Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Troll_Bait]

I was shopping at Carrefour yesterday when a little boy came up to me.

Him: "Choong-gook saram imnikka?" (Are you Chinese?)
Me: "Anniyo." (No.)
Him: "Ilbon?" (Japanese?)
Me: "Anniyo."
Him: "Hanguk?" (Korean?)
Me: "Anniyo."
Him:
Me: "Kannada saram iyaeyo." (I'm Canadian.)
Him:

When this little boy (and others like him) grows up, will the stereotype of "North American = white people" be broken?

In ten years or so, will he remember the day he saw an East Asian-looking person who was from Canada?

[capebretoncanadian]

Probably didn't hurt his perception IMO. Or maybe the kid just gave his head a shake after the encounter and it went away. I think when they start accepting people of different colors and appearances as perfectly competent language teachers...and start being more accepting of foreigners in general....those stereotypes should slowly melt.

[Summer Wine]

I have students in one class who go through every country of white people they know asking if I am from there. They hit Japan a few times I guess I am a sadist. I am saying no, not that country until they reach my country. Then I will say Yes.

I used to tell students where I was from and then have to listen to my boss tell me that parents were complaining that I came from a country whose first language cant be english So now I try to let the students guess.

[Ya-ta Boy]

One incident may not be enough to break the stereotype; one drop of rain doesn't make a flood. A teacher never ever knows what he/she says will leave a lasting impression. Your encounter might have been that one final drop of rain that does the trick.

[mindmetoo]

Once I asked my students how I could become a Korean citizen. One girl answered:

"First you would need to make your hair dark and make your eyes smaller. Then you would need to get Korean blood put in you. And you would need to mow your chest fur."

[yesnoyesyesno]

[mateomiguel]

the great thing about stereotypes is that they have little to nothing to do with reality, and are therefore extremely resilient throughout a large amount of hostile situations.

You probably didn't accomplish anything. Aren't people great?

[Ilsanman]

He probably just doesn't believe you.

[Axl Rose]

sorry OP but i'm calling nonsense on this. Axl's flawless method of logical analysis reveals the following......

This kid has asked you if you're from China, Japan or Korea. it simply doesn't follow from those questions that he doesn't know there are East Asian people in Canada (assuming he knows where Canada is - perhaps that explains the perplexed look on his face at the end of the conversation?) or indeed that there are non-whites in North America. The stereotype it does perhaps break for the fortunate young recipient of your profound wisdom via this chance meeting is that there are East Asian people in other countries, including Canada, besides Japan, Korea and China. That's the only conclusion that can follow. If that's a stereotype you're interested in breaking then fair enough, but most people would regard that as rather a trivial item of knowledge.

So in answer to "When this little boy (and others like him) grows up, will the stereotype of "North American = white people" be broken?" are you sure it's not you doing the stereotyping?

Second, why did this kid pick on you? You're obviously of Asian background - what made you stand out when there are numerous other Asian-looking people he could've picked on? Did he ask every Korean in the supermarket if they were from China, Japan or Korea?

[Bulsajo]

[Troll_Bait]

Axl Rose,

First of all,

I'm assuming you're white.

If so, then you don't know what it's like to be in my skin, just like I don't know what it's like to be in yours.

Secondly,

why would I lie about any of this?

"Hmm, I have nothing better to do than to troll. Which one should I go with?

'America sucks'? Nahh ...

'Canadians are unemployable losers'? Nahh ...

'White chicks are fat'? Nahh ...

'If you don't like it here, then shut the hell up or go home'? Nahh ...

'Korea sucks because ___ '? Nahh ...

Wait, I know! I had a conversation with a little kid today. That's it!"

(Later ... )

"Axl Rose has discovered my troll!

Curses! Foiled again!"

*twists end of mustache between thumb and forefinger*

*goes to tie up a hapless young maiden to some railroad tracks*

[Axl Rose]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[coolsage]

[on the other hand i can tell you that outside of toronto or vancouver or montreal, canada is an extremely white country. I am not from the three cities and I'm in a (secret) city of 150,000) in Canada where I've lived for most of my life and I can say I was constantly the only non-white person in the vast majority of my classes or social circles. I can technically take offense to anyone saying that Canada begins and ends with Toronto or Vancouver.[/quote] I assume that you've never been to Winnipeg or Regina or Saskatoon. Those tens of thousands of non-white people are known these days as 'First Nations' people. Or to Halifax, where those tens of thousands of non-white people are referred to as 'African-Canadians' (once the terminus of the Freedom Railroad). Your generalization doesn't hold water.

[dulouz]

I'm sorry - being 100% Canadian means being Native American and then 100% Native American. I'm aware The US et al was founded on bad ethics that being White people that clubbed and shot the Indians and then stole their land . I'm proud of The US and our acomplishments will we be remembered throughout history as a Neo Rome but all of that good work has one flaw...we simply don't have a clear title and we never will.

The genocide of the natives simply has a bad taste for me. "There by the grace of God go I". Remember that.

To wit I keep my contacts of European immgration intact in case the good life here in the US ends. For me already some of it has ended.

To answer your question "When will the...end?". It will never end. It will always be that way. You can't erase 300 plus years of history with a few government mandates.