| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
12ax7
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
|
 Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 8:59 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| I drive, so the only foreigner who speaks English that I come across while walking (from the parking lot to my home) is my Korean-American neighbour. We always chat. Besides that, I give black and white guys a nod when I'm in a small town. Different story in Seoul, though. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Quack Addict
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
| AbbeFaria wrote: |
| If I pass a foreigner on the street I will usually make eye contact and nod a greeting. To me, it's just about courtesy. We both stand out, I see them, they see me, we both have something in common and have the shared experience of the struggle of living/working in a foreign land. So I figure, why not? Most of the time I get a nod back. What really annoys me is when they go out of their way not to make eye contact, like they think I'm going to start humping their leg if the acknowledge my presence. They will look everywhere but at me and it's painfully obvious they're trying not to 'see' me. I don't understand this. People who look at me, ignore the nod and look away I class as d-bags. |
X1
I always nod. Sometimes chat. I live in a 'foreign labor' heavy area ie: Indonesian, Filipino, India, etc. I try and nod and say, "what's up?" to those guys. Some speak English, most don't. Just trying to be a friendly 'Merican. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kabrams
Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Location: your Dad's house
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Steelrails wrote: |
On one thread people will complain about Koreans staring at foreigners or talking to them (or not talking to them) just because they are foreign.
Then we get threads like this... |
Yes, but the circumstances are different.
Koreans singling out foreigners for English practice or because they're an oddity is different from foreigners (whether they be short-term workers or expats) coming together to share their experiences living abroad. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Died By Bear
Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Location: On the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I usually have my crossbow loaded and ready, if they give me any crap about not saying 'hello' to them, I take aim and back away. They usually leave me alone after that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 5:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
| kabrams wrote: |
| Steelrails wrote: |
On one thread people will complain about Koreans staring at foreigners or talking to them (or not talking to them) just because they are foreign.
Then we get threads like this... |
Yes, but the circumstances are different.
Koreans singling out foreigners for English practice or because they're an oddity is different from foreigners (whether they be short-term workers or expats) coming together to share their experiences living abroad. |
True the circumstances differ. However, I still do not see this whole "we are a community so we should stick together and greet each other" idea as very valid.
Just because a person shares being a foreigner as a common trait, it does not mean they do have anything in common. If you wish to say hello to another foreigner on the street, do so. Just do not expect it from others as some sort of community code response. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fermentation
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 5:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Assuming a non-Korean person speaks English. It's an odd form of racism that I take part in. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
laynamarya
Joined: 01 Jan 2010
Location: Gwangjin-gu
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 7:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
I used to say hi to every foreigner in my neighborhood, but not anymore. The way I figure, if I engage a random foreigner in conversation, two things could happen. Either we don't really like each other, or we DO hit it off, become great friends, and then a year later, they leave the country and I get heartbroken again.
I'd rather engage random Koreans in conversation. They're more likely to stick around. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Quack Addict
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| laynamarya wrote: |
I used to say hi to every foreigner in my neighborhood, but not anymore. The way I figure, if I engage a random foreigner in conversation, two things could happen. Either we don't really like each other, or we DO hit it off, become great friends, and then a year later, they leave the country and I get heartbroken again.
I'd rather engage random Koreans in conversation. They're more likely to stick around. |
What? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
KimchiNinja
Joined: 01 May 2012
Location: Gangnam
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 7:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quack Addict wrote: |
| laynamarya wrote: |
I used to say hi to every foreigner in my neighborhood, but not anymore. The way I figure, if I engage a random foreigner in conversation, two things could happen. Either we don't really like each other, or we DO hit it off, become great friends, and then a year later, they leave the country and I get heartbroken again.
I'd rather engage random Koreans in conversation. They're more likely to stick around. |
What? |
I believe the person is saying Korean friends are likely to be around longer. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
youtuber
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 8:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| AbbeFaria wrote: |
| If I pass a foreigner on the street I will usually make eye contact and nod a greeting. To me, it's just about courtesy. We both stand out, I see them, they see me, we both have something in common and have the shared experience of the struggle of living/working in a foreign land. So I figure, why not? |
Yup, exactly how I feel and what I do. I find that many don't even make eye contact though. But guess who they run to first when they are struggling with something?? Funny people. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yagremohbhg
Joined: 04 Oct 2012
Location: Busan
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have no real preference one way or the other.
If I'm alone I won't go up to a group to try and make friends as it looks desperate. I'll ask them if I need directions or whatever though.
Cpl of times I've been approached by other individual foreigners and have made friends and one worked out long term, another didn't.
Twice I have just started random conversations with lone foreigners, one at one of those 'crazy international parties' and once in a dept store noodle joint to a chap I was sat next to and the latter two times made friends for life kind of friends.
Any foreigner I said a 'hi' or nodded to and avoided me I don't get bothered. If they seem 'normal' I'd either think they already have friends or are busy. If they look 'kinda weird' in the sense of poor hygeine and grooming, I'd imagine they'd just like to keep to themselves.
Nobody has an obligation to want to be your friend just because you are both minorities and most forced situation friendships never work out for long as you're just not birds of a feather.
And that's the essential law of friendship, you click or you don't.
It's kinda like sexual attraction, there's a click, you are each other's 'type' or you're not.
There are of course RARE occurrences when circumstances force you to be fair weather friends with people you wouldn't usually and your prejudices are changed and you end up friends and learn something new or are even changed in some way.
But essentially types attract types if you know what I mean.
I think I'm slightly off topic now, so I'll exit stage left. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| KimchiNinja wrote: |
| JustinC wrote: |
One will deign to give them a subtle nod, acknowledging their presence in one's vaunted vicinity, but to actually engage them in conversation is outside the remit of all but the most desperate of individuals.
No, best to keep at arms' length or, even better, out of smelling distance. Out of sight would be ideal but one has to go into the public on occasion where the activity is not possible for the hired help. Fortunately we have plenty of help in the office where I work. hurr durr |
A succinct explanation! +1
My question revolves around why this is the case? It's not the case with visitors; they are very "hi, how's it going?" chatty the same way they are back home. Does something about Seoul change these people or does Seoul naturally select for a less chatty personality? |
How on God's green Earth did you not see I was joking? I was taking the proverbial out of people who think they're above giving another outsider a cheery smile.
On a different point; the life of an EFL teacher is pretty nomadic. It's easier if you get used to the fact some people will move on, but you can still be friends online. I have more conversations with some people in other countries than I do with other teachers who live in my town. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
