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SweetBear
Joined: 18 May 2003
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 Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 4:03 pm Post subject: Assimilating to Korean culture? |
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How much easier or more difficult has it been for you to assimilate to Korean culture versus other places you�ve lived and taught in?
Is Korean culture really so different from other cultures?
I've had a harder time than I thought I would, but each day gets a little better. |
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Seoultrader
Joined: 18 Jun 2003
Location: Ali's Insurgent Inn, Fallujah
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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Lately I've been asking myself, "If man evolved from monkeys, why are there still Koreans?" AND I'M FRIGGIN HALF KOREAN!!!
I've lived and worked in HK, Sing., Tokyo, Beijing and Manila for about a year in each city. Taking aside Manila's somewhat colorful Please-Deposit-Your-Firearm-With-The-Guard-While-Shopping at 7-11 lifestyle, I found it relatively easy to adjust to all of these cities and cultures. Problems? Sure, but nowhere near unsolvability and a knack for compromise.
I've been back here for about a year now (I used to live here as a teen also), and I'm reaching an almost unbearable frustration point. The junior staff, although eager to please and from the best unis, is a bastion of incompetence. It takes 2 of these apes a day to do a job any one of my ex-staff in the aforementioned countries could do in 3-4 hours.
In a way, it saddens me because I truly believe that the average Korean is a kind, warm spirit - a rarely species these days - and my experiences with strangers have been overwhelmingly pleasant. However, this utter incompetence coupled with a lack of innovative thinking, ignorance, arrrogance and inherent inability to adapt to the times is driving me bonkers.
On the other hand, Korea also has an above average rate of PhDs and other professionals requiring an analytical mind. The point is that I rarely meet an "average simple but still smart Joe." It just seems like there is no mid-level. It's either monkey or genius. (I speak and can behave like a native Korean when necessary, so spare me the "you don't really know them" defense).
Enough to drive a man to drink... |
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Trinny
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2003 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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SeoulTrader,
Good post!
Something to add to Ph.d part. I've translated a number of dissertation thesis written by Ph.d candidates, and I've encounted very few that impressed me. Getting an advanced degree in Korean universities is a game entitled "copy and paste."
And do you mind being more specific about what makes the Korean workers incompetent in comparison with people in other Asian countries? Is it education, the way of thinking, or anything at work that slows down their job?
I worked with a German executive, who told me that Koreans were pretty efficient at the junior level, and they were getting more incompentent and corrupt as they moved up the corporate ladder. Maybe, he was just talking, because I was a junior at that point. |
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makushi
Joined: 08 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 6:19 am Post subject: |
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Yeah...but how the women?  |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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| makushi wrote: |
| Yeah...but how the women? |
Good point!
BUT................... I think the previous 3 posters have a point as well.. (Trinny, Seoultrader and Sweetbear).. Korea is nearly impossible to assimilate into..
I really like Korea alot!! But I went to some Latin Bars this weekend and felt extremely comfortable.. very comfortable.. can't say the same when I've gone to Korean bars..
One other note.. I was trying to be nice to one particular Korean guy who came up to me and asked him what his name was in Korean (something I've said in Korean to a 1000 other people who understood me every time).. he responded back in English that he doesn't speak English. I hate that. Then her helpful friend said to me 'I'm sorry he doesn't speak in English, say it to me, and I can translate' so I said to her that I don't speak English or Korean, only Spanish (saying that in Korean once again). The odd thing is I said Spanish with the word "Espaniol" because I don't know the Korean word for Spanish, and the Korean man who claimed he didn't know English and therefore couldn't understand me laughed at the word 'Espaniol' repeated the word 'espaniol' and laughed..
Anyhow...................... vent released.. and I ignored that guy and in my head thought he was a d*i*c*k for being a d*i*c*k about me asking a simple thing like his name in Korean.
Back to the post.. I will always more or less like Koreans and Korea.. but I will never assimilate because I enjoy my status as a foreigner.. and I am a foreigner.. and I have no problem with that issue.. and would rather be that as i am than anything else.
