Comments on: Where Has Roy Been? http://www.royhuggins.com/2008/01/where-has-roy-been/ Just another WerbBless testplug Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:40:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.9 by: Lena http://www.royhuggins.com/2008/01/where-has-roy-been/#comment-54 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:56:10 +0000 http://www.royhuggins.com/2008/01/where-has-roy-been/#comment-54 Hey Roy, I'm glad to hear things are looking up for you...winter is hard no matter where you are (well, unless it's Florida, maybe...?), but I can't imagine the added stress of being in a foreign country helps at all. I've been interested in reading your posts (Electra's, too). After I'm done with training I'm considering spending some time in Korea...I've started a Korean class, which has been really good for me. I love the challenge of learning a new language, and Korean is actually remarkably easy to learn, thanks to a completely phonetic alphabet! Even with some basic language skills, though, I won't really be adequately prepared for the culture shock of being in a completely different part of the world. Despite having read many memoirs of overseas adopted Koreans, there isn't really any way to prepare emotionally for that kind of journey--from seeing Koreans as "Other" to being one of them. A part of me feels like I shouldn't expect much from the experience unless I stay for a prolonged period of time--two weeks, or even a month, just doesn't seem long enough. But, who knows? I have a lot to get through before then. Not the least of which is another summer of intense training, then a final summer of wrap up and oral and written exams. By then you two should be back in the States! Hey Roy,

I’m glad to hear things are looking up for you…winter is hard no matter where you are (well, unless it’s Florida, maybe…?), but I can’t imagine the added stress of being in a foreign country helps at all.

I’ve been interested in reading your posts (Electra’s, too). After I’m done with training I’m considering spending some time in Korea…I’ve started a Korean class, which has been really good for me. I love the challenge of learning a new language, and Korean is actually remarkably easy to learn, thanks to a completely phonetic alphabet!

Even with some basic language skills, though, I won’t really be adequately prepared for the culture shock of being in a completely different part of the world. Despite having read many memoirs of overseas adopted Koreans, there isn’t really any way to prepare emotionally for that kind of journey–from seeing Koreans as “Other” to being one of them. A part of me feels like I shouldn’t expect much from the experience unless I stay for a prolonged period of time–two weeks, or even a month, just doesn’t seem long enough.

But, who knows? I have a lot to get through before then. Not the least of which is another summer of intense training, then a final summer of wrap up and oral and written exams. By then you two should be back in the States!

]]> by: Alison http://www.royhuggins.com/2008/01/where-has-roy-been/#comment-53 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:33:17 +0000 http://www.royhuggins.com/2008/01/where-has-roy-been/#comment-53 awwww....how exhausting....trying to constantly "break through" the wall of being an outsider. sounds like you are trying your best to focus on the positive moments. miss you. you'll always "belong" in my little world! :) awwww….how exhausting….trying to constantly “break through” the wall of being an outsider. sounds like you are trying your best to focus on the positive moments. miss you. you’ll always “belong” in my little world! :)

]]> by: Mike http://www.royhuggins.com/2008/01/where-has-roy-been/#comment-52 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:15:21 +0000 http://www.royhuggins.com/2008/01/where-has-roy-been/#comment-52 I know that "perpetual guest" feeling too Roy. A person can get fed up with it pretty quickly. It's definitely cultural and comes from a sense of Japanese identity. It's a result fo many cultural things passed down for centuries, and there's no much we can do about it except teach our students that foreigners DO exist and that the world outside the bubble can be pretty cool and interesting - if they make an effort to view it. I blogged/ranted a lot about this on my blog: http://happyinhokkaido.typepad.com/happy/2008/01/bubbles-bubbles.html Hang in there buddy! Glad you're here for a second year too! :-) I know that “perpetual guest” feeling too Roy. A person can get fed up with it pretty quickly. It’s definitely cultural and comes from a sense of Japanese identity. It’s a result fo many cultural things passed down for centuries, and there’s no much we can do about it except teach our students that foreigners DO exist and that the world outside the bubble can be pretty cool and interesting - if they make an effort to view it. I blogged/ranted a lot about this on my blog: http://happyinhokkaido.typepad.com/happy/2008/01/bubbles-bubbles.html

Hang in there buddy! Glad you’re here for a second year too! :-)

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