Korean Job Discussion Forums

robot · Joined: 07 Mar 2006

i've noticed a bunch of different approaches to this situation.

so, what do YOU do?

ROBT.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Where's the option for "just walk on by, same as I would if he were a Korean"?

If he wants to talk, fine, if not I could care less.

peppermint · Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:29 am Post subject:

I don't go out of my way to make eyecontact, but if it happens, a quick smile, or some form of acknowledgement is in order.

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

Only the secret handshake that only ESLers know, and maybe a code signal-- 'the duck quacks at midnight' or something like that.

Ken:>

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

really depends on the street now, doesn't it?
big difference between downtown Chongno and my neighborhood.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

I'm with Hapki on this. There's a big difference between my neighborhood where chances are very good that we live nearby and downtown Gangnam, or Jongo.
To judge by the last foriegner I saw in my neighborhood, the best way is to screw up your face in a grimace and try to pretend that you don't see the foriegner. Shit, I've said it before and I'll say it again, if I live in your neighborhood, just give a nod or a hello.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Depends, in my smaller town, always a hello and a nod. In Seoul, anywhere but Itaewon atleast a nod, even if they have the evil "Don't come into my territory" face. Itaewon, gave up. BTW, everyone in Itaewon looks like their mother just died. Also, it seems from when I go there you are all fat. I forgot how fat we Westerners are Wink

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Yeah, really depends where you live.

If I spent 15 minutes talking with every single foreigner I see all day long.. I wouldn't have any time to sleep, eat, or work.

I really think this question only has relevance if you live way out in the middle of nowhere and never see foreigners.. and how would you respond when you did.

Many of us just aren't in that situation.. so really difficult to relate to it.

Homer · Guest

Nothing....

Then it depends. If the person nods I will nod back.

Won't go out of my way however....why do so?

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

I guess for a Demophobe, I'm pretty social. Confused

I live in a smaller city, and I do tend to be that annoying "hi there!" guy. I don't push it, but do greet most foreigners.

keithinkorea · Joined: 17 Mar 2004

It's all location, location, location. In Itaewon, Kangnam or Hongdae I'd think it would be really weird to say hello to a complete stranger.

If you're around my neighbourhood there is a good chance I know a friend or something, I'll nod my head and give a little smile, nothing to over the top.

I've 'met' some nutters who come rushing up to you and just yabbering away, I feel sorry for them and get myself out of there as quickly as possible. There are some desperate lonely freaks in Korea and I've got plenty of friends, just because I'm not Korean it does not mean I want to be your friend!

I'm not the ignore and scurry of type or shake your hand and share my whole life story type. I dont care for either type but I prefer the scurry off types, I probably don't want to get to know them anyway.

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

I still do what I did when this came up 6 months ago-

walking on the street, I count the steps to our inevitable passing.

10 steps- Oh look, another foreigner.

9 steps- Funny how they're so easy to spot.

8 steps- Am I so easy to spot? Does he see me yet? Did he glance at me, make the mental note, then keep his head down like I did?

7 steps- What mood am I in? Saying hello implies being friendly. Am I friendly today? This guy could become my lifelong friend. "We were thrown together into that war-torn land, " he'll soliquize on my deathbed. "If not for that casual, yet slightly forced 'hey', our two ships would have passed unannounce in the night, into unknown perils only endurable to those with the comradery found star-crossed on the streets of Seoul."

6 steps- He's not acknowledging me yet, damn it!! Well, two can play at that game, you lost, lonely, newbie.
"And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street. And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it. You said you'd never compromise, with the mystery tramp, but now you realize, He's not selling any alibis, as you stare into the vacuum of his eyes and ask him, do you want to make a deeeeeeeeal?
How does it feel
How does it feel, you lost, lonely newbie
to be on you own
like a complete unknown
(the following line has been deleted due to copyright protection)

5 steps-Wonder if I know him? Wonder if he knows me? Wonder if he's that arse (ARSE'S NAME) from Daves? Could be. Maybe I'll kick him in the nads just to cover my bases.

4 steps- Wonder if he's gonna say anything to me at all. OK, where are we? Chong-Ro. OK. Estimate a couple million foreigners in a country of 40 million. Figure about 7,000 ESL teachers, according to EFL-Law August 2005 reports. (You can count them out. Those bastards don't say hello to anyone.) Factor in about 50 pedestrians per minute traffic flow. Multiple by time of year, divide by YBM's 10 minute afternoon break time. Ahh, heck. I wouldn't recognize most foreigners anyway, being Chinese and Japanese, though Japs usually wear running shoes.

3 steps- Getting close. Is he a tourist? No. No cranked neck looking 90 degrees up, no bulking backpack. Nope, I can't make the first move and ask if he needs directions.

2 steps- Still nothing. Man, this guy's really holding out on me. What a stuck-up snob. I'll show him that living in Korea for close to 10 years doesn't breed resentment, depression and helpless dispair at the future.

1 step- "Hey"

The Man known as The Man · Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:31 am Post subject:

out of context · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Location: Daejeon

I'm not an especially outgoing and sociable personality, not here and not anywhere else. If someone goes out of their way to acknowledge me, I'll give a smile, maybe a nod, and on an especially good day, a "How's it going?", but I'm just not the type to initiate anything.

And when I come here and see the occasional rant from someone saying, "Why won't other foreigners talk to me? Do they think their *&@# doesn't stink or something? What's wrong with you? %*(&!(@ TALK TO ME! AAARGHHH!!!", I feel quite secure in the way that I deal with the situation.