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dutchman
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: My backyard
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 Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:32 am Post subject: What's it like to grow up Korean? |
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My wife received this email from one of our former students. He's in middle school now. He studied with my wife and I from second to sixth grade. A sad lot in life to be a Korean student.
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Hello teacher,
This is Tae won. It's good to write a letter to you.These days, I'm really depressed about my life. There're many barriers on my life. Like test, academy and etc. I want to escape from korea and live calmly in another world. What should I do now? I don't have any idea to solve my emotinal problems. Give me some advices to me teacher. I really need your help. And I want to ask you about some problems. How can I become the best of the school? I want to be the best student in our school. But it's very hard for me. I'm so sad. |
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phaedrus
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Location: I'm comin' to get ya.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:37 am Post subject: |
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That's sad.
However, it is either work your ass off to get ahead, or live in some crap villa/crap neighbourhood working as a plumber or store owner or something, with never enough money to get out of your hole.
Still, it's too bad that the education system doesn't force more competition on high school and university students rather than on middle school and elementary students.
I did fine in Canada, and never thought about studying until high school. |
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baldrick
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: Location, Location
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| Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:41 am Post subject: |
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Q: What's it like to grow up Korean?
A: Awful. |
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Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
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| Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:06 am Post subject: yes |
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| I also agree, if I were Korean, I'd probably hate life. |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:54 am Post subject: |
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Actually, touching.
My advice would be, just take it all out on the waeguk teacher at the hagwon. Its stress releasing,and they're not allowed to stop you. |
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Wisco Kid
Joined: 07 Sep 2004
Location: Changwon
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| Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 7:05 am Post subject: |
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| I did fine in Canada, and never thought about studying until high school |
I did fine in America and never thought about studying (seriously) until my 6th year of university.
No, I don't have an MA. The reason university took so long was that I wasn't serious about studying. But I still made it through one of the biggest schools in the country. And I never freaked out about my grades: just freaked out on 'shrooms a few times. |
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Neil
Joined: 02 Jan 2004
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 7:46 am Post subject: |
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It's all relative though isn't it?
Surely you would rather grow up Korean than Chinese, Thai, North Korean, Fillipeano ect. I do feel sorry for the kids here with regards to the hours they put in but also remember with the exception of the Japanese they have more leisure and economic opportunities than any of their Asian peers. |
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Wisco Kid
Joined: 07 Sep 2004
Location: Changwon
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| Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 8:41 am Post subject: |
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It's all relative though isn't it?
Surely you would rather grow up Korean than Chinese, Thai, North Korean, Fillipeano ect |
No way! I'd much rather grow up Thai than Korean.
The Thai way of life (pace of life) and spiritual values are much more sane in my opinion.
It all depends on what you deem important in life. |
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Neil
Joined: 02 Jan 2004
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 10:45 am Post subject: |
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Fair enough.
I'm just unsure how any spiritual values would get me through an 18 hour shift at the sweat shop. |
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Harin
Joined: 03 May 2004
Location: Garden of Eden
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| Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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| i grew up in korea, but it wasn't so bad. sure, thought about killing myself over few bad grades, but i am sure teenage girls here in the states have their own share of teen-issues to deal with. |
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peemil
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Location: Koowoompa
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| Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Harin... What the bloody hell is up with your avatars. That one is even worse than the last one. |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 6:58 am Post subject: |
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So sad. The flipside is being a vicious little smartypants in the hagwon. That unbelievably placid self-loathing shipped outwards. I'm here you little bratty-pants, poor little, underhandedly and blatantly vicious little mama's boy.  |
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Wisco Kid
Joined: 07 Sep 2004
Location: Changwon
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:04 am Post subject: |
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Fair enough.
I'm just unsure how any spiritual values would get me through an 18 hour shift at the sweat shop. |
This is a little bit of a one-sided viewpoint. From my experience living in Thailand, I'd say most people are living comfortably enough. It is very rare in Thai society for teenagers to work a part-time job, especially in the middle-class. Yes, there are people living in poverty, but most Thais aren't. Thais also know how to relax, and their calander is absolutely stacked with public holidays. They aren't workaholics like the Chinese. |
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peemil
Joined: 09 Feb 2003
Location: Koowoompa
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Koreans grow up? |
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