Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fermentation]

I wonder if any of you been asked really strange questions of heard weird misconceptions of your home country from Koreans.

Since I lived in the US, people ask me questions or make comments about the US alot, and sometimes they are strange or just stupid.

Many Koreans I've met think Americans are all gun crazy and shoot eachother on a daily basis. People have asked me if I ever seen people get shot. They must think every day in American is like a scene from Die Hard or something. Sometimes to mess with them I joke that getting off the plane in the US is like the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan.

One weird misconception my mother has is that Americans are all fat. To her American must = fat. When I dated an American girl, she repeatedly me asked me if she was fat even after I told her no and even after I sent her pictures.

The strangest one I got was from this college kid I knew. I once introduced to him some songs that were harshly critical of Bush (when he was president) and the guy was shocked because he thought people weren't allowed to criticise the government and president in the US. He thought you can go to prison for that. I was like where the hell did you get that idea?

[Trinidad]

[curiousaboutkorea]

[I'm no Picasso]

That I'm from Mexico.

(I'm from Texas.)

[.38 Special]

Fermentation,

Being an American is like being a stripper. You can know someone, intimately, your entire life, but the moment they find out that you're a stripper every stereotype will be applied to you as though they never knew you at all.

About criticizing the government... I find that ironic. This is the only country in the world where you are absolutely guaranteed to your opinion. Even in Canada you can be imprisoned for "inflammatory" "hate" speech.

But that's the thing about stereotypes. They can range from the relatively-generally-true to the outright ironic. Because they are only based in reality for the observer, and everyone the observer tells after that, and that person tells after that, and so forth, becomes farther from the truth.

One of my favorite misconceptions: Everyone from America is RICH!

[tzechuk]

UK = always cold and raining...

It doesn't always rain and it's not always cold.

[bobbyhanlon]

[jhicks99]

I love hearing "why do all Americans hate Canadians and all Canadians hate Americans? To us you guys are the same"

I have to explain we don't really hate each other, it's just the English teachers and serviceman serving in Korea who give that impression lol

[scotty12347]

i always get "have you met the queen?"

and people tend to think i live in some sleepy village with a village hall where everyone has tea and scones at 11.

people are also surprised when i dont speak like an aristocrat

[tampabulls]

I am an American.

Grew up in Baltimore and Tampa. I know all too well about guns, but not in the cowboy gun slinging way.

I wasn't a fan of George Bush at all. Maybe I am wrong about him, you know, with all the rumors on the internets and whatnot.


Not fat. I play lacrosse and hockey. Yup, we have hockey in Florida! lol

[Princess Soraya]

I'm a South African who is mistaken for everything but! (Usually Koreans ask me if I'm Canadian or French for some strange reason and foreigners think I'm South American or French...no idea about the logic.)

Anyhow, people usually ask me about the animals. I reply that we have many dogs and cats and they think I'm joking. The fact that we don't live in some jungle (we don't have any in my country) seems to be infinitely confusing.

Are there many English speakers is the next question...Well, it's the official language so I guess I would have to say yes to that. One guy actually asked me when I started learning English because I speak exceptionally well. Perhaps it's because it's my mother tongue, I replied.

And then I guess everyone gets that dumb old question about the seasons. Koreans are shocked to learn that it snows in certain regions of South Africa and that there's actually a ski resort. They cannot get their heads around this one so I have to show them pictures.

[Draz]

[jvalmer]

Many Korean have the weirdest things to say about Canada, like:

- There is no crime. I can leave my nice car unlocked with key in the ignition and go shopping for 5 minutes and still expect the car to be there.
- It's easy to make money.
- Most people have tattoos.
- Teachers are respected.
- Schools are so much better.
- Teacher to student ratios are like 1:15.
- Most people have blond hair and blue eyes.
- Non-Whites aren't "real" Canadians.
- Most people look like Brad Pitt or Hillary Duff.
- All streets are safe.
- Most people do drugs.
- Most people have pets.
- The weather is the same throughout the whole country.

[nomad-ish]

[nosmallplans]

I guess its not really my country but...

Mexican Fried Chicken.

When did Mexicans start making fried chicken? Roast chicken, sure. Fried, no.