Comments | maestasa: Not Welcome Here

maestasa

Not Welcome Here

Jan 21, 2007 23:54

Last night, I experienced the inevitable reality that there are negative aspects that result from being a foreigner in Korea. And I will never be accepted as an equal here. Until this point I have been treated extremely well by most of the Korean people I have met. My host family is very kind, my director does whatever he can to make me ( Read more... )

Comments 7

lee17 January 21 2007, 19:41:20 UTC

I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the Korean bar. Unfortunately, I think you would find similar situations everywhere in the world--even America. Still, it sucks a lot more when it happens to you personally...

On the upside--I love dim sum, and you just made me crave it bad. :)

ooh angemalo.... :( anonymous January 21 2007, 20:19:29 UTC

I hate to hear that you had that experience but it is also an experience that perhaps you needed to have. Not because you are a bad person or anything else, but because, sometimes we have to understand the social context and underlying tones that hide beneath the countries that we visit. Semester at sea was constantly reminding us that we didn't fit into any of the countries we visited, but when we tried to blend in or learn from the culture, that is when we were finally at rest. Ya know?? I am so upset that they would treat you this way, and a bit upset at you for responding the way you did, but I know you and I understand why you reacted in this manner. I am glad that you took a while to truly grasp all of your emotions and try to figure out what happened and why. If you look at some of the stories on the BBC about Korea, you will find the stories of rape by us soldiers, so it is only natural that they hate or even fear foreigners but even more Americans. I hope you are able to bounce back from this and learn from this experience ( ... )

anonymous January 21 2007, 23:28:17 UTC

It's a shame, but until everyone acknowledges that we are part of a global community, we will always have to keep that cultural barrier in mind :(.

anonymous January 22 2007, 04:34:23 UTC

Hi Ang it is Vanessa, Sorry to hear about that Ang that really sucks that this had to happen to you. I hope that you don't have many experieces like that while you are out there. I enjoy knowing what is going on with you out there in your updates. We miss you.

Not Welcomed anonymous January 22 2007, 16:39:08 UTC

Angelo.... I realize that must have been such an embarrassing moment for you, especially cause you have been so welcomed the past few weeks, but don't take it personally, did you ever think it was directed towards the tall RED HEAD you were with? :) You and your sister could totally pass as an orientals, :) j/k.... well Monique too, I think she has had several people ask her if she was Korean, she gets so mad. Anyway had they given you the opportunity, they would have realized what we all have known for a long time, that you are just amazing!!! Keep you chin up, and focus on the positive in every situation.

Love you!!
Lenore