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pegasus64128
Joined: 20 Aug 2011
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 Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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To get back on topic:
I believe Americans (US) are the most noob-like in general. It's just my opinion and there will be people who disagree but that's how I feel.
Why?
Of all nationalities, I find American noobs, and indeed some American long-timers that just don't get it:
- expect all other countries to operate the way the US does.
- examples: traffic law enforcement, law enforcement, social values etc.
- believe their country is the best country in the world. No matter how crap they come out in international surveys they're the best. It's comfortable for them still being the best when they are doing terribly even. Therefore everything in Korea is worse than it is in their country and if it isn't it's because the statistics are 'wrong'.
- have to meddle and change things. They feel obligated to right the 'wrongs' of Korea by imposing their ways and beliefs. I find that in general other nationalities don't do this. They know Korea is different and accept it as it is.
- believe healthy people are too skinny. People need to be fatter.
I hope I don't sound too harsh, but it's a bit uncomfortable. Korea used to be dominated by Canadians and everyone (me anyway) was happy. They're not over-imposing. Now, there are lots of Americans and there will probably be no stopping them. They'll be everywhere.
The whining and whinging will be incessant. I will never again have peace here, or anywhere!!? 
Rant over. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
a) Chinese and Thai folks use restaurants as a front for illegal immigration.
b) Koreans believe owning a restaurant is below them. Yet it's fine for those 'other' people.
As I've stated, both are ridiculous and borderline racist claims. They're also completely and obviously untrue. And why are you making these outrageous claims? To protect the glorious image of Korea of having the unquestionably best cuisine in the world? On an internet forum for expats in Korea? Really? |
Well living in a city with a diverse and substantial Asian-American population, yeah, most of the Chinese or Thai restaurants employed extended family members, and being friends with them knew more than a few that were overstaying their green cards or student visas or had come here on vacation. No one held it against them for trying to make a buck or get their kids into better schools over here.
Now that's not to say Korean restaurants didn't have the occasional illegal Mexican or Korean student, but they weren't members of the family operating the place. And that's not to say that Koreans aren't responsible for a bunch of smuggling, especially with massage partners and all.
And yes, most of the Koreans tended to be wealthier and college educated on average and had parents who were doing quite well in Korea or lived in upscale neighborhoods in the US (Not that there weren't plenty of Chinese or Thai students like that as well). To open up a restaurant would not live up to that status that they wanted to project. Now, some ended up owning restaurants because that is better than going broke. And a few owned restaurants because they didn't care what other Koreans thought and only wanted to make 'kiss my butt' money.
But it goes back to the "Be a doctor or go into BSchool or Engineering" thing. To go from living the life in Gangnam to slinging bulgogi in a hot kitchen is not what people are looking for. Whereas with other Asiaan immigrants it might be going from some blue collar or agricultural job or being a refugee to going into a restaurant and making decent bank. You can see it reflected in Korean immigrants as well that the older generation tended to open up liquor stores and dry cleaners.
Japanese food is extremely popular, but as I said, many to most of the places are run by Koreans. Does that mean that Japanese don't think their food is good or think Koreans make it better? No, it means that they don't see operating a restaurant as a desirable career.
===========================
Back to stupid things newbies say...
Anything NK war related is almost always nonsense.
Not stupid, but lovably sad- "I saw a sign for a Chinese restaurant. I could really go for some General Tso's and some Crab Rangoon!"
"Ooooo Paris Baguette. That sounds yummy. I could go for some... (insert item that one will inevitably be disappointed in)"
"There's GREEN tea?"
"Want to go to the bar and have a beer. Kill an hour and spend 5 bucks." - Wrong on multiple levels. First, there's anju. Also, you never have just a beer in Korea. One always turns into a 3000cc or the Hite Bottle bowling ball formation.
(Small Towns Only) "That bar's good. It's got open space so we don't have to sit in a booth."- Mistake. This invariably leads to some ajosshi sliding over to practice his terrible English and demanding your attention for the next hour or three.
