I am nearing the end of my first semester teaching English
in Korea. Somewhat of a milestone! It’s flown by and it has me thinking, what
have I learned thus far about Koreans and myself?
1. Koreans respect authority and old age… sometimes to a
fault.
Ajommas (old Korean ladies) can pretty much get their way in any social situation. They push you out of the way in the grocery store and they cut in line. They drive their powered wheelchairs down the street and cut off the buses. They are pushy and cantankerous but can also be the sweetest and kindest of everyone here. My favorite ajomma is the old lady that runs the corner store in our neighborhood. (It’s more of an open room where she sells goods out of her house.) Every time I walk up, she’s outside farming and tending her plants with a bottle of Makolli wine in hand. She is always smiling, always drunk and probably about 70 years old. There is another old woman with the most hilarious dentures that rides our bus (see below.) She always gets a seat on the bus because of her old age (seats are hard to come by) but insists on holding our groceries for us. This woman is, too, always drunk.
Ajommas (old Korean ladies) can pretty much get their way in any social situation. They push you out of the way in the grocery store and they cut in line. They drive their powered wheelchairs down the street and cut off the buses. They are pushy and cantankerous but can also be the sweetest and kindest of everyone here. My favorite ajomma is the old lady that runs the corner store in our neighborhood. (It’s more of an open room where she sells goods out of her house.) Every time I walk up, she’s outside farming and tending her plants with a bottle of Makolli wine in hand. She is always smiling, always drunk and probably about 70 years old. There is another old woman with the most hilarious dentures that rides our bus (see below.) She always gets a seat on the bus because of her old age (seats are hard to come by) but insists on holding our groceries for us. This woman is, too, always drunk.
This reverence to old age isn’t always good. I was lost for
3 hours on a school hiking trip because the principal was leading us the wrong
way, despite everyone knowing it.
They couldn’t say anything because well… he’s the principal.
2. Koreans have a system of non-confrontation and saving
face.
My advice: pick your battles!
At my school, my superior is not only lazy but also has no critical thinking skills. This means when she is planning out classes or events, she does the dumbest things. I am not allowed to correct her because I am her subordinate. I have had to come up with my own method of suggesting things and making her think they were her idea. I have gained a little respect by being able to smile through the most insulting and hypocritical lectures and commands. For example, she tells us not to be “lazy” while she has me planning the entire summer camp and teaching up to the very last day of school. Meanwhile, she hasn’t taught a class in weeks and spends most of her time shopping online. I’ve had to swallow my pride and smile and just say “yes.” My American upbringing says “tell her off! Don’t be a pushover!” But since I have been smiling through it, I have had a much easier time here and they have even grown to like me. The other native teacher has, in the past, told her off and gotten nothing but grief ever since!
My advice: pick your battles!
At my school, my superior is not only lazy but also has no critical thinking skills. This means when she is planning out classes or events, she does the dumbest things. I am not allowed to correct her because I am her subordinate. I have had to come up with my own method of suggesting things and making her think they were her idea. I have gained a little respect by being able to smile through the most insulting and hypocritical lectures and commands. For example, she tells us not to be “lazy” while she has me planning the entire summer camp and teaching up to the very last day of school. Meanwhile, she hasn’t taught a class in weeks and spends most of her time shopping online. I’ve had to swallow my pride and smile and just say “yes.” My American upbringing says “tell her off! Don’t be a pushover!” But since I have been smiling through it, I have had a much easier time here and they have even grown to like me. The other native teacher has, in the past, told her off and gotten nothing but grief ever since!
3. While they hate confrontation, they aren’t afraid to say
the most straightforward things about your appearance.
This is something many foreigners have to adjust to. They are beauty-obsessed! They have the highest rates of plastic surgery in the world and aren’t afraid to tell you if you look like crap that day or if they don’t like your hair. On the other side of the coin, they like telling you how “beautiful” they think you are and that can be equally as unnerving! One of my best Korean friends talks 75% of the time about how much she likes the way I look. Really, it’s just that I am “exotic” by Korean standards.
This is something many foreigners have to adjust to. They are beauty-obsessed! They have the highest rates of plastic surgery in the world and aren’t afraid to tell you if you look like crap that day or if they don’t like your hair. On the other side of the coin, they like telling you how “beautiful” they think you are and that can be equally as unnerving! One of my best Korean friends talks 75% of the time about how much she likes the way I look. Really, it’s just that I am “exotic” by Korean standards.
4. Many people live a beautifully simple way of life.
I live in the boonies of Korea, surrounded by mountains and farms. Korea may be a place of technological innovation, but many people still live very traditional lives. Jarrett and I have a route that we walk around our neighborhood. We pass tons of small farms and some of the most breathtaking nature scenes. There is something growing on every available space of land! I find this to be an interesting dichotomy. Their smartphones look like mini-iPads but they deny gays exist. They also eat dog meat because it’s good for “man stamina.”
I live in the boonies of Korea, surrounded by mountains and farms. Korea may be a place of technological innovation, but many people still live very traditional lives. Jarrett and I have a route that we walk around our neighborhood. We pass tons of small farms and some of the most breathtaking nature scenes. There is something growing on every available space of land! I find this to be an interesting dichotomy. Their smartphones look like mini-iPads but they deny gays exist. They also eat dog meat because it’s good for “man stamina.”
5. It’s a myth that Korean students are really well-behaved.
Kids are kids no matter where you go. Kids like to play, and run, and be loud! My elementary school was certainly never this rowdy. We were also a little less disrespectful as 6th graders. While the older kids may be brats, the younger ones can melt your heart. They just want your attention and love and the best part is, they haven’t realized just how different you are yet!
Kids are kids no matter where you go. Kids like to play, and run, and be loud! My elementary school was certainly never this rowdy. We were also a little less disrespectful as 6th graders. While the older kids may be brats, the younger ones can melt your heart. They just want your attention and love and the best part is, they haven’t realized just how different you are yet!
6. I have learned that I can weather anything!
I expected Korea to be very different from America, but it’s not really all that different. The biggest change is being a million miles from friends and family. I was really depressed for the first 2 months after we arrived. Now though, I am much happier. I have adjusted to my school and they’ve adjusted to me (I think.) I have saved enough money to take a vacation in 3 weeks, which I am so excited about! I have also gotten a Swiss pen-pal which means I am practicing French everyday. As always, I have my best friend here. Jarrett has been so supportive and so great to me this semester. Things are looking up! I hope that I can make my second semester even better than the first!
I expected Korea to be very different from America, but it’s not really all that different. The biggest change is being a million miles from friends and family. I was really depressed for the first 2 months after we arrived. Now though, I am much happier. I have adjusted to my school and they’ve adjusted to me (I think.) I have saved enough money to take a vacation in 3 weeks, which I am so excited about! I have also gotten a Swiss pen-pal which means I am practicing French everyday. As always, I have my best friend here. Jarrett has been so supportive and so great to me this semester. Things are looking up! I hope that I can make my second semester even better than the first!
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