tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post455359155797824703..comments2024-03-18T07:07:53.346-04:00Comments on Ask a Korean!: Little Girls' Earrings and the Foreigner RuleT.K. (Ask a Korean!)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-27102652321784074902013-08-13T22:32:41.228-04:002013-08-13T22:32:41.228-04:00What about Asian foreigners that may look Korean?What about Asian foreigners that may look Korean?Nashorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03082586236043304978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-38833829743581254652012-01-13T04:36:51.447-05:002012-01-13T04:36:51.447-05:00Ups! It was an older article.... ^,^"Ups! It was an older article.... ^,^"Dac X Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293064862842657519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-4556601251082242862012-01-13T04:35:06.831-05:002012-01-13T04:35:06.831-05:00"How do Koreans react to people who look like..."How do Koreans react to people who look like Koreans, but know little about Korea's manners? That will be a topic for another post."<br /><br />They will probably think them as Chinese. ^_-<br />Joke. But it applies somethimes. Anyway.<br /><br />That will be an interesting story. I heard about it a lot at school. I'm thinking of a half-Korean and half-Japanese girl who came in Korea and was studying Korean just like me. Somebody asked her in a rude way "You're Korean, so why can't you speak Korean?". She said in Japan she was considered as Korean and in Korea as Japanese. She had a hard time, she said.<br /><br />But I believe not all people take it that hard, it depends on the character of each person and how they were educated.<br /><br />Looking forward for this story.Dac X Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293064862842657519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-90291697000808501712011-08-24T15:09:16.282-04:002011-08-24T15:09:16.282-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.doctor boludohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772366537208672726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-49658372660632297042011-08-24T03:37:05.513-04:002011-08-24T03:37:05.513-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Bluebirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09720260117067090345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-82882145714082874592011-08-01T16:11:40.919-04:002011-08-01T16:11:40.919-04:00At you realize you were getting off topic. People ...At you realize you were getting off topic. People got their shots in. Now cut it out.T.K. (Ask a Korean!)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-56964154457513509682011-08-01T14:12:51.263-04:002011-08-01T14:12:51.263-04:00@the blog: sorry for going off on the big racist/e...@the blog: sorry for going off on the big racist/ethnocentric/xenophobic South Korean tendency diatribe: but what what? really pissed me off. Yes, I'm pretty sure what what? is an ethnic Korean who learned a lot of English in the U.S.Maybe not, but it is relevant because if what what? has Korean blood, he or she will not experience the common crazy public experience of being a 'foreigner' in South Korea, even in the huge 'cosmopolitan' capital, Seoul. If what what?'s Korean language skills are lacking, then he or she will often experience plenty of 'outsider treatment', but still not like someone who doesn't look Asian. This is relevant to the earrings discussion because when what? says: 'Korean-Foreigner has nothing to do with what people would think of the baby with earrings.', he or she uses strong modality to convey what is normally, just look at the heated discussion on this blog)an open, debatable subject: from my previous comments, you will infer that I think the baby's outward appearance as a foreigner will greatly affect many Koreans' reaction to simultaneously having pierced ears: if it's not 'strange' enough to merely have pierced 'foreign' ears, being an outsider 외국인, and having pierced ears could cause double the turmoil. But, the earrings most likely won't matter: you're already different enough just looking like a non-Korean. The earrings will most likely not rock the boat to a much further extent: analogy: A Great White eats a scuba diver, and then an endangered Leatherback: the sea turtle ain't gonna make as many front pages, well, rarely,rarely, as the scuba diver! 부야! "워?워?" (reaction to that deafening Che Boludisimo rhetoric.)doctor boludohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772366537208672726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-78673183379773905422011-08-01T13:43:22.404-04:002011-08-01T13:43:22.404-04:00con't (@ what what?):
