Yesterday I was at the Inchon airport and was taking some money out of the bank machine. There was an elderly Korean gentleman next to me, obviously had poor vision, that was trying to withdraw money from his account. I quickly finished my transaction and thought nothing about it - I would have liked to help, but having had some bad experiences before, chose to mind my own business. The elderly gentleman, however, wasn’t timid, and asked me in Korean if I could speak and read Korean. I answered that I could to an extent and so he asked me to assist him with his transaction. We did it with no problem.
This may sound like no big deal, but for me it was something. As a foreigner (ugly and white [which only matters to Bluejives]) it is very seldom that the elderly ask for assistance. Many of them are put off by the language barrier, others may have issues [very justified in some cases] and distrust foreigners (and Koreans) with such a personal and sensitve thing like money.
In my own neighborhood I sometimes assist the elderly when I think I can. I have even been stupid enough to offer help to the grandmother that pushes the huge cart, over-filled with paper, up the hill. The reason why I said stupid enough is because I think she considers it a source of pride that though she is in her golden years she is still working hard. Say what you like about the younger generation of Koreans, but say nothing negative about the elderly Koreans - they are the ones that made the sacrifices to bring this country to its present position. I am sure that we can say that about most elderly people in most countries, but I really feel that the elderly people in Korea (believe it or not - not sure how to say this in English) ?????????? ???????????…..something like that - my Korean is not where it should be.
Speaking of the sacrifices that people make. Korea Herald ran two articles yesterday, one is part of their new series “Ordinary People Extraordinary Lives” {great title} - this article gave the story of former Ambassador Ahn Sae-hoon, who after battling cancer has worked as a volunteer giving hope to cancer patients at Shinchon’s Severance Hospital. A great man doing a great thing for his peers.
The second article is the one that I like the most. A young Korean-American teenager was awarded ‘martyr’ status for his attempt in saving an elderly man in Ohio during a flood in July 2003. They both ended up drowning after becoming trapped in the basement. The people of the city raised 3,000 dollars for a scholarship to honor the American-born youth. The Korean government, after confirming that he had a Korean passport granted him the award which now entitles his family to receive 154,000 dollars in one lump sum. This reminds me a lot of the Korean student a couple of years ago that died while trying to save a Japanese man (drunk) who had fallen onto the subway tracks. That is one thing I have noticed a lot amongst the Korean youth - they never shy away from trying to rescue someone when they are in trouble (mortal). Even in the period that I study (late Choson) I see references to it all the time - of a young Korean trying to help someone. Something to remember the next time you read something about Korea’s youth and want to add a swear word of your own.
It is nice to see stories like these - people doing what they can for others. I have always wanted to volunteer in Korea - in fact I wanted to volunteer at the museum or perhaps one of the historical sites, but found it to be nearly impossible - no one knows who you need to talk to . Perhaps one of you know.
Here is what Heather Fairclough-Lee thinks of charity. I really like her writing, she has a great way of putting pen to the paper.
45 Comments
you forgot, “ugly and white” and smelly (what they call “butta nemse) cheese smell.
Yes Captain Scarlet - I forgot to add the smelly cheese-smell (does that make sense), but fortunately I had you there to help me. While I was at the airport I heard a group of newly arrived American soldiers talking amongst themselves (they were PFCs) and what they expected in Korea………oh to be young again and just a private
just curious, what were they expecting in Korea?
Nothing really on Korea - one had already planned on going out this week - they looked forward to going out and seeing Seoul, doing some shopping, one had some friends here already, and they were worried about the weather - they were from the P.R. Most of it was just military stuff.., young privates - cute like young children full on enthusiam and innocence
I don’t trust the Korean Chohung Bank with my money. On Nov. 25th I wired 1,000,000W to my account at RBC Royal Bank in Canada. It never got there. The CHB told me to contact RBC. RBC told me they can do nothing to trace incoming wires, and instructed me to contact CHB. This happened several times, with both banks passing the proverbial “buck,” but not the real ones. CHB, after much pestering, has finally given me the phone number of a Toronto-based man who works in the bank that handles the wires as they go between CHB and RBC. I must call him, long distance, on my time and at my expense. Should he be crooked, incompetent, or set up by the CHB manager at the Mugyo Branch, I shall be at the end of my rope. I need this money for my student loan payments which come out every month. Well, in about an hour I can phone him.
