Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

You've seen the blonde hair artificial looking Korean dolls primped to the 9's in the subways and nightclubs of Seoul. You look twice to check the eyes if that's a glamorous western lady dressing in expensive Korean attire. Nope, the almond shaped eyes are a dead giveaway, but I understand there's now a surgery to alter that too. You won't see a western girl all glamored up today. Have you wondered what is behind people trying to be a member of another race? I have, not that I want to do this myself because I don't. I'm only coining this term and thinking this, becuase it's what going on in Korea surrounding the English, westernization, trying to be like beautiful white people, and even advertising with white images. They're idolizing and worshiping the white English speaking race, but show phony respect for the actual individuals who come to Korea which presents a confusing experience to say the least. I know with how America developed and set Korea up into having great financial wealth gives them every reason to hold them in high esteem, but we're real breathing humans; not just puppets on a stage. I know experienced ESL teachers who stay just accept it and don't worry about what the Koreans think and do, because they usually really mean no harm by it.

Often, the Koreans going through this change are female and highly intelligent and can hold an English conversation quite well. I just find it odd sorta like transgenderism commonly seen in Thailand. Being trans- is where you change yourself into something else you're not, becuase you have insecurity issues going on in your personality and feel trapped in a body incongruous with your brain. These examples are Koreans who truly feel they are westerners trapped in Korean bodies while many others wish they could go through with it, but can't due to family and work practicality issues. Is this simply a result of smart girls taking their English class overly serious or something more than that?

Why does Korea idolize the white English speaking race and then show them phony respect? Why does it seem that most Koreans are tense with you in their presence as they make that teeth sucking sound, but say they want to be like you and like you? And then you get all this teeth sucking with an awkward peculiar laugh in most face to face situations. Why so much tension surrounding me??? It has become obviously clear I make them uncomfortable and it's hard work for them to deal with me even though I'm trying to be reasonable and sensible. They're just acting funny on me almost always. Why would a man take your used half soaked with sweat towel from you while you're on a treadmill and then say sorry in English when the gym manager tells him not to do that as I stare him down? He took it from me even though there was a stack of fresh clean folded towels in plain sight. Does it make them really tense and nervous to the point of acting weird to be around someone they want to look like and talk like?

By going to Korea to teach English, are you little more in their minds than a phony movie star taking an acting position? I think so....Gawd it just gets weirder in my mind the longer I stay and experience Korea. It's coming due for me to leave as I'm tiring of spending significant amounts of precious lifetime on fake and phony views of me with no real respect for me as the creative thinking individual I am. Might I be better trying to do a real job in my home country and actually doing something valuable for others instead of being a phony actor image to people that can't possibly become me? It really is preposterous in my opinion, but not a hard job if you accept living this strange rather unusual lifestyle. I don't want to be this character for much longer and I now clearly understand why celebrities are unhappy.

[CheeseSandwich]

thats alot of words that you just typed

[Ultimo Hombre]

No way am I reading all that.

[VanIslander]

'Transracialism' is a very ugly word whatever it means.

[Xuanzang]

So what happened to put the Sartre into your water? I understand where`s he`s coming from. Everyone has shietty days where we just want to say "f alllll!"

[Bigfeet]

I read most of it. Sounds like he's about had it with South Korea. I don't blame him after reading about his utility bill problem. Keep venting my man, some of us sympathize.

[esetters21]

[travelingfool]

I have been all over the world except Africa and can tell you that Korea is the strangest place I have ever been. It's like an entirely different dimension. It is a sick society and one where people are in serious denial.

OP, to give you some unsolicited advice........I think the best thing to do is just not think about it. Teach your classes, do the best you can, have a few cocktails, a few laughs, and leave it at that. You will lose your marbles trying to figure that place out.

[Ukon]

[Xuanzang]

Come to think about it. The Op seems to be spot on in his description but for Japan, not Korea. There is where tanning and Western style dress is more prevalent. And salon blondes.

[Ukon]

[kiknkorea]

[Jandar]

Is it a real word?

[kiknkorea]

[Mr_Anderson]