Korean Job Discussion Forums

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

Often the kids are just trying to act cool for their friends, or are actually saying "Hello" out of curiosity.

In either situation saying "Hello" back to them like it's no big deal, which it isn't, either ruins their funny joke, or makes foreigners not seem like reticent retards.

However, sometimes the kids are being ignorant retards, and the best response is also "Hello", or depending on how close to home and work you are, a simple "*beep* You".

Small towns can be awful. I had the misfortune of going to a Lotteria in a small town when I was visiting relatives with my wife. There was a birthday party happening there at the time, and they were so busy I had to wait about fifteen minutes for my order. There were also swarms of kids there.

I was very close to losing my cool I was being harassed so much. Not kids saying hello, but kids actually getting in my face and being flippant and mocking. I changed chairs, went outside, and then returned, but it didn't stop. I was hungry and really wanted a hamburger, and the Lotteria was the only place in town, or I would have abandoned my order.

When children are actually being rude, and their mothers don't care or aren't there, it's really frustrating. I think the only option is to walk up to the mothers, if they are present, and verbally rip into them. I'll do that next time. At this Lotteria the mothers were upstairs, and I thought of it after, so I missed my chance then. My head was swimming with rage, and somehow it didn't seem appropriate to clock a ten year old.

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

Like many threads on this board, this one is a rerun of a rerun. They always go the same way - one side says they're annoyed by 13 year old boys sneering "hello" at them daily for the entertainment of their friends, and the other side saying the first group is wrong to be annoyed.

The second group is easier to be a part of - then you get to cop the "I'm an old hand and these things don't bother me" stance.

Being annoyed is a human reaction. It's not a choice.

Some of these kids - particularly the 13 year old male in group variety - ARE trying to mock, less to offend (not that they care) but more as a way of showing off. I don't blame anyone for not enjoying being the target of this. The first hundred times aren't so bad. But day after day, year after year, it can either become invisible to you, or it grinds you down. "So leave," some say. OK, I did.

I don't want to come off like one of those "old hands" in saying so, but in almost 10 years of travelling in different Asian countries, it seems to me that Korea (particularly non-Seoul) is the Asian capital of "verbally abuse the foreigner" behaviour.

*****edit****
On a totally unrelated note:

Happy Birthday 27J!

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Warning, anyone thinking of coming to Korea:

Kids will say hello to you! Some might giggle. The horror! the horror!

uberscheisse · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.

yes, it's a repeated thread.

they're children. at their best they're cute as hell. at they're worse they're about as annoying as jock itch.

i won't say you're wrong to be annoyed - but you look like a dumb fruit if you make something of it with a bunch of kids WHO ARE TRYING TO GET YOUR GOAT ANYWAYS. IN ANY LANGUAGE.

smile and nod. it'll work. or make up words. i am repeating myself.

and if your're butt-hurt i'm sure the yak-guk sells some sort of nivea product to soothe your tender loins.

Zenpickle · Joined: 06 Jan 2004 Location: Anyang -- Bisan

It reminds me of when we were kids riding in the backseat while our parents were driving us to some vacation destination. In order to entertain ourselves, we would pump our fists in the international signal to get truck drivers to honk their horns at us.

Do you think truck drivers have a forum to bitch about how kids try to get them to honk their horns?

Honestly, I get annoyed by the 13-year-old types who do it to impress their friends. I either ignore them or say "Annyeong, babo saram," or something. Every now and then, a shy kid will say "Hello" to me to honestly communicate, and it pleases me a lot to exchange greetings with kids like that.

There is a fine line where it's just friendly jaunting to becoming the equivalent of a Korean version of "Let's screw with the 'nig*er.'" Which is honestly what it feels like sometimes.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I guess it happens more and it's stronger in the sticks, but it's still common in Seoul. (lived outside Seoul a bit, had some middle and high school students before, I'm sure I was their first encounter with a foreigner)

The hello and the rest of it, bugs me when I'm in a bad mood.
In a good mood, which happens once a year or so, who cares?

