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Gibberish
Joined: 29 Aug 2009
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 Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 11:22 am Post subject: My beard: The ultimate question |
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Well, I couldn't find a straight answer on this so I'm making a new topic. My beard. It's glorious. Well, by western standards anyways. Think Eric Bana in Troy. However, I've decided to teach English in Korea instead of using my god-like beard to make a fortune and achieve fame in the states, which leads me to one question: Can I keep my beard?
I've heard people say that in your photo you want to look clean shaven, as Koreans aren't big on facial hair in general, but I love my beard like a best friend, and I'd miss it. Can I grow it back in Korea without people making me into a facial hair pariah? Should I shave for the picture and then show up in Korea with my beard fully-grown again? If I keep it neat and trimmed for my picture, will it deter my chances at getting a job?
I mean, doesn't my full, lush beard only show my wonderful Caucasian-ness, that the Korean culture craves so much? Would it not make me look more white? |
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Carla
Joined: 21 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 11:42 am Post subject: Re: My beard: The ultimate question |
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| Gibberish wrote: |
Well, I couldn't find a straight answer on this so I'm making a new topic. My beard. It's glorious. Well, by western standards anyways. Think Eric Bana in Troy. However, I've decided to teach English in Korea instead of using my god-like beard to make a fortune and achieve fame in the states, which leads me to one question: Can I keep my beard?
I've heard people say that in your photo you want to look clean shaven, as Koreans aren't big on facial hair in general, but I love my beard like a best friend, and I'd miss it. Can I grow it back in Korea without people making me into a facial hair pariah? Should I shave for the picture and then show up in Korea with my beard fully-grown again? If I keep it neat and trimmed for my picture, will it deter my chances at getting a job?
I mean, doesn't my full, lush beard only show my wonderful Caucasian-ness, that the Korean culture craves so much? Would it not make me look more white? |
A beard isn't a deal breaker, but it could turn away some employers. I think the main issue is not that it is clean and trim in the picture, but how it looks when it's not clean and trim. Some of the people you see around..... well, "trim" is not how I would describe their beard. Are you talking about a small beard or are we talking... who's the guy that fell asleep for 20 years? Sorry, can't think of the fable. But you get the point. |
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Forward Observer
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: FOB Gloria
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 11:45 am Post subject: |
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How old are you? I ask because if you're going to be teaching kids, it really doesn't matter if you grow your beard back. Here's an idea: Scan that old picture of you before you had the beard and send them that - then show up w/beard. They won't say jack.
I was in the big COEX supermall a few months ago and I saw two guys in their 20's walking along with beards.
Back in the 90's, my friend Jason had hair down to his ass, and a beard half as long. He was fine. Some chicks dig it. |
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Carla
Joined: 21 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 11:49 am Post subject: |
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| Forward Observer wrote: |
| Back in the 90's, my friend Jason had hair down to his ass, and a beard half as long. He was fine. Some chicks dig it. |
LOL, oh my. 2 words. Cowgirl and reins. LOL. You put the picture in my head, now please take it out. |
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Gibberish
Joined: 29 Aug 2009
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Carla
Joined: 21 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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Ohhhhhh..... I see. Naw, that's good. I was thinking something a couple of inches long. Something little birdies could nest in, lol. I don't think you will have a problem. |
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Forward Observer
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: FOB Gloria
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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Not a problem at all. I wouldn't even cut/shave it off.
Last edited by Forward Observer on Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:35 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Ruthdes
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:39 pm Post subject: Re: My beard: The ultimate question |
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| Carla wrote: |
| ... who's the guy that fell asleep for 20 years? Sorry, can't think of the fable. But you get the point. |
Rip Van Winkle.
I teach adults and one of my best friends and coworkers had a (often not too trim) beard for the 2 years he was here. I never heard our employer complain, even when it got longish and quite dispreputable looking. Having said that, the job market is a lot tighter here than it was. Using an old photo if it's available may not be such a bad idea. Once you get here I'd say it doesn't matter. There are heaps of guys with beards. |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Lay off the Justin Timberlake vids for a while. You'll be OK. Just remember, he's not normal nor considered hot by most women over the age of 14. |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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You look fine. No one will blink twice. |
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Unposter
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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From my experience, you can get away with anything you have the confidence to pull off - long hair, beards, tattoos, earrings...whatever...it can be done if you have the confidence to pull it off and know when to be professional.
Koreans can be just as surprisingly tolerant as they can be xenophobic. It is a lot more complex (not surprisingly) than is often written about on Dave's. |
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hugekebab
Joined: 05 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject: Re: My beard: The ultimate question |
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| Gibberish wrote: |
Well, I couldn't find a straight answer on this so I'm making a new topic. My beard. It's glorious. Well, by western standards anyways. Think Eric Bana in Troy. However, I've decided to teach English in Korea instead of using my god-like beard to make a fortune and achieve fame in the states, which leads me to one question: Can I keep my beard?
I've heard people say that in your photo you want to look clean shaven, as Koreans aren't big on facial hair in general, but I love my beard like a best friend, and I'd miss it. Can I grow it back in Korea without people making me into a facial hair pariah? Should I shave for the picture and then show up in Korea with my beard fully-grown again? If I keep it neat and trimmed for my picture, will it deter my chances at getting a job?
I mean, doesn't my full, lush beard only show my wonderful Caucasian-ness, that the Korean culture craves so much? Would it not make me look more white? |
It's fine, you're young, so you're not going to have any trouble getting a job here. Personally I only like the full beard (the Arctic race beard/neglect beard) or nothing, I'm always suspicious of guys who trim and maintain beards. A beard should only ever appear by the default of neglect.
Make sure you smile in the photo and wear a smart shirt and tie; it makes all the difference. |
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Carla
Joined: 21 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: My beard: The ultimate question |
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| Ruthdes wrote: |
| Carla wrote: |
| ... who's the guy that fell asleep for 20 years? Sorry, can't think of the fable. But you get the point. |
Rip Van Winkle. |
Oh thank you. That has been bugging the crap out of me. I kept saying Rumplestilskin (sp?) but I knew that was the troll and the golden straw.....
Thank you very much  |
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KimchiExplosion
Joined: 01 Jul 2007
Location: Nowhere near Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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You look like the best friend character in Boy Meets World.
I knew quite a few people with beards when I was working in Jeonnam. It didn't seem to be a problem. And their beard/hair styles were a lot closer to ZZ Top than yours. |
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