To: That small group of Teachers in Gyeongju

If you’ve traveled abroad, especially to a country where the people don’t look American…or white, whichever term you’d like to use (and for the record, the words are interchangeable)…I’m sure you’ve passed this guy on the street.  He’s not anti-social.  Indeed he’s very social.  His vision is not impaired.  He sees you.  But he would die should anyone notice the twinge of excitement and wonder in his eyes.

Now what is interesting is that I came across this recent submission to the classified ads in our local paper The Yeongju Daily Gazette:

Wanted

One highly qualified individual to fill the position of

International Travel Ass for the Mid-Eastern region

of Korea.  The right candidate will have a maximum of 1-2

weeks of international traveling experience.  He/she will

have the world figured out, and consequently wrapped in

a pretty little package.  He/she will be required to never

acknowledge, speak to, or even smile when passing another

American-looking person.  Doing so would communicate

an inferior, “tourist-like” glow that says “I can’t handle this

living abroad thing.  Please speak English to me.”  Finally,

the proper candidate will never, and I repeat NEVER,

frequent such western, tourist establishments such as

McDonalds.  Not even if you are starving.  Such behavior

is unbecoming of the International Travel Ass Association.

All applications must be submitted in person at one of our

offices.  And try not to look lost…we’ll act like we don’t

know you.

What’s really interesting is that they actually print this stuff.

Now, lest I be misunderstood: I get it.  I really do.  Once you’ve been in Korea, or anywhere else, for months and months, seeing another white person (American) is not quite as exciting as it was when you first arrived.  I also understand the “doing your own thing” deal.  Jessica and I rarely, some would say never, hang out with the other foreigners here.  We’re still newlyweds, and, well, you know what newlyweds do.  But we always make an effort to say hello to everyone when we pass, and so do the other good folks of Yeongju.   Apparently all the cool white people are working in other towns.

And, for the record, the Shanghai Spice Chicken Burger at McDonalds is to die for.