tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21444271.post3923226928600511441..comments2023-11-03T22:34:56.656+09:00Comments on I'm no Picasso: Jeremy Lin: I guess I'll weigh in.I'm no Picassohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06516337555349888808noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21444271.post-18618732276779562432012-03-02T14:37:12.444+09:002012-03-02T14:37:12.444+09:00Sorry -- first "male interns" should be ...Sorry -- first "male interns" should be "male employees".I'm no Picassohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06516337555349888808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21444271.post-29605721488091991782012-03-02T14:36:25.414+09:002012-03-02T14:36:25.414+09:00Ashley --
This is tough because without knowing ...Ashley -- <br /><br />This is tough because without knowing you or the specifics of your circumstances, I can't even really pretend to guess what could be going on. And I feel worried that any suggestions I may give as an outsider to your situation may color your experience with your workmates in the future. And I don't want to do that, because I really don't know. <br /><br />Guaria del Bosque's suggestion is not a bad one. And although I would lean toward saying that the male interns definitely may have some trouble being as friendly with you as with the male intern (especially the physical stuff you describe, which is quite normal amongst male friends in Korea, but something you would almost never see a male/female FRIEND coupling engaging in), it still doesn't explain why the girls seem to be more comfortable with the white guy than with you. Unless I'm reading this situation right, and you are actually in a higher position than they are? If that's true, and you are a permanent employee, whereas they are interns (especially if they are younger than you), then they have every reason not to be as friendly with you as they would their fellow intern. Because you are their superior and elder, and in Korean culture, superiors and elders are not your friends. And even one year's age difference can set you apart. In that case, they are simply showing you the respect they are supposed to, and it's up to you to kind of bring things to a more comfortable level. <br /><br />What I can do is give some suggestions for maybe how to get rid of whatever it may be that has them holding back, which is that Korea in general is a gift culture, and it's also a food culture. Whenever my students wanted to show their gratitude, they bring me food. Whenever a coworker here in the office makes a blunder with another coworker, they show up the next day with food. Food is a kind of gesture that can show that your intentions are good and that you want to be closer to someone, and build a better relationship with them. <br /><br />Bringing in some small food or drink item to share with them, and maybe letting them know that you're happy to be working with them and that you hope to be closer to them could go a very long way. I know to our American social training that sounds corny, and embarrassing as fuck, but just trust me. If there's any hesitance there for whatever reason, this should go a long way in helping to resolve it. <br /><br />If there's something else specifically going on that you want to talk about, you can always email me as well: imnopicasso@gmail.com<br /><br />Good luck, and your workmates (whether they realize it or not) are very lucky to be working with someone as concerned as you.I'm no Picassohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06516337555349888808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21444271.post-1914312927188869172012-03-01T12:39:41.965+09:002012-03-01T12:39:41.965+09:00Ashley, there are several Facebook groups by peopl...Ashley, there are several Facebook groups by people of color living in Korea. If you go there, they will probably also be able to give their insight regarding your question.Guaria del Bosquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03923122744402925729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21444271.post-24343759811411795872012-02-29T22:02:04.927+09:002012-02-29T22:02:04.927+09:00Hello,
I was actually recommended to come here by...Hello,<br /><br />I was actually recommended to come here by James of The Grand Narrative and I'm glad I did. I have a question (unfortunately not about Jeremy Lin) that perhaps you could answer. I'm actually interning this semester at the Korean Embassy; I'm working in the cultural center, one of three non-Koreans there.<br /><br />Everyone I work with is nice to me, and the Korean employees kind of vary in their English abilities though always enough for us all to communicate. One the other interns is this Caucasian undergrad student who is very friendly but does not speak much Korean. However, the Korean men have taken to him very well, and ruffle his hair, slap him on the back, etc. The other two interns are two Korean girls who are also very nice, but are very playful with the other male intern.<br /><br />I guess my question is, is there any aspect to my being an American woman that leads me to be treated differently? As I said, everyone is perfectly nice, I just noticed that the other intern is more....included, so to speak. It may just have to with his personality, but I've just been really curious as to whether gender along with nationality play any role in it. Do you have any ideas?<br /><br />Best,<br />Ashley TurnerAshleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12811245208732547054noreply@blogger.com