The major difference I...con't (@ what what?): <br /><br />The major difference I'd like to point out, if where I'm going is not obvious, is that while in Korean it's implied, and presupposed that a foreigner is anyone from outside South Korea, which shows a deeply ingrained ethnocentric understanding, at least the google definition of foreigner in English includes, without ellipsis, the grounding factor that a foreigner is someone from outside of a 'particular place or group' or 'from a country other than one's own' Anyway, this is getting ridiculous with the semantic subtleties: again my point is that my experience as a honkey cracka (not even a black person, 아이고!) in racist/ethnocentric (disclaimer: many South Koreans)South Korea has greatly made me paranoid and gun shy as not being as good as someone who looks like, and especially someone who speaks 원어민 한국어. (And I would be typing in Korean, yet I don't think it would be allowed on this blog site, English-coaxed.)again, the main point is that because of my negative experiences with racial discrimination in South Korea, I focus on South Korea's big racist problem, but, again to conclude with my same remark from my last comment: 'Koreans and all other nations are extremely racist.' But especially due to South Korea's crazy homogenized 'Korean' population, it's especially obvious when you're from the outside of that country. Again, one time, please try to honestly compare the two phrases, if you have real, extensive experience in an English culture, and the South Korean culture: 'our country' vs. '우리나라' when spoken to a 'foreigner'. Which one is used more typically? I strongly fell it's the Korean one; used to keep the outsider on the outside linguistically. I think it would be (although I could be biased being a honky from the U.S.)more like 'this country' in the U.S. Anyway, all this racism in the world is hurtful and needs to be wiped out. And again, be independent and get your toddler's ears pierced if that's what he/she wants: don't fall into the major South Korean tendency of homogenized appropriate outward appearance. Fortunately most Koreans are quite peaceful, and though some may discriminate against you, most are kind and pacific deep down.doctor boludohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772366537208672726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-89720750805092645992011-08-01T13:42:00.899-04:002011-08-01T13:42:00.899-04:00@what what?:
First, hypocritically your own rheto...@what what?:<br /><br />First, hypocritically your own rhetorical, red herring argument uses the English definition of 'foreign' which I never alluded to for my purposes in my comment: I focused more on the word '외국인', 'foreigner', not 'foreign'. So, first get that straight before you go slinging the big 'prejudice' 'rhetoric' terms around. I don't know your understanding of Korean or 한문자들's implications, but I definitely don't think you have experienced the racism/ethnocentrism/xenophobia/nationalism associated with the use of such a term for anyone who looks non-Asian (safety disclaimer: by many South Koreans)in South Korea. Perhaps you're a 교포 who speaks Korean, but because of how you look you never experienced the '우리'vs. '외국인' dichotomy in South Korea? Or perhaps just someone who is using a Korean/English dictionary, using your own fallacious, prejudiced rhetoric to disprove my valid point: check the 바깥외 한자 meaning again before you arbitrarily choose which denotation best fits your motives: http://hanja.naver.com/hanja?q=%E5%A4%96 바깥외 (外)And here are the denotations, too: These are the most relevant ones in order of significance: ①바깥(the outside, the open, exterior 밖 ( the outside, the open, exterior; funny; same implication)<br />②겉,( the outside, exterior (표면) surface 표면(surface): Anyway, my point is, that no matter how long you've been on the inside speaking Korean and following (some of) the customs, hanging out with Koreans, you're still on the outside! Just because you look different and come from a different place. And here, to be slightly more specific than my first comment: the definition of 외국인 from, arbitarily, lazily chosen naver-- the Korean section: 외국인'definition: 다른 나라 사람. 'Different country person' Different from what?? (the ellipted, implied, and contextually obvious South Korea)And #2, this really takes the ethnocentric/nationalistic/racist cake: <br />2.<br />우리나라의 국적을 갖지 않은 사람. 'Our country's nationality not carrying person': (Wanted emphasis on the 'our' country, because again, no matter how long you live in South Korea, it still, by dictionary definition, is not yours just because you have different blood, look different, and have a different nationality. This is extreme ethnocentric nationalistic logic. And, well, let's compare google's (as Naver's definition is incomplete)denotations for 'foreigner'1. : A person born in or coming from a country other than one's own<br />2. A person not belonging to a particular place or group; a stranger or outsider:doctor boludohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772366537208672726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-45672772977906975662011-07-31T23:25:06.175-04:002011-07-31T23:25:06.175-04:00doctor boludo said...
