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ScrewWhiteDay
Joined: 18 May 2005
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 Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 9:11 am Post subject: Is it weird to strike up a convo with a random non-korean? |
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I assume most of them are teachers (because I work at a hangwon district), and I see foreigners all the time in subways. I hate to say it, but most of the time, they're alone and kinda seem isolated. I really want to strike up a conversation mainly because I speak English and am lonely too (have no friends in Korea T_T) The thing is, I'm Asian and Asian-looking at that...
Will I get stared at and treated like a psycho if I suddenly start up "Hey, how do you like Korea" in English? |
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the_beaver
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 9:20 am Post subject: Re: Is it weird to strike up a convo with a random non-korea |
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| ScrewWhiteDay wrote: |
I assume most of them are teachers (because I work at a hangwon district), and I see foreigners all the time in subways. I hate to say it, but most of the time, they're alone and kinda seem isolated. I really want to strike up a conversation mainly because I speak English and am lonely too (have no friends in Korea T_T) The thing is, I'm Asian and Asian-looking at that...
Will I get stared at and treated like a psycho if I suddenly start up "Hey, how do you like Korea" in English? |
Although many people on this board will disagree with me, of course it's weird to start up a conversation with somebody you don't know in a place that's not traditionally a place where conversations are started.
If you mask your initial contact with some assumed ulterior motive ("do you know which direction I have to go to get to X?") you, A. have conformed to societal standards, and B. can figure out if the person you're speaking to is a freak or a non-English user. |
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NearlyKorean
Joined: 15 Mar 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 9:25 am Post subject: Re: Is it weird to strike up a convo with a random non-korea |
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| ScrewWhiteDay wrote: |
I assume most of them are teachers (because I work at a hangwon district), and I see foreigners all the time in subways. I hate to say it, but most of the time, they're alone and kinda seem isolated. I really want to strike up a conversation mainly because I speak English and am lonely too (have no friends in Korea T_T) The thing is, I'm Asian and Asian-looking at that...
Will I get stared at and treated like a psycho if I suddenly start up "Hey, how do you like Korea" in English? |
Yes....Try talking about the weather or something. I get asked 20 times a month, "Hey. how do you like Korea?"
Also, becareful when you assume. I learned very quickly not all white skinned people speak English.
Best Regards,
NK |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 10:00 am Post subject: |
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| I'm a bit shy and diffident but enjoy chats with strangers. Sometimes I initiate them and sometimes others do. Mostly they are pleasant, since the motive is friendliness, right? Only a jerk would say bugger off to a pleasant hello. And isn't that what we miss as much as many things in a non-English country? The ability to say hello to strangers and exchange a few pleasantries? I know it makes my day better. Hell, I am pleased whenever a Korean storeworker uses some English. My Korean is on a par with that but don't you miss those friendly exchanges sometimes? And if your Korean is not good enough don't you hate that you can't just strike up chats anywhere and anytime, maybe ask for dates or whatever? |
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Mashimaro
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: location, location
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: Is it weird to strike up a convo with a random non-korea |
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| the_beaver wrote: |
Although many people on this board will disagree with me, of course it's weird to start up a conversation with somebody you don't know in a place that's not traditionally a place where conversations are started.
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So I assume you have never struck up a conversation with a pretty girl you have never met before.. being how you think it is so "weird" to do so. |
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sheba
Joined: 16 May 2005
Location: Here there and everywhere!
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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| I dont think it wierd. Go for it! |
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the_beaver
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: Is it weird to strike up a convo with a random non-korea |
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| Mashimaro wrote: |
| So I assume you have never struck up a conversation with a pretty girl you have never met before.. being how you think it is so "weird" to do so. |
In the right place, at the right time, with the right approach it's okay. |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| the last thing you'd want to say to a stranger on the subway is "hey, how do you like korea?" |
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FUBAR
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: The Y.C.