Talking, hanging out, and leaving the bar with that group of Korean kids who say they are freshman in Uni. "Dude...they're all in H.S." "Dude, no they aren't...they said they were 19 and they aren't wearing uniforms. How in the world would H.S. students get into a bar? They'd have to show their IDs"
(With Man U-Norwich game on at the same time)- "Alright, let's go to the bar and catch Gunners-Spurs. Korean TV should be showing that." "Uh, well about that, you see...uh...there's this guy Park Ji Sung and uh, I know he's not starting the game, but, uh...its on at the same time...and...Why don't we have a beer before I tell you the TV schedule"
Last edited by Steelrails on Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:25 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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DejaVu
Joined: 27 Jan 2011
Location: Your dreams
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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| pegasus64128 wrote: |
To get back on topic:
I believe Americans (US) are the most noob-like in general. It's just my opinion and there will be people who disagree but that's how I feel.
Why?
Of all nationalities, I find American noobs, and indeed some American long-timers that just don't get it:
- expect all other countries to operate the way the US does.
- examples: traffic law enforcement, law enforcement, social values etc.
- believe their country is the best country in the world. No matter how crap they come out in international surveys they're the best. It's comfortable for them still being the best when they are doing terribly even. Therefore everything in Korea is worse than it is in their country and if it isn't it's because the statistics are 'wrong'.
- have to meddle and change things. They feel obligated to right the 'wrongs' of Korea by imposing their ways and beliefs. I find that in general other nationalities don't do this. They know Korea is different and accept it as it is.
- believe healthy people are too skinny. People need to be fatter.
I hope I don't sound too harsh, but it's a bit uncomfortable. Korea used to be dominated by Canadians and everyone (me anyway) was happy. They're not over-imposing. Now, there are lots of Americans and there will probably be no stopping them. They'll be everywhere.
The whining and whinging will be incessant. I will never again have peace here, or anywhere!!?
Rant over. |
As much as I dislike America, I can't agree with all of this.
I do agree that Americans are typically the most noob-sounding and make the most noob-like comments. This is largely due to most of our education and media focusing on ourselves rather than the rest of the world.
Ignorance breeds stupid comments.
However, since I've been here, I've met more people from other nationalities do all of the other, off-topic things you mentioned more often than Americans (like force their beliefs on others). Sounds to me like you hang with the wrong people.
I can't speak for Canadians because I've not met enough. You could be right in that case... |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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| pegasus64128 wrote: |
To get back on topic:
I believe Americans (US) are the most noob-like in general. It's just my opinion and there will be people who disagree but that's how I feel.
Why?
Of all nationalities, I find American noobs, and indeed some American long-timers that just don't get it:
- expect all other countries to operate the way the US does.
- examples: traffic law enforcement, law enforcement, social values etc.
- believe their country is the best country in the world. No matter how crap they come out in international surveys they're the best. It's comfortable for them still being the best when they are doing terribly even. Therefore everything in Korea is worse than it is in their country and if it isn't it's because the statistics are 'wrong'.
- have to meddle and change things. They feel obligated to right the 'wrongs' of Korea by imposing their ways and beliefs. I find that in general other nationalities don't do this. They know Korea is different and accept it as it is.
- believe healthy people are too skinny. People need to be fatter.
I hope I don't sound too harsh, but it's a bit uncomfortable. Korea used to be dominated by Canadians and everyone (me anyway) was happy. They're not over-imposing. Now, there are lots of Americans and there will probably be no stopping them. They'll be everywhere.
The whining and whinging will be incessant. I will never again have peace here, or anywhere!!?
Rant over. |
Although I have met a lot of cool Americans here, it does seem that they are more likely to have problems adjusting. Most of the horror stories about working conditions etc seem to have been from Americans, in my experience. |
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pegasus64128
Joined: 20 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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| DejaVu wrote: |
| pegasus64128 wrote: |
To get back on topic:
I believe Americans (US) are the most noob-like in general. It's just my opinion and there will be people who disagree but that's how I feel.
