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Tiberious aka Sparkles
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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 Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 5:23 am Post subject: |
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| The Cube wrote: |
| Tiberious aka Sparkles wrote: |
I've taken former students -- boys and girls, together as groups -- to movies. On a Sunday. Their parents were estatic at the idea. Incredibly stupid of me, I know: I even paid for their tickets. Unbelievable?
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I resent your comment. I've taken my whole class to KFC before.
"boys and girls, together as groups"
There's quite the difference between that and two teenage girls.
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Perhaps then I should also mention that, two years ago, I taught a 3rd year middle school girl who was preparing to enter Min Sa Go high school. She would come to my home -- sometimes my wife was there, sometimes she wasn't -- and we would discuss 'The Catcher in the Rye,' which she had to write an essay on prior to entering, discuss various social issues, and eat fruit.
Her mother dropped her off at my door twice a week, returning to pick her up 2 hours later. What reckless parenting.
Sparkles*_* |
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The Cube
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 5:41 am Post subject: |
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..
Last edited by The Cube on Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:27 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Tiberious aka Sparkles
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:22 am Post subject: |
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| The Cube wrote: |
| How many times have cops been called because three people were eating ice cream? Then for those cops to come into an ice cream joint and start shouting "pervert" and "mother******" |
How many times have blacks in North America been beaten up by police because they were driving a luxury sedan which must be stolen? Or shot 41 times because the wallet one was holding looked suspiciously like a gun? 
It's all relative.
Sparkles*_* |
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keithinkorea
Joined: 17 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:39 am Post subject: |
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The original post does sound a little fishy. But then again this is Korea and odd things do happen here.
I was on the subway with my girlfriend the other day and this idiot of an ajoshi starts talking to me. He asks me if I'm an American in English, I reply 'nope' in Korean, he asks me in English where I'm going? - I feel tempted to say 'none of your damn business' but decided to remain friendly, I reply in Korean. He asks me what I do and I tell him I teach, he then looks away and starts talking to all the other Korean folks about the fact that all English teachers in Korea (whether miguk, or canada or wherever) have 'too many Korean girlfriends'!! I've only ever had one Korean girlfriend and we've been going out for years, in fact before I even came to Korea. What a tool I understood 90% of what he was saying in Korean. My gf translated the rest later and I was right in my approximate translation.
The best thing about this ridiculous situation was that most of the other Koreans on the train were either embarrased or amused by the stupidity of the old idiot. A couple of Korean girls in their early twenties just smiled sympathetically at me and my gf and shrugged their shoulders as if to say 'all us Koreans here are embarrased by this arsehole, don't worry about it".
Weird things in Korea happen. A friend of mine coined the most accurate term for Korea. 'Land of the not quite right', ohh how right he is!
One thing I don't understand is how some of these strange people equate having a Korean girlfriend with being some sort of sexual predator. There is no similarity whatsoever between having a Korean girlfriend and being some sort of paedophile. And the connections between illegal teachers without E2 or degrees and paedophiles is also sketchy at best. Illegal teachers are a minor problem, paedophiles should be castrated and force fed their removed tackle.
In regards to the idea of meeting young students for icecream, I think it is a bit weird. I'd rather bring them something to class and keep my relationship with the kids on a more formal basis. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:50 am Post subject: |
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| 'Land of the not quite right' |
That's really funny because a NZ teacher I was replacing 4 years ago said the exact same thing. Word for word.
To Korea's defence...other countries are not quite right either. But most sane people in those countries know it! |
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Merlyn
Joined: 08 Dec 2004
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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Weird things in Korea happen. A friend of mine coined the most accurate term for Korea. 'Land of the not quite right', ohh how right he is!
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Yes, land of the not quite right is quite accurate. Take for example, let's say, every time I go to Seoul, nah, outside in a public area. I can expect any sort of a not quite right to occur. Like when I was in KFC in Kangnam not too long ago on a Saturday afternoon. I was sitting there eating my meal by myself, chicken burger set, when this woman who was about 30 and who looked rather normal, a little homely perhaps, approached my table. She said something in Korean to me and then sat down at my table. It was quite busy at the time and the other customers kind of turned around to watch. And then she proceeded to eat my lunch. I really wasn't too surprised, as these kinds of things happen to me all the time. I felt a little uncomfortable. She offered me back my drink and I said "keep it", quickly finished the last of my burger and was on my way. She didn't look homeless, she just looked not quite right. Or the other day I walked out of my house and there was an adjossi looking at me. "Hello" I said to the gentlemen. He continued looking at me as I passed by, grimaced his face and spit on the ground directly in front of me, just not quite right.
