Korean Job Discussion Forums

root555 · Joined: 09 Aug 2006

Or why do they seem to like it a lot more than most other nationalities I've spoken to???

So after speaking to various friends from different countries- we came down with this explanation. THE UNDERDOG SYNDROME. Koreans and Canadians are alike in how they loathe being compared to their immediate super-powers. Koreans hate that ple from the West immediately think of the Japanese in terms of what is 'Asian culture.' It's the most accessible. And they hate to admit that they try to emulate the Japanese- and are having a sort of identity crisis w/ their sudden growth. The Canadians hate being compared to the U.S. in the same way- in that they want to emphasis their separateness from the U.S., although many foreigners I've met have said they have trouble listing more than a couple major differences.

So maybe that's why Canadians appear more comfortable here????

I know I'll get my ass handed to me in this post...But I don't care. Thoughts anybody????

JohnTeacher · Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Location: Ansan-Si, South Korea

I love Korea because I've had mostly great experiences and met the woman I'll marry soon here.
It also suits my teaching style, which many have compared to Robin Willaims...and which I couldn't get away with back home. Plus....unlike North America....either Canada or the U.S., the education sysytem here isn't so full of people doing non-stop unashamed self-promotion. The system here is more of teaching as a VOCATION---and not as a PROFESSION. That's something I really admire and respect.
That's why I love it here. It's truly unfair to read politics or anything else into things merely because you're perhaps preoccupied with it.

Nationalities are an infantile disease; they are the measles of the world.
Albert Einstein

merkurix · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Location: Not far from the deep end.

I am not Canadian myself, but I can understand how some might feel. When I asked Canadians what they know about U.S. History, they know our history better than many Americans do. IMHO I am shocked and impressed. Why? Because it is all taught to them in public schools. They learn it all in addition to their own history. I have experienced a few Canadians who get needlessly livid when they see how some Americans are oblivious and ignorant (albeit naively) about Canadian things, while they were forced to learn all about us all of their lives. The average American (in America) may not know who the current Canadian prime minister is; they might not even know what the capital of Canada is. Again not being Canadian myself, I try not to make any unbased presumptions and, like the OP, I will stand corrected if it's needed.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Newbie · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

swetepete · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Location: a limp little burg

The Korea-Japan relationship seems closer to Ireland-England. There's a lot of contempt and hate there. Canada-USA seems more like New Zealand-Australia, or perhaps Scotland-England. There is rivalry, sure, and often a certain dislike, but none of that written-in-fresh-blood loathing.

As to why Canucks like Korea so much, well...I'm not sure that they do, really. I know lots of Canadians who've been here for multiple contracts but they don't seem to like it more than other nationalities do. I figure there are so many of us here because of economics.
Basically we have a good opportunity to make some money here, but do we Like It more than other folks? I dunno...

I like it here well enough, but I've met plenty of Canadians who don't.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Where are you from? Honestly, we weren't like this.

Newbie · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

It's just off the top of my head. I don't really care two ways.

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

As far as the Miss Seoul, she keeps saying GIs are high school drop outs. You have to have a high school diploma to be a soldier. Stop hating on the U.S. Army, and it's soldiers who have been defending the border for 50 years.

As a person who is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, I have a different reason as to why Canadians may tolerate Korea more.
I think Canada is a multi-cultural country, encouraged to accept cultural differences more than people do in the U.S. A Canadian is more likley to have tried Kimchee in Canada than an American, I would wager. Canada had a Chinese governor general. It has a very large Chinese population in Toronto, B.C., and Montreal and there effect is larger than it is in the U.S.

Canada is a bi-lingual country. They have to accept differences and learn to live with them somewhat. So, though Korea has many problems, and Canadians on this board do complain about Korea more of them may be likely to tolerate Korea. I don't know. I haven't seen a poll, so I am going based on the OP's assumption. One of my Canadian workmates hates Korea and thinks Koreans are rude, backwards, and plain weird.

I think Americans and Canadians both would tend to praise Japan more.
An American would be more at home in Japan than in Korea. There is more bigotry directed towards Americans and more compliments are given towards Canadians though Canada doesn't have an army defending Korea. That would encourage many Americans including teachers and military personnel to not like the country.

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

As far as the Miss Seoul, she keeps saying GIs are high school drop outs. You have to have a high school diploma to be a soldier. Stop hating on the U.S. Army, and it's soldiers who have been defending the border for 50 years.

As a person who is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, I have a different reason as to why Canadians may tolerate Korea more.
I think Canada is a multi-cultural country, encouraged to accept cultural differences more than people do in the U.S. A Canadian is more likley to have tried Kimchee in Canada than an American, I would wager. Canada had a Chinese governor general. It has a very large Chinese population in Toronto, B.C., and Montreal and there effect is larger than it is in the U.S.

Canada is a bi-lingual country. They have to accept differences and learn to live with them somewhat. So, though Korea has many problems, and Canadians on this board do complain about Korea more of them may be likely to tolerate Korea. I don't know. I haven't seen a poll, so I am going based on the OP's assumption. One of my Canadian workmates hates Korea and thinks Koreans are rude, backwards, and plain weird.

I think Americans and Canadians both would tend to praise Japan more.
An American would be more at home in Japan than in Korea. There is more bigotry directed towards Americans and more compliments are given towards Canadians though Canada doesn't have an army defending Korea. That would encourage many Americans including teachers and military personnel to not like the country.

I generally like Korea. There are things that I think are nuts about the country, but no country is alike, and it has more positives than negatives for me.

W.T.Carl · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Why are so many Canadians in Korea? How's about this: they need the work.

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006