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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| the eye wrote: |
| the last thing you'd want to say to a stranger on the subway is "hey, how do you like korea?" |
True. But, whatever happened to small talk? I remember back home, it wasn't out of line to strike up conversations with strangers while waiting in line for something or on the subway. However, the intention was never to try and make friends. |
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Swiss James
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 4:51 pm Post subject: Re: Is it weird to strike up a convo with a random non-korea |
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| the_beaver wrote: |
If you mask your initial contact with some assumed ulterior motive ("do you know which direction I have to go to get to X?") you, A. have conformed to societal standards, and B. can figure out if the person you're speaking to is a freak or a non-English user. |
Yup- what he said. In that situation I don't like it when someone tries to start a random conversation with me just for the sake of starting a conversation-
"How's it going?" "Where are you from?" etc.
it makes me uncomfortable- I was brought up to believe that talking to strangers was dangerous, and if someone started talking to me back home I'd assuem they were a weirdo
But if someone asks me a genuine question, "Do you know where Kyobo book store is?" "Is the subway always this busy?" "Are those your real hands?" etc.
it's much more natural |
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sparkx
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: thekimchipot.com
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Swiss James wrote: |
Yup- what he said. In that situation I don't like it when someone tries to start a random conversation with me just for the sake of starting a conversation-
"How's it going?" "Where are you from?" etc.
it makes me uncomfortable- I was brought up to believe that talking to strangers was dangerous, and if someone started talking to me back home I'd assuem they were a weirdo
But if someone asks me a genuine question, "Do you know where Kyobo book store is?" "Is the subway always this busy?" "Are those your real hands?" etc.
it's much more natural |
What about..."I admire your blogging skills. Can i buy you a moonpie?" |
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Swiss James
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| sparkx wrote: |
| Swiss James wrote: |
Yup- what he said...
....
it's much more natural |
What about..."I admire your blogging skills. Can i buy you a moonpie?" |
I dish out a 1,000 won bill for "Are you Swiss James?"
all the way up to first son naming privileges, two NY style Cheesecakes a backrub for-
"I check your blog regularly, read all of the text (not just look at the photos), it's ace- you should have won that award last year".
Last edited by Swiss James on Thu May 19, 2005 5:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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| FUBAR wrote: |
| the eye wrote: |
| the last thing you'd want to say to a stranger on the subway is "hey, how do you like korea?" |
True. But, whatever happened to small talk? I remember back home, it wasn't out of line to strike up conversations with strangers while waiting in line for something or on the subway. However, the intention was never to try and make friends. |
yeah, but this guy is Asian. he will be mistaken for a korean who only wants to hear 'yes, i like korea' |
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billybrobby
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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I work with all koreans, so when I first got here, times were tough. Finally, after 2 weeks, I felt the urge to have a fluent conversation in english so strongly that I just jumped on the subway and headed for a foreigner bar i read about in Lonely Planet. On the way, I saw a white guy and I went right up to him. Luckily, I had the perfect excuse, "do you know where this bar is?" we talked for a while and then I snuck in the old, "where are you heading?" followed 5 minutes later by, "do you mind if i tag along?"
I had never felt so happy to have picked up a dude.
Since then, I met a few friends on the subway. as foreigners, we gotta stick together. sometimes you can just smell that "i'm new and i'm lonely" feeling that somebody might have. so you gotta help them out.
it's funny, people talk about the vibe or that little bit of extra attention that surrounds foreigners when they walk around the streets in korea. but I do the same thing. when I see a foreigner and i'm not in itaewon, I think, "oh, look, a foreigner!"
I don't think it's mandatory to talk to other foreigners, but when you're on a subway with 40 people and and you see a white dude, you have a pretty good bet that you will speak his language and understand his thinking (at least superficially) better than anyone else on that train. so why not give it a shot.
edit-- the OP has a hilarious name |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 8:45 pm Post subject: Re: Is it weird to strike up a convo with a random non-korea |
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| ScrewWhiteDay wrote: |
I assume most of them are teachers (because I work at a hangwon district), and I see foreigners all the time in subways. I hate to say it, but most of the time, they're alone and kinda seem isolated. I really want to strike up a conversation mainly because I speak English and am lonely too (have no friends in Korea T_T) The thing is, I'm Asian and Asian-looking at that...
Will I get stared at and treated like a psycho if I suddenly start up "Hey, how do you like Korea" in English? |
Initially its good to be friends with other foreigners mostly, for the support early on. After time though, its probably better if you learn some Korean and make Korean friends.
or you may as well just be back in the west.
I'm happy to entertain friendly conversation with foreigners. However I'm over the "all foreigners must stick together/hang out together" phase. |
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