Korean Job Discussion Forums

[coffeeman]

If you have a foreign face (for example: not Asian American) then you've been through this countless times. Some teens that you don't know say "Hi!" to you. What do you do?

Well, as for myself, I've gotten really fed up with it. Saying "Hi" back doesn't accomplish anything (it's not like we're gonna become great friends or anything like that), plus they really shouldn't be saying "Hi!" to strangers anyway. I don't care how safe they might think Korea to be. I also wouldn't like them to think that all foreigners are gentle & friendly people. Some of us are psycho (and you know who you are). The way they act just seems dumb to me. If you're sincerely interested in me and willing to take the risk that I might snap at you, then come up and talk to me. Give it your best shot with the English you have. I think that most foreigners here are willing to chat for a few minutes with someone who is sincerely interested in them and their culture. The problem with most Korean teens is that they aren't (or don't appear to be).

My choice for the poll is just to ignore them.

[jinks]

I choose the path of least resistance: I say 'hi' and keep on walking.

[fatpat]

I used to always say hi to everybody, but I really can't be arsed these days. I don't mind when young children say hi and I always say hi back but I just ignore teenagers now. They only laugh at you anyway, I find it highly annoying and if i'm having a bad day they will also get a stare of death I can't wait to be anonymous in England again soon.

[billinkorea]

Say hi back, smile and keep walking,
Its a strange part of the world where if someone says hi to you and you ignore them! Where is it your from remind me never to visit there. Sure i dont wanna be drawn into a conversation sometimes, but its common courtesy to respond.

[fatpat]

What is the point in me saying hi to a bunch of giggling teenagers that are just doing it for a dare or to look cool in front of their mates? I'm enough of a monkey at work without having to entertain the whole neighbourhood. I'm really sick of it actually. They often wait until I have already walked past and then start giggling and shouting 'hi' 'nice to meet you'. I don't mind if somebody does it in a polite way, I have had loads of kids approach me and talk to me in restaurants etc. I don't ignore them of course because they are just kids and practising their English. I'm from England by the way. People there don't generally say hi to strangers unless you are both walking a dog or are in the middle of nowhere, even then I find that a bit odd.

[Matt DuGhee]

I just can't ignore people when they say hi. I have HAVE HAVE to respond, or I honestly just get sick with myself.
Teens don't often say hello (my town seems to lose people between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five to cities), and it only really bugs me when they say hello and then collapse into hysterics immediately afterwards. It's not just teens either, a lot of times it's young twenty-somethings who wait until they pass me and then mumble hello to my back.
More annoying are the younger kids who scream "Hello!" or "I'm hungry!" at the top of their lungs from the second I am in sight until I am out of earshot. It bugs me, because it's definitely not about communicating and/or practicing, but I still can't resist replying "Hello!", on the off chance that they actually want to talk.
For example, out of a crowd of screaming kids comes one girl in my building who asks me where I am going, where I have been, what I will do that night... it'd be too bad if I discouraged that by ignoring everyone.

[bigverne]

[Mills]

I speak Spanish to them, but they don't get it... I say "No hablo ingles, soy de Espania." and they say "Watts yoooourrrr name?" Then I say "Mi llamo es Chuck Norris.", as I roundhouse kick them to death.

[Homer]

Use the ole walk-by "hi and smile".


No muss. No fuss.

[nautilus]

usually I'll shout back "shutup" or what ever comes to mind. Mostly I just sneer and walk on.

The hello chorus is not an exactly friendly thing as far as I can tell. What they're doing is trying to impress eachother by pointing out a foreigner and subtly taking the p**s.

[Homer]

Good lord nautilus..talk about making a huge deal out of something so irrelevant and even so innocent as someone saying hi to ya!

I would venture to say that most of these kids are just getting a kick out of saying hi to a foreigner in English....if they want to laugh at you nautilus...they will do so whether you smile, sneer or foam at the mouth...

[weatherman]

I am turning into a good Confucianist. I don't even acknowledge their presence. It is only when I make the slightest acknowledgement of their presence when a 'hi' will come.

[steroidmaximus]

[Smee]

�ȳ�! is a fine reply to "hi."

[jinks]

It is not about them, it's about you

So what if they are a bunch on no-mannered, moronic, giggling teenagers, what are you? If people around you behave disrespectfully and idiotically - especialy people who have no control over your quality of life i.e. bored teenagers - why should it make you into a unhappy, rude and snappy person?
Saying hello costs nothing, don't let their bad behaviour bring you down. Like I said, It is not about them, it's about you.

Increase the Peace!