Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bill Brasky]

How much of what you view as persecution of foreigners is totally in your head? I think a lot, understandibly(sp?) Our lack language skills, makes us paranoid that, "they are saying something bad about me." I have been out of korea for a year and half now, and in retrospect, I realize that often when I thought someone was speaking poorly about me, it was due to my paranoia . I think this paranoia is totally natural. Being in any situation where otherss can converse with your having limited underrstanding can cause this. I feel somewhat guilty about this, especially in regards to my younger students. I think they were just being immature kids and I somehow read more into thinking they were being nasty, when in reality they were just being kids.


btw, please don't call me out on my typos, i have had a couple drinks and am too lazy to proofread. you get the point.

[poet13]

I think the persecution is mostly in our heads. However, there is also a quantity of insensitivity. There is another quantity of just plain rude. The first, I ignore. The second, if they are my students, I teach. The third, when they do it to get laughs from their friends, comes right back to them 5 fold. I know their weaknesses. I know where they have trouble with pronounciation, I know their grammar weaknesses. I ridicule them, laugh at them, wave their 0 test score and show it to the other students. I have never had a repeat offender. I hate doing it, but when I am done, I tell them why. They understand.

[RACETRAITOR]

If you ever experience real persecution, you'll know it. A couple kids walking by, and one of them saying "Migook" to the other is not persecution, not even if you're Canadian. If someone attacks you on the street, or the police point their finger at you for no reason, then something is going on. But those things are still at least as likely in western countries.

[vox]

I've certainly met some folks over here who wrongly thought Korea was an alternative to problems they experienced back home.

I second the first response. When it's real, you'll know. There is insensitivity and rudeness, but IMHO real encounters with persecution don't leave you guessing or wondering.

Here's a useful link describing symptoms for some mental health disorders :

http://www.thehealthcenter.info/

[Julius]

Its not exactly persecution out here.

There is a strong xenophobia just under the surface, but it doesn't manifest itself in public floggings.

And a lot of how Koreans behave naturally translates as rude or inconsiderate to us. Most of it is just their cultural way. if I share a secret with Korean, he will immediately share it to the whole group. Thats angering to us, but normal to them. And so on..

[Zark]

Best advice: Don't worry about it.

[lastat06513]

At least Korea isn't instituting the same policies as Iran to distinguish between people, such as having to wear the star of David or a Cross on your clothing to let people know "Oh, you're a (put the name here)"


Oh no, I just gave the Koreans another idea

[potblackettle]

I'm not in Korea yet, so perhaps my opinion is not valid. But I've seen some amazingly nasty/racist comments about Korea and Koreans on various boards I've been checking out and I'm simply horrified.

I keep thinking, "If you hate the people and the country so much why are you there?"

The bests posts are when a foreign teacher accuses the Koreans of being xenophobic while their own post reeks of xenophobia.

I don't know... maybe I'll change my mind when I'm actually in Korea. But I've always believed that basic politeness and respect for other cultures can help with a lot of problems. It seems to me like a lot of people go because they want to "party" or "make easy money" and they act like a**holes while doing it.

Well, I guess I'll see. Maybe I'll change my tune....

Of course I'm southern and our culture is also based on ritual politeness and social hierarchy so maybe it just already seems normal to me.

[Junior]

[quote="potblackettle"]

[lastat06513]

I have 2 ways of looking at it.


1. When I was in Korea as a soldier, I spent 8 months on base because I heard stories about how Koreans would attack foreigners and stab them. It took me being assigned there a second time to see that all those stories were not true and I had a great time knowing people and going places in Korea. When I left the army and Korea, I wanted so much to go back there as soon as possible.

2. When I was in Korea as a teacher, I kept my impression of Korean goodness for another 11 months. Then it took me almost 2 years to finally get over that anger and just accept Korea as it is.

I knew so many foreigners (hey, I have been there for almost 10 years) that had so many expectations to become immersed into the culture. But they leave and look forward to leave because those expectations went unfulfilled.

