RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

Sometimes, communicating is really annoying...I really wanted to ask, "Do you not realize that I am basically trapped here until the bus comes and you are making me super uncomfortable? Do you not see that?"

I feel bad for the person who was trying to talk to you on the bus...

...I'm sorry you feel bad as the American community in Korea, and I hope don't feel isolated wherever you are.

Chinguetti's comments sound much more helpful here. I would *try to* ignore all the rest. There are stories like this that pop up all the time on waygook, so don't feel like it's just you. Unfortunately, they tend to attract as many unsympathetic comments as supportive ones.

Sometimes, communicating is really annoying...I really wanted to ask, "Do you not realize that I am basically trapped here until the bus comes and you are making me super uncomfortable? Do you not see that?"

I feel bad for the person who was trying to talk to you on the bus...

...I'm sorry you feel bad as the American community in Korea, and I hope don't feel isolated wherever you are.

Chinguetti's comments sound much more helpful here. I would *try to* ignore all the rest. There are stories like this that pop up all the time on waygook, so don't feel like it's just you. Unfortunately, they tend to attract as many unsympathetic comments as supportive ones.

Better to be safe than sorry.  Yeah it sucks if someone's feelings get hurt if he/she is legitimately trying to be friendly but I'd much rather risk a stranger's briefly hurt feelings than my safety.  And if someone can't understand that they he/she lives a privileged life.

Best to always be alert, unfortunately, and to err on the side of caution. 

About once a month, someone asks me if I'm Russian. It wouldn't bother me so much if it weren't for the issue of associating Russians with prostitutes. Last week, a taxi driver asked me if I was Russian, and I have never said I was an American faster in my life.

I'm really curious what the requirements are for this question (not victim blaming, simply wondering what Koreans consider "Russian" to be). I have Eastern European ancestry so assumed I'd frequently get this question but it's never happened. At the same time, I try to be as unapproachable as possible. Headphones, sunglasses, and a firm stare down reserved for the creeps.

I'll also add that, yeah, I get that people are lonely and maybe they just want someone to talk to HOWEVER I think this disproportianely affects women whose time/attention men feel entitled to. Especially since, as in your case, they rarely take no for an answer.

I'm really curious what the requirements are for this question (not victim blaming, simply wondering what Koreans consider "Russian" to be). I have Eastern European ancestry so assumed I'd frequently get this question but it's never happened. At the same time, I try to be as unapproachable as possible. Headphones, sunglasses, and a firm stare down reserved for the creeps.

Normally if you're white and what they would consider attractive, they'll ask if you're Russian, but it doesn't have to follow that criteria and doesn't guarantee that you'll get asked. I know some very pretty blonde white girls who have never been asked. Meanwhile, I've been asked if I were Russian a few times, and I look NOTHING like Korea's stereotype of Russian women OR have an accent that comes even remotely close to sounding Russian. Most people think I'm from Latin America or, like, Spain/Portugal.

It's often just simply code for "foreign prostitute," so you don't have to be the stereotypical white woman to get asked. And it has nothing to do with the way you dress, too. Only a certain type of man would ask a random woman if she were a prostitute, and these kind of men just zero in on the fact that you're foreign. If they ask you and you say "no" or seem confused by their question, they'll know you're not "in the know." And they normally don't get embarrassed by asking random women this because most of them don't realize that this is fairly common knowledge among the foreign community. They still think it's some big secret that only prostitutes or other Korean men know about.

Sometimes it truly is out of curiosity when they ask (in these cases, though, there's a normal conversation that naturally leads up to it), but if you get randomly approached and asked if you're Russian from out of nowhere, it's just wishful thinking that they can buy you.

A lot of if, when and how you'll be asked if you're Russian can depend on where you are at the time. Some places/areas are more prone to having scuzzy men with a lack of social awareness (like, yeah, I understand that prostitution is alive and well here, but anyone with any amount of common sense knows you don't approach a random woman to ask her if she's a prostitute ffs) -- while I've been propositioned in my assigned town several times, I've only been asked if I was Russian once while all of the other times were in places like Seoul or Busan, usually in more "isolated" areas with a specific demographic... but it still varies. I normally get the Russian question from older Korean men while younger guys just straight up ask me for sex or try to get my number for "English lessons", but I've had it the other way around, too.

