Just Random Stuff on The Brain

So what should I talk about now? Hmmmm. So on my last post, I discussed the homosexual and cultural issues. I think I'll jump back on it for a second and then elaborate on something else. So like I said previously, the Koreans are touchy feely with each other, as guys hold each other's hand, massage each other. Same with the girls too. I've also noticed that some of the guys wear makeup. Again in my country, America, we'd call that GAY. However, some things is just culture differences that's all. Though quite odd and disturbing it may be to witness, it is what it is, or things are always what they seem.

Now lets me discuss cross cultural communication and relationships. Korea is an extremely forceful society. They expect for you (a foreigner) to eat and drink what, when, and how they eat and drink. They expect for you to agree with them concerning their issues, principles, values, and ideologies. Yet if you don't, then they think you don't like their culture. They are very pushy and will rush you when they want you to do something for them; however, they are slow in terms of doing things for you. There are quite a few Koreans that under cultural differences; however, not the masses. Alongside their ideologies comes their stereotypes that what they see on television is how a culture or people outside of Korea is as a whole. They even gain their stereotypes and prejudice mentality from individual relationships, or stories that've heard along the way; whether those situations are true or false. So yeah, that's Korea.

Another thing about Koreana is that they can so rude to each other. So take rude, stereotypical, confused, cross culturally deprived, prejudice and put it in one small box, and you come up with Koreans. I know my Korean friends are going to be pissed off at me for saying this but hell, why not say it? Those friends are the ones that are the exception within the culture. But for the masses, it's a backwards society. It's a society that things "white is right" and if you black, you're poor. If you're a black man who rock the latest fashion then you're a hip hop star or a gang banger. If you're a "hip" Korean that knows a little bit of English, then you can walk around and say "what's up my nigga?" Oh yeah. This Korean chick I knew walked up to me and did that, and I had to check her. She got sad and I had to explain to her why it's not ok to use that terminology when approaching someone; whether black, white, mixed, etc.

I could go on and on about what I see; however, I'll save more for later. I'm going to bed, for it's 2:54AM Friday morning and I have work in in about 5 hrs.

WORD!

Gay or Cultural????

Being that I'm from a country in which homosexually is practiced (in most families, friendships, even religions), a person will get frown upon for being homosexual. Homosexually has divided families, ended friendships and associations, caused division in the "church," Look at the fight America is having now as it concern civil union. I myself am not homosexual, and neither do I vouche for civil union. Yet I know family members and friends whom are homosexual. Personally, I don't condone homosexuality. Though it makes me feel uncomfortable being exposed to it, whether direct or indirectly, I still got to show love to the persons whom are or maybe. (The maybes: DOWNLOW brothers & sisters) Why, because despite of what we all might be or consider ourselves, we're all people. We're all fighting for the same peace, despite our views or values being different.

So here I am in South Korea, where the Koreans will argue that homosexuality doesn't exist. Yet despite the Korean myth, it's here. And it's not surprising to me nor to any persons of the expat community. As we all know, Korea is a homogeneous society. Even though foreigners have been here for years, they're still scared, ignorant, afraid or in awe of us. The weird part about it is, we know more about them than they know about us. Being here, I learned and was told (by some Koreans) that a Korean student only focus on their studies (major/minor) and not anything that doesn't contribute to that. Therefore if their major/minor isn't history, other parts and people of the world they have little to no awareness about, besides the b.s. they get from movies and Korean television. And that's how they draw the conclusion to what a person is or isn't about.

Now this is where I wanted to take this post. It some cases it's hard to tell whether a Korean is hetero or homo because in other countries, well at least in America, you just don't see two heterosexuals walking around holding hands with each other, unless it's in a conforting situation (death, spiritual experience, etc.). Even though, as for the male gender, the warm embrace is still "macho." Yet over here, young teenage boys, college kids, grown men (single and/or married) massage, caress each other, wear make-up, lipstick, etc.. However, if you walk up to them and call them HOMO, they'll quickly say NO! I'm NOT gay. Funny, strange, sad in some cases, but true. That's their society. Even the women won't believe that the guys whom appear to be feminine are homosexual. I'm not saying they are; however, it would surprise a Korean woman more than it'll surprise a foreigner to find out that their "Korean" boyfriend/girlfriend or best friend homosexual. And the reason "he's not giving it up to you" is because he's letting Kim Hyung Lee give it to him. No I'm not leaving out the women; because I have seen what we call in America, "butches," over here too. Even too I've also saw some of the finest, most feminine Korean women loved all up on other Korean women whom are just as feminine or butchy.

