Korean Job Discussion Forums

camel96 · Guest

Last night me and a couple of friends were sitting in a bar. Inevitably on comes the "Happy Birsday" song. It's been a long week. We're all grumbling over the racket about punching the birthday boy in the head and all of that type of wonderful stuff. Anyhow as soon as the song is finished, the party cuts a cake and the first thing the birthday boy does is take a piece of the cake, bring it across the bar to us, the only foreigners there and told us to have a nice night. We'd never met the guy and we were the only people amongst hundreds that he did this for. It just seemed like a really thoughtful and unexpected gesture. That's it. I just thought I'd share this because it's too easy and probably even human nature to get caught up on and bitch about the bad stuff. But amongst all of this there are some really nice people and some great experiences to be had. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

peppermint · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2003 6:00 am Post subject:

Yeah, I've had stuff like that happen, and I think a thread about random acts of kindness by Koreans is overdue. For all the crap there is out there, I've noticed that a certain segment of the population will go out of the way to be kind to foreigners, without expecting anything.

my contribution:
About a month ago I bought a ton of bedding, and had to drag it onto the subway. I had two big bags that weren't heavy, just awkward. Anyway, as I'm walking out from the subway an older gentleman (no other word for this guy, ajashi just doesn't cut it) didn't say a word, but took one of the bags and carried it most of the way to my apartment.

It was such a small thing, but I had been having a "bad Korea" day, and it made all the difference in the world.

JackSarang · Joined: 28 Jan 2003

I was in a busy bar in Shinchon and we were seated next to a Korean group that was celebrating a birthday.

They were already seriously loaded and we were getting there. Anyway, they had a bunch of different platters of anjou and platter of birthday cake (actually about 20 Wagon Wheels).

We started doing our grape soju shots and offered some to the birthday boy, who couldn't refuse. Their table then offered us a bunch of beers, shots and wagon wheels. Was fun.

Cthulhu · Joined: 02 Feb 2003

I remember a couple years back on a day when it was pouring rain and I was with a friend and we didn't have an umbrella. Suddenly an old man smiled, gave us his umbrella and walked off in the rain. I've had other kind acts happen to me from time to time since but that one stood out. Not only did he help us but he suffered (got wet) in the process. Helping another person can sometimes be easy but sacrifice of any sort is a rare commodity.

canuckistan · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2003 5:41 pm Post subject:

Many Koreans are astonishingly generous and kind to complete strangers.

Clutch Cargo · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Location: Sim City 2005

So what's so hard about making eye contact with other Westerners, maybe a slight nod of recognition or even a "Hey." It's such a small, random act, costs nothing, and takes less effort to do than not to do.
If you're going to completely ignore an approaching stranger of similar culture then it's going to take some effort.
1. You must establish their physical similarities to you;
2. Calculate their approximate distance and speed of approach;
3. Factor in any variables such as their freakiness, escape routes, whether you are alone or with others. If you are with company you can turn to speak to them as the other foreigner, who had a lousy day trying to teach, felt isolated and alone and was wondering whether it was all worth it, approaches;
4. Then you need to determine a focal point for your averted eyes to be attracted to, such as a shop window, the ground, or some object ahead in the distance;
5. When the scary moment has passed and the Westerner has gone you can relax back into your usual happy-go-lucky self, safe in the knowledge that you are not treating people differently based on their race.

Or, you can just make brief eye contact and maybe say "Hey"

Sorry to bring this up again but the averted eyes "I can't see you even though we are walking towards each other in an uncrowded area" thing is in my opinion pretty stupid, completely contrived and boring. Not many of us look like freaks. It's not like you're movie stars or anything.

I think I'll shuddup about this topic now. I think I'd better eat something. I think I think too much sometimes.

camel96 · Guest

Hey Clutch Cargo,
I'm totally with you.
100%
But maybe another thread yeah????? I'm just curious to see where things go with this one.

mithridates · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2003 9:22 pm Post subject:

Hey...
I'm on an island called Baekryongdo(��ɵ�) now and I get some four, five acts of kindness a day here. Yesterday while walking on the road two people stopped to offer me rides, went to a church where they let me bang away on the drums to my heart's content, then went to a bar on the beach last night where the owner treated me to a few drinks, some kind of soup, chicken, and a whole bunch of other things I can't remember.
The population here is only 4000 so half the people I see already know me though...

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

I've been here for 7 years. Kindness??? It's why I'm still here! From kids carrying my tape player to the 5th floor, to people offering shelter from the rain, people asking "can I help you" when I look lost and (and I'm not sure how I feel about THIS one!) restaurant folk offering me a fork instead of chopsticks!