It can also depend on how much exposure you have (basically how much and how often you run around on your own), or how "busy" you look (i.e. you moving at a fast pace vs. more casually walking/ambling or waiting somewhere).

And then there's how approachable they think you are. So yeah, having resting-bitch-face and keeping headphones on will do a lot to minimize the chances of getting approached and randomly asked if you're Russian. They also normally won't ask if other people are close enough to hear them... doesn't stop all of them, though, that's how socially unaware and/or arrogant some of these assholes are.

So long story short, there's no guarantee that you will or won't get asked if you're Russian, but your chances of getting asked rise and fall depending on where you live, where you travel, how often you travel alone, and how approachable or "agreeable" the offending men deem you to be.

Sometimes, communicating is really annoying...I really wanted to ask, "Do you not realize that I am basically trapped here until the bus comes and you are making me super uncomfortable? Do you not see that?"

I feel bad for the person who was trying to talk to you on the bus...

...I'm sorry you feel bad as the American community in Korea, and I hope don't feel isolated wherever you are.

Chinguetti's comments sound much more helpful here. I would *try to* ignore all the rest. There are stories like this that pop up all the time on waygook, so don't feel like it's just you. Unfortunately, they tend to attract as many unsympathetic comments as supportive ones.

Better to be safe than sorry.  Yeah it sucks if someone's feelings get hurt if he/she is legitimately trying to be friendly but I'd much rather risk a stranger's briefly hurt feelings than my safety.  And if someone can't understand that they he/she lives a privileged life.

Best to always be alert, unfortunately, and to err on the side of caution.

I agree you should always be cautious. I also have a story, not about me, but another foreign teacher who lived near me.

Everyday I would take the same bus to school, and noticed that a across the street there was a foreign woman who ways always being uncomfortably approached by an older korean man in the morning. It was pretty weird, and he looked kind of aggressive, so I normally wouldn't care but this happened like every day.

I left early one day and saw that the guy would drive near the bus stop, park his car, go talk to the woman, then go back in his car and drive off once she left. Bizarre, right? And he made it look like he was waiting for the bus.

I went and told the woman a couple days later, and I guess she switched bus stops cause I never saw her again, lol. She seemed kind of miffed that I came up to talk to her, whatever.

Another time I was in Busan and I wasn't sure what bus to take, and there were two younger American girls also waiting for the bus. I went up to ask them if it was the right bus stop and they FREAKED OUT. Like, I'm also American and nicely dressed, whats the big deal? They wouldn't even talk to me and left. Soo, yeah.

Not enough ranting!

The very first light on the way out of town just turned green as I got to it on my way to my country school this morning. This is great because this light takes forever. But we're not moving! Some driver a few cars in front of me has either fallen asleep or is completely unaware. The light turns red and one car has gone through the entire green light. Queue long wait. SIGH

This type of thing is not uncommon and it makes me crazy. Korean drivers will go through a red light if it was recently yellow like their ass is on fire, but when they're waiting at a red, their brain goes out the window. I see so many cars being put in park - and even turned off which is insane - at red lights, it drives me nuts!

Not enough ranting!

The very first light on the way out of town just turned green as I got to it on my way to my country school this morning. This is great because this light takes forever. But we're not moving! Some driver a few cars in front of me has either fallen asleep or is completely unaware. The light turns red and one car has gone through the entire green light. Queue long wait. SIGH

This type of thing is not uncommon and it makes me crazy. Korean drivers will go through a red light if it was recently yellow like their ass is on fire, but when they're waiting at a red, their brain goes out the window. I see so many cars being put in park - and even turned off which is insane - at red lights, it drives me nuts!

As far as cars turning off, a lot of high-end cars automatically turn off when idling at a stop. Its new tech.

On the note of weird people who may or may not be creepy... I was walking home last night after buying a large bag of apples and oranges. I was waiting at a cross walk and there was an older guy, maybe 50s, on a bike behind me. As I started crossing, he slowly pedaled past me and turned back and just watched me. He would pedal a little and turn back and stare. He crossed the street and kept going and I thought that was that, but then up past a store, he was stopped on his bike, looking back until I came into sight. He paced me for a little while like that, maybe 2 blocks, then final kept going.

I had this whole plan of going fruit ninja on him if I needed to, haha.

I'm going to the bathroom to take a dump.   

