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Published: August 29th 2008
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I met a lot of new people this week - all teachers. Many are from the United States, some are from Canada, and there were a couple of people from the UK and New Zealand. Due to illness from all of the traveling and changes in eating habits, as well as taking care of getting settled in fully (things like my medical exam and buying stuff for the apt.), I didn't go out and experience the night life until last night. The initial excitement of being here, has already worn off a little bit as I get into my routine.
In terms of daily living - it is difficult. More difficult than I anticipated before leaving and during the first two days of my arrival. More and more I am noticing the reactions that I get from the locals when they realize that I do not speak Korean. Koreans are a warm culture, but it confuses and to some degree I think it offends a lot of the people I have come into contact with that I am of Korean descent, but can’t speak the language. I can understand why this would be hard for them to understand. They live
in a society that expects its youth to learn English from an early age. These kids are schooled in the same intricacies of American culture as children growing up in the United States are. To some degree, more so. So, why I would not be familiar with the customs and language of my ethnic background is somewhat pathetic. However, the Korean teachers I work with, are coming to understand my situation better as they get to know me. A particularly soft-spoken teacher, who also speaks English named E-jay, came into my office and asked me some questions the other day. "Trista, do your parents speak Korean?" Actually no, I was adopted. "Ooooo, so you cannot speak Korean?" Unfortunately no, but I am trying to learn! The school told us that you were Korean-American. I guess because of look only, yes?" Yes, I think so too. "But really you are just, American." I've always known that I am American. My only real connection to Korea is my appearance. But something about E-jay saything this to me, really made me think about what it means to be adopted. When I think about all of the job and college applications that I had
to complete, where it asks for a race and ethnicity, it seems like such a wasted question. And I don't think I've ever really answered the questions accurately because given the options, I would say Korean-American. The better question would be to ask what nationality a person is, at least then I could in a small way get the point across that for all intensive purposes, I am American. I simply have Asian physical features. This is something that I am going to be thinking about a lot more. Anyway, the Korean teachers do appreciate the efforts I am making and the research I did before coming here. I only hope that my ignorance does not further the notion that Americans think they are better than people from other countries.
My greatest challenge occurred Wednesday afternoon when I went to KB bank to exchange my travelers’ checks for Korean won. When I was called to the teller’s desk, I immediately told her I was American and just handed her my traveler’s checks. She looked at me and asked for my passport (in broken English of course). After handing it to her, she began making hand gestures to let me
know that something else was needed. The only word that I could discern was “card.” After about ten minutes of playing charades, she handed my checks and passport back to me and indicated that she could not help me. I felt embarrassed, but was also somewhat confused. What if I had just been a tourist trying to get money for my travelers checks? Obviously many people would not be able to speak Korean, but they would need to get currency…
So, I left the bank and went to school. Amber, was already in our teacher’s room working on lesson plans. I told her about the trouble that I had at the bank, and asked if she would mind calling them to see what I needed in order to exchange the checks. She happily did so, but also became frustrated on the phone with them when they kept telling her that all I needed was a passport (as I had already explained exactly what happened only 5 minutes earlier). So, she decided to go to the bank with me, because “she likes me.”
When we got to the bank, a different teller assisted us. She was about my age.
Amber did all of the talking and the teller just kept looking at me while they discussed things. As it was my first time at the bank, I had to fill out an application form, then they would cash my checks. This was the missing link only minutes before. As I was completing the information, another, more senior bank employee came over to talk to the younger teller and Amber. As I watched them, the two employees looked directly at me for a good period of time, said some things to Amber, and then the older women went back to her office. But not before looking at me once more with a stern expression on her face. I knew that they were talking about me and I also knew why. I turned to Amber and said, "They want to know why I don't speak Korean, don't they." "Oh my gosh, how did you know?" she said in her quick, and purposeful English. "Some things I can figure out. It's ok." Amber put her head down in embarrassment, which led me to believe that their inquiry was not one of curiosity, but also disapproval. Then she replied, "Well, this girl (and
she pointed to the young teller) said that since you are her age, she wants to be nice to you. She can understand English, but cannot speak it." and I said, "so it offends them that I do not speak Korean." Amber's response "Just learn Korean."
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Terri
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Interesting entries
Trista, what an education you're giving me about Korea. As you said, the good, the bad and the ugly.