the rude kiddies out there.

[desultude]

I am still amazed that people get upset with children saying hi to them. You need a chill pill if kids saying hello is too much for you to handle.

[the_beaver]