Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Pligganease]

BBE hit it on the head.

The only hassles I get in Korea for being an American come from Canadians. I have never had anyone become angry or disgusted when I tell them I'm from the States that didn't have a red maple leaf brandished somewhere on their body. It's like they have a perpetual bone to pick or a severe inferiority complex.

What's funny is that the immigration officials, police, and other public servants will be genuinely nice to you if you're American. I went in last week to verify all of my credentials, and the document I had to fill out was a mile long. There were several questions, such as the phone number and address of my university, that I did not know offhand. I asked the gentleman about the missing info and he said:

"That is only for Canadians."

I asked why, and he said that there were so many Candians here with fake degrees that they only had to have that info from Canadians.

Most older people are really nice to Americans, especially those old enough to remember the war.

And, it is true about the girls.

[bluelake]

I've had many kinds of experiences over the years, but few were negative. When I first lived in Korea, back in '84, the country was a very different place than it is now. Publicly, women only held hands with women, men with men--it was considered rude for guys to hold hands with gals; for a foreign guy to hold hands with a Korean lady was tantamount to stealing. One time back then, my wife (twenty-one years now) and I went for an evening stroll in downtown Kyongju, holding hands. She was a progressive, but still fairly conservative Korean lady, so that act was not something she took lightly. We were verbally accosted twice--once by a group of young Korean punks who felt their women were being stolen (we ignored them), and then by a drunk who got more in-your-face. That latter guy picked the wrong Korean lady to mess with; his friends had to spirit him away, and I had to hold my wife back, as she was not about to take any guff from him. To this day, she still won't take it from anyone.

Specifically about being American, I've generally only had good experiences. However, back in the late '80s, when anti-Americanism was high (a huge American-style flag, with a taegeuk in the field, in place of the stars, was painted on the road in front of the gate of the university I taught at), I once heard yankee whispered from one radical student to another. That was about it.

About a decade ago, after attending a KOTESOL conference, an American colleague and I were on a train headed back to Kyongju. We were talking in low, normal voices when this Korean fellow, probably in his late twenties, turned around and said in English, "Shut up!" I just stared at him a bit, after which my friend and I started talking again (many others on the train were talking with each other--we were the only ones speaking in English). He turned around again and said, "I told you to shut up!" I glared at him and said, "I am talking with my friend," and I continued the conversation he had interrupted. By that time, the fellow was becoming threatening, and I half expected him to follow us off the train when we got off, but he didn't.

However, as mentioned, most experiences over the years have been positive.


T

[Pyongshin Sangja]

[SPINOZA]

[n3ptne]

I dunno about the anti-American thing... I don't tell people I'm American unless I know them.

Has nothing to do with being ashamed of being American, though I can't say I'm not at times, but as far as I'm concerned it's information that doesn't need to be said, and which can only get me into unnecessary trouble.

[Qinella]

When I say I'm American, I look people dead in the eye to gauge their reaction. It's usually one of three things:

1. Big smile and, "Ohh, America. Very good!"

2. Casual smile and, "Ohh, America. Good."

3. Pleasent expression, a nod, and a grunt.


And there have been a few occasions where I've gotten free food or drinks for being American.

Q.

[little mixed girl]

i never had any negative reactions from krns when i told them i was american.
however i'm not a white dude making whoopie with a krn girl...so...maybe that's why?

[periwinkle]

"Got into a taxi and when i told the guy i wasn't american said he was very happy because all the americans need to be blown off the face of the earth by an atomic bomb and he hopes Kim jong Il will do the honours..when i asked him what about australia, he said, no australia nice, no bomb so i am glad us Aussies are safe..."
_________________

That's a quote from Just Because. I think people won't really tell you outright that they hate you because you're American, but if you tell them you're not American, you will possibly get the above reaction.

[sublimeshawn]

Umm, when I was there, a buddy(canadian) and I went into a bar in seoul off the beaten path somewhere and ran into a litle bit of flack, one bar simply wouldnt let us in and then another one we were gawked at a lot, the one we couldnt go into thought we were military, even though we said we were teachers, one other time I had a drunk yelling at me at a bus stop and he kept slapping my ass, so I couldnt figure if he was happy or mad or gay but i write it off to sojo, 95% of the time i didnt have any trouble.

[Pligganease]

[weatherman]

I lived in Gwangju for six years, famous for its anti-american student movements, and all I can say that even during the burning season of 2002, never ran into any serious problems. If I wanted to find problems, then they were everywhere, but if you keep your head about you and act with confidence, then no problems. And during this burning season, I was happy to tell the locals where I came from if asked. Nothing like seeing the wind come out of them. Sure I would see hate speach written on campus sometimes, but you adjust....

[ajgeddes]

I also didn't need to fill out the whole form at immigration. I left at least 4 of the boxes empty, and they still took it and didn't care. I'm not American.

Pligganease, if you wonder why maybe there is some negative attitudes towards your type, read what you wrote under location "If you're reading this thank a teacher. If you're reading this in English, than an American." I guess "thanks" is in due order because I was able to read it in English. Maybe, next time you are getting "hassled" by a Canadian, you can think about what brought it on, and not just being because you are American.

[Pligganease]

[ajgeddes]

Well, to be honest, I don't know your type. BUT, the way you come off when you have stuff like that written, you would be a "c". Are you in real life??? Only you and your friends know, but maybe it could be a clue as to why you may (or may not) attract these hassles.

The way I see it, it isn't really okay for anybody to say their country "is the shiznit". You can say some things about your country is, it's called being humble.

I also see it as being similar to when we were all in school. There was that rich kid who used to brag about everything he had and how he always had the newest and best stuff. Or that kid who was the best *insert sport here* and always made sure that everybody else new it. It really gets annoying after a while. That person always made him/herself a natural target from others. Was it jealousy?? A little probably. Was it just because of the pure repetition of it?? Definitely. Does it get annoying?? Yes, for sure. When you add up all the different factors, I think you should have your answer. We all know the USA is the most powerful, most this and most that country in the world. It doesn't mean people need to hear about it all the time.

(Also know this. Canadians grow up probably watching 85% American tv and they have heard it there whole lives, so when some Canadians meet an American who continuously speaks like that, some naturally get annoyed)

That's my 2 cents worth anyways, and I am sure you will disagree, but sometimes it is nice to see things from a different perspective.

[Pligganease]

Actually, in real life I am a definite "B," but on here more of a hardcore "C."

And, I agree with most of what you said except that I think being proud of your country is a very good thing.