"외국 (外國)way-gook: this...doctor boludo said...<br /><br />"외국 (外國)way-gook: this doesn't mean foreign, or foreigner, but rather 'foreign country'; not actually 'foreign', but rather 'on the outside, exterior, or face of (something).<br />외국인 (外國人) way-gook-een (een is pronounced like 'een' in between. The important difference here is the 人 (een)인. This represents 'person' in languages like Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. that use 漢字 (한자) Chinese characters."<br /><br /><br />...<br /><br />Wow. Disguised as sound rhetoric is a viewpoint so harshly prejudiced that even the dictionary seems to be telling stories against you. <br /><br />There is nothing magical about the term 외국인 its a classification like foreigner. <br /><br />외 means roughly "other than". 국 means "nation". 인 is "person". Put them together and the rough definition is "a person from a nation other than this one". Now is that divisive? Perhaps. but lets look at the flip side<br /><br /><br />"Not actually 'foreign'"...maybe its best to check what foreign actually means:<br /><br />for·eign (from Merriam Webster's dictionary)<br /><br />1: situated outside a place or country; especially : situated outside one's own country<br />2: born in, belonging to, or characteristic of some place or country other than the one under consideration<br />3: of, relating to, or proceeding from some other person or material thing than the one under consideration<br />4: alien in character : not connected or pertinent<br />5: related to or dealing with other nations<br />6a : occurring in an abnormal situation in the living body and often introduced from outside b : not recognized by the immune system as part of the self <br /><br />Comparing the Korean and the English term, the English term definitely has more gray area and particularly more suggestive. So to say that this terminology is racist is like saying that America's use of "foreign policy" means that America thinks that Canada is a disease. <br /><br />I don't understand how you could look even at the characterization of the language and draw such a conclusion. <br /><br /><br /><br />Korean-Foreigner has nothing to do with what people would think of the baby with earrings. The example about putting make-up on the baby is more accurate. The bottom line is that it was a cosmetic choice that was taken on behalf of the baby (since the baby cannot voice her opinion). At most it might be seen as cruel to pierce a baby's ear but I think people from the Western world would have more qualms than a Korean would but there are likely to be dissenters in both camps. Another similar more extreme example would be thinking of how the Chinese used to bind a girl's feet to keep them small. But piercing ears is much less severe and accordingly the social backlash would be likewise. A Korean that would object to a foreign baby with earrings would also object to a Korean baby with earrings.What_What?https://www.blogger.com/profile/13976417207528095929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-84308731756065659702011-07-31T22:13:49.791-04:002011-07-31T22:13:49.791-04:00I certainly agree that working conditions for Engl...I certainly agree that working conditions for English teachers leave much to be desired. <br /><br />That being said Americans tend to focus on what is legally entitled to them. I used to not be able to understand it when Koreans would come to work when they are visibly not in top working condition. You have sick days, use them! But this is really a difference in cultural values. <br /><br />To the Korean, not coming in to do the work that is required of him or her even when they are entitled not to come in is negligence of duty to them. <br />A culturally translatable example may be as follows: A businessman in a meeting with an important client. The clock strikes 5pm. The businessman gets up all of a sudden and says he's sorry but he's off the clock now and leaves.<br /><br />That might be an extreme example but more similarly would be if you had an important presentation in front of the board of investors and you suddenly caught a cold. Believe me, your company would be upset if you decided not to come in.<br /><br />But that and giving a class are of different levels of importance? Not to the Korean who would even do his best to be bright and receptive running the register at a McDonald's. <br /><br />I'm certain a boss may be more receptive to taking sick day in either the event that: 1. You were actually incapacitated and could not come into work because perhaps you were hospitalized or 2. You had no class that day and no work to do it is just one of those days that you have to come to be a body at work since you are being paid to be at work (That being said many foreign teachers don't have these because they wouldn't come into work to do nothing). That's really what these sick days are for and that's what the expectation of the Korean boss is. Perhaps they shouldn't even put these sick days into the contract if that's what they expect out of them but they're there because other Korean employees have them in their contracts as well. <br /><br />Should Korean employers take special consideration for foreign employees that may have a different cultural view of employment? Perhaps, but let me qualify that. On one hand, they are filling a position for a foreign instructor so perhaps they should pay attention to the needs of their labor pool. This would be the focus in a specialized job market where companies may be faced with competition to attract qualified workers. In a commoditized job market, workers can be replaced so they need to make and effort to adjust to the working culture.What_What?https://www.blogger.com/profile/13976417207528095929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-37504424988381458352011-07-18T02:02:14.317-04:002011-07-18T02:02:14.317-04:00외국 (外國)way-gook: this doesn't mean foreign, or...