Stereotypes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=90Y4jx38DF4

This is a simple youtube video that I think a lot of people need to watch.

In this world today many people hear that you are of a certain race, religion, or live in a certain country and they automatically assume certain "virtues" about you that isn't always true.

Koreans are not small.  Yes, many are skinny compared to Americans.  However there are some with more weight than me.  Most of the men here are taller than me.

I seriously doubt any of my students have ever even tasted dog, much less eat it.

Most of my students have never even tried martial arts.

Just because they look like Japanese to white people (they don't to each other) doesn't mean they speak that language.

In the same way, many Koreans assume that:

1.  All females from America have been having sex since they were teenagers.
2.  All males from America who are in the army like to rape innocent looking Korean girls.
3.  If you get a job here, that you are not hardy like them and won't be able to stay away from your country.  You will break your contract and leave them in the middle of the year.

Yet they still treat us with respect and are eager to help us.  Why can't we return the same courtesy?

Not just to Koreans, but also to Mexicans, Latinos, Chinese, Russians, Germans, Native Americans, Italians, Irish... you get the picture.

In Korea, they try to accommodate foreigners.  They have worked hard to get English onto many of their signs and in their stores.  That way you can at least read where to go.  They also have Chinese and Japanese on signs in the larger cities and such.

In America, it is common to hear grumbling about (Insert Culture like say... Mexicans) and how they are taking over simply because of a little Spanish on a sign.  Someone was trying to be kind and thoughtful to a human being who is going through culture shock.  And we blast their Christian attitude with a very non-Christian attitude of our own.

I'm guilty of it too.  I am trying to make people aware that it is okay to have several cultures living together.  Learning a few words in another language won't kill you.  Instead, it might make you a friend that you will value for many years to come.