Potblackkettle- We just want to warn you that even if you are polite, Koreans might try to take advantage of that hospitality. Just remain on your guard and make your case heard if you feel something is not right.

[potblackettle]

"Potblackkettle- We just want to warn you that even if you are polite, Koreans might try to take advantage of that hospitality. Just remain on your guard and make your case heard if you feel something is not right."

Thanks lastat. I'm polite, not stupid so I should be okay. My recruiter must be convinced I'm the contract Nazi. I sent her half a page of specifications that I wanted implicitly in the contract and I requested a copy in Korean AND English so I could have a Korean friend make sure they matched up for me.

I lived in NYC for good while and I spent time living in Mexico City... I can handle myself fairly well (I can curse at NYC cab drivers in 4 languages!).

And working in commercial radio will teach you more about standing up for yourself than anything else...

And Junior, obviously you know a lot more about it than I do, just by virtue of actually being there.... but I'm not willing to start out jaded assuming I'm going to hate it.

I don't have any pie in the sky flowers in my eyes dreams... but I am interested in the culture and the country. I'm not just out to make a quick buck... I make great money here in the States, but my husband and I are ready for something new and unhappy with the current political climate here in the States. There are a**holes everywhere... I'm sure the proportion is no higher in Korea.

[lastat06513]

Potblackkettle~ There is no one here questioning your intelligence and comparing it to your politeness- But you might go through things that might question your reasons to go there.
I went through that and alot of people have been through that as well. Some people get over it and some people don't.
If you see yourself overcoming the overtly prejudice that you might experience in Korea, then you are indeed a strong person.

Some people can't tolerate the lying and cheating that occurs in Korea, especially in the hogwon industry, so they up and leave- some without giving their boss any notice.

And some people come to Dave's just to vent- they don't necessarily hate Korea, they just come here and vent and rave about things that happen to them so they can get it out of their system so they can get on with their day.

I am not a Korea-hater, but I am not an apologist (though the people who actually know me would say I am), I stayed in Korea as long as I did because I found that I lived better and more peacefully there than I did or ever will do in the U.S.


BTW- I live in Connecticut and I have to go into NYC at least once or twice a week- Who CAN'T swear at a taxi driver in 4 or 5 languages..... , thats necessary with the way they drive and charge people.......

[potblackettle]

"Potblackkettle~ There is no one here questioning your intelligence and comparing it to your politeness"

Atlast... I wasn't implying that you were. I was just pointing out that being polite doesn't mean you're an idiot about dealing with people and realizing that everyone doesn't have your best interest at heart.

:- But you might go through things that might question your reasons to go there. I went through that and alot of people have been through that as well. Some people get over it and some people don't.
If you see yourself overcoming the overtly prejudice that you might experience in Korea, then you are indeed a strong person."

I see your point Atlast and i really appreciate what you're telling me.

"And some people come to Dave's just to vent- they don't necessarily hate Korea, they just come here and vent and rave about things that happen to them so they can get it out of their system so they can get on with their day."

I didn't think about that, I guess that explains a lot.

"I am not a Korea-hater, but I am not an apologist (though the people who actually know me would say I am), I stayed in Korea as long as I did because I found that I lived better and more peacefully there than I did or ever will do in the U.S."

This is exactly what I'm hoping for. I'm not expecting it to be all wine and roses... but we really just want a quiet but interesting life. That's we we've pretty much selected Jeju Island.


"BTW- I live in Connecticut and I have to go into NYC at least once or twice a week- Who CAN'T swear at a taxi driver in 4 or 5 languages..... Wink, thats necessary with the way they drive and charge people......."

No lie. I once had an incredibly drunk sheik drive me around the village. He made me sit in the front seat and sing and clap with him to the music.

And that was one of my better cab experiences.

You've been really helpful and I appreciate it a lot...

[sillywilly]

I never felt persecuted. I did feel like a spectacle, though.

[HydePark]