Back to your original theme, I have a foreign friend who witnessed a pretty bloody motorbike accident in Pusan during the ‘02 Asian Games — a short-term visitor with no Korean who happened to be first-aid qualified. He had to overcome a serious freak-out by the injured girls at his Western face before he could render any help. He managed despite the language barrier and in fact was the only bystander in a large local crowd to do anything. I often wonder how I would deal with such a scene.
“Well, before we start degenerating into a finger-pointing absurdity of ?€?you do it too?€™ or ?€?the Koreans do it too?€™, like a bunch of schoolyard kids….”
NEWS FLASH: Shin/Nulji/Bluejives — YOU, (an INDIVIDUAL who happens to be Korean, a fact for which 70+ million of your compatriots deserve sympathy) have long ago degenerated far past the point of schoolyard absurdity. In the absence of evidence, I generously assume that you (the INDIVIDUAL) had reached at some earlier point a level from which degeneration would be possible.
The Marmot runs a thoughtful blog, occasionally besmirched by people who unfairly take the piss on Koreans, but a reader would have to go over to the Korea Herald rantboard to match your constant hateful, defiling presence. Last time I suggested that race-baiting at the KH better suited your talents, you called me a Communist who wanted to censor you. But can you argue that you haven’t proven me 100% correct?
Hiding behind ethnic or group identity or crying “racism” just doesn’t work when your issues are clearly a matter of one twisted INDIVIDUAL.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle …. white!
Everyone has the right to an opinion - and as often as I disagree with Bluejives opinions he does have the right to make them. His posts should also make us (I would say “whities” but I think all Americans regardless of race) to wonder just how we are seen through the eyes of the rest of the world. A poli-sci prof. once told me “Americans love to be loved, and the thought that we aren’t loved by someone hurts us deeply.” May sound like B.S. but think hard enough and long enough on it and you will see that it is a pretty fair observation.
Bluejives - keep posting, at least these last posts show that you are doing the research behind them, or at least going to the effort to find sources backing your information.
oranckay-
Sorry to get back so late to you with the references to the comment about during the Choson period women “could” be put to death for being touched by a strange man - the word could was a poor choice on my part and I will amend it to “allegedly some women were murdered by their families.” My sources are Dallet, (I don’t have the book with me in Korea so I can not provide a page number) and Korea and Her Neighbours, by Isabella Bird Bishop, page 341. She also cites Dallet for the first part of her statement.
Thanks for keeping me honest. Still would like to talk with you when you get time.
Respectfully
Robert
oops.. i forgot koh jangi too (big nose). that’s one of their favorites.
Did your assistance involve learning the gentleman’s PIN number, and was he astute enough that he could not have been “swindled” by a clever “con” man?
I’m sure that in your place I also would have helped the man in a similar fashion had I been able.
But I couldn’t help but wonder that if this problem recurs for him, inevitably some bystander he asks for help may take advantage of him. And if this were to happen –and in trying to retrace the crime, his relatives or police learn from him of the earlier assistance of a caucasion foreigner — inevitably they might jump to the wrong conclusion as to the source of the swindle.
Sorry to be a possible killjoy, but blame it on the times we live in.
UP
kind of translates: hard working
Update, a blogger here in Korea just emailed me (I assume he saw my comment here first, rather than on my own blog, which has a small readership), with a similar problem with the CHB. I’ve responded privately, but I would like to ask anyone who has had problems transferring money to Canadian bank accounts to contact me. I probably won’t be of help, but I want to keep track of these cases, in order to determine if these incidents are flukes and honest mistakes–or the tip of the iceberg. Either way, int’l wires are operating on a terrible model. Btw, I’m sorry, Marmot, for using your blog in this manner.
Shin Jong Il — er, Bluejives — is one KKKorean who never fails to meet our low expectations of him. I’m not sure he sees the real self-parody here, though.
I had a similar type experience last year. I was walking home from my hagwon and an elderly Korean women asked me in Korean if I could carry some of her grocery bags a few blocks. I didn’t understand everything she said but got most of it. Anyways helped her along and she thanked me about 6-7 times along the way. Felt good that she wasn’t intimidated to ask me for help. Funny things was that I normally never went that way home from school, but just took that route that day for a change.
