Traveling Koreans

Last summer in Rome Steph and I shared a room with a very unfriendly Korean. I figured it was an isolated incident, and that that particular girl was just not in the mood to be nice and outgoing. That is until earlier today. Maybe it's me and my unfriendly ways, or maybe I'm beginning to see a trend.

How could I not notice that this person was Korean? Many of our friends in Korea might agree that we could spot Koreans easily, or at least try to tell the difference between Korean people and, say, Japanese or Chinese just for the fun of it. We have an idea how they look and act by now because we live there amongst a nation of them. Personally it may be easier at this point to pick out a Korean from the crowd than just about any other nationality, and this is not necessarily because of their confidence. Maybe it's their lack of confidence that makes them easier to spot.

Instead of going over the particulars, lets just say I tried to strike up a friendly conversation with the young traveler today by speaking in Korean in the common room of the hostel in which we were staying. Anyone see a problem with that? (plz tell me if you do!) If I were Korean I'd welcome such a conversation opener. Why not, it isn't like the Korean language is the equivalent of English in the world.

Anyway, she shut me down, showing very little interest. I even told her I lived in Korea, and she barely smiled. What more could she expect from someone in Spain? How many non-native Korean people do you think have said 'Hello, How are you?' in her native language (안녕하세요?) since she's arrived in Spain to greet her? I even smiled.

Korean people with a social complex: loosen up a little. Some of us are simply trying to be friendly. Speaking with others can be a good thing, and you may actually learn something.

Or, maybe I got the whole thing wrong, and some travelers are just unfriendly.

Keep the faith.

PS- As a side note, I believe it wouldn't hurt the Korean government to consider altering (and/or adding to) the national public school curriculum some courses in life skills. Some may find subjects like 'sociology' or 'psychology' to be fascinating. And beneficial.