Here is Korea!;

And shock horror, I am actually updating this thing. I was starting to get so many complaints that I couldn't ignore it any more. >>; People actually read this thing? I'm a little surprised.

Anyways, onto the topic of this blog. I'll have to make this short because I have to get ready for a teaching conference in Gwangju today (unexpected schedule change no. 1,083 in regards to my job), but first, a quick note about my least favourite English phrase in this country:

"Here is Korea!"

Yes, it's grammatically incorrect, but pretty much everyone says it the same way. I have been told this by students, my fellow teachers, but my homestay........ you get the point. XD It's a nice, "subtle" reminder that since I'm here, I should really get with the program. And by "getting with the program" they mean that I should really be adopting Korean culture.

Koreans are extremely proud of their national culture, maybe in part because they are so isolated and don't really understand outside countries all that well. Some of my "Americanisms" are both confusing and upsetting to Korean people, including any of the following: speaking too loudly (well that's a gimme XD), touching food with my fingers, eating fruit with the skin on,
not eating rice with every meal, taking my shoes off at the wrong time (?), my jaw popping when I eat (there's a lot about eating here isn't there?), and blowing my nose anywhere in the vicinity of another person. Phew. It can be quite a lot to take in--especially the jaw popping thing because that is my orthodentists' fault, not mine--and it can a high-and-mighty American such as myself quite bitter to thing, "So I'm going to have to change just because they said so?"

That's when it's time to take a step back, take a deep breathe, and remind oneself: Of course. Because it's not about me, it's about the Group.

Ah, yes, the importance of the Group in Korea. The Group is just as important as it is for Americans to act individually in our country. Anything you do should be carried out with general consideration for the Group first--if it does not benefit the group (I'm going to stop with the obnoxious capitals now), then it should be ix-nay-ed. I think to a certain degree this can be a really good thing, because Americans are astoundingly selfish people. I never really thought of myself of all that selfish, but in comparison to Koreans I am very, very selfish. I make decisions that are for MY benefit and my benefit only. I might not go along with something if I don't want to do it, just because the group is doing it. (Of course, in my work situations I do whatever they tell me to, even if I think it's not a great idea, but in my social situations I can be more picky.) Koreans show a lot of consideration for each other and their peers, because they are always aware of the group at large, not their own personal desires. In fact, individual wants might not be considered at all in their mind.

So while on the fluffy, happy side of the group mentality, we have extreme caring and kindness for one another, there is of course a flip side. One of the most frustrating things for me, an outsider of the group, is to see when the majority is forced into doing something they don't really want to do. Many group decisions are made by one elder, so in reality, everyone is following one person's wish, not the group's wish. For example, with Korea's drinking culture and work, often many people do not wish to be involved in that at all, but they will still go and stay up all night drinking (or pretending to drink) until they are "released" from their duty. Even if they are bored or tired, they will never leave early. As many Koreans have pointed out to me, Koreans don't know how to say "no."

One example of how the group mentality works (or doesn't work) relates to my school. Now, my school is very religious, so forced drinking outings are pretty much nonexistent. The school does, however, have an official church. Every Sunday, pretty much every teacher in the school goes to the same church for service. They will stay there all day, teaching Sunday School, doing singing practice, extra services, etc. This can go all day from 9 until 4 pm. I'm the only teacher who is excused from this, because I am an American and therefore not part of the group (thank Gooooood in this case). I only know about this church because of one of my co-workers' complaints. Teachers are not allowed to go to another church. Some of the teachers who attend this church are atheist or non-believers, but they still go every week. Even the non-believers will call up the co-workers who are skiving off and get them to come to church. It is not because they want them to come to church, but it is their duty to do this. The group mentality is accompanied by a strong sense of duty and personal responsibility and self-sacrifice. My co-worker who explained the whole church problem to me told me how they hate this so much, hate going to church. But they'll still go, almost every Sunday. My students and other English-speaking Koreans will often confide in me their anger at the system, but they will never make formal complaints. It's really a shame, because I fear that such a system will produce a nation of deeply (and secretly) bitter people.

I'm not sure if the concept of the Group should be abolished in Korea; like I said before, it really has some positive benefits. Individuality in the West has created a sort of cut-throat, "every man for himself" attitude which isn't much better, really. It's just astonishing for me to witness certain aspects of group-think, and even more astonishing to realize even if I understand the concept, I will never be able to embrace it. Just as Koreans can't bear to make a selfish move and act as an individual, I can't bear to abandon my stubborn individuality. I wonder now how Korea and the U.S. ever successfully do business together. It must be a real headache.

And now, I must stop typing and get ready to go. After my conference, I'm heading up to Seoul for the weekend to celebrate an early Thanksgiving at the U.S. Ambassador's house. It should be fun, even if it's 5 days early. I'm actually excited to see a turkey!

Signing off for now~