A lot of older Koreans are really friendly and easygoing, I’ve found. One funny incident, as a certified Big Nose, was when I was about to cross a street and two middle-aged women were next to me, engrossed in conversation. They didn’t notice a car coming right at us, not slowing a bit (ah, Seoul) and so I put my arm out in front of them, on a kind of reflex, to warn them. The lady next to me looked at my arm, then my face, then screamed. Damn–I’m no Brad Pitt, but I’m not exactly Elephant Man either….
“Shin Jong Il ?€“ er, Bluejives ?€“ is one KKKorean who never fails to meet our low expectations of him. I?€™m not sure he sees the real self-parody here, though.”
Comment by slim
Oh, so you dont like it when there is a statement that generalize white people but it’s ‘no big deal’ if some of your colleagues here make generalizing statements about Koreans, esp Korean men (which I couldnt help but noticing that Korean men seem to be the favorite object of ridicule in many discussion forums inhabited mostly by white male expats).
Well, before we start degenerating into a finger-pointing absurdity of ‘you do it too’ or ‘the Koreans do it too’, like a bunch of schoolyard kids in trouble claiming that the other kid started first, let’s just realize that many whites have a hard time keeping their big opinionated mouths shut or poking their noses into the affairs of Koreans that really should be best left for the Koreans themselves to deal with in their own way.
Sorry that I had to upset the ‘good ole boys’ mood around here.
bluejives -
white people - korean people
ethnic group - national group
an ethnic analogy to explain a national stereotype…but it’s really just americans you have a problem with right? Or is it caucasian folks throughout the world who rankle you…russians, poles, latvians, ukranians…danes in greenland?
Bluejives,
I had no problem with your post - in fact I thought it was great and would appreciate it if you posted in this manner - however, I would like to know the source of that material.
Honestly - I really thought it was great. You are indeed correct, if you can dish it out (meaning perhaps me) then you should be able to take it (meaning me again).
Wishing you the best in your expanding world
Robert Neff
Finally, I tend to find that Europeans, in varying degrees, tend to be more aware of other peoples of the world on their own terms than Americans are. This is probably a residue of their having colonized and interacted with most of the world for the past 400 years or so.
Now this is a surprise. So now you’re saying that Americans are bastards for NOT having colonized other peoples? Colonialism is a virtue? You’re pretty interesting — a riddle wrapped in an enigma, wrapped again in a turd.
Hey, c’mon, Brendon, back off. He made it clear that “some of his best friends are white”.
“…let?€™s just realize that many whites have a hard time keeping their big opinionated mouths shut or poking their noses into the affairs of Koreans that really should be best left for the Koreans themselves to deal with in their own way.”
Considering the massive amount of time, money, and effort the Korean government puts into luring foreign (read: whitey) investment to Korea, begging foreign (read: whitey) companies to move their Asian headquarters here to the “Hub,” and recruiting foreign (read: whitey) teachers to come teach the english to Korean kids, don’t you find it just a little funny jives, that you’re telling those same whiteys that they have no say on the very issues that affect their lives while they’re here?
Come to Korea, give us all your money, build your headquarters here, teach our kids, and SHUT THE FUCK UP WHILE YOU’RE DOING IT!
And you wonder why Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, and Tokyo make Seoul look like Akron.
One of the many dangers of begging for the world’s spotlight jives, is that the rest of the world doesn’t drink the Korean Kool-Aid. You wanna be up there with the “advanced” countries, expect to take some hits along the way. No one said it would be a free ride and if you think whitey will buy the same uri nara bullshit you swallowed in elementary school, you’re sorely mistaken.
I’ll never forget the day I came out and told my parents I was ?€œwhite?€?. My mom cried and my dad kept on saying to himself it wasn’t possible. What a nightmare! In the months and years that followed, however, they slowly grew to accept my ?€œwhite?€? friends and ?€œwhite?€? lifestyle. Now they accept that being ?€œwhite?€? is part of who I really am. Of course, I’m sure they’re wondering what kind of influence this’ll have on my younger brother, and are praying that he doesn’t turn out to be ?€œwhite?€?, too.
Marmot - I think you shouldn’t be afraid to help people out. I’e helped out obvious countryfolk buy subway tix from the machine when everyone else was passing them by. They very much appreciate it and it gets them thinking about their countrymen.
Jack - I don’t think hard working really covers it - perhaps marmot or Oranckay would be willing to give it a shot. What I basically meant by it is they are doing the best they can with what has been dealt to them - they are ??´?????? ??´?????”….living life diligently/fully - sounds strange.
Don V. -
I am still laughing - that was fantastic.
