Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stevemcgarrett]

My wife and I just returned to Korea a few days ago with some very heavy luggage in tow.

Took the bus from the airport to our campus area near Seoul.

Raining, muggy as can be, flat out tired. Couldn't fit the luggage into the standard taxis because the Hyundais don't have trunks worth crap.

Then this Korean girl, about 25, who works in a local department store, approaches us and despite her bad English bravely offers to phone a van for us. No, this wasn't a setup.

Then she shooed away three persistent and rude taxi drivers and bought us cold fruit drinks from the vending machine because we hadn't any coins on us. Refused any payment.

Asked her if she was a Christian, and she replied "yes," but said she just wanted us to feel welcome, not because of her faith, really.

I told her I love seeing all the red neon crosses at night--that I find it comforting and that it's so rare in Asia. She just smiled.

A very lovely girl at peace with herself. When the van came she insisted the driver help me load it, which he did. Cost only 5,000 won to head halfway across town.

This is the second time this has happened. The other time a Korean male college students gave us a lift.

Maybe the hope of Korea coming out of its xenophobic funk lies with the younger generation. Time will tell. And, yeah, I know this is corny enough to make popcorn.

But I for one am thankful--in all sincerity--and told the young woman she had made our day.

She was modest, of course, but I insisted she view herself admirably.

So I take back all the things I've said about Koreans--well, at least some of them.

[kimchi_pizza]

Glad to hear it Steve-O. I just wonder if your previous attitude has had anything to do with your wife's acceptance in Korea. I originally thought your attitude was because your wife couldn't join you or because she's a foreigner herself and had a hard time adjusting. Either way, I hope this is a good (new?) start for the both of ya.

I think coming to Korea as a single man or woman is tough enough, but to have the added responsibility of a spouse is even more stressful. Or is it a bigger relief an comfort?

[yesnoyesyesno]

this kind of stuff happens quite a bit in korea, it's happened to me a quite a few times

[PeteJB]

[koon_taung_daeng]

well i read this thread thinking a nice gesture was something else, but was still very satisfied with the read

[endo]

I was about to blast you for using caps in your thread title again, but I'll let this one slide in an effort to continue the positivity in this thread.

[kiwiduncan]

Nice story. I've had a few experiences like that too.

[humdrum]

I forgot my umbrella today and was walking to work in a drizzle of a rain, a "nice young Korean gal" RAN up to me and shared her umbrella with me. Kinda made my day.

[crusher_of_heads]

You accidentally hit the CAPS LOCK key when starting this thread.

Thread titles in ALL CAPS: are they mildy annoying, or just plain stupid stevemcgarrett?

[contrarian]

I lived in Daegu my first year in Korea. I don't mind getting rained on, but I finally bought an umbrella to avoid inconveniencing all sorts of kindly Koreans with umbrellas.

[pest2]

Even I wouldnt deny that these things do happen in Korea. And its good. But it wouldnt cause me to take back all the other things I said about the place.

[kimchi_pizza]

Jesus, I find people complaining about stevemcgarrett's all-cap thread titles much more annoying than the actual thread titles. It's his schtick, he's obviously not gonna change or stop so let'em have it and move on already.

[SuperFly]

I don't mind his all cap titles anymore, the whole thing kinda grew on me after the first 20 or so, but has he ever told us why he does it?

[Ginormousaurus]

[stevemcgarrett]

pest2 wrote: