An interesting discussion

Last night, a group of us gathered together in a cafe for our traditional Wednesday night French Night. We generally start out in French, and peter off until we're all just speaking English anyway.

Last night, there were about 10 of us, from many different countries, with different Korean teaching experiences (high school, middle school, university, hogwan). Some people had been here for 2 years, some for only a few months or weeks - but somehow we were all unified -- by our disbelief that the supposed non-issue of Mad Cow in American beef (of which there was one case 5 years ago, and no reported cases at all in Korea, so why are they even protesting?) had led to violent clashes involving police, people setting themselves on fire (!!), and may end up costing a few government officials their jobs. Some of us are feeling the xenophobia more than others, some even using this as a reason to leave sooner rather than later. As for me, this is an example of Korean groupthink at its worst, where a non-factual newspaper article snowballed into a nationalistic uprising.... Have you heard the latest.... that the US government is selling poisoned beef in Korean school cafeterias? The worst part is that there are people here who seriously believe it - or seem to anyway, since they can't argue against it without appearing un-patriotic and un-Korean.

When do you cease to tolerate the differences around you? How do you aim your moral compass?

In Canada, and in many other countries, we strive (we may not always succeed, but we try anyway) to make an inclusive society. We accept others' differences and do our best not
to offend - to the point of changing certain aspects of our own culture (Like using "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". Dude, I celebrate Christmas, and if I can wish my Jewish friends a Happy Chanukah, I'm sure they are not morally outraged when I dare wish my family a Merry Christmas on December 25). We are also quite outspoken about cases of racism or culture clash.... generally arguing *for* the other culture's rights to simply BE a part of Canada.

Where am I going with this?

One of my best friends here, let's call him X, arrived in Korea two years ago. Over the years, I've watched him become an exceptional and caring teacher. He knows his students' names, his lesson plans are dynamic and interesting. He has worked really hard to learn Korean, sometimes chastising for my lack of Korean vocabulary. He is dating a Korean. He dresses in wicked cool Korean style (except for that neon pink and yellow "Best Friend Good!" shirt he wore last night). He's not (as a few of us are wont to do) cheated his school on vacation time, or made un-necessary demands on them.

Last week, X found out that even though his school thinks he is an excellent and diligent teacher, they do not want him to return next year. Why? Because he is "not open to Korean culture". And what is this all about? X has protested - for the wellbeing of his students, mind you - against excessive use of corporal punishment in his school. He finds it hypocritical that students are punished for arriving late or sleeping in class by teachers who are even less punctual than the kids. He finds it confusing that teachers may smoke *inside* the school while punishing students for smoking *outside* the school. He wonders if classtime might not be better spent on lesson plans and actual learning than 13 full minutes of beatings with a metal golf club handle.

When he raises these points, he is told that he "doesn't understand Korean culture".

And this makes me angry. Every time we find something repugnant, the excuse given by Koreans for why we (foreigners) don't like (or will never understand) explicit racism, beating dogs, excessive corporal punishment, eating live octopus, or mass sexism is always "It's Korean culture". Why don't they ever tell us that some of the awesome things here are "Korean culture"??

(To clarify, I am NOT dissing Korean culture at all... I am pointing out that saying "It's Korean culture" is used to excuse certain behaviours that are, excuse me, rather awful no matter what country you live in, or where you are from. )

I think what I have on my mind these days is definitely when I will leave here. I do love my school, my students, my teachers. I love where I live, and the people in my neighbourhood. There's an old man who says Hi to us every time we pass him. There are old ladies who wave at me because they know I teach their grandchildren. The two closest convenience store owners know exactly what we want as soon as we go in. And yet, it seems that these days, I just can't wait to leave.

Another year... just another year, and then I'll leave here and (probably) never ever come back.