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seoulunitarian
Joined: 06 Jul 2004
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 Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject: Making Peace |
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After almost five years in Korea, I have come to one conclusion.
First, let me preface. There is a general concensus about English teachers in Korea from a Korean viewpoint. We are disposable at best, and this is certainly true. Some of us are here to party. Some to make money. Some to study. It really doesn't matter.
My conclusion is to make peace with yourself concerning whatever reason you are here. We cannot win or lose, so why even concern ourselves with it. I am not a nihilist/fatalist. It's just the fact of the matter.
So really, who cares what the general Korean populcae thinks of us? Who really cares if they lump us all together. Most of us will leave this place eventually, and we'll look back on it as a destination within the larger journey of life.
Korea is what we make of it - nothing more, nothing less.
If we really jump into our teaching, many Koreans will ask us why we came here (in a negative tone). If we party, they will ask the same question. I have decided to enjoy myself, better myself, learn about myself while I am here. I am not responsible for what Koreans think of me or westerners on the whole.
Peace |
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cbclark4
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Location: Masan
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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Anybody who spends time worrying about what others think about them needs to take a hard look at themselves. If you have a slight inkling of the paranoia in you, living in another culture will enhance it.
Take the time each day to reflect on your good qualities, tell yourself that people are genrally good and they think highly of you, at the very least think highly of yourself.
Desiderata yada yada, wear sunscreen eat ice cream.
cbc |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:49 pm Post subject: Re: Making Peace |
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| seoulunitarian wrote: |
After almost five years in Korea, I have come to one conclusion.
First, let me preface. There is a general concensus about English teachers in Korea from a Korean viewpoint. We are disposable at best, and this is certainly true. Some of us are here to party. Some to make money. Some to study. It really doesn't matter.
My conclusion is to make peace with yourself concerning whatever reason you are here. We cannot win or lose, so why even concern ourselves with it. I am not a nihilist/fatalist. It's just the fact of the matter.
So really, who cares what the general Korean populcae thinks of us? Who really cares if they lump us all together. Most of us will leave this place eventually, and we'll look back on it as a destination within the larger journey of life.
Korea is what we make of it - nothing more, nothing less.
If we really jump into our teaching, many Koreans will ask us why we came here (in a negative tone). If we party, they will ask the same question. I have decided to enjoy myself, better myself, learn about myself while I am here. I am not responsible for what Koreans think of me or westerners on the whole.
Peace |
Long on words, short on things to say.
Glad to hear you are abandoning your sense of responsibility though...not enough of that going on. |
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dmbfan
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Anybody who spends time worrying about what others think about them needs to take a hard look at themselves. |
Anybody who wants to make a judgment on those who have a tendency to worry a litte bit.......should probably look in the mirror as well.
I'm not flamming you, by the way.
dmbfan |
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seoulunitarian
Joined: 06 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:18 pm Post subject: Re: Making Peace |
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| Demophobe wrote: |
| seoulunitarian wrote: |
After almost five years in Korea, I have come to one conclusion.
First, let me preface. There is a general concensus about English teachers in Korea from a Korean viewpoint. We are disposable at best, and this is certainly true. Some of us are here to party. Some to make money. Some to study. It really doesn't matter.
My conclusion is to make peace with yourself concerning whatever reason you are here. We cannot win or lose, so why even concern ourselves with it. I am not a nihilist/fatalist. It's just the fact of the matter.
So really, who cares what the general Korean populcae thinks of us? Who really cares if they lump us all together. Most of us will leave this place eventually, and we'll look back on it as a destination within the larger journey of life.
Korea is what we make of it - nothing more, nothing less.
If we really jump into our teaching, many Koreans will ask us why we came here (in a negative tone). If we party, they will ask the same question. I have decided to enjoy myself, better myself, learn about myself while I am here. I am not responsible for what Koreans think of me or westerners on the whole.
Peace |
Long on words, short on things to say.
Glad to hear you are abandoning your sense of responsibility though...not enough of that going on. |
Responsibilities are different for different people. I actually did not say what I chose to do of the choices I listed in my OP. Take a while to get to know me before passing judgment.
Peace |
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The_Conservative
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| cbclark4 wrote: |
Anybody who spends time worrying about what others think about them needs to take a hard look at themselves. If you have a slight inkling of the paranoia in you, living in another culture will enhance it.
c |
So by that logic we should not worry about what Koreans think of us...we should all just act just how we please. Then when public opinion forces Immigration to issue more restrictive policies, we can all sit around and complain on Dave's about those dang Koreans  |
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jdog2050
Joined: 17 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| The_Conservative wrote: |
| cbclark4 wrote: |
Anybody who spends time worrying about what others think about them needs to take a hard look at themselves. If you have a slight inkling of the paranoia in you, living in another culture will enhance it.
c |
So by that logic we should not worry about what Koreans think of us...we should all just act just how we please. Then when public opinion forces Immigration to issue more restrictive policies, we can all sit around and complain on Dave's about those dang Koreans |
Exactly--we're pretty much damned if we do and if we don't by Korean standards. Their views on westerners are so shallow that sometimes just being truthful and honest can get you into trouble. So, if that's the case, why bother. |
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seoulunitarian
Joined: 06 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 6:53 pm Post subject: re: |
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| jdog2050 wrote: |
| The_Conservative wrote: |
| cbclark4 wrote: |
Anybody who spends time worrying about what others think about them needs to take a hard look at themselves. If you have a slight inkling of the paranoia in you, living in another culture will enhance it.
c |
So by that logic we should not worry about what Koreans think of us...we should all just act just how we please. Then when public opinion forces Immigration to issue more restrictive policies, we can all sit around and complain on Dave's about those dang Koreans |
Exactly--we're pretty much damned if we do and if we don't by Korean standards. Their views on westerners are so shallow that sometimes just being truthful and honest can get you into trouble. So, if that's the case, why bother. |
My point exactly! And we should not be bitter about that. It's just something we choose to live with as long as we decide to stay here.
Peace |
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