On the story itself. It reminds me an incident which took place in the late 1980s in Siberia where a cargo train was derailed when crossing a rver. The locomotive crew (two of them) were saved by a North Korean logger who saw the diaster and jumped to the river (even in summer, Siberian rivers might be deadly cold).
“Considering the massive amount of time, money, and effort the Korean government puts into luring foreign (read: whitey) investment to Korea, begging foreign (read: whitey) companies to move their Asian headquarters here to the ?€œHub,?€? and recruiting foreign (read: whitey) teachers to come teach the english to Korean kids, don?€™t you find it just a little funny jives, that you?€™re telling those same whiteys that they have no say on the very issues that affect their lives while they?€™re here?
Come to Korea, give us all your money, build your headquarters here, teach our kids, and SHUT THE FUCK UP WHILE YOU?€™RE DOING IT!
And you wonder why Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, and Tokyo make Seoul look like Akron.
One of the many dangers of begging for the world?€™s spotlight jives, is that the rest of the world doesn?€™t drink the Korean Kool-Aid. You wanna be up there with the ?€œadvanced?€? countries, expect to take some hits along the way. No one said it would be a free ride and if you think whitey will buy the same uri nara bullshit you swallowed in elementary school, you?€™re sorely mistaken.”
- Comment by hanminjoke
So tell me again why you are still in Korea despite the fact that Korea seems to piss you off so much? Oh that’s right, you had nothing much going for you back
home.
Look, I am not Yonsama, OK? He’s your sworn enemy, remember? I am not the Harry Potter resembling Korean actor doing sappy kareoke soap operas that Japanese women are so inexplicably enamored with. I am here to discuss Korea-related issues, not to threaten your cool white boy image that the Hollywood based US entertainment-media-pop culture complex has been laying upon Korea for decades, OK? You know, that same image that insecure American boys like you heavily rely upon to score naive Korean chicks who may think you look like Brad Pitt or some crap like that.
I’m sorry that Korea doesn’t fall neatly into your own little boxes. Reality sucks doesnt it, Joke?
“I am here to discuss Korea-related issues …… ” ?????
GO BACK ON YOUR MEDS, NULJI-BOY! We’ve read weird diatribes about evil whiteys, stories about Latvians who look like Puerto Ricans, irrelevant accounts of bad manners in outer space, ripoffs of The Onion and factually challenged semi-regurgitations of wire reports about Hmong gunslingers in Wisconsin. But Korea-related issues?
“So tell me again why you are still in Korea despite the fact that Korea seems to piss you off so much?”
Perhaps you should ask that question of someone that is actually in Korea.
“I am here to discuss Korea-related issues, not to threaten your cool white boy image that the Hollywood based US entertainment-media-pop culture complex has been laying upon Korea for decades, OK?”
Awwwww, poor little Korea. Devestated by that Hollywood invasion of white movie stars, completely against its will. Not a single Korean in 5000 years has ever voluntarily chosen to watch a Hollywood film. They’ve all had guns held to their heads. Is there a muzzle imprint on your forehead jives? Waaaaaaaaaa, someone’s victim syndrome is shining through bright enough for all to see. Did Tom Cruise ruin your little cultural heaven jives? Be sure to wipe the tears off the keyboard so you can get back to me on that.
Given your hatred for the Hollywood cultural invasion squad, you must be equally outraged by the Korean entertainment-media-pop culture complex currently being layed upon the rest of Asia, right jives?
Unlike your Korean brothers and sisters, who whine about the Hollywood invasion yet cheer the Hallyu invasion, I’m sure you’re equally contemptuous of both, right jives?
I mean, that’s why I’ve seen you criticizing the export of Korean culture so often here, because you’re such a critic of Hollywood doing the same thing. Right jives?
You know there are only six posts on this subject that actually relate to the subject - (I am just as guilty as the rest of you) why does every subject that comes up has to turn into an on-going war of racist comments? I was actually hoping to get more information with this post on volunteer services committed by people and their perceptions and impressions of these events…..
Wishing you all a happy holiday
Robert
hanminjoke and slim:
if not in prose, then perhaps some things can be explained in some soft, soothing music…
http://snackychan.com/track/ch.....nation.mp3
Like the music and fully agree with the phrase “Racism is a Bitch” - but not all racist are white
Speaking of rap music - here is a rapper that had some issues with fellow Asians:
I would give the link but it requires you to sign in - it is from the Mercury News (originally from the AP) so I have pasted it below:
Korean-American rapper arrested in Burbank murder
Associated Press
BURBANK, Calif. - A former member of a popular South Korean hip-hop group was arrested Tuesday in connection with the murder of a man shot to death in his back yard, authorities said.
