Korean Job Discussion Forums

[charlieDD]

I get on a bus some mornings at its first stop out of the terminal and am usually the only person on it until the next stop. As the bus fills, I can rest assured that I will have nobody sitting next to me until every other seat in the bus has been taken and the one next to me is the only one left.

Often this means I get the use of both seats the whole long way.

If they want to avoid having to sit next to a foreigner, - - I can live with that!

BTW, I'm a typical white guy of average stature, actually close to the body size of your typical Korean at 63 kilos and 176 cm. I'm well dressed, well groomed. So, I do not think we can say that it is an "overbearing presence" that keeps them away.

Related: Got on the subway the other day in the late afternoon. Was fairly full, all seats taken . . . except two seats on the bench that three Sri Lankan workers were sitting on. People were choosing to stand rather than sit next to these dark-skinned workers. Once again, - - a benefit for me! I sat right down and had a really nice conversation with the guys, shaking hands with all three of them before getting off at my stop - - with the locals gawking at full tilt!

[Newbie]

Ah, Korea.

Sometimes you gotta love this place. Cute little buggars that they are

[endo]

So true. I love the bus thing too. You don't want to sit beside me, great! More room for me.



I also had a similar experience on a crowded subway last year with a Pakistani buisnessman.

I kind if felt sorry for the guy. I mean the subway was full and the Koreans around him refused to sit next to him. Idiots.

So I sat next to him cause I was tired and we struck up an interesting conversation about Kashmir. Cool dude.

[Junior]

If you took the average Korean to the west the men in white coats would immediately cart them away and treat them for severe cases of hysteria, nervousness and xenophobia, before releasing them to society at large.

unfortunately here the entire nation is down with it.

[captain planet]

yeah, that's true. koreans never leave this country. ever. none of them. for any reason.

[Kimchieluver]

Actually koreans do leave Korea. They make sure however to surround themselves with as many koreans as possible and avoid all cuisine that is not Korean whenever possible.

[dodgybarnet]

I'll add to that list.

If you ever get caught doing anything mildly naughty, like jay walking ("Come on people! I can see in both directions for a mile each way - there is no traffic, so I'm gonna just cross the road... oh hello officer!")... then you can smile benignly and pretend to not understand what the fuss is about. Usually after a few seconds of broken english from the cop (and his ontourage of buddies usually) they let you off with a wave.

Kinda like how celebrities and leggy blondes get off with stuff in the west I guess?

[jenna80ss]

[vlcupper]

I have that happen to me on the subway all the time. The place will be packed before somebody sits next to me. I had to stupid bitches actually get into an argument about who would sit next to me once.


Definitely a perk.

[jajdude]

I don't really notice that this has happened much to me. Sometimes I guess. Usually though someone will sit next to me on a bus or subway instead of standing. Sometimes I'd rather stand than squeeze into a seat on a crowded train, and standing on a bus sucks, definitely a last resort for me.

These days I never take a bus or subway anyway, in Gumi, just taxis now and then.

It's easy to feel self-conscious here isn't it?

[Junior]

I understand the awkwardness with being unable to communicate or speak eachothers language.

What i cannot forgive though is the ridiculous and often rude reactions koreans come out with when suddenly coming face to face with a "Waygook".
Not something you can ever really get used too. how long will it take before they change? seems worse this year than last.

[Qinella]

[djsmnc]

Hmm, I don't know what routes you're taking, because I've always had people squeeze and sandwich me on public transportation. Do you wear deodorant?

[vlcupper]

[charlieDD]