Korean Job Discussion Forums

[superacidjax]

I have found that most of the foreign English teachers in Korea that I've encountered are just plan strange. I occasssionally read the "Foreigner's View" section of the Korea Times and I am amazed at the complete ignorance of the world that these articles represent.

One article mentioned some girl's amazement of the "fast-pace" of Seoul and how that was strange to her and unexpected. In every large city, there is a fast pace.

I'm beginning to wonder if most of the teachers here come from some isolated fishing village in Canada somewhere. At the dance/electronic music clubs I frequent, I notice a large number of foreigners just seem to have trouble with basic social skills. They dress like they are purposefully trying to look weird for the sake of it. Kind of reminds me of many art students.. just being weird for weird's sake.

I've been to many countries, but Korea is one of the few that I've noticed westerners, especially teachers, just seem to act like social rejects. Or worse than that, they try to act superior to Koreans or other westerners. The only westerners I've met in Korea that I seem to like are the DJs. I suppose that the DJ-crowd is out amongst the population more and is probably more chilled out about Korea.

I suppose it seems to me that the problem is that many Westerners here are just very high-strung and can't adapt well to the new culture. Rather than becoming a part of the life of the city, they seem to wall themselves off from the rest of society.

I am not suggesting that any of you are like that of course.

[happeningthang]

So what are you saying?

Seems to me that you consider people who aren't just like you to be weird. Do you only encounter other foreigners in the clubs? There's a lot more foreigners outside of the clubs than in, isn't there?

Most foreigners I've met are pretty social, outgoing sorts, a bit cliquey sometimes, but so what? Those who are truly high strung, and not adapting well are probably hiding out in their apartments plotting their escape.

[princess]

Well, I met a girl here from Australia two years ago who expected to come here and be put in a traditional Korean house... She was shocked when the front desk guy drove her to her high rise apartment and told her that this was her home. I hope no one from my school told her that as a joke. I don't understand how anyone could come here expecting to live in a traditional house.

[princess]

I also worked with another teacher here who carried his things to work everyday in a shopping bag, knowing that there IS such a thing as a real bag, and I don't mean a backpack either.

[Lizara]

Your poll question doesn't make any sense. I can't vote on a blanket statement about whether or not foreigners in Korea are anti-social, because I've met all kinds of foreigners here... super-outgoing people, super-shy people, some of the coolest people I've ever met, some people who should be in jail, and everything in between... it's not a yes or no question.

[Homer]

Some are and some are not.....as Lizara said this is not a yes/no question or a cut and dried issue.

Foreigners here run the gamut from great to freaks, most falling in between as normal people. As for anti-social, what about people having bad days? You catch a foreigner (heck or anyone) on a bad day and they might look anti-social to ya...

You may have a point about people having trouble or being unwilling to adapt to local culture but still, it is impossible to answer yes or no to your question.

[superacidjax]

[Homer]

You know...again you have a point about some westerners here (and on this board) and how the view Korea and Koreans...

However, many westerners do not act that way right?

People here have varying levels of understanding when it comes to Korea and that level is often dictated by their very own attitudes towards Korea. Some like to toss it all in a bag and call it crap. Others go case by case while others yet view everything negatively because of culture shock or just being unfit to be abroad (some people just can't hack the living abroad thing).

[Adventurer]

How are they so different from the Westerners back home? I don't think they are that different. Some of the attitudes you pointed out that you don't like you can see all the time back home regarding other cultures just like some Koreans have those attitudes. We just mask it more back home due to political correctness while they don't have that here.

Some foreigners don't really greet each other, but that is true back home. Some cities in Canada are friendlier than others like Montreal versus Toronto, and Ottawa is a friendly enough place. The people from Newfoundland are super friendly. I don't know what you mean about them being anti-social. Actually, I think it is probably easier to make friends here than back home, because we are all in the same boat.
People want a taste of back home including people.

Of course, there is a high percentage of people who are whack, alcoholics who wouldn't survive back home except on the streets after their relatives toss them out. It is amazing how some of them even got degrees or maybe they went to schools which required little thought.

[bobbyhanlon]

i do agree.. flame away, but there's a lot of western weirdos in this part of the world. particularly:
-religious freaks
-arch-complainers who hate absolutely everything about korea but keep signing that contract every year
-arrogant guys who just got laid in itaewon and suddenly think they are brad pitt
-perverts and general dirty old men
-pasty, rake-thin white guys with bug eyes. for some reason there are a lot more of these here than back home

[nautilus]

[ED209]

[rawiri]

Hey dj, you only hang out with other dj's huh? Generally what iv'e seen of the dj "scene" is that it can be a pretentious circlejerk at the best of times (my bro is big into it back home, i told him the same thing and he agreed).

Stick to your click dude and keep the too cool for school attitude that permeates a lot of dj's, i'd rather kick back, relax and meet people who want to do the same regardless of whatever hobbies they are into.

[superacidjax]

[superacidjax]