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my big nose -- part II

not to toot my own horn, but today when i was in maggie33's middle school english class, one of the students asked me if i had plastic surgery because i was so handsome. they really like tall noses here, and, as i've mentioned before, my nose is tall. like a tree. or a mountain!

because they seem to dig tall noses, it's surely not their choice of derogatory terms for white people. in korean, i'm not sure there is one. they call us what sounds like waigu (which is a lot like waiguo in chinese which means foreign country). they gawk a bit more than chinese people, which can sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable.

what makes me even more uncomfortable and sad is this.

i know i look kinda homeless, and probably slobby and not necessarily respectable. but i try really hard to smile or make eye contact or do anything to show that i'm not an evil guy. but here, there have been several occasions where i've been walking when a mother would see me and bring her child closer to me, as if i was some sort of threat.

maggie33 told me, and i'm not sure she knew she'd be quoted, so my apologies, that korean girls are told from a young age to be weary and careful around foreigners. i suppose i can understand their fear, if anything, because we're different and have vast cultural differences.

it really surprised me when that fear displayed itself as real. it made me really miss the times i was in china, still feeling a bit like a zoo animal, but receiving giggles and smiles rather than scornful looks of caution.

don't get me wrong-- most people here have treated me very well. especially maggie33's coworkers. i don't blame them for being intrigued or staring (i am gloriously handsome), or for giggling when i respond to their "hallo!" i just feel awful that i would ever make a mother fear for her child.

so if you're korean and reading this, please forgive me if i make you nervous or uncomfortable. i don't think i'm evil, and i won't hurt your children.

February 11, 2008 @ 9:14pm . 59 views . 5 comments