외국 (外國)way-gook: this doesn't mean foreign, or foreigner, but rather 'foreign country'; not actually 'foreign', but rather 'on the outside, exterior, or face of (something). <br />외국인 (外國人) way-gook-een (een is pronounced like 'een' in between. The important difference here is the 人 (een)인. This represents 'person' in languages like Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. that use 漢字 (한자) Chinese characters.<br />The ethnocentric ideology of Korea is so strongly indoctrinated in the people that neither in the term, nor the dictionary definition is there a mention of what the 'outside person'is on the outside of: it's merely implied and presupposed that the person is from the outside of Korea. The dictionary definition translates roughly as, "a person from another country". Pretty vague, eh? Unless you know the context is that you're reading the definition from a Korean dictionary written in Korean. Then you begin to understand what you're facing in terms of the hugely xenophobic, ethnocentric, and racist cultural disposition of South Korea. These points may not seem coherent with the theme of this blog 'pierced earrings' on a toddler, but my point and this blog's theme are indeed related: many Koreans living in South Korea first look at the toddler, "Ah, an 'outsider baby'". Then, "Ah, an 'outsider baby' that has earrings, something that is not very common in South Korea (not knowing anything about tendencies within other cultures). This somewhat of an anomaly, though, looked at through the extreme prejudice that South Korea generally has regarding things from 'the outside', actually will, for the observer, represent the entire 'outside'. "Ah, all U.S.A. babies, (all non-Asian looking babies must be from the U.S., the observer will probably assume erroneously the baby is a U.S. baby because most Koreans really don't know much about anything from the outside, other than what the U.S.conveys through the fallacious mainstream media) have their ears pierced as toddlers. What a shame." Funny enough you do have plenty Korean toddlers with pierced ears, but you don't 'see' them as a Korean, cuz they stick out about as much as one red hair in the midst of 10 million black hairs. The process is like this: first most Koreans look with the xenophobic eye: "oh, oh! I'm so scared and disgusted by what is from 'the outside'", then judges with the ethnocentric brain, "first and foremost that toddler is from the outside. We're from the inside, and we're better, and gotta represent!", and then with the racist brain judges, "ah those shuckity 'outsiders' (U.S.A. outsiders; they all do that stuff, and they're wrong, bad, and different." As this is dragging on too long, the main point is concisely this: Koreans and all other nations are extremely racist. This is not okay, and needs to change. But there is ever so much blocking the convalescence process.doctor boludohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772366537208672726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-15806354239519667542011-06-23T06:18:20.727-04:002011-06-23T06:18:20.727-04:00I have been working in Korea for a 6 months, and i...I have been working in Korea for a 6 months, and in my limited experience, I find that Koreans are very kind to foreigners. However, after growing up in a multicultural society it is very difficult at times to live in a country as monocultural as Korea. I think they do make exceptions for non-Koreans but I also feel that because they are not used to diversity they do not always realise that their way of doing things is not "the norm". For me, I try balance accepting the "Korean way" of doings things while maintaining my own core personal values. Sometimes, Koreans can be very conservative and I do not always agree with following their customs, even though I'm working here.Rose Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788269671752711646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-27781760971259848522011-03-29T01:23:04.871-04:002011-03-29T01:23:04.871-04:00To only1bigg: Many Americans are averse to the ide...To only1bigg: Many Americans are averse to the idea of children wearing makeup. Many aren't. Some of those who are against it feel that it's okay for adult women but not for young girls, on the assumption that makeup is an adult thing and kids who try to look like adults end up looking skanky, and skanky is low class. <br /><br />Now if you replace 'Americans' with 'Koreans' and 'makeup' with 'earrings' in the above statement, it really isn't so odd to think that some people feel this way, is it? Perhaps earrings signify adulthood amongst Koreans in a similar way that makeup does in America. And just as not all Americans are against makeup on children, not all Koreans are against earrings on 2-year-olds, as has been mentioned here.<br /><br />(Just for the record, I have nothing against anyone of any age wearing earrings or makeup as long as it's their own choice. Child beauty pageants, though, are another matter.)Harryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09865891859221871934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-52433692225026094782011-03-07T00:37:05.902-05:002011-03-07T00:37:05.902-05:00To only1bigg,
