Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dulouz]

Dear Abbey,

I have a friend that teaches English in Korea for a living. He's older, I think 50 years old or older. He has a hard time here and I think its because he will not change his behavior or appearance.

I think he still wants to be a rock star because he has a rock star haircut and he refuses to dress according to the Koreans manner of accepted dress. I'm generally not a fashiobn victim but here in Asia people are harshly judged on how they appear and my friend appears in Salvation Army fashion for interviews and jobs. One night our gang was at a local cafe and the hostess asked where my friend was at and we said "not here". Knowing that, she put her finger in her mouth to show a gag and she said "hair" and pointed at her hair.

I think my friend is making things hard on himself because his jobs seem to end shortly after they start and I think his clothes and haircut have something to do with that.

What should I tell him?

Regards,

Concerned in Korea

[pegpig]

[Tiger Beer]

Yeah, get a haircut. He needs an ambush makeover.

Go get him drunk until he passes out.. then take it upon yourself to remedy this situation. He'll thank you after a girl for the first time finally notices him (positively) in Korea.

[Derrek]

[rapier]

I'm a fan of dressing well and taking care of your appearance. Unfortunately many westerners here take a positive pride in their laid-back, scruffy and sloppy demeanour. To them it shows unpretentiousness. Yes, i agree its whats inside that counts, but wearing smart clothes and having a trim haircut says infinitely more better things, all at once.

When the untidy feral/grunge insanity was hitting the west, I was cheering at the well-tailored and stylishly well groomed citizens of Milan....long live good dress sense.

[just because]

Where are the "Queer Eye" boys???

[inkoreaforgood]

[Hwajangsil Ajumma]

Right here, you fabulous fabulous scrummy thing!

[pest2]

[pest2]

AWWWW come on... give the guy a break... Why is he in Korea, anyway???? Obviously he doesn't fit in there... well, I mean, do ANY of the people who go there fit in??? Haven't you noticed that most of the people who go to Korea dont fit in... anywhere...... so the only difference w/this guy is that his 'unfit' manifests itself with his dress... big deal..

And about that waitress who stuck her snobby finger in her mouth... If I were there I'd have to make some disrespectful comment about her to get even... Im sure she didnt look like her own role model -- Brittney Spears no doubt since that is whats in style in Korea for women -- either...

[dulouz]

You all can laugh but I'm the one that has to sit through yet another discussion about how bad things are with my friend's job. We tried a guerilla makeover but he sprayed makeover repellent on.

[eamo]

If he can't understand that the whole, "I have to be me!!", thing doesn't work in Korea then there's nothing more you can do.

My natural instinct is scruffiness but I force myself to look respectable everyday because I know looking the part can get you a good life in Korea. Better jobs and more respect. Maybe that's not how things should be but your friend isn't going to change korea anytime soon.

[gypsyfish]

Tell him what you have posted on the board (maybe leave out waitress part). Then forget about it. It's up to him to change. You can't change him.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[ajuma]