I might do the same though, if I were a youngster forced to study a language I never used, and clueless about anything not Korean.

bosintang · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:18 am Post subject:

I find the 'hello' crowd cute. Really, I do, even when I'm in the pissiest mood and the kids are at their most mocking.

Why do I find it cute? I guess, because, well, as a form of testiness, it's so darn innocent. I come from a small town, where the only thing worth noting is that sometimes, in the summer-time, cruise ships roll into town. I remember in high school, when I once saw a group of teenagers about the same age as me, driving by some visiting Asians, obviously passengers of a cruise ship in town. They decided to get some small-town kicks and giggles by throwing a beer bottle out the window at them.

"HELLO!!!" to beer bottles? I'll take the 'Hello', thank you.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

I think you wimps need to pump some iron!

fruitcake · Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Location: shinchon

When the pack of Korean middle / highschool boys want to impress their friends with their English abilities, and mockingly say "hello" to the passing foreignor to the delight of their peers, it truly is the highest form of humor, and I nearly bust a gut laughing. The comedic moment being so great, I generally avoid the young giddy mob by crossing the street in heavy traffic and jumping on the opposite train to avoid pulling a muscle from a fit of hysterics. But whatever you do man, for pete's sakes, DO NOT respond to this invitation to laughter with a "hello", or even worse: "how are you?" I'd recommend a reply of "sup, dawg" or "wassup man, how's it hanging?" (or any other casual greetings of this variety). This generally brings out those delightfully blank stares at each other and the "��?"

fruitcake · Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Location: shinchon

When the pack of Korean middle / highschool boys want to impress their friends with their English abilities, and mockingly say "hello" to the passing foreignor to the delight of their peers, it truly is the highest form of humor, and I nearly bust a gut laughing. The comedic moment being so great, I generally avoid the young giddy mob by crossing the street in heavy traffic and jumping on the opposite train to avoid pulling a muscle from a fit of hysterics. But whatever you do man, for pete's sakes, DO NOT respond to this invitation to laughter with a "hello", or even worse: "how are you?" I'd recommend a reply of "sup, dawg" or "wassup man, how's it hanging?" (or any other casual greetings of this variety). This generally brings out those delightfully blank stares at each other and the "��?"

fandeath · Joined: 01 Nov 2004

It happened again. I was coming out of the hospital with my wife. At that time, the moment was not good since we were very upset and sad. But, almost on queue, the group of kids walked by and began their onslaught of mocking hellos with a few f* yous as they were farther away.

I love Korea and I hardly think this would be a reason for me to leave.

For the most part, I can tolerate it, but there are certain times, I am just in the mood and it is certainly inappropriate.

Thanks to all of your comments both good and bad.

Regardless of those kids, I think that anyone who can withstand the verbal abuse and attacks from this site alone can handle any harassment Korea has to offer. Surprised

Barking Mad Lord Snapcase · Joined: 04 Nov 2003

I found the "HIEEEEE!!! Heeheeheeheehee!" phenomenon a bit irritating myself. However, ironically, that is EXACTLY why I would love to return to Korea as a tourist. When I was working in Korea and I heard the "HELLOOOO!!!" or "HIEEEE!!!" thing, I would often say to myself "Five more months ... five more months ..." Now, if I had a few weeks in Korea with a few grand to spare and no obligations, my silent response to the same situation would be "Hehehehe ... City light views from my hotel balcony ... bulgoggi and donkaseu in the restaraunt below me ... 24-hour DVD bang next door ... noraebang open same time ... and the pub ... beer in corner stores ... shopping until midnight ... GOD I love being a waegook!"

If a country takes its amusement out of you, it's only natural that you should take your amusement out of that country.

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

harixseldon · Joined: 27 Nov 2004 Location: Anseong

Whoa, teenagers are aholes? Never would of guessed that.

Anyways, as long as it isn't my students disrespecting me, I don't really care. But I agree that if you think they're being "make-fun-of-the- waygook" like responding in a way besides hi or hello is fun. Especially if you throw in an insult they don't understand on the end. Though I have to say that I think the majority of the random hellos I get are kids being friendly.

Corporal · Joined: 25 Jan 2003