Assimilation here or anywhere is impossible.. it will not happen.. more or less what we want is people to more or less not have issues or problems with us and hopefully not treat us like complete aliens.. Korea does well with the former.. but horrible at the latter at times.. as an alien.. you can't assimilate.. hence the name given. That being said, I like being an alien here. It has its ups and downs, but I'd rather be an alien and all the plusses and minuses than being just the status quo. |
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GRK
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2003 8:05 pm Post subject: assimulate in Korea |
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| If by assimulate one reads 'function' then maybe yes, but if it means to think in a like manner - then the answer is no. Korean people are still heavily influenced by the recent and not so recent past, still think in terms of 'insider/outsider' with regard to themselves and foreigners. Such conditioning from the cradle creates a mindset that is not easily adopted by people who have experienced a more 'outward thinking' childhood. Even though I have good friends (whom I resect and admire for many rasons) and am able to discuss things of mutual interest and exchange ideas to a given level - there is a certain point where the above comes into play. I'm sure they feel the same. |
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makushi
Joined: 08 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 12:26 am Post subject: |
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| If you "assimilate" too much its just freaks them out even more...the phrase "chingoworyo" (freaky/tickling/strange sensation) will often be used when they encounter a waiguk that acts too Korean...assimilation (not sure about Seoul Trader as he is half korea and thus may have a chance) is a lost cause...just find your own comfort zone and enjoy... |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 4:39 am Post subject: |
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| To make what I believe is an obvious statement: Seoul is easier than elsewhere in Korea. |
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sickboy
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Location: Miari Texas
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| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 6:27 am Post subject: |
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In one weekend I pissed outdoors, spat on the ground and pushed someone.
Does that count?
-sick |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2003 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| sickboy wrote: |
In one weekend I pissed outdoors, spat on the ground and pushed someone.
Does that count?
-sick |
But sick, did you puke?
Most importantly did you go up to some foreigners and shout stuff in English really loudly? "HI" or anything like that?
Also, when you are around other foreigners, do you compliment them on their chopstick skills, and ask "do you like kimchee?" and follow-up fairly quickly with "but isn't it spicy?"
Thats assimilation my friend. |
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sickboy
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Location: Miari Texas
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2003 1:33 am Post subject: |
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I never asked anyone if they liked Korean food either.
Im currently practicing the stopping infront of people on the sidewalk (if you are lucky enough to have a sidewalk) that I've been observing the past year. (Honest)
-sick |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2003 3:37 am Post subject: |
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| sickboy wrote: |
Im currently practicing the stopping infront of people on the sidewalk (if you are lucky enough to have a sidewalk) that I've been observing the past year. (Honest)
-sick |
You go to hell. You go to hell and you DIE!
If there's one thing that infuriates me(in any country), it's idiots on a sidewalk. |
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sickboy
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Location: Miari Texas
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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Zy Zy,
Just give up.
I used to be like you... angry.. irrate... wanting to carry a scythe with me just to walk down to KFC..
Thoughts of rampant violence will pale in comparisson to the bliss of surrendering to the darkside of the force...
Instead of being the stopee, be the stopper...
Introduced the technique to a mate yesterday whilst being followed by obnoxious school girls.. inconvenienced and got rid of them.. two birds, with one stone (actually there were 5 of them...)
Bloody funny when its someone else!
-sick |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:01 am Post subject: |
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| makushi wrote: |
| If you "assimilate" too much its just freaks them out even more... |
I saw a western teenager speaking and acting Korean with his teenage Korean friends. I couldn't help but think there was no hope for him anymore anywhere in this world. |
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bovinerebel
Joined: 27 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:19 am Post subject: |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| sickboy wrote: |
In one weekend I pissed outdoors, spat on the ground and pushed someone.
Does that count?
-sick |
But sick, did you puke?
Most importantly did you go up to some foreigners and shout stuff in English really loudly? "HI" or anything like that?
Also, when you are around other foreigners, do you compliment them on their chopstick skills, and ask "do you like kimchee?" and follow-up fairly quickly with "but isn't it spicy?"
Thats assimilation my friend. |
My conversation textbook has a little cartoon where silly westerner tries some kimchi and fire comes from his mouth and steam from his ears. I tried to tell my students that it was simply not true that we did not eat spicy food , and that in fact many of us enjoy food far spicier than Korean food. They laugh condescendingly. Me and my strange ideas. |
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