Did you finish yet?  I didn't see any post in the 'Happy Shit' thread.

Maybe it was an angry shit.  I have the black pen. 

http://www.allkpop.com/article/2017/04/international-fans-demand-apology-from-sbs-for-hong-hyun-hees-blackface-comedy-skit

 

Not enough ranting!

The very first light on the way out of town just turned green as I got to it on my way to my country school this morning. This is great because this light takes forever. But we're not moving! Some driver a few cars in front of me has either fallen asleep or is completely unaware. The light turns red and one car has gone through the entire green light. Queue long wait. SIGH

This type of thing is not uncommon and it makes me crazy. Korean drivers will go through a red light if it was recently yellow like their ass is on fire, but when they're waiting at a red, their brain goes out the window. I see so many cars being put in park - and even turned off which is insane - at red lights, it drives me nuts!

As far as cars turning off, a lot of high-end cars automatically turn off when idling at a stop. Its new tech.

Not only high-end cars. They started putting it in just regular ole' cars a couple of years ago. My buddy's 2013 Hyundai does the same, as many others that I've seen.

I do get what you're saying though. I agree. People seem to fly through red lights, but when it comes time for take off when it hits green, they take forever. I get not wanting to slam on the gas, but it shouldn't take the better part of a minute to get to 60kph either.

As far as cars turning off, a lot of high-end cars automatically turn off when idling at a stop. Its new tech.

I live in the arse-end of Korea. It's not new tech out here.

That's cool that cars do it automatically now though. At least as long as they manage to start up quickly afterwards. Also, I was always under the impression it took more fuel to start a car than to let it idle for some minutes. I imagine ignition tech has improved since then.

Argh! Now I'm not ranting in the ranting thread. More ranting!

Sometimes, communicating is really annoying...I really wanted to ask, "Do you not realize that I am basically trapped here until the bus comes and you are making me super uncomfortable? Do you not see that?"

I feel bad for the person who was trying to talk to you on the bus...

...I'm sorry you feel bad as the American community in Korea, and I hope don't feel isolated wherever you are.

Chinguetti's comments sound much more helpful here. I would *try to* ignore all the rest. There are stories like this that pop up all the time on waygook, so don't feel like it's just you. Unfortunately, they tend to attract as many unsympathetic comments as supportive ones.

I assumed it was a 20 something man and a 20 something woman who were both Americans in a small town in Korea. I was wrong, but under my initial assumption, I don't feel like my post was that bad. Unless you've lived in a town that only has a CU, then you don't really understand how starved for language you can be. So when you see someone your age and possibly from the same country, you're going to be a bit bolder than normal.

Sometimes, communicating is really annoying...I really wanted to ask, "Do you not realize that I am basically trapped here until the bus comes and you are making me super uncomfortable? Do you not see that?"

I feel bad for the person who was trying to talk to you on the bus...

...I'm sorry you feel bad as the American community in Korea, and I hope don't feel isolated wherever you are.

Chinguetti's comments sound much more helpful here. I would *try to* ignore all the rest. There are stories like this that pop up all the time on waygook, so don't feel like it's just you. Unfortunately, they tend to attract as many unsympathetic comments as supportive ones.

I assumed it was a 20 something man and a 20 something woman who were both Americans in a small town in Korea. I was wrong, but under my initial assumption, I don't feel like my post was that bad. Unless you've lived in a town that only has a CU, then you don't really understand how starved for language you can be. So when you see someone your age and possibly from the same country, you're going to be a bit bolder than normal.

Hahaha, a CU? What is that! Ahahaha

I live in a teeny tiny town...

I'm going to the bathroom to take a dump.   

Why when Korean men go to the toilet to do a shit do their ASSES EXPLODE like Kim Jeong Euns missiles?

Do they really think that explosive diarrhea is just normal?

Hahaha, a CU? What is that! Ahahaha
I live in a teeny tiny town...[/quote]

They had their own brand of umbrella a while ago (green/purple design) and it was branded as the CUmbrella.

Very unfortunate.

Sometimes, communicating is really annoying...I really wanted to ask, "Do you not realize that I am basically trapped here until the bus comes and you are making me super uncomfortable? Do you not see that?"

I feel bad for the person who was trying to talk to you on the bus...

...I'm sorry you feel bad as the American community in Korea, and I hope don't feel isolated wherever you are.