Or when I was coming out of the movie theater not too long ago, and this man approached me with something in his hand reached out crazily and said "Blahhhhhhh" and I quickly sidestepped with a quick "Hey??" And then there was this time not too long ago in the subway, when this older man sat down next to men and started talking, he had a really strange way of speaking, between every few words he uttered, he would kind of slither his tongue with a snake like hissing. Everyone around me was staring at us, he held my hand and wouldn't let go and then asked me to go home with him?? But just another day on the subway experiencing another not quite right. |
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Swiss James
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Merlyn wrote: |
Yes, land of the not quite right is quite accurate. Take for example, let's say, every time I go to Seoul, nah, outside in a public area. I can expect any sort of a not quite right to occur. Like when I was in KFC in Kangnam not too long ago on a Saturday afternoon. I was sitting there eating my meal by myself, chicken burger set, when this woman who was about 30 and who looked rather normal, a little homely perhaps, approached my table. She said something in Korean to me and then sat down at my table. It was quite busy at the time and the other customers kind of turned around to watch. And then she proceeded to eat my lunch. I really wasn't too surprised, as these kinds of things happen to me all the time. I felt a little uncomfortable. She offered me back my drink and I said "keep it", quickly finished the last of my burger and was on my way. She didn't look homeless, she just looked not quite right. Or the other day I walked out of my house and there was an adjossi looking at me. "Hello" I said to the gentlemen. He continued looking at me as I passed by, grimaced his face and spit on the ground directly in front of me, just not quite right.
Or when I was coming out of the movie theater not too long ago, and this man approached me with something in his hand reached out crazily and said "Blahhhhhhh" and I quickly sidestepped with a quick "Hey??" And then there was this time not too long ago in the subway, when this older man sat down next to men and started talking, he had a really strange way of speaking, between every few words he uttered, he would kind of slither his tongue with a snake like hissing. Everyone around me was staring at us, he held my hand and wouldn't let go and then asked me to go home with him?? But just another day on the subway experiencing another not quite right. |
Why does this stuff never happen to me? It'd be gold for my blog. |
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dogbert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Swiss James wrote: |
| Why does this stuff never happen to me? It'd be gold for my blog. |
If I recall correctly, even stranger stuff has happened to you. |
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TECO
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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Fortunately, the worst I've ever experienced were strong looks of disapproval from drunk oyajis, which were usually directed at the girls I was with. Same in Korea.
In Taiwan, never have any problems like that, which doesn't surprise me. |
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chronicpride
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Swiss James wrote: |
| Merlyn wrote: |
Yes, land of the not quite right is quite accurate. Take for example, let's say, every time I go to Seoul, nah, outside in a public area. I can expect any sort of a not quite right to occur. Like when I was in KFC in Kangnam not too long ago on a Saturday afternoon. I was sitting there eating my meal by myself, chicken burger set, when this woman who was about 30 and who looked rather normal, a little homely perhaps, approached my table. She said something in Korean to me and then sat down at my table. It was quite busy at the time and the other customers kind of turned around to watch. And then she proceeded to eat my lunch. I really wasn't too surprised, as these kinds of things happen to me all the time. I felt a little uncomfortable. She offered me back my drink and I said "keep it", quickly finished the last of my burger and was on my way. She didn't look homeless, she just looked not quite right. Or the other day I walked out of my house and there was an adjossi looking at me. "Hello" I said to the gentlemen. He continued looking at me as I passed by, grimaced his face and spit on the ground directly in front of me, just not quite right.
