Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tiger Beer]

So you're in the subway...a regular busy one in Seoul...probably the #6 line (same line as Itaewon).

You enter the subway...there is a white guy in the same train. There is ONLY one seat left in the train. It's directly across the white guy.

Do you...
Sit across from him?

If you sit across from him...do you...

a) Strike up a conversation across the space or b) pretend he's not there?

[butlerian]

I'd respect his privacy, but if he engaged me in conversation then of course I'd be cordial.

[mountainous]

If he's hot, ask to sit on his lap

[wanderingsalsero]

I've frankly been very surprised how oblivious to the presence of other westerners a large percentage of the westerner-looking people I see are.

I really don't buy this stuff about respecting their space.

I think we all share a certain sense of adventure just being over here. We share that in common..for starters. And there could be other stuff we'd have in common too.

I most usually speak or at least give a nod or salute to anybody who looks westerner I see who's reasonably close to me whether it be in a subway or a store. Depends on the situation of course.

Point is, I think Korea can be lonely enough if all you try to do is make Korean friends. It amazes me that some foreigners who i think, odds on, are teachers....how snooty they act.

[Atavistic]

Except for ONE time, every time I've talked to a Western man on the subway, I've been hit on.

So I ignore them unless they say something directly.

[Treefarmer]

i smile at other westeners, but i don't generally strike up conversations on the subway, i dunno, i don't mind people doing it to me, but it's kind of an empty experience

"oh hi, we're both foriegn"

where are you from?
how long have you been in korea?
do you like it?
ok see ya

[brandonhill31]

i agree on the empty experience, but i do it simply to meet new people. if you work in jamsil you know people form jamsil and maybe a couple others, but its nice to make a whole new set of friends through one stranger you met on the subway. does that make sense or am i being stupid?

[laogaiguk]

It depends. If it's the guy picking his nose and eating it, well, no. Or the guy sitting in the handicapped area, no. But if he seems normal and is relatively close, then I will smile, say hello and even have a converstation if it comes to that.

[SuperFly]

[Ginormousaurus]

I don't strike up a conversation. Just because we're both foreigners isn't enough for me to want to talk. It's not that I'm antisocial, but I have things to do whilst riding the subway (I spend about 80 minutes a day on the green line). I study Korean, listen to audiobooks or play my Nintendo.

And Superfly hit it on the head:

[caniff]

[butlerian]

[bejarano-korea]

[butlerian]

[bejarano-korea]