Korean Job Discussion Forums

Zulethe · Joined: 04 Jul 2008

Ok, now I get it. I really get it.

I now know why I can't get close to my Korean counter-parts. It's because we have nothing in common.

Our experiences are what makes us who we are. It defines us and enables us to connect to others who share these common experiences.

Have you ever had a kegger in high school at the beach with your best buds and girlfriend?

No.

Have you ever played high school basketball, baseball, etc?

No.

Have you ever had a job as a kid like a paper route?

No

Have you ever gone fishing?

No.

snorkling?

No

Camping?

No

been to another country?

No.

tried countless different foods?

No.

been to a concert with 50,000 screaming fans?

no.

ridden a horse?

no.

learned to cook a different kind of food?

no.

done something spontaneous like suddenly taking a three day rode trip?

no.

been in a bar fight or any fight at all?

no.

surf, or body surf or ridden on a huge wave in the ocean?

no.

played in the rain?

no.

What have you done?

I could go on but I'll stop.

I thank God everyday for the experiences I have had and that are yet to come. It's a sad commentary on the banality of life in Korea.

It's also a reason I have no friends in Korea.

Olivencia · Joined: 08 Mar 2009

Talk about how you know what it's like to live in a place that has 4 seasons. You'll make friends for life Smile

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Seriously..I know what you mean though.

thrylos · Joined: 10 Jun 2008

Do you eat kimchi every meal?

No

Did you 'study' 14 hours a day at school and then at hagwons throughout your primary and secondary education?

No

Did you sleep through most of your university education?

No

Did you have to learn the different ways to talk to your seniors/juniors?

No

Did you go on countless pointless MT's where no one really enjoys being there?

No

Sit in 15-hour traffic during Chuseok and Seolal for a trip that normally takes 3 hours to 'honor' your family and ancestors?

No

Drive to the East Coast during summer so you can splash around a beach that's more crowded than a Seoul subway during rush hour?

No

Hike a mountain that feels like an army division walking single file because there are too many mines to the immediate left or right of you?

No

When asked your first name, respond with your family name? When asked your last name, respond with your given name?

No

Oh, you don't understand us. Cultural differences. See, we really ARE different.

It's sad, but very true. I completely sympathize and with you OP. I'll be your friend... Embarassed

rabidcake · Joined: 10 Aug 2009

Op, to be honest I haven�t done a lot of those things either, and some of them don�t sound too amusing or great. (for me at least, everyone is welcome to value wahtever they want accordingly.)

Fishing... I hate fishing...

daemyann · Joined: 09 Nov 2007

janafromfrance · Joined: 07 Nov 2009

100 percent right on

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

Yeah, the OP pretty much nailed it.

sarahsiobhan · Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject:

Agreed. Best post on here in a while. Well done, sir.

storysinger81 · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Location: Daegu

I'm really sad for those of you who have been unable to find Korean friends with whom you can relate. I've been very lucky to befriend many well-traveled, open-minded, passion-driven Korean people. I've been actually less lucky in meeting good expat types (though I know some do exist). Most of the ones I meet are 22 or 23 year olds who think the frat party is still going on.

And MTs are great fun if you go with good people.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

I'd say I have 2 or 3 male Korean friends around my age (40).

I connect with one because he has an unusual interest (for a Korean) in world geography and history, so I can talk to him for hours about that.

Another has an interest in hi-fi and consumer electronics in general. We can geek-talk for hours.

So, yeah. I think the OP is correct too.

Most Korean men I've met have devoted their lives to studying academic subjects and work. They don't often pick up a hobby or interest except for hill-walking or playing 12 year old computer games. It's pretty hard to connect to someone when they have little or nothing to talk about.

NMonk · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Location: South Korea

if you want to meet people who have exactly the same experiences as you why did you leave your home town? and at what point exactly before coming to Korea did you think all the Koreans would have had the same experiences? talk to them about your experiences and their experiences, the differences in cultures, how those different experiences translate into the culture they have now and the reasons behind them. Try and learn something.

So many westerners here are so narrow minded and OP, you my friend do seem to be one of them.

Oreovictim · Joined: 23 Aug 2006

I don't know; being in to basketball and baseball, having keggers, and getting in to bar fights never appealed to me. If these things interest you, I suggest hanging out at your local foreigner bar. Okay, I'll be fair; I've only seen one foreigner bar fight here.

I seem to have a couple of similar hobbies with Korean guys - playing computer games, guitar, etc. But I've given up on the Korean friends thing. It almost always boils down to being used for free English.

It really gets frustrating when dating the women. A lot of them don't have hobbies. ("My hobby is sleeping!") I suppose if I were working long hours like the average Korean, I'd be in to sleeping, too. Of course, you'll sometimes meet some who do have hobbies and speak perfect English but still are dull, dull, dull.

storysinger81 · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Location: Daegu

For those of you having difficulty meeting interesting Koreans, why don't you try a club for a hobby of yours? Most of the coolest people I've met in Korea have been through my swing dance club. I know other folks who have photography clubs, biking clubs, hiking clubs, soccer clubs, etc. Seriously, you don't have to know much Korean to participate in these kinds of activities and at least you'll already have one thing in common with the people you meet.

Just a thought.

conbon78 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008

You know...I completely agree with this post. I've tried to make friends with the Korean women at work and we could not be more opposite. They like to shop, act as if they are 15 buying Hello Kitty crap and what not, and in general do not like any of the things that I like. I've tried, but we are just too different.

JamesKChurch · Joined: 26 Jun 2009