Korean Verbal Abuse
Jeff is a guy whose story rings wholly true to me - because I've been there.
I was stationed in Korea where, being a very tall person, I was always the object of much comment from the local populace. Usually, it was commentary on my size, added to the fact that I was one of those "big-nose Americans."
Being a linguist, I often could tell what they were saying. It was not, as I mentioned, always terribly polite.
Being an occasionally cruel SOB, I would occasionally turn to the commenter and, in Korean, ask "Why do you say such things?"
The look of shock, horror, embarrassment and sheer mortification on their faces was utterly priceless.
Heh. Heheh.
It made the 12 months of language school all worthwhile.
...
So I'm casting my vote in New Weblog Showcase for Jeff's Ruminations in Korea: A Blessing and a Curse.
Also worth noting is eTALKINGHEAD.com: The Misleading Statements of a Misleading Misleader.
Posted by Russ at 09:56 PM, November 14, 2003 in Miscellany
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Zod! from Ain't Done It!
The only thing I'd have done differently, RUSS, would have been to quote General Zod: "Why do you say such things, when you know I will kill you for it?" -- General Zod, Superman I... [Read More]
Tracked on November 19, 2003 06:31 PM
Comments
I can understand why they used to call Korea "the hermit kingdom". While they are generally accomdating they can be hard to deal with. I remember an incident on one of the kimchee buses that served Osan AB at Pyongtaek. A group of GIs got on the bus and gave the girl collecting to fares a hard time over the 30won (around $.07 US). The poor girl was in tears. I gave her 100 won and told her not to worry about the change and pointed at the GIs who had stiffed her. I rode for free on her bus after that. Always made sure to tell her thanks in Korean (kam sam ni da phonetic). Her cho-man-nae-oh nearly got me killed once when the wife was riding with me. An interesting place to live.
Posted by: Kirk at November 18, 2003 07:22 PM
Imperial Department of Hegemony By Force
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TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.emersons.net/mt/mt-pingback.cgi/249
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Korean Verbal Abuse:
Zod! from Ain't Done It!
The only thing I'd have done differently, RUSS, would have been to quote General Zod: "Why do you say such things, when you know I will kill you for it?" -- General Zod, Superman I... [Read More]
Tracked on November 19, 2003 06:31 PM
Comments
I can understand why they used to call Korea "the hermit kingdom". While they are generally accomdating they can be hard to deal with. I remember an incident on one of the kimchee buses that served Osan AB at Pyongtaek. A group of GIs got on the bus and gave the girl collecting to fares a hard time over the 30won (around $.07 US). The poor girl was in tears. I gave her 100 won and told her not to worry about the change and pointed at the GIs who had stiffed her. I rode for free on her bus after that. Always made sure to tell her thanks in Korean (kam sam ni da phonetic). Her cho-man-nae-oh nearly got me killed once when the wife was riding with me. An interesting place to live.
Posted by: Kirk at November 18, 2003 07:22 PM