Korean Job Discussion Forums

[weatherman]

Well it isn't like we don't pick up on the Korean clan idea, and kind of apply to ourselves. Take a look at how each city has one to many ex-pat places to met and greet. I think it is pretty damn natural to notice another foriegner, especially one from your own cultural background, and all foreigners are noticable here so I always nod if we make eye contact, if not, no bother, his/her choice. I don't really make nor do I enjoy conversation if it is forced, so making conversation is always odd and not really justifiable, but total advoidance is wrong too.

[William Beckerson]

Usually I ignore the big honky newbee who tries to greet me on the street.

And then, after they pass by, I tong-chim them hard enough to make them fall down. "Welcome to Korea! This is what it's all about!" is what I yell as I'm beating a hasty retreat

[Manner of Speaking]

LOL...some funny posts.

My only point is that I get a kick out of some of the reactions I see when I run into other foreigners. Or watch foreigners run into each other. Most of the time, I don't make a point to hang out with foreigners, people are people, so by the odds most of my friends are Korean.

Lawrence, relax. If you don't like it, don't read it.

[jajdude]

manner of speaking,

4 years is a long time to be abroad ..... most foreigners I have met in Korea have been great. A few jerks I guess but same all over the world I would suppose.

[itaewonguy]

[kylehawkins2000]

FYI: I have found a big difference in how foreigners in my previous city (Ulsan) and here in Seoul greet each other. Usually some acknowledgement would occur in Ulsan, but here in Seoul it is not often so. I must admit I don't know how to react when I see another foreigner. I don't want to be rude so I usually mumble a quiet hello. Generally I haven't received any hellos back....

[William Beckerson]

This is my attitude and I figure it may the attitude of most:

If you're a stranger to me, then you are not important to me and I see no reason to greet you.

That's not to say I wouldnt return a hello, or help some lost looking dude at a subway map, but I dont go talking to strangers at home, and I'm not about to start doing it here.

[the_beaver]

[sickboy]

What beckserson said.

[Ody1966]

the eyebrow thing sounds good.

by the way, i greet people in my hometown, stateside, as well.
like i said, it's about being neighborly.

and, i don't automatically assume that that western guy/gal walking in my direction is here briefly, though this is often the case.

is anybody else nostalgic for times when our behavior was more genteel?

[rapier]

Last year as the lone teacher in my town I tripped over myself trying to befriend other foreigners. Only the mormons were interested. But this year, wow, I couldn't care less! I'm happy to have some nice korean/ chinese friends and they're great. I totally overlooked two foreigners today from inches away, they kind of groaned or something but my eyes showed not the faintest glimmer of interest or recognition. I suppose you could call it revenge, only I genuinely am,, not bothered...

[The Man known as The Man]

[Homer]

Blue Flower,

I don't know what type of wae-guk men with their korean girlfriends you usually encounter but the "panic and running away" thing seems a bit out there...
I can understand why some dudes would avoid the western women they see on the subway when they are with their korean girlfriend. Some western women here will just give you the evil eye and make all sorts pf assumptions about you just because you are with a Korean woman. Not all of course and probably not even a majority but a few loud ones is all it takes.
I have been married for 5 years and two of my female co-workers (one canadian and one brit) were still refering to my wife as a token girlfriend and not a real woman after we had been married for over a year. Now, if I would see them in the subway you better believe I would change cars just to avoid the aggravation for me and my wife.
It also happened plenty of times to my friends dating korean women to meet foreign women dowtown, on the bus or the subway and get the evil eye from them, even some snickering.
Now these are not a majority like I said but its a loud enough minority to explain the reaction of some dudes.
I am not saying you are like that Blue Flower but people react to what they see in others and if the dudes and their korean girlfriends "panic and make for the next car" when they see you then they must see something, think they see something or just be reacting from past bad experiences.
Of course some western dudes are complete morons towards western women in Korea and thats sad. But, the bad group does not exist solely in the western male community but also in the female group.

[bignate]

I think it all involves context. This is a true story. One day walking home from one of my privates, or rather cultural language exchange, I was passing the MacDonalds across from Hyundae Dept. Store in Apkujung, when all of a sudden a gaggle of 10 (I am serious), 10 gorgeous young Phillippino women came out.

As I was the only foreign person around, they asked me to help them translate to a cabbie their desire to go to The Hard Rock Cafe. Now, I am sure most of you would have just dropped your head and kept on going ignoring the poor lasses. But not me, I swallowed my pride and got the girls two cabs. I was just going to tell the cabbie to drop them off at Bang-Ju Hospital, but they were very worried about becoming lost, and asked me to come with them Now, I got them there, and they were so grateful, they offered free drinks, so even though I was tired I went along with it . They turned out to be great foriegn girls

So guys, I think it is all about context....

[Zyzyfer]