I am not entitled to answer your qu...To only1bigg,<br /><br />I am not entitled to answer your question because I did not know such earring was huge problem. <br /><br />Faintly I remember from my childhood I was worried about infection from my ear holed which might be superstitious. <br /><br />Schoolgirls are not allowed to have fancy wearing because many think it affects their studying. This mentality will not applied to babies. <br /><br />So my first guess about the baby earrings is about infection.<br /><br />Again, however, is the earring thingy really a big deal?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05948827329236554530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-25549330058274054862011-02-26T11:56:15.219-05:002011-02-26T11:56:15.219-05:00So I read my comment and @itissaid YOU are right! ...So I read my comment and @itissaid YOU are right! @thekorean 알라! I do need to think before I type, I just get so emotional on your blog. The Korean way is NOT ass backwards, I am sorry that I said it like that! What I mean is that Americans - Brandy in this case - will not understand because our common is not the common over here - one common is not better than the other (blame it on angry sleepy responding) Sorry!<br /><br />I do not think the American way is the standard, nor do I think the American way is perfect. I do however think Americans are more forgiving of differences! Yes SOME (actually all) Koreans understand differences BUT some are so stanch about them that they are off putting! I know they don't care about me but don't make comments - I know the words to listen for - about me or my family when you don't know us! <br /><br />Can someone really explain the reasoning behind the earring mindset? It is so hard for me to wrap my head around how something so small can cause people to say - I am of lower quality/class? How can earrings on a child - ahhhh I can't understand it!!!!only1bigghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09150889953824187192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-32997058311243456032011-02-26T05:59:31.651-05:002011-02-26T05:59:31.651-05:00Itissaid:
When it's clearly stated in your con...Itissaid:<br />When it's clearly stated in your contract that you are entitled to a certain number of sick days but when you go to use one and are chastised and threatened to have your pay docked for the day you were absent (despite showing the contract) i would say yes, foreigners have every legal right to demand "special treatment". Contracts are loosely honored in this country and some koreans feel their foreign employees should accept this part of together business culture. Thus I've accepted conditions such as being paid a month late -because everyone else is being paid late too, etc. Somewhere you have to draw the line. It's a tricky thing because while maintaining a harmonious relationship with your boss and coworkers is key you shouldn't necessarily always settle for less either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-82696278993620007292011-02-25T15:50:23.385-05:002011-02-25T15:50:23.385-05:00Wow, JS and Linda, I have never seen such a heated...Wow, JS and Linda, I have never seen such a heated exchange about "FOB"s and "Twinkies" before. There appear to be some deep rooted mis-perceptions between the 2 of you and what seems to me manifestations of frustration between both groups. In general I really hate using designations like FOB and Twinkie, because they denote their attitudes can or will never change. It's bunk. In my experience, many so-called FOB's learn to become more "Americanized" and integrated and many so-called Twinkies do want to learn and become more well versed in Korean culture/language. Blaming and finger pointing on either side gets us nowhere. We cannot help how our circumstances of our birth or youth initially shaped our "Korean"ness or integration with the US, all we can do in our mature adulthood is to try and appreciate both cultures and try to understand each other better.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16578143472967736000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-25041253870489905442011-02-25T07:31:30.431-05:002011-02-25T07:31:30.431-05:00외국여자,
Oh, and most importantly, the foreigner rul...외국여자,<br /><br /><b>Oh, and most importantly, the foreigner rule does not apply to things such as sick days (you don't get any).