Korean Job Discussion Forums

[maitaidads]

Hey guys- quick thought: do any of you have artifacts /things/ remembrances from Korea before you had a real concept of it?

Not just as an adult who goes to work there at some point but as a 6 yr old, 10 yr old, 16 yr old? I'm sure adopted Koreans would have a whole different thought process leading up to their decision to go to Korea, but that's irrelevant. Tonight I found 3 magnets on my refrigerator from the 1986 Olympics. 3 authentic cat men fully nude wearing hats and playing popular sports.

One thing is that my parents have moved a bit since 1986, my brother and I have both moved 5X as much, everyone's tastes and priorities and affections have changed 17X as such, but somehow these magnets have managed to stay and wound up on my refrigerator when I don't even have family photos?
Doesn't that seem odd? - and, what if the reason that my whole family saved them is because it was a gift from the only Korean family in my massive lower-middle class east Tennessee neighborhood who had an oddball (Korean) kid who was friends with my oddball (white) little brother?

The thesis here is that maybe that small token of cross-culture exchange (them giving us cheap magnets sent from Seoul) made me trust and be curious about Koreans, look twice at the curiously named Kim Kim at my piano recital, and one day spend 2.5 years in Seoul. Did anyone else have any defining instances in your lives that surprised you or possibly had an effect on you going to/being interested in Korea?

[Yaya]

I remember my aunt bringing me stuff from Korea in the 1980s when she went to visit. One jacket was so tacky but hey, I was in middle school and wore it and invited teasing as a result. As a gyopo, I was under the impression that the U.S. was leagues ahead of Korea in anything.

One more note. Do NOT get your info from Koreans who haven't lived in Korea for years. I remember my father trying to tell me what Korea is like, and he hadn't lived there in decades.

[maitaidads]

Ha! That's great. While I got cheap souvenirs from a 3rd party, you got 1980s Dongdaemun fashion- which I think will always be superior to US fashion but harder to wear in the lower 48- from an aunt who probably knew what she was doing. I bet that jacket and experience affected you in how you dress now and/or approach Korean dress.

[maitaidads]

Bump. Certainly someone has something interesting about Korea influencing their young life. Don't be shy about it. Yaya please say more, and I apologize for questioning your lack of etitquette in the theatre. CARRY ON

[Threequalseven]

I played the computer game Age of Empires II in junior high, and I've always thought the Korean turtle ships were really cool. Can't say much more than that, though.

[maitaidads]

And strangely, that just may be enough. Anyone else have questionable evidence?

[byrddogs]

Had a couple of uncles stationed there at the end stages of the war. Don't remember them ever talking about it when I was young. When my mother told them that I was going to teach there back in the mid 2000s they were curious as to why I would want to go there and nothing more. So, no don't really have any special memory or momento prior; sorry to disappoint.

[maitaidads]

By having two of your parents' siblings - "a couple of uncles"- living at the tail ends of wars certainly had an influence.Right?

[hwarangi]

I worked in a convenience store when I was at uni. One day, a lady came in wearing a small, traditional Korean wooden mask on a necklace. I complimented her on it. She said she was Japanese and that her Korean roommate had given it to her. My husband's face looks really similar to those wooden masks, so I always joke to him that it was destiny~

[Yaya]

I saw the movie "Chilsu and Mansu" while an undergrad in the U.S., and thought the nightlife culture in Korea was just dreadful.

[byrddogs]

[Xanetos]

My family had a Korean exchange student when I was 13. He stayed with us 6 months. I went back to Korea with him for a month. I loved it. One of the best months of my life.

I will be coming to teach in 2014. Looking forward to it.

[farfromhome]

[schwa]

About 30 years ago my daughter & son (7 & 3 at the time) pooled their resources to present me with a combination bottle opener & nail clippers for my birthday. Odd combination but it was pretty, with lacquered fish on it. Touching. I was a single dad & we were quite poor. It was stamped "made in Korea."

Flash forward to today. This item still sits in front of me on my desk. I just cracked a beer with it & in fact I trimmed all my nails with it this morning. The fish fell off a couple years ago & its a bit rusty but this simple unit has seen near daily use ever since I got it. Oldest & most favorite object I own.

[Weigookin74]

My impression in 2005 and 2006 before going over was of a place with a cheap living cost, great exchange rate, and a place to really make money. Korea in 2013?......