|
Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Homer Guest
|
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
jazblanc77,
Excellent post!
I completely agree with what you said. Also, I have to say, my situation is similar where we (wife and I) got more grief and annoying comments from other westerns then from your run of the mill Korean.
Strange twist really. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
JongnoGuru

Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep
|
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Homer wrote: |
Also, I have to say, my situation is similar where we (wife and I) got more grief and annoying comments from other westerns then from your run of the mill Korean.
|
Oh, I don't think that really happened. I have been here for 7 years and that has never once happened to me or anyone I know. You probably just misunderstood the situation and they were most likely just fooling around a bit. Here is a clue-- you are not in Canada anymore. Things are different here. You have to learn to adapt to the expats-in-Korea culture and ways and not be so stuck in the "my home away from homeland is so superior" way of thinking.
Seriously, what do these other Westerners do to you that annoys you and causes you grief? What sort of nasty looks and comments are you and Jazblanc alluding to? And why have I not seen or heard them? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
astroboyfan

Joined: 19 Apr 2005
|
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
travel zen wrote: |
Astroboyfan said:
Quote: |
How do you know she is a crack *beep*? Services rendered? |
Check out the KOREAN PROSTITUTION thread.
That's where superfreak got his pic. Thanks for wondering though.  |
My bad, guess we "frequent" different types of threads. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
pegpig

Joined: 10 May 2005
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
jazblanc77 wrote: |
Korean strangers are, 95% of the time more accepting and cool about my relationship with my wife than the foreigners who have taken up, usually, temporary residence here. You wouldn't believe the looks and comments we have gotten over the years. |
Multiple choice.
a.) jaz is obviously joking
b.) jaz has become deluded and actually believes this
c.) jaz and mate are super freaks |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
astroboyfan

Joined: 19 Apr 2005
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
pegpig wrote: |
jazblanc77 wrote: |
Korean strangers are, 95% of the time more accepting and cool about my relationship with my wife than the foreigners who have taken up, usually, temporary residence here. You wouldn't believe the looks and comments we have gotten over the years. |
Multiple choice.
a.) jaz is obviously joking
b.) jaz has become deluded and actually believes this
c.) jaz and mate are super freaks |
What about
d.) all of the above
 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Homer Guest
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
Jongguru,
Your relating your experiences, I am relating mine.
I have been here since 1997 as well. I have been married since 1999. I speak very good korean and can understand whats said around me. I do not see why your experience has to be more valid then mine? Thats a rather illogical thing to say or do jong.
Now let me address your points.
Quote: |
You probably just misunderstood the situation and they were most likely just fooling around a bit. Here is a clue-- you are not in Canada anymore. Things are different here. You have to learn to adapt to the expats-in-Korea culture and ways and not be so stuck in the "my home away from homeland is so superior" way of thinking. |
Did not missunderstand comments such as:
1- When are you going to dump that toen girlfriend of yours and date a real woman
2- Oh you could not get a real woman so you settled for a Korean
3- You just got yellow fever.
These are just a few examples. I did encounter some grief from koreans but it happened fewer times then with westerners. Thjis does not mean I think one group is better then the other....
As for your little "clue" keep it for yourself. I can figure that one out on my own and am not stuck in any my home away from home is superior complex. If you had bothered to think when reading my posts, I have never said Korea (my home away from home) is better or superior to Canada (my home country). I said each place has its good and bad points and that I am happy here (much like I would be back home). You assume too much or read my posts too superficially. Do I defend Korea? No, I provide perspective that is all too often lacking in many posts about Korea here. I do not need to do this with my home country because it is not discussed in such a one-way fashion as Korea is on here. Starting to get it now jong?
As for the expat culture here, I have many expat friends here that are great people. My post was about the fact that I share jazzblancs opinion about the reactions I got as a mixed couple.
Next point.
Quote: |
Seriously, what do these other Westerners do to you that annoys you and causes you grief? |
Read above.
Quote: |
What sort of nasty looks and comments are you and Jazblanc alluding to? |
Sadly it goes beyond looks in my experience. Just because it did not happen to you (or because you did not choose to look at it that way) it does not follow it is an invalid experience or claim.
Quote: |
And why have I not seen or heard them? |
You have your experiences and I have mine, much like jazz has his or her experiences.
That seems like a very obvious state of affairs to me.
You have your life here and I have mine.
For example, some people complain of bad relationships with their Korean in-laws and say that Korean parents do not accept foreigners.
This has been the opposite for me. Does that mean that my experience supersedes that of someone with bad in laws?
That would be stupid to think or say.
Perhaps now jong you will pay more attention instead of just picking up on my posts and then posting the opposite just to get your rocks off. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
jazblanc77