Here's the cultural confusing reality, many of them aren't homosexual at all. Many of the things Korean men and women do that seem feminine/masculine is just cultural. Two guys holding hands is just two guys holding hands. Same goes for the Korean women. Therefore, I call it a ying yang society. But whom are the ying and whom are the yang?

Live, Learn, Return, and Pass On Part 1

A wise men said that there are three things we do in life. We live, learn, and return. So when we return, what are we returning with? Will our hands be empty, or will we have something of value to give or leave behind? The many foreigners that come over here to South Korea to teach come for many reasons. Some come over only for the purpose to make easy money, pay off any type of debt they've obtain back home, (credit card bill(s), student loans, etc.) There are also those that come over in the pursuit of happiness; whether it's to find a helpmeet, or in hopes to find themselves. And there are others whom come over to do all, some, or neither of those things, yet it's equally important to them if they've helped one person along the way. And though many of us come with one purpose or another, often times our desires (wants and/or needs) shift, or become at a halt.

Today I went Korean mask dancing at Hongbeopsa (Buddhist) Temple. It was so much fun. Yes the dancing was quite difficult and something that I wouldn't normally do; however, I had the time of my life. I'm not Buddhist; far from it. However, I wasn't worried about whether someone would try to convert me to Buddhism or not. I say all that to say, we all can learn from each other and bring value to one another. We could take some of those moves we've learned today and incorporate them into our dance steps whenever we go to a club or party. When spending time with our love ones, this experience could be one of the many things we could share when talking about our journey in South Korea. Yes I enjoyed the dancing so much; however, it was the unity amongst all persons that were in attendance that ignited me more. Negative people drain you. However, positive and balanced people spark a flame to your day.

Next month is kimchi making at the temple. Hmmmm...Will I do that? YUCK! But we'll see!

Roduhnee Teacher

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.

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.

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.

WHITE IS RIGHT!

It wasn't too long ago when Dr. Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, Joseph Lowery, Malcom X and many others of the black race fought for unity amonst men, women, boys, and girls of all ethnicities of the great country called the USA and for the world at large. It also wasn't so long ago when Little Rock Central high school (Little Rock, Arkansas) opened the doors to "black" students, becoming the first high school to be desegregated. It was just yesterday that America voted Barack Obama as (the first black) president of the United States. Yet no matter how far we've come as a human race, there is still much work that need to be done.

I am working in Busan, South Korea as a guest English teacher at an all boys high school. Amongst the thousands of foreigners who come to Korea to teach, start businesses, etc., the black race is about 1%. Therefore, when one of us do something good or bad in the eyes of Koreans, we stand out being that there are only so few of us in this country. Not only that, but we at times get mistakened for being the person who did some good or acted an @$$ in these streets. I've had to disassociate myself from people of my own race (and others as well) due to being embarrased of their behavior. Jamie Foxx has a song entitled "Blame It On the Alcohol." Yet I say, blame it on being ignorant. That goes without saying. Come on, a person knows when they've had a little bit too much to drink. So don't give me that "I was drunk nonsense." Especially if it's the same lame excuse week by week.

What I'm getting at is that my skin color along is a punishment. Even in South Korea. I didn't expect to come over to a land where the people who were oppressed by the Japanese and is still at odds with North Korea to look down on me because of my skin color. I'm not crying about it. However, I do have a right to voice my frustrations. I've worked so hard to get where I am today, and it wasn't that I felt I had to because of my skin color. Yet it's because I set a standard for myself. However, it's sad when things I've accomplished throughout life go without notice or is overlooked because of my skin color. It's also sad that a "black person" in this country stand out more for the dumb ish he/she does than a person of the "white" race. Now don't think that I dislike white people, because I don't. My take on the racial issue is that if we're all human, then why not treat one another as such?

In this country, Korean women are treated as second class citizen, foreigners are third, with blacks at the bottom. Stereotypically, white men are the more dominant or the one's with the wealth. However, Mr. black man is thugged out and violent. As for me, to a Korean woman, and akwardly to a Korean man, I have a "sexy body " and is ridiculously huge (....go figure), which makes them pretty much admire or be scared of me. (Blame the media for that though!!) Yet in America, I'm a little dude. LOL! I know my white brothers and sisters get looked at strange and even talked about as well; however, they are more accepted in this culture than a black man. Yet if I give them some "musical" entertainment, I'll come out on top, because that's what blacks are known for and I'd be more entertaining to see. This has been proven. There are no advertisements here with black models, athlethes, doctors, lawyers, etc. Yet there are many with white celebrities on them. There are even white barbies here. Why? Because "white is the epitome of what it is to be beautiful and successful."

So I'll conclude this article by saying...Ignorance has no ethnicity; therefore, anybody can be it's prisoner!