Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sumundur]

Seriously, where are the waygooks? I arrived in Seoul last week and am the only English teacher at my school. A place where, well, almost no one speaks English. So, essentially, I have no friends. I hit Itaewon and some other well known waygook places, but all I got was odd pick up lines from sketchy GI's and Persian men who thought I was a Russian prostitute, despite the fact I'm not tall and have almost black hair. So, how on earth do people make friends here, if not initially through co-workers? I fear my language skills are deteriorating. Anyway, I live in Dangsang, and am utterly bored. So, not to sound like some Internet loser, but damn I need to speak English people. What should I do?

[captain kirk]

Look at the positive aspects. You have no friends but you probably aren't constantly rattling on about every little thing that happened to you, is on your mind, is on your heart. You have stepped under the 'cone of silence' that can nullify a waygook, or make them stronger like the camel herdsmen of the North Africa become one with the sands and the stars. Enjoy!
Let me know when you find a waygook. They're elusive, I believe, like the Bigfoot/Sasquatch of the North American forests. Good luck in your search. I appreciate your adventurous spirit. Yes, there is a waygook. The truth is out there! Carry on, brave heart!

[crazylemongirl]

Sounds like me when I first arrived. If you want to meet other waygooks go out and join an expat club. The book exchange that gets held at city hall is also a good source of english conversation and books.

[the_beaver]

Too many fucking foreigners here. I saw at least 5 today and I barely stepped out of the house.

Rant over.

[Eazy_E]

There's always Kyobo Books in Gwanghwamun Station. You see some freaky waygooks there. Once I saw a bearded guy who must have weighed over 300 lbs. On his t-shirt, stretched tight over his gut, were the words: "I'm not perfect, but I'm Canadian. That's close enough". Needless to say I desperately tried not to indicate that I was of the same nationality....

[FUBAR]

[Corporal]

[Eazy_E]

[the_beaver]

[Eazy_E]

Man we hijacked this thread something fierce... sorry to the OP.

[captain kirk]

The OP might be writing on another Korean ESL board;
'I arrived in Seoul a week ago and sought other foreigners asking about this on Dave's but all I met were a bunch of flippant jerks addicted to McDonald's, and lurking in cyberspace on their hefty buttocks. Where ARE the waygooks, the truly good, noble ones?'.
I'm here baby, I'm here.

[the_beaver]

[FUBAR]

[rapier]

I was in the same boat when I first arrived here, with a strong desire to find other foreigners.
I soon learned that the ones in my town were pretty snobby and it wasn't cool to say hello to them in the street. So then I headed for Itaewon and made friends with all the barflies in there. Had some good times- but after about 6 months, you feel happier to have more korean friends and stop wasting cash in Geckos every weekend.

[prosodic]