Korean Job Discussion Forums

[KimchiNinja]

I have a general observation on this topic.

The first thing you notice when coming to Korea from the USA (if you are aware and not in a bubble) is that everyone here smiles, nobody smiles in the USA it's always the scowling grumpy face. In fact even before you get here on the airplane the stewardess on a Korean flight smiles, the stewardess on an American flight scowls.

Walking around the streets and subway you will occasionally see a Caucasian, and they really stick out because of their emotional aura. If it's a woman she will have the classic American "perma-scowl" on her face, so skeptical, so unable to experience any joy in life. A guy will be long faced and serious/depressed looking like he's got a lot on his mind. Think "American Beauty" the movie.

To Koreans they just don't understand that. I know cause they always tell me so. For example one told me a story of this American woman in their appartment building and every day she had that scowl on her face and it's just so uncomfortable, so all the Koreans started avoiding her, like when the elevator opens and they see her they take the next one. Haha. Nobody naturally wants to be around that.

One Korean woman told me the word for it once, it's a Korean word that reflects one of their values, can't remember it and I don't know if there is an equivalent in English. But it basically means "emotionally clear" or "not clouded".

Of course I'm sure it's really annoying to be told that on the job but to real I would say it's one the great things that can be learned from Korea.

Peace out.

[comm]

[jfromtheway]

Good fiction kimchininja. Koreans are probably the most unhappy people I've ever come across. Maybe it's because I'm from the south, but what you said is nonsense to me. You were probably too overwhelmed with anxiety everytime you stepped out of Korea town to realize your judgmental error.

[luckylady]

same here - if I smile at Koreans on the street they usually just ignore me or don't even see me -

most students don't even seem to look up that much - I'll never forget the one young fellow who almost bumped into me because he was walking with his head literally on his chest. he raised it momentarily and there was nothing, absolutely nothing, in his expression. so sad, and unfortunately, not uncommon at all.

most foreigners always seem to be quite animated and lively, not sad at all.

funny how different the world looks to some of us, huh?

[jfromtheway]

Yeah, generally, it's night and day. It's common in the west to say hello to people in elevators or chat with random people while standing in lines, etc. In a no trust society, it's the other way around. The other day my girlfriend told me that she was walking in the park with her friend and a white guy and his girlfriend said "hello" as they passed them. Her friend said, "why did they say hello to us!?" I'm usually a happy guy, but regardless of how I feel on any particular day, I feel the need to emit a friendly persona in public. And most of you are probably the same. I don't get the feeling that the locals operate similarly.

[Ave, L�cifer]

[Brooks]

How odd. Koreans can scowl but the foreigner must smile. It is like we have to be what they want us to be.

[schwa]

Koreans generally arent the smiliest people, granted. The govt has even run campaigns promoting more smiling.

But in my experience a great many Koreans are very willing to flash a warm smile once they've seen you before or get a nice impression. Maybe its more a small town thing vs Seoul.

Maybe some self-reflection is in order. Scowls beget scowls.

In the classroom kids respond much more positively to a cheerful face than a serious, sad, angry, etc, demeanor. Who wouldnt?

No one is asking us as teachers to grin like idiots. But at least consider wearing a neutral expression thats open to smiling. Its just human nature. You'll have a better time here if you do, guaranteed.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Julius]

[joelove]

[Malislamusrex]

I agree with this guy, if this message was in English it would probably mean........ stop being a miserable bastard.

[sojusucks]