Why?
Of all nationalities, I find American noobs, and indeed some American long-timers that just don't get it:
- expect all other countries to operate the way the US does.
- examples: traffic law enforcement, law enforcement, social values etc.
- believe their country is the best country in the world. No matter how crap they come out in international surveys they're the best. It's comfortable for them still being the best when they are doing terribly even. Therefore everything in Korea is worse than it is in their country and if it isn't it's because the statistics are 'wrong'.
- have to meddle and change things. They feel obligated to right the 'wrongs' of Korea by imposing their ways and beliefs. I find that in general other nationalities don't do this. They know Korea is different and accept it as it is.
- believe healthy people are too skinny. People need to be fatter.
I hope I don't sound too harsh, but it's a bit uncomfortable. Korea used to be dominated by Canadians and everyone (me anyway) was happy. They're not over-imposing. Now, there are lots of Americans and there will probably be no stopping them. They'll be everywhere.
The whining and whinging will be incessant. I will never again have peace here, or anywhere!!?
Rant over. |
Sounds to me like you hang with the wrong people.
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I live in a small city. |
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isitts
Joined: 25 Dec 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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I just thought of some...
noob: I work for a pretty good hagwon.
me: Really? Which one?
noob: CDI.
me: ...
and (same noob...ordering food for our group because he's fluent in Korean)...
noob: Bap juseyo.
server: Congi bap?
noob: What? Just bap.
me: Ye, congi bap.
noob: Wait. What did you order? I just want rice. |
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definitely maybe
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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| pegasus64128 wrote: |
| Korea used to be dominated by Canadians and everyone (me anyway) was happy. They're not over-imposing. |
This is something that not even my long-timer Canadian friends would agree with. There were SO many Canadians with social/political agendas nine or ten years ago, and they primarily harped on folks from the US. I constantly had Canadians apologizing to me for the ridiculous impositions of their countrymen. To be honest, I found it to be pretty funny. |
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soomin
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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| metalhead wrote: |
I wouldn't say I find what newbies say is stupid, rather I think what some long-termers say is stupid instead, especially when they display their ignorance about things Korea-related that should be known after a year or two in Korea. |
Amen~!
| metalhead wrote: |
Of course, then you have the annoying statements, such as 'Wow! xxxx is so cheap in Korea!' - cheap compared to where? |
I think compared to our home countries... Health costs are outrageous in the States, even after paying large monthly insurance payments, and even aspirin is expensive where I live ;.; I paid 3x what my boss and I pay together for health insurance here, and I paid 10x what I pay here just to see a doctor... @.@
| pegasus64128 wrote: |
To get back on topic:
I believe Americans (US) are the most noob-like in general. It's just my opinion and there will be people who disagree but that's how I feel.
Why?
Of all nationalities, I find American noobs, and indeed some American long-timers that just don't get it:
- expect all other countries to operate the way the US does.
- examples: traffic law enforcement, law enforcement, social values etc.
- believe their country is the best country in the world. No matter how crap they come out in international surveys they're the best. It's comfortable for them still being the best when they are doing terribly even. Therefore everything in Korea is worse than it is in their country and if it isn't it's because the statistics are 'wrong'.
- have to meddle and change things. They feel obligated to right the 'wrongs' of Korea by imposing their ways and beliefs. I find that in general other nationalities don't do this. They know Korea is different and accept it as it is.
- believe healthy people are too skinny. People need to be fatter.
I hope I don't sound too harsh, but it's a bit uncomfortable. Korea used to be dominated by Canadians and everyone (me anyway) was happy. They're not over-imposing. Now, there are lots of Americans and there will probably be no stopping them. They'll be everywhere.
The whining and whinging will be incessant. I will never again have peace here, or anywhere!!?
