Korean Job Discussion Forums

[danyuk]

Why do other foreigners always wanna talk to you on the subway? Just because im here I wanna chat? The said people that promted me to write this were also singing and dancing They werent drunk. Please, do you sing and dance on ur subway at home. It was so embarising.

[lush72]

I have seen koreans do WAY worse on the subway!

[Bulsajo]

Sing and dance on the subway?
And they weren't drunk?
Were they high?
Evangelical?

[Crois]

Damn Christians.

Always coming near me.

[phaedrus]

I hate it when strangers talk to me unless they are hot girls.

[Toby]

I must look unapproachable then as it never happens to me.

[the saint]

[mindmetoo]

Generally we keep to our own subway cars. "Okay white person at 9 o'clock and it looks like he'll be getting on car 3. I'll walk a bit more and get on at car 4."

Sometimes there are appropriate times. I always have a book in hand and don't mind if I'm walking by whitey and he asks me "what are you reading?"

If he crossed the street to talk to me that would be too weird.

If I was sharing an elevator with him or we were both waiting for an elevator I'd ask "Oh hey where you from?"

If we were both adding milk to our coffee at Starbucks I'd ask "Oh hey where you from?"

Sometimes I'll pass my copy of the Herald along to another single whitey if I see him at Starbucks sitting alone at a table near me.

If whitey is my neighbor I'll say hi. I say hi to my Korean neighbors.

There is a general sense like a) I'd not just say hi to you if I saw you on the streets of Toronto why should I say hi to your here? b) I came to Korea to escape whitey. And those are valid points.

[Toby]

[Swiss James]

Hehe- what's everyone's general policy on talking to whitey then? I have to be in an unusual mood, but I have occasionally struck up conversations with total strangers.

This week I was in my local sauna and there were not one but two waegooks in there- trying to avoid eye contact with either of them was pretty tricky

[HardyandTiny]

[Toby]

[Yesterday]

So tell me WHY?

(1) Do you think you are superior than the other white person and so therefore do not wish to be seen next to (or close to) the "other white" person...

(2) You feel you have been here longer than any other white person so therefore - the other person could be a newbie - of which you want nothing to do with......

(3) You love all the "Attention" and "Looks" you get from other koreans on the subway - so therefore you feel you should be the only "White person" in a subway car - so that you get ALL the attention without having to share it with another white person......

(4) You are insecure - and don't want other white people to see you.....

(5) You are afraid their behavior or actions might be generalised by the other Korean people in the carriage - as being "Typical of all westerners" and you feel your dress code, conduct etc is much superior to others....

(6) You are afraid of being next to (or close to) another white person as other Korean people of the carriage may think you are together or friends, etc

(7) etc etc etc

(Anyone want to add anymore reaons why to advoid other white people............?

*However also think about it the other way - the "white person" you are avoiding may have actually been here longer than you, may be earning THREE times the salary as you per month, and may have many things that might actually be seeking...... Would a simple "Hi" hurt?

[Toby]

[weatherman]