Korean Job Discussion Forums

ChooChooPongPong · Joined: 15 Jun 2003

I'm sorry....but as an American I can't get past the Bush factor. There is opinion, and then there is reality. I think Bush is pretty black and white, and there really is no gray area. The guy is a complete idiot, and anyone who supports him only does so out of ignorance or lack of morals. Read Michael Moore's book "Dude where's my country?" and you see how it is. It's a wake up call I think. If you support Bush before having read this you can be forgiven. After reading it and you still support Bush....you have some explaining to do. And this book is not mere opinion. It is backed up completely.

So, I have to agree, and I think most Americans ARE liberal....but perhaps they are unaware of it and don't really know who or what it is that they are supporting. I'd say most Americans just go with the flow and don't watch much CNN if they can help it. As for CNN....no comment. I just think supporting Bush means being stupid. Just my opinion. It's a bit off topic.

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

Americans love pickles with pizza.

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

I had pizza last night and the waitress brought me a thing of pickles... what the hell do I want pickles with my pizza for?

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

And, Americans love corn and potatoes on pizza, especially sweet potatoes.

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

Actually, I do like those on my pizza.

Hank Scorpio · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

I agree the Bush is... intellectually challenged. But I don't think Michael Moore is the be all to political analysis. He has never held or even been closely associated with political office and therefore can't have a true understanding of how the process works. Anyone can portray evidence in such a manner as to support their hypothesis... "lies, damn lies, and statistics."

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

Hank Scorpio · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

sublimeshawn · Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA

all true! ya believe that you wankers! I cant even begin to comment so many great things come from america and americans have invented and done so much for the world, on the other hand we have many faults as most do who get things too fast they dont necessarily deserve like the wealth of the land resources that we stole from the natives, stuff like that. We are an individualistic country which has led to many great inventions and entreupaneurs but as far as culture and social skills some of us are a bit lacking, but its all good in my hood, say what they say but give me that bomb beat from dre, let me serenade the streets of LA!

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

Can a non american make a comment?

I don't think Bush is stupid, and neither do I think Michael Moore is stupid. I don't think Moore is a top notch political analyst either, though he may become one if he gets more experienced and becomes a little more balanced in his veiws. I do agree that the way he presents his facts is misleading. But I will say he seems to have the energy and drive to do the large amounts of research that political writing requires. He uses his facts to paint a grim picture, and that is a pity because he has some important things to say, and I think some of his critiques are valid. What he doesn't need to do is to exagerate how bad the situation is, and if he could just relax a bit and let his research speak for it's self he would come across as more reasonable and be taken more seriously. But let us note that though he has included some very damning evidence and statistics in his book he has not been successfully sued by anyone to date. He had a large team of fact checkers working on the book, and though you may or may not agree with his analysis, it seems that he at least got his facts right.

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

I agree, Bush comes across as more uncouth (sp?) than he really is... but he seems to have very little grasp of some important aspects of the presidency (such as not pissing off every single other nation in the world). As far as an MBA, this isn't exactly something special anymore... yes, it's more than I have, but I would pit myself against Bush in any game of intelligence any day... I have no doubt that if he had to count on his own merits to have gotten into Yale and such, he would have been laughed back to Texas. But money sure does buy alot these days.

Now, Clinton and Wes Clark as Rhodes Scholars... that's something that you can prove indicates intelligence rather than being bought.

Bush and Clinton have one thing in common though... they both have a tremendous ability to motivate people, a neccessity for the White House. I think the constitutional ammendment on term limits should be revoked because it prevents a good president and the choice of the people from being reelected. A Clinton-Bush matchup in 2000 would have been interesting and I think since Clinton was popular as a president, he should have been allowed to run again. The term limits seem to be against the meaning of the rest of the constitution in that they limit the choices of Americans.

cacheSurfer · Joined: 07 Dec 2003

[quote="kangnamdragon"]quote]

I feel the same way. I'm sick of being locked into that stereotype.

kangnam mafioso · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: Teheranno

Personally, I don't know how the long termers do it. I was so burned out on Korea after 2 years, despite the fact that I had a cushy university job, great girlfriend, 11 weeks of paid vacations and loved the food. The whole culture drained me and a big part of why I left was the attitude and unbelievable naivitee of the Koreans as mentioned by the poster: "Wow, you know how to use chopsticks, oh you know some korean language, oh you like the food, oh you like dating korean girls, oh you know what a jim jil bang is!" I was so sick of that crap.
My friends, in Korea you will never, ever fit in -- you will always be on the outside, an oddity, a curiosity, an alien, an unwelcome face on the subway. Accept that! You will never EVER be assimilated. I don't care if you marry a Korean girl, become fluent in the language, become an expert in Korean history and culture: In the eyes of the average Korean, because you are not Ethnic Korean, you will forever be as much the outsider as the newbie arriving in Incheon for his first hogwan job.

The unbelievable alienation in Korea is draining. Don't get me wrong -- I enjoyed a lot of aspects of the culture, and I think it would be a great place for people to visit --- not to live.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

I'm basically with kangnam mafioso.

Its just constant. A few times my employer has had something happening where we eat Korean food. Every single time, and I mean EVERY SINGLE TIME, they are yet once again amazed we know what Korean food is. Even the LA-gyopo (my boss) insisted we didn't know it and we should try it. Uggghhh.. its all the same foods! We live here 24/7 we know the foods!!

A separate incident near the end of last year, the Korean staff wanted to take us out, and we all unanimously wanted a Korean galbi cook-at-the-table type dinner. When the event took place, she began apologizing for 10 minutes how sorry it was we had to eat Korean food, how she hopes we like it, and how since we're in Korea, we really should try Korean food. WE DO! WE DO! We suggested and wanted the idea when you asked us what we wanted!!

As you can tell, I've been getting rubbed the wrong way a bit more recently by dealing with full-on Korean assumptions 24/7. Particularly around food. Then the questions about kimchee and chopsticks with all the smiles and 'oooos' and 'aaaahhs' kick-in. I'm really not a pet dog that just did a special trick.