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Wishmaster
Joined: 06 Feb 2003
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 9:20 pm Post subject: Theater of the Absurd |
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Korea is the epitome of the theater of the absurd. For instance, here I am sitting in this vast pc bang, nobody around me...when this Korean guy sits right next to me and lights up a fucking cigarette. I mean, they seem like they don't like foreigners yet they will do things like this. He also nudged my chair a bit and didn't apologize. Asshole.
Another thing is the walking. I'm walking down the street, the whole sidewalk is available, and they just gotta walk directly in my path. I usually put my shoulder down and that sends them away.
Stupid and inane. I'm not gonna be all pc and say, "well, it's the culture" or "it's not home". Bad manners, pure and simple.
The glaring. It is not a curious look. I usually get the "fucking foreigner" look just because I am not them(Thank God). If they did such a thing back home, it would be quite a different story. But here...because of the masses...they get away with it.
I'm ranting because I just get tired of these daily hassles(and they do occur everyday). I guess we all get tired of the day-to-day grind that is Korea. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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deleted
Last edited by On the other hand on Wed Apr 28, 2004 7:40 am; edited 1 time in total |
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katydid

Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Location: Here kitty kitty kitty...
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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Have you seen anyone change into a rhinocerous yet?
Did anyone get that?  |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, Ionesco. |
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katydid

Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Location: Here kitty kitty kitty...
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, that's it. I read that play in college and really really liked it a lot.  |
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Homer Guest
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:10 am Post subject: |
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Wishmaster,
Calm down man....
Its just everyday life afterall....perhaps you are seeing intent when there is none....
At any rate, your due for a vacation.
Perhaps you should hit the hot springs, get a massage and relax...  |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 7:47 am Post subject: |
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I deleted my earlier post because on reflection it seemed unneccesarily hostile.
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Stupid and inane. I'm not gonna be all pc and say, "well, it's the culture" or "it's not home". Bad manners, pure and simple.
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Manners are no less culturally specific than are food, music, and family life. You can fantasize about a univeral standard of politeness all you want, but the fact remains that the behaviour you are complaining about is probably considered quite acceptable by the vast majority of Koreans. And, if they have no problems with the behaviour, there is no reason why they should give one second of thought to how it makes foreigners feel. |
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beast
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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Everybody feels like you do sometimes. It's tough to come to terms with because we try to rationalize their behavior, but we can't because we don't think like they do. The best thing to turn your negative emotional state around is to try to find humor in the situation. I know it's really hard to do sometimes, but it works. For example, that dude who lit up next to you; next time around, ask him for a smoke. sit and stare at what he's writing, talk to him in English and when he can't answer, reply with a mad laugh. The guy will probably move to another station. When somebody approaches you on the street and tries to run you down, make a big show of embracing them in a hug or running back after them and putting your arm over their shoulder and giving them a big fat kiss on the cheek. I do this kind of thing all the time. They think I'm crazy, well of course I'm crazy, I've lived five years in this place. They leave me alone however and I can sit back at the end of the day and have a good laugh about it instead of punching my fist into the wall or crying over my soju about it. Laugh at these guys, have some fun with them. Life's one big fat adventure and we're in the middle of Disneyland here or on the set of Saturday Night Live, thing about it is..... most of us don't realize that they see us as Mickey Mouse or Adam Sandler. Play the part. |
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