Rant over. |
I'm American and I pretty much agree with this... I studied international relations and was well-read into Korea and Asia in general, but a LOT of the Americans here are like this... because, that's how we're raised, LOL~~ My parents still ask me why I would leave "the number one country in the world" to go somewhere else~ I really have to struggle against the negative perception of Americans, and yet, I can't say that the perception is wrong...
I just think that a lot of people come here for an after-college party-time before they go into "the real world" and end up partying and drinking all night and considering their job to be a throw-away obligation to get through before more drinking... And as far as I've seen, this is pretty even across the board, unfortunately |
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Mr. Kalgukshi
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Location: Here or on the International Job Forums
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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Several inappropriate postings have been deleted. Please stay on topic and avoid posting insults directed at individuals, nationalities, etc.
If not, the next step will be more than this warning.
Members observing postings on any thread in violation of this warning are requested to notify the Mod Team by Report Post or PM.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=168086 |
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Mr. Kalgukshi
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
Location: Here or on the International Job Forums
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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We will try this again with the understanding that insults directed at other members and any and all comments regarding Moderator actions are off limits and will result in bans per the following:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=168086 |
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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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| As long as the children's English is improving, it doesn't matter if they think the class is fun or not. |
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Stan Rogers
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Food Fight! Food Fight! |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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| flakfizer wrote: |
| As long as the children's English is improving, it doesn't matter if they think the class is fun or not. |
Quite right...just keep asking the question,
"Is our children learning?"  |
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thunderbird
Joined: 18 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:11 am Post subject: |
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| pegasus64128 wrote: |
To get back on topic:
I believe Americans (US) are the most noob-like in general. It's just my opinion and there will be people who disagree but that's how I feel.
Why?
Of all nationalities, I find American noobs, and indeed some American long-timers that just don't get it:
- expect all other countries to operate the way the US does.
- examples: traffic law enforcement, law enforcement, social values etc.
- believe their country is the best country in the world. No matter how crap they come out in international surveys they're the best. It's comfortable for them still being the best when they are doing terribly even. Therefore everything in Korea is worse than it is in their country and if it isn't it's because the statistics are 'wrong'.
- have to meddle and change things. They feel obligated to right the 'wrongs' of Korea by imposing their ways and beliefs. I find that in general other nationalities don't do this. They know Korea is different and accept it as it is.
- believe healthy people are too skinny. People need to be fatter.
I hope I don't sound too harsh, but it's a bit uncomfortable. Korea used to be dominated by Canadians and everyone (me anyway) was happy. They're not over-imposing. Now, there are lots of Americans and there will probably be no stopping them. They'll be everywhere.
The whining and whinging will be incessant. I will never again have peace here, or anywhere!!?
Rant over. |
oh i know just what u mean well said |
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Modernist
Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Location: The 90s
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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Hmm, I'm an American and I like my country. True story. I think in most ways it is demonstrably superior to here.
But still, that doesn't translate into a) being ignorant of the larger world; or b) thinking my country is better in areas where it demonstrably fails [such as math education, public health, or income inequality]; OR c) refusing to give Korea, or anywhere, credit where it is due. Sorry, Steelrails. Sorry, soonmin.
The first time I got on a KTX I knew it was 100% better than any train in America. I've ridden a lot of Amtrak, and it's not so bad as it's imagined--often quite good in fact, but in no way does it match Korean service, because the Koreans have made the investments to get something world-class and keep it there, and kept their projects out of partisan politics. They deserve great admiration for this and from this American, at least, they get it. We could learn a lot from them in terms of passenger rail and infrastructure in general.
There are quite a lot of others, actually. Incheon is the best airport I've ever seen, better than any in America.
Korean students, even in middle school, are often kind and sweet in a way rarely seen in the West. I wish ours were a bit more innocent and somewhat less 'hardened.'
I'm no basher. I see things with an accurate eye, or I strive to. I have no interest in puffing up a place nor in tearing it apart without reason. I have no investment here, no links, no deference. I don't care enough about it to hate it.
I'm just a contractor. The stupidest thing any newbie here does is ever to forget that. |
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