As time goes by...
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Last Read: |
It was a warm and sunny spring day when I landed in Dulles airport. I had never seen that many different kinds of people in my life before and was quite excited yet confused at the same time. I walk up to the man in that customs booth and the trouble already begins. I couldn't quite understand what that guy was saying to me! His voice might have been too quite but I had to ask him to repeat a few times. One day I walked in to McDonalds and ordered a cheese burger but couldn't have it because I had no cash! I didn't know they only received cash, so I had to go to an ATM nearby and come back. There were a few boxes and the lady who took my order wasn't very helpful, so I asked her which one was what I ordered but she was acting as if she couldn't understand what I was asking. Come on, it can't be that hard to understand! She obviously understood but I don't know why she was acting like that. Maybe she was putting a newcomer in her face. So I just picked one up and came home. It wasn't a cheese burger but it sure was more expensive one. LOL I started going to work 2 weeks after I got here and of course I was having a hard time communicating with my coworkers. I overheard two little girls in my neighborbood mocking me for my not so white skin and poor English. I had never been afraid of anything until I came to the states and I was actually afraid of talking to people! Yeah I blamed my virgin ears but I was very disappointed in myself at the same time not because I couldn't do any better but because I busted my own confidence. I got my first car in the states and two days later I got pulled over for making a left turn on a red light. I swear I thought it was green. LOL Well, I was mumbling of course and I guess that made that female officer sympathize me, so she just gave me a ticket for making a right turn at a no turn on red intersection. I mumble whenever I get pulled over ever since then. LOL That was already 6 years ago. Man does time fly like an arrow! Now I'm doing a lot better(thanks to telemarketers LO  and most of people don'trealize I'm an FOB. I look back what I have gone through over the past 6 years and it just cracks me up but it wasn't even funny at that time. When I was starting my 6th year in the states, I realized I was missing something. I hadn't socialized with Korean people at all until last year, so I started googling and came across KFF through AFF(AsianFriendFinder not AdultFriendFinder you silly!) and let me tell ya, it was my favorite year! I've met lots of cool Korean people in person via KFF and I'm really thankful for that and that's probably why I keep coming back to KFF. We will have another gathering here in the DC area this Saturday and I will have another great chance to meet many new people. I'm really looking forward to it and hopefully the weather won't be too bad. See you all soon! |
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3/11/2005 8:35 pm |
Sean, seems like you have adjusted very well. Over the past 6 years. I just got divorced 6 years ago and Im still not adjusted...lol good blog, bro EZ
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3/12/2005 6:40 pm |
Sean... that is very common when going to another country. i believe the first week i was in Hong Kong, one of the citizens there yelled at us to go back to the US. But after a few weeks, learning to get around the area, with some help from my friends from Asian friend finder, i found that i could find my way around pretty well. there were many times i seen people look at me and start talking in chinese and i know they were talking about me... lol .. but i did't care. those 5 months in Hk was some of the best times i have ever had, and i would love to go back again and see how much has changed since i been there. i hope you all have a good time this weekend.. Sean i think you did a really great job on writing this blog. Verythoughtful.
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3/16/2005 7:02 am |
Sean, Sorry you had a rough beginning but am glad you stuck through it and are here so I was able to meet you. I think you are a really cool guy. I too understand being a foreigner, only I'm not as dedicated as you so I gave up and moved back home. My hat is off to you bro!
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4/27/2008 9:35 am |
Sean, I think it's great that you decided to assimilate as best you could by rapidly learning English through putting yourself outside of your comfort zone by associating with non Koreans for a few years. And I'm glad you're coming back to your roots too!
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