Day 13: A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.

Wow, what an interesting topic.  I would honestly say that I am surrounded by helpful and encouraging people.  It’s been a long time since I’ve really been hurt (other than psycho Korean girl who attacked me).  

So I will address this letter to Korea (including but not limited to:  Korean immigration, Korean newspaper journalists, traditional ajummas and ajosshis, and the ignorant naive Korean public.)

Disclaimer:  I do not mean to include all Koreans in this letter.  I have been shown compassion and consideration by a number of Koreans.  This letter might just be rambling.  I know that I am an alien in this country.  I do not vote, I do not pay taxes.  I know I am here because you allow me to be.  But this is supposed to be a letter to someone who has hurt me, therefore emotions are inherently involved.  I also do not speak for anyone but myself.  I know there are many others who share my sentiment, however, it should be understood that not all with agree with me.

Dear Korea,

I am a waygookin.  I have chosen to come to your country.  No, I didn’t really want to come to South Korea.  I didn’t really care about South Korea.  Yes, I chose to come here because of the money and benefits you offer to qualified applicants from my country.  Do you blame me?  South Korea offers a wonderful life for an expatriate, especially financially.  

I came here to educate your youth.  I cannot speak for others, but being an English teacher is my chosen career path.  I am not here because I couldn’t find a job back home.  I am not here because I just wanted to take a year (or two) off and go somewhere exotic.  I am here because Korea offered the best opportunity for me to practice and improve my craft — teaching. 

Korea, you have made me fall in love with teaching.  Your disciplined students, albeit maybe too disciplined, make me smile each and every day.  I show up to work every day and on time (with a few inevitable exceptions).  I plan my lessons to be effective and engaging.  I foster good relationships with my colleagues and administration.  When you provide unexpected and last-minute changes on a daily basis that would be unheard of in other countries or workplaces, I adjust and continue as best as I can.  I may not work the long hours of my fellow teachers, but I try to make my effort worth your money.  

I pay for national healthcare like the rest of you.  I do not pay taxes due to agreements between our countries — however, I do pay into pension.  I support local businesses and restaurants with my money.  I have embraced Korean culture and have participated in a number of cultural events/festivals.   I am learning new Korean words everyday in an attempt to make my life easier here and to communicate with you better.  I have eaten your traditional foods.  I have drank your soju.  I rooted you on in the World Cup until I could yell no more.  I have chanted 대한민국! in the streets.  I have patronized your street vendors, festivals and concerts.  

I try to remain calm when an ajumma shoves me out of the way in the subway.  I remain neutral as drunk ajosshis stumble toward me with lewd remarks.  I deal with hearing my name or “waygookin” amidst Korean conversation I cannot understand. 

Some of you resent me.   Possibly even hate me.  You stare so long that it makes me uncomfortable.  You assume we are all druggies or criminals.  I have never been arrested in my life.  I provided a clean criminal background, a clean drug test, and a normal medical report at your demand.  I have proven that I am a citizen in good standing.  I have been here for over 8 months and have had no run-ins with the law.  

You write ridiculous statistics about me and my friends in your newspapers.  You blame problems like drugs, AIDS, pedophilia, and the rising crime rate on us.  

This hurts me.  Hurts my feelings.  It hurts the feelings of my fellow English teachers.  Sometimes, we feel like we are not welcome in your country.  We are frequently shown blatant racism towards us.  We are talked about, stared at, laughed at, and treated as non-entities.  

Must I remind you again, that you are paying us to be here?  You have opened up your country and bank accounts to support us here.  To become part of this society and to bestow upon our students an interest in English.  

And yet, you treat us as if we don’t matter.  As if we are some plague upon the Korean peninsula.  As if we are all track-marked, AIDS-riddled, convicted criminals.  And to be honest?  A group of young adults who have chosen to leave their countries and comforts to mold the youth of your country — we are probably the best representatives of our people.  We are educated, driven, adventurous and compassionate.   We have talent, work ethic, and an appreciation for cultural differences.  

I am busy trying to understand Korea — your customs, culture and language.  And I am working a full-time job.  I don’t have time to deal with your prejudices and racism.  It’s insulting and offensive.  I don’t have time to jump through your flaming hoops and bureaucratic bulls*** just to prove to you that I am qualified for a job you already qualified me for.  

Sincerely,

a CELTA-certified middle-school English teacher in Daegu, South Korea

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Recent newspaper articles illustrating or discussing anti-foreigner sentiments.

More Native English Teachers Quit

Half of Native English Instructors Quit After A Year

Are Foreign Teachers’ Crimes Serious?

English Teachers Establish Labor Union in Incheon

New Drug Test Plan angers native English teachers

Teaching screening lax at foreign schools

Testing teachers for drugs and AIDS

and even some articles defending us:

Teachers Running Rampant

Foreign teachers wrongly portrayed in Korea