</b><br /><br />Should it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-46557855741236374452011-02-25T02:45:21.159-05:002011-02-25T02:45:21.159-05:00I agree with what I'mnopicasso says and I'...I agree with what I'mnopicasso says and I'd add that working in Korea as an ESL teacher is like playing the lottery. You might wind up at a great school where you are treated fairly, paid on time and have a positive experience. I've worked for great schools and to put it kindly, not so great. On the other hand you might not be so lucky and have to endure poor treatment as a foreigner. You might get fired for getting a tan as one coworker of minedid -- parents complained he was scaring the kid with his dark skin, or you might lose your job instantly for shaving your head in the heat of the summer. Your employer might call immigration and claim that you came drunk to work in a lie to get you fired or a coworker might invent a sexual harassment charge. In these cases immigration generally sides with the Korean employer, who at any moment can make one phone call and essentially cancel your visa. Unfortunately the Koreans E2 visa system is the quintesential ball and chain, by which I mean it is not easy for foreigners to leave their job (that should be a blog all of it's own)<br />Oh, and most importantly, the foreigner rule does not apply to things such as sick days (you don't get any). You will be expected to work as Koreans do and work even when you're sick. I came in with a fever of 102 and collapsed on the floor once. Good times. I loved those cooworkers, but they did have some silly ideas!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-81326241732425790922011-02-25T00:08:48.290-05:002011-02-25T00:08:48.290-05:00I'm sorry. Because people who are looking to c...I'm sorry. Because people who are looking to come over to Korea are going to be reading these comments and taking them as valid experiences, without wanting to negate what others have said they have seen, I do think it's only fair to represent the other side. <br /><br />When foreigners talk about Koreans not caring about their culture and locking them outside of society, I just don't really understand what's going on. Did I feel locked out when I first arrived? Yeah. I didn't speak the language, didn't know squat about the culture... I *was* outside of society. But every day has been an improvement, and this has not been just because I'm so awesome at integrating myself. My Korean still sucks. I still have my hangups about understanding or appreciating the culture. But I belong here. My coworkers are not "my Koreans", but my coworkers, my friends and even in some cases my family. They accept me. They treat me like a human being. And they go out of their way to understand my culture. Dead curious, in fact. And my culture doesn't even have anything to do with them, except in relation to me personally. <br /><br />So. That's the other side.I'm no Picassohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06516337555349888808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-14737400990950484392011-02-25T00:02:19.063-05:002011-02-25T00:02:19.063-05:00Don't expect Koreans to want to learn anything...Don't expect Koreans to want to learn anything about your culture either. Mine have shown absolutely no interest in my culture despite the fact that I have learned how to speak Korean semi-fluently and show a great interest in getting to know theirs. I do not expect this effort to be reciprocated any time soon.<br />To them I merely exist as the 외국선생님. 난 영어 가르치는 기게에요. This was perhaps best demonstrated at this week's graduation ceremony where all the teachers were called by name and the two foreigner teachers/외국선생닙들 were not called by name. The longer you live in this country, the more you will understand that you are "outside the box" so to speak. You are a foreigner, almost a 왜개인. Get used to it. "Global Korea" is still a long way off. They'll get there eventually though I believe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-37667003791442215672011-02-24T21:46:49.993-05:002011-02-24T21:46:49.993-05:00Alright, both of you got your shots in. Now cut it...Alright, both of you got your shots in. Now cut it out, or bans will follow.T.K. (Ask a Korean!)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-3800901058955928702011-02-24T21:19:18.298-05:002011-02-24T21:19:18.298-05:00To Linda, I made my comment to be read not only by...To Linda, I made my comment to be read not only by you but by others ppl who actually don't want to put themselves into being who they are, Korean. Now, as you explain the environment you are surrounded, I basically know what you're talking about and how your life has been. One thing cut up to me is that you think FOBs don't hang out because FOBs and Twinkies have own background and don't tend to hang out with strangers (meaning who can less be understood). Actually there are some Twinkies who hang out with FOBS as FOBs try to get to know more about US custom. In other words, Twinkies can be friendly to FOBS to get to know them. I guess reading more book in Korean would help you improve your skills to use Korean. I'm sorry I was being FOB enough, because I typed one word wrong by one letter and thanks to you bring it up. To bring it up once more to help you understand, I was born and raised in US just like you like I went to Korea last summer for the first time in my life. I'm always first to approach FOBs not because I'm willing to get to know them, but because I don't segregate them from Twinkies, striving not to have prejudice that FOBs always don't want to hang out with Twinkies just because Twinkies don't know Korean enough. This little enthusiasm to approach them is what you might want to do for the future, if it's "ok" with you.JShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05851084389624224163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-61493847742087735962011-02-24T20:57:36.057-05:002011-02-24T20:57:36.057-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.JShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05851084389624224163noreply@blogger.com