Steve Sangwook Kim, 25, of Los Angeles surrendered to police accompanied by his attorney and was being held on $1 million bail, police Lt. David Gabriel said. Arraignment was expected on Thursday.
Police allege Kim shot and killed 31-year-old Man Nguyen of Burbank on Saturday in Nguyen’s back yard.
The Korea Times and other local Korean media identified Kim as a former member of UPTOWN, a hip-hop group that was popular in South Korea in the late 1990s.
Media in Korea reported that Kim was arrested in 2001 on charges of taking drugs such as Ecstasy, and was later deported to the United States.
Gabriel said investigators determined only that Kim had once lived in Korea and “there was an association with a musical group” at that time. He had no additional details.
Kim was acquainted with Nguyen and the shooting was “not a random act of violence,” Gabriel said.
Kim’s parents - 66-year-old Richard Kim and 57-year-old Lois Kim - were arrested the night of the shooting for investigation of accessory to murder after the fact, Gabriel said.
The Kims, who live in Los Angeles, were released Tuesday and no charges have been filed against them.
Robert, I wanted to thank you for your concern about my missing wire. Even though the wire has been found, I still appreciate it. All the best, Nathan
Korean Culture
From The Marmot’s Hole, a thoughtful essay on volunteering. Yesterday I was at the Inchon airport and was taking some money out of the bank machine. There was an elderly Korean gentleman next to me, obviously had poor vision, that…
“Speaking of rap music - here is a rapper that had some issues with fellow Asians:
Korean-American rapper arrested in Burbank murder”
Comment by robertneff103
And your point is….?
Tupac Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting by the Southside Crips. Scott Peterson was sentenced to death by lethal injection for the murder of wife and unborn child. Michael Jackson is in some seriously hot water for pedophilia. And Pay-Dro Martinez is now a 4 year $52 million addition to the NY Mets bullpen. As a result, the many denizens of Manhattan’s Washington Heights are suddenly gonna switch from being BoSox to Mets fans.
BTW, speaking of Michael Jackson, did I ever mention before that there is strange temptation in the world for non-white people to ‘become white’? Very odd, dont you think?
Perhaps you have something there Bluejives, but I would encourage you to go back and check your own history. Those things that you said about the deaths are true, and people have tried to “whiten” themselves up - the Michael Jackson thing hurts - but as far as I know - not many people (race aside) are claiming him.
History - It appears that Koreans have always strived to have light skin for sometime. Your mother and grandmother probably tried to avoid the sun so as to not darken up. Many cultures in Asia try to keep fair skin - whether that is from the “Whitie” invasion I am not sure - but are you sure that it is? I am sure that with the time (which I don’t have) I could show you similar efforts throughout the world. As a contradiction to your wonderful insight on what people desire - are you saying that each time a white person tries to get a suntan that they are actually trying to switch races?
Did you ever read the Dr. Suess book about the two groups - one had a star and the other didn’t so they created a machine to put a star on themselves and then they were all the same so the original group made a machine to take off their stars. Dr. Seuss was a very intelligent man and he was trying to teach children that differences should not be seen negatively, but positively.
Here is a suggestion - smart man like you - should have no problem going to the library and finding the book, reading it, and then shedding some of your obvious and intense hatred towards white people (Russians count) or towards the United States - which in case it is the United States, I encourage you to hop on an airplane and return to the Motherland, but in this realm of globalization, thankfully, your time is coming to an end - haven’t you learned? Racism is out, understanding and globalization is in.
Disappointed but still wishing you the best in your own little world
Robert Neff
Discardedlies-
I am a little slow today - I don’t get it…..^^
I’m also reluctant to help out in certain situations when I’m in Korea for the same reason you are”what is that foreigner doing?” But I did help a blind man down an escalator in a subway station once and onto the train, and I once carried an old man’s trash from the front entrance of his apartment to the bin for him, since he was struggling with a cane. Come to think of it, I actually don’t mind offering the assistance, although I would definitely hold back on offering to help someone use an ATM!
(My “you” in the above comment referring to the original poster Marmot, natch….)
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