Human decency is the name of the game. Something I have found extremely frustrating in Korea is how the Korean people are so forceful when they are doing anything; when they are entering the subway; when they are walking; when they are paying for something at the counter. When the subway doors open, normally you would allow the people leaving the subway to exit first before you got on, but NOPE, not the case in Korea. No big deal I'll just ram right into why you're trying to get off. However, I'm not making a generalization about Koreans against foreigners, Koreans act that way to other Koreans. It's just really disturbing because it goes back to the golden rule of life. Treat others how you want to be treated.
It's about judging people too. I think people automatically assume the worst in others and therefore they jump ahead and act rude to avoid anything happening in the first place. You know, just be rude because you already assume the other person is going to be rude so you should be on your defensive and be ready! I have been judged before in my life and I know I have judged others, but where in the hell does it get us?? Absolutely no where. One of my greatest friends to date was not my friend at first because of impressions and judgments...she thought I was a big BITCH! And then when she got to know me we found out we had so much in common and we have been friends since...but that also makes me think about how I'm coming across to others. Take a look at yourself in the mirror and think of how others view you. That is something I'm definitely working on here in Korea. I've had to deal with a lot of unexpected hurdles since being here and I just try and keep a smile on my face and let it ride of my shoulders or harbor my true feelings in private. It's not being fake though, it's about putting your best foot forward, or at least the one you want people to remember. It's all up to you.
I had another 'Ah ha' moment the other night. I was out for a Korean co-worker's birthday. There were a bunch of the foreign teachers and then a handful of Korean teachers. One of the Korean teachers that came out...let's call her Sarah..is my age and she speaks minimal English at best. At work she is my co-teacher and she has been a bit difficult to work with. Not only is there the huge language barrier, but I find her a bit immature and clueless sometimes. With that being said...WOW did I put my foot in my mouth the other night. We all went to dinner and then went to Noribang (Korean Kareoke) and man oh man I've never felt more like an Asshole. 'Sarah' picked a song called “Listen” by Beyonce, which if you've never heard the song is pretty much impossible to sing. It's increbibly difficult and intense. So she picks this song and we are all like 'hmmm she's probably just trying to be cute, typical Korean girl, and she's not going to be very good'. OH MY GOD were we all kicking ourselves. She was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! She blew us out of the water, I acutally broke the necklace I was wearing because I was flailing my arms around in disbelief like a complete idiot and pulled my necklace off and yeah whatever who cares about a necklace when there's this amazing voice coming out of this young, tiny Korean girl. (Haha sorry that was a long sentence with no room to breathe, but that's basically how I felt hearing her sing). It was unreal. We were all sitting there in shock with our mouths dropping to the floor. Needless to say I felt terrible, because of the judgement I placed on her and how I wrote her off as a immature girl who was annoying and not easy to work with. Not that singing has anything to do with work ethic, but you get it...I was so quick to judge her and make assumptions about her that I never gave her a chance. We ended up having a great night singing in the Noribang for 3 hours and just dancing and enjoying life. She was so nice too. She said to me at one point 'are we friends?'. Gosh, I felt so bad, but I'm glad it happened. Lesson definitely learned. Anyway, that's enough of my blabbering. Pictures of Halloween with the kiddos and other great to stuff to follow!
No comments:
Post a Comment