One thing I’ve learned through blogging and vlogging over the past two years is that there are a lot of questions about life as an expat teaching English in Korea.

They are all different and they comes from all ages, races, and backgrounds. Among the questions about food, qualifications, documentation, and who Korean girls like most are those from female teachers inquiring about dating, racism, and safety.

Dating:
This is a danger zone topic I learned the hard way through my HIGHLY controversial vlog, DO NOT Teach English in Korea if You Are These Types of People.

Clearly more controversial for the guys, it’s still a topic of great interest for the ladies. And for different reasons. Korea is a very unique culture with it’s own idiosyncrasies when it comes to dating. What is acceptable behavior? What do K-dudes like? Do they date foreign women?

The truth of the matter on this topic, I just couldn’t give any meaningful feedback. So I turned to some close, trusted, and respected women in their jobs and social groups. I thought a round table open discussion would be the best way to get some of the hot topics out in the open, including dating.

Racism:
Unless you look like me, you’re gonna feel the impact of being ethnically (and culturally) different. For me I experienced a script flip when coming to the R.O.K. compared to back home. In America, unless I’m in Chinatown with my boy Stevie Chin, I stand out. In fact, I was Yao Ming’s doppelganger for many years if you really must know. In Korea though, noone pays mind to me. I’m invisible here.

It will also be a flip compared to back home. You will be the odd man or woman out. In many if not all ways in your daily life. It’s difficult to prepare for it. You just have to come into it determined to see it through, take the high road, and learn from the experiences.

These experiences are better stated by my friends in the following segment.

Safety:
Finally, safety is something that applies to all women. The world can be a shady, murky place and one should always watch where they step. Korea is a safe place, having said that. The “bad areas” are just not bad. Not only are crime rates lower in Korea, but the nature of crime is much, MUCH different than back home in America. How do I know this? Not by reading stats or anything like that.

I look at the cops.

Police here in Korea are not geared up the same way as they are back home. Seldom, if ever, do I notice a Kevlar vest. Holsters are old and worn with no safety straps. The guns are not semi-autos. They are lower powered, often revolvers. No mace, no expandable ASPs (batons), no tasers, no nothin’, no nuthin’! What kind of crime could you possible be fighting with gear like that? Not very violent, that’s for sure.

But don’t take my word for it. Here are the 3 amigettes giving their own personal experiences on safety. Having said all that I did, you’ll find one of the girl’s story creepy if not scary…

The post 3 Female Teachers Talk About Dating, Racism, and Safety in Korea appeared first on The Red Dragon Diaries.