Or when I was coming out of the movie theater not too long ago, and this man approached me with something in his hand reached out crazily and said "Blahhhhhhh" and I quickly sidestepped with a quick "Hey??" And then there was this time not too long ago in the subway, when this older man sat down next to men and started talking, he had a really strange way of speaking, between every few words he uttered, he would kind of slither his tongue with a snake like hissing. Everyone around me was staring at us, he held my hand and wouldn't let go and then asked me to go home with him?? But just another day on the subway experiencing another not quite right. |
Why does this stuff never happen to me? It'd be gold for my blog. |
Me too. I've been out and about in this country, as much the next guy, but I don't seem to notice any of this. I think I must have become progressively numb to things that I would use to have considered being strange. Which would make sense, as the foreigner element in my social circle has concurrently dropped, as well, and I have less chances to objectively reflect and discuss what is strange and offbeat in this culture, as I'm usually with Koreans 95% of the time and the other 5% is with foreigners who have a similar level of numb exposure, as I do. I remember having a lot more noteworthy reflections and perspectives during my honeymoon phase, and would be able to pick out the idiosyncracies a lot more. But now, it doesn't seem that there is a lot that is out of the ordinary, anymore. |
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just because
Joined: 01 Aug 2003
Location: Changwon - 4964
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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Since this apparent scandel broke......
Everything is the same as last week, last month, last year.
I say hello and get smiles, the kimbap lady is still making great kimbap, the bus drivers are still grumpy....
In fact, the teachers in my hagwon have been even nicer than usual. Two of them come up to me and said they are very happy they work with me which was a bit random.
Life goes on
yeah, and none of this wierd stuff has ever happened to me in the last 3 years I've been here. the worst was a bit of a drunken yell and some guy on the subway telling me to go home(which I then procedded to push him off the subway at the next stop with a friendly wave goodbye). |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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A month ago I was crossing the intersection and it looked like I was going to bump into a guy so I decided to go right, and he said ����ġ! in a loud voice.
��...��ġ?
Ah.
Don't touch! But he was already gone. |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| chronicpride wrote: |
| Swiss James wrote: |
| Merlyn wrote: |
Yes, land of the not quite right is quite accurate. Take for example, let's say, every time I go to Seoul, nah, outside in a public area. I can expect any sort of a not quite right to occur. Like when I was in KFC in Kangnam not too long ago on a Saturday afternoon. I was sitting there eating my meal by myself, chicken burger set, when this woman who was about 30 and who looked rather normal, a little homely perhaps, approached my table. She said something in Korean to me and then sat down at my table. It was quite busy at the time and the other customers kind of turned around to watch. And then she proceeded to eat my lunch. I really wasn't too surprised, as these kinds of things happen to me all the time. I felt a little uncomfortable. She offered me back my drink and I said "keep it", quickly finished the last of my burger and was on my way. She didn't look homeless, she just looked not quite right. Or the other day I walked out of my house and there was an adjossi looking at me. "Hello" I said to the gentlemen. He continued looking at me as I passed by, grimaced his face and spit on the ground directly in front of me, just not quite right.
Or when I was coming out of the movie theater not too long ago, and this man approached me with something in his hand reached out crazily and said "Blahhhhhhh" and I quickly sidestepped with a quick "Hey??" And then there was this time not too long ago in the subway, when this older man sat down next to men and started talking, he had a really strange way of speaking, between every few words he uttered, he would kind of slither his tongue with a snake like hissing. Everyone around me was staring at us, he held my hand and wouldn't let go and then asked me to go home with him?? But just another day on the subway experiencing another not quite right. |
Why does this stuff never happen to me? It'd be gold for my blog. |
Me too. I've been out and about in this country, as much the next guy, but I don't seem to notice any of this. |
A. You're both nice guys, but you're both lying.
B. You're both nice guys, but you're both kinda obtuse.
C. You're both nice guys, but little green men have erased unpleasant Korean incidents from both your memories. (neither lying nor obtuse... just victims of them little green men)
D. You're both nice guys, but you're both just insanely lucky when it comes to avoiding K-nutters.
E. You're both nice guys, but you both don't get out enough despite what you'd have us believe.
F. None of the above. Merlyn and other posters are just making these stories up.
Personally, I don't buy E or F. |
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Pyongshin Sangja
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Location: I love baby!
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Korea is a constant storm of the above. Where have you guys been? Monasteries? |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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| Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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been here a long time and the only problems I've run into is some strange looks this week and thats due to the fact I just got back from 4 weeks on a tropical beach and I'm so dark its not funny.
then again I don't get out much or I'm oblivious to whats going on around me |
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