Joined: 22 Feb 2004
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
JongnoGuru wrote: |
Oh, I don't think that really happened. I have been here for 7 years and that has never once happened to me or anyone I know. You probably just misunderstood the situation and they were most likely just fooling around a bit. Here is a clue-- you are not in Canada anymore. Things are different here. You have to learn to adapt to the expats-in-Korea culture and ways and not be so stuck in the "my home away from homeland is so superior" way of thinking. |
I thought you were better than to pull low blows like this. Isn't it at all obvious to you that 'apology boy' on the other site, isn't homer at all? You're usually so rational and even keeled... what happened with this post of yours jongnoguru?
I'm glad that you have never had to endure the judgemental nature of some of the expats here in Korea. I hope that you won't have to either.
Homer wrote: |
Did not missunderstand comments such as:
1- When are you going to dump that toen girlfriend of yours and date a real woman
2- Oh you could not get a real woman so you settled for a Korean
3- You just got yellow fever. |
Yeah, I've had those comments as well as ones to the effect of my wife being my Korean trophy that I would, of course, leave after my one year stint here (I'm married to her and I'm not leaving Korea for awhile, unlike the numb nuts who made the comments). One of the first things people do when they meet us is speculate about how our families must have tried to block our marriage (since Koreans are so close minded). We never bring up the issue of our relationship being cross-cultural but, people always latch onto it like it is the most important and interesting topic us as a lead in to a conversation. We don't think of ourselves as being any different than anyone else in a loving relationship, it is other people who see us as different and see fit to direct a bunch of stupid questions and ignorant comments our way as a result.
As for looks, one of my most memorable incidents happened one day when we decided to go to Itaewon to see what kind of western clothes we could find there. On the subway, two foreign guys were leaning on a pole near us. They very obviously looked at my wife (up and then down), and then me, (up and down), with smirks and a look of contempt on their faces. I didn't mistake the looks at all because once they had satisfied themselves with their inspections of my wife and I, one of them turned to the other and said, "take a look at this guy... hah," followed by some whispering (while looking at my wife), and a bunch of snickering.
I am not saying that all foreigners are like that but, I have run into this kind of postulation with the expats of Korea far more often than I have with Koreans. This being said, I am not a beginner at Korean and I understand the language and my suroundings well enough to hold a high level of certainty on this point.
astroboyfan wrote: |
pegpig wrote: |
jazblanc77 wrote: |
Korean strangers are, 95% of the time more accepting and cool about my relationship with my wife than the foreigners who have taken up, usually, temporary residence here. You wouldn't believe the looks and comments we have gotten over the years. |
Multiple choice.
a.) jaz is obviously joking
b.) jaz has become deluded and actually believes this
c.) jaz and mate are super freaks |
What about
d.) all of the above
 |
So, which one are you, a crois sock or wackers sock? I'd like to know so that I can decide how little attention to give your posts... nevermind, I already ignore both of them!
 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
JongnoGuru

Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
Okay, let me make an official apology. My previous post was a joke, an intentionally inept attempt at flame-bait and not intended to be taken seriously. Homer & Jazblanc, I'm sorry that wasn't obvious, and please know that I don't doubt what you've said you've heard other expats say regarding your relationships/marriages with Koreans. I'd (apparently wrongly) assumed that Flagwaver's over-the-top post, which I cut & pasted, would be recognised by everyone as such, chuckled at, and promptly dismissed. Again, I apologise for guessing wrong about that.
I must consider myself lucky not to have heard any of the sort of unkind remarks from fellow expats about my relationships with Korean women that you two have mentioned. If I were to guess, I'd say that has to do with the fact that I just don't happen to deal with a lot of expats in the normal course of my life, and those that I do tend to be long-termers such as myself, themselves married or in relationships with Koreans. I have, however, heard my friends and family back home say some very provincial things. For instance, my own parents regarded my plans to marry an Asian girl as peculiar and even humourous. So in a sense, I'd consider you two to be the lucky ones. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
FlagWaver
Joined: 12 Apr 2003
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Well now, should I take that as a compliment? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
babtangee
Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Location: OMG! Charlie has me surrounded!
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I say we start a ralley to have all short-termer expats deported. That should take care of any insecurities we may have - and leave more Korean women for US!
fighting! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
astroboyfan

Joined: 19 Apr 2005
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
jazblanc77 wrote: |
So, which one are you, a crois sock or wackers sock? I'd like to know so that I can decide how little attention to give your posts... nevermind, I already ignore both of them!  |
Wow, you think I am either a sock of crois or wackers. First of all, please give me a bit more credit than to consider me a crois sock. My posts are much more thought out and clever then him.
I take the mistaking me for a wackers sock as a compliment. Though wrong M.O. Thanks for your guesses, you would make an interesting detective. If you really want to know I am not a sock, just a long forgotten poster. I am surprised that you are the only one who doesnt realize. Oh well, I guess, you ARE one of the stupid ones. Keep ignoring
(though responding to my posts clearly contradicts that) |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
astroboyfan

Joined: 19 Apr 2005
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
babtangee wrote: |
I say we start a ralley to have all short-termer expats deported. That should take care of any insecurities we may have - and leave more Korean women for US!
fighting! |
Haha, that is awesome.. You are definitely seriously one of my favorite posters. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
just because

Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The longer i am here the more i have found that the foreigners I hang out with are the ones that are in a long-term relationship with a Korean women(or man) as well...
I suppose this is because I don't really hang around with the newbies anymore(nothing wrong with newbies - just get sick of the same old questions and predictable negativity) and the people that are here long-term only naturally get a partner so I don't get hardly any grief from westerners at all....and from Koreans I can only think of 2 comments in 3 years!!!! I get the looks but I get looked at anywyay.
However, i could balance that off with the major trouble i am having with the in-laws. "There is a saying that Koreans will be friendly, until you want to marry their daughter" This isn't the rule for everyone and all the people that had no problems with the in-laws, I am envious of you.
That being said, I had 2 different Asian girlfriends for a period of 5 years back in Australia and I had a lot of problems with closed minded ignorant Australians, a lot more than a do with koreans here....
BTW...Homer belated congratulations on your new arrival |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Homer Guest
|
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
Tnaks for the congrats justbecause! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|