Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The King of Kwangju]

I've been in Canada for a few years, after living in K-land for a few years. I live in Toronto now and from time to time I go to one of the Koreatowns to eat.

From my first visit to one of these restaurants, I found it easy to spot other ex-expats. I thought it was instinctual, but it really isn't.

They are white, for one, and usually male. They are usually btwn 25 and 35. They know how to use chopsticks and don't cringe at the food. They usually have a K spouse with them, and maybe a baby. If not, they have a K friend. The odd time you will see 4 of them together sans K, eating and talking about old times.

For men the hair is usually short, and they are slightly rumpled and unfashionable. Women tend to be more earthy than usual, with medium-length hair and don't wear much makeup. They range from geeky to average-looking.

In short, they look like english teachers.

More and more, at least in Toronto, having been to Korea is not all that big of a deal. Everyone at least knows someone who did it. And when I look around at these people eating kam ja tang, knowing that they are still young and essentially going to be running this town sooner or later, I realize that the full effect of so many of us spending a year (or 2) (or 3) (or 4) is not going to hit this country for some time, and will be impossible to predict.

I think it's going to be interesting.

[mithridates]

I noticed that their eyes seem to be a bit bigger, at least to me.
They look a bit more like 'normal' people, dressed slightly better than most but definately not richer looking. They smile without using their eyes a lot and they seem very uninterested in other white people.
Some still look shocked after their return to normality and you can tell that they want to feel what it was like being abroad again and so they'll teach as much English as possible, get as many Japanese/Korean friends as they can, etc.
The men, that is.
I know exactly what you mean. I noticed it the first time I came back and moved to Vancouver for a while. I saw them everywhere.

[SuperFly]

I'm standing in line at the supermarket, wife checks in with me says she is going to be waiting for me in the 4runner outside with the a/c running....she leaves...a few seconds later I hear:

"Yoboseyo?

Ah, ne....naya....

Oh.

Oh.

Kenchanyo.

Ne..."


I pay, turn to look as I leave and he does his best to act like he doesn't notice me looking at him while he fumbles with his cell phone.

White guy trying to show off he can speak some Korean coz he saw us talking right in front of him.



Ha.

[Wangja]

[Tiger Beer]

Years ago.. when I moved back from Korea and ultimately New York (where VERY FEW former english teachers move to).. I landed an office job sitting right next to a guy who also taught in Busan the same time I did and we knew many of the same people. Talk about weird.

Ordinarily I don't meet many former English-teachers in the US.. but outside of the work guy.. I once listened to a former teacher in a bookstore rave on with the LP:Korea guide to her boyfriend about her time teaching there.

[rapier]

[OiGirl]

Actually, I have worked for a school system in the states that consistently hires Americans fresh off the boat from Korea.

[chronicpride]

[bosintang]

Great post OP. Makes me look forward to going home and playing games of "Spot the Repatriates."

As for what kind of effect you believe having so many people these days going abroad and teaching could have, care to prophesize?

I wonder how many Asians in Canada are tired of repatriates showing off their bad language skills! How would that be for a touch of irony?

[Bulsajo]

I'm the one who is happy to see you
(AND yes, that IS a tinfoil-wrapped cucumber in my pocket)

[The Great Toad]

I have not seen them but if I go to that Hippie Land of Canada this is waht I would guess I'd see to spot the ESL man-
The large fellows seem to slurp Kim Chee with insane ferocity. They fart loudly and than slap each other on the back saying, "Chonewwn." After drinking many cokes they bow and scrap before the restaurant owner like they are little slave kids. Later when they get on the sidewalk they pee off the curb nonchalantly and then point at all the good looking women. Even though they are huge, fat, unshaven and lame they never the less point at the chubby girls going buy and say "Fat foreigner."

[mysteriousdeltarays]

I travel in spaceships and communicate telepathicly with the Lesbions (not Lesbians) who are holding me prisoner every day. What's the deal here?

[Kimchieluver]

To the OP,

I wonder what the expats think of you when they see you walk into a Korean restaurant.

[ajuma]

[quote="Tiger Beer"]Years ago.. when I moved back from Korea and ultimately New York (where VERY FEW former english teachers move to).. I landed an office job sitting right next to a guy who also taught in Busan the same time I did and we knew many of the same people. Talk about weird.quote]

I think the chances are MUCH better for running into former teachers on the west coast of the US and in Canada. People in NY (and on the east coast in general) have NO idea that there even IS such a field as teaching ESL! Great places for a recruiter!

[Ody]

in New York City, whities eat all kinds of cusine, including Korean. well-to-do tweens order sushi like a samuari. and everyone��s knows full well how to use chopsticks, because they can and maybe because they enjoy culinary variety.