Chinguetti's comments sound much more helpful here. I would *try to* ignore all the rest. There are stories like this that pop up all the time on waygook, so don't feel like it's just you. Unfortunately, they tend to attract as many unsympathetic comments as supportive ones.

I assumed it was a 20 something man and a 20 something woman who were both Americans in a small town in Korea. I was wrong, but under my initial assumption, I don't feel like my post was that bad. Unless you've lived in a town that only has a CU, then you don't really understand how starved for language you can be. So when you see someone your age and possibly from the same country, you're going to be a bit bolder than normal.

Hahaha, a CU? What is that! Ahahaha

I live in a teeny tiny town...

CU, GS25, 7/11 and Family Mart(rip) are all the same. Just a convenience store. I don't get your laughter.

Oh, I didn't see the moving text. Sorry!

Sometimes, communicating is really annoying...I really wanted to ask, "Do you not realize that I am basically trapped here until the bus comes and you are making me super uncomfortable? Do you not see that?"

I feel bad for the person who was trying to talk to you on the bus...

...I'm sorry you feel bad as the American community in Korea, and I hope don't feel isolated wherever you are.

Chinguetti's comments sound much more helpful here. I would *try to* ignore all the rest. There are stories like this that pop up all the time on waygook, so don't feel like it's just you. Unfortunately, they tend to attract as many unsympathetic comments as supportive ones.

I assumed it was a 20 something man and a 20 something woman who were both Americans in a small town in Korea. I was wrong, but under my initial assumption, I don't feel like my post was that bad. Unless you've lived in a town that only has a CU, then you don't really understand how starved for language you can be. So when you see someone your age and possibly from the same country, you're going to be a bit bolder than normal.

Hahaha, a CU? What is that! Ahahaha

I live in a teeny tiny town...

CU, GS25, 7/11 and Family Mart(rip) are all the same. Just a convenience store. I don't get your laughter.

Ah, sarcasm is easily missed on the internet. 

There literally is not even a convenience store where I live.  That's how small my town is.

Had to return an Amazon order yesterday, which meant the dreaded trip to the post office. I foresaw difficulty and I was right...

- For returns, you print out a customs invoice and Amazon return address form and affix them to the package, which I did. There's also a space to write your address, which I did.

- The lady at the counter then gave me a form to fill out the shippers address and destination
  address. I showed that these addresses were already written on the box. Why would you need to
  affix a second return address on it? I decided this was a fight I wasn't going to win and wrote
  these addresses.

- Once finished, she asked if I could write the address in Korean... Lady, this is an international
  parcel. Most people outside Korea can't read Korean. She then went to her computer, typed out
  'War and Peace' and said English was fine.

- The she wanted a phone number for the destination address. I told her it's an Amazon commercial 
  , there's no need for a contact number. Again, she began typing 'Dante's Divine Comedy' and
  settled on no phone number.

- As I left, she affixed the shipping address I wrote, next to the shipping address on the box. So,
  now the box had duplicates of both addresses affixed to it.

The entire process took 25min.

Sometimes, communicating is really annoying...I really wanted to ask, "Do you not realize that I am basically trapped here until the bus comes and you are making me super uncomfortable? Do you not see that?"

I feel bad for the person who was trying to talk to you on the bus...

...I'm sorry you feel bad as the American community in Korea, and I hope don't feel isolated wherever you are.

Chinguetti's comments sound much more helpful here. I would *try to* ignore all the rest. There are stories like this that pop up all the time on waygook, so don't feel like it's just you. Unfortunately, they tend to attract as many unsympathetic comments as supportive ones.

I assumed it was a 20 something man and a 20 something woman who were both Americans in a small town in Korea. I was wrong, but under my initial assumption, I don't feel like my post was that bad. Unless you've lived in a town that only has a CU, then you don't really understand how starved for language you can be. So when you see someone your age and possibly from the same country, you're going to be a bit bolder than normal.

Hahaha, a CU? What is that! Ahahaha

I live in a teeny tiny town...

CU, GS25, 7/11 and Family Mart(rip) are all the same. Just a convenience store. I don't get your laughter.

Ah, sarcasm is easily missed on the internet. 

There literally is not even a convenience store where I live.  That's how small my town is.

I missed the moving text. My bad.