Saturday, December 29, 2007

To be wierd, or not to be....

Are all people who come to Korea weird before they arrive, or do you progressively become more strange from being here? That is the question.....my question.
From the moment I arrived it was rather obvious that most of the foreigners you meet in Korea are, well, a little "off". This is a judgement from my perspective, assuming I am somewhat normal, you can make your own judgments based on that statement. In any case I have been a little worried lately that its not that weird people come to Korea, its that Korea makes you weird, and I think I am right. I have comprised a whole theory on the phenomena:
It seems to me that most non-Korean people on the penninsula fit into one or more of the following categories:
1. trying to make money, fast: usually the most normal
2. running from something: a little less normal
3. too socially akward to function at home: weirdo
Now picture a "spectrum of weirdness" made out of the above groups. Luckily, Korea does not make everyone weirder, if you are on the stranger side of the spectrum you actuallly become more normal. The reason for this is because all of the above groups of people are forced to intermingle and be friends through default, because we all speak English. In order for this social system to work, the more normal people (such as myself ofcourse) have to move down on the spectrum while the oddballs move upwards to meet in the middle area. I am not sure I am a fan of the middle of the spectrum because if I am going to be anywhere on a weird spectrum I would prefer to be on the more normal third of it. So this is my predicament... am I going to be socially akward when I get home? OK just kidding about that last part, I am not too worried about it. I am quite excited to come home and not be on the weird spectrum at all though. Luckily here in Korea I have found some others with whom I can stay clear of that sketchy middle area though.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Its all that damn kimchee that you are forced to eat that makes you weird. I came home weirder then ever.
WooHoo!
Papi

melanie said...

Have you heard the acronym "LBH" yet? When I first got to Korea I was told to "learn it, know it, and use it". I was shocked at how fitting it was at times. And just in case you haven't heard it...it stands for "loser back home". I know...it's kind of mean.... but someone was right on when they coined it.

Mom said...

Hhhhmmm, I don't know what to say except....with your genetics I think you and Aleta are probably starting with a handicap. Oh, I'm just kidding, haha.
Love you babes.

Anonymous said...

um, except you are a total weirdo anyway. i have been telling you this for years. i will try to help to get over it when you come though-- promise :)