I should have written this note 7 months ago. However, I'm writing it today. I teach English Conversative at Busan Automotive High School. Unlike many other expats in Busan, South Korea, I'm in one of the "better:" situations at my school. No things aren't perfect; however, I don't go home stressed nor want to quit my job. If everything else fail, then I would renew my contract with my school. For everything that isn't good at my school, there is always something that balance it out. My students are tremendous. Sure they are "weird", but overall, they are great kids. I have 3 co teachers. One of them is new, and he's a real cool guy. He's a team player, and that's all I ever ask of my co teachers.
For the first 6 months, many of my co workers seem scared to talk with me. Now, they've open themselves up a little more. I guess because they see that my Korean skills are improving, which makes them comfortable to speak the little "Konglish" they know. On the negative side of things, they are socially deprived, yet I'll discuss that in another note. My principal and department chair are good people. I just wish my department chair spoke a little more English than he does.
Overall, I grade my school a "C". We'll see how things be before February 25, 2010.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The RACE Card?
So I applied for a university position over here in Busan, South Korea, had an interview, and was turned down. This is the second time I've been turned down by an institution here. The first institution (Dong Ju University) told the ESL Network president, who is Korean, that they prefer "white" people, yet if they can't get anybody, then they'll give me a call. The second institution (Dong A University), that I had an interview with sent me a message saying, "thank you for applying with us, but it was hard to decide from all the worthy candidates." Well if that's the case, then why not hire all the "worthy candidates"? This is what I know, the moment that they saw my "black skin", they had it in their minds that they weren't going to hire me. I was the only black person that applied for the position, submitted all of my information before anyone else; however, no success. Now if we want to define "nigger" as being IGNORANT, then tell me who's the nigger in this situation? Yet I know a lot of you are probably thinking that I'm playing the race card; however, CAN YOU BLAME ME? At least I'm it playing fair. Hell, I have no option.
I was talking about this situation to my good Korean neighbors. Though sadden about the results, they said to me, "you know, Koreans don't like black people. And in our mind, white is better. We look at white as being good and black as being bad." One of them told me that she's still a little scared of black people, but because of me, it's changing. She stated that her grandfather told her black people were bad, so she held on to that fear until recently, that's when she met me.
In an open course discussion, I asked my students if they saw me on the streets, being that they've never saw me before, would they think I was a school teacher? These are the answers I received.
No because you are a black man.
No, because you have a strong face.
No, because you look like a hip hop star.
No, because you have a nice body.
No, because you look like a factory worker.
No, because you look like a gangster.
I'm only playing the race card, because that's what has been giving to my people for so damn long and just because America now has a "black president", much hasn't changed. It didn't change in Africa when Mandela became president, so what make people think it has changed now? Who's to say we'll have a black president the next 4 or 8 years? Who's to say the race issue will decrease just because we have one currently in office. Ignorance become demolished in a people when they chose to not be ignorant anymore.
If black is bad and white is good, then what is YELLOW?
Stay tuned for more blogs and videos.
I was talking about this situation to my good Korean neighbors. Though sadden about the results, they said to me, "you know, Koreans don't like black people. And in our mind, white is better. We look at white as being good and black as being bad." One of them told me that she's still a little scared of black people, but because of me, it's changing. She stated that her grandfather told her black people were bad, so she held on to that fear until recently, that's when she met me.
In an open course discussion, I asked my students if they saw me on the streets, being that they've never saw me before, would they think I was a school teacher? These are the answers I received.
No because you are a black man.
No, because you have a strong face.
No, because you look like a hip hop star.
No, because you have a nice body.
No, because you look like a factory worker.
No, because you look like a gangster.
I'm only playing the race card, because that's what has been giving to my people for so damn long and just because America now has a "black president", much hasn't changed. It didn't change in Africa when Mandela became president, so what make people think it has changed now? Who's to say we'll have a black president the next 4 or 8 years? Who's to say the race issue will decrease just because we have one currently in office. Ignorance become demolished in a people when they chose to not be ignorant anymore.
If black is bad and white is good, then what is YELLOW?
Stay tuned for more blogs and videos.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
We Do It Too But Don't Tell Part 1
Before I begin this post, I'd like to say that in no way am Itrying to degrade this country. However, I want people to be aware that "things aren't always what they seem."
Often times people's opinion about a particular environment isn't first hand facts or opinion. Yet word of mouth is the greatest tool for "false" advertisement. In addition, we do have the media to thank for conjuring "stereotypical" opinions about a people, Race, culture, religion, so forth and so on. Moreso, people tend to downgrade one's culture while uplifting another's due to what is exploited throughout the media. Yet the truth is, there is always "more than what meets the eye." For instance, foreignersliving in cleaner or the more populardistricts of Busan, South Korea will rarely witness what one whom live areas such as Hadan, Nampo-dong, Busan Station often see. Foreignersliving in or around the Haeundae Beach or Kyungsung area rarely come pass the Seomyeon area unless they are going towards PNU or to a Lotte Giant's game. Why? Because the Saha-gu district isn't what's poular to talk about amongst foreigners living in Busan (nor from the expat community living in other cities of South Korea), Though many of the same activities happen in that area as well. Even foreigners living in the not so delightful environments such as those I've previously named,are never unease about traveling to those happening areas, because it's refreshing and make them feel so at home or in touch with the expat community at large.
So in blogs to come, I will hit you with pictures and videos of the not so pleasant things that I witness throughout my journey in South Korea. Some things may shock or surprise you; however, "there is nothing new under the sun." It's just that many are either too self centered or naive to realize that.
Often times people's opinion about a particular environment isn't first hand facts or opinion. Yet word of mouth is the greatest tool for "false" advertisement. In addition, we do have the media to thank for conjuring "stereotypical" opinions about a people, Race, culture, religion, so forth and so on. Moreso, people tend to downgrade one's culture while uplifting another's due to what is exploited throughout the media. Yet the truth is, there is always "more than what meets the eye." For instance, foreignersliving in cleaner or the more populardistricts of Busan, South Korea will rarely witness what one whom live areas such as Hadan, Nampo-dong, Busan Station often see. Foreignersliving in or around the Haeundae Beach or Kyungsung area rarely come pass the Seomyeon area unless they are going towards PNU or to a Lotte Giant's game. Why? Because the Saha-gu district isn't what's poular to talk about amongst foreigners living in Busan (nor from the expat community living in other cities of South Korea), Though many of the same activities happen in that area as well. Even foreigners living in the not so delightful environments such as those I've previously named,are never unease about traveling to those happening areas, because it's refreshing and make them feel so at home or in touch with the expat community at large.
So in blogs to come, I will hit you with pictures and videos of the not so pleasant things that I witness throughout my journey in South Korea. Some things may shock or surprise you; however, "there is nothing new under the sun." It's just that many are either too self centered or naive to realize that.
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