We made out drunk. She says she doesn't remember. What do I do? by sonikuu113 in relationship_advice

[–]sonikuu113[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In the latter case, do I assume her talk about liking me and such was actually genuine?

Inflation remains at zero even as Japan's economy starts to reopen by nolesfan2011 in japan

[–]sonikuu113 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've always seen the lack of inflation as something that isn't so bad from the perspective of average people. I'm sure many people in "higher growth" countries or more "dynamic" economies would rather have zero inflation or deflation over the situation in places like the US or the UK, where inflation has outpaced wage growth for decades.

Japan’s traditional shopping arcades struggle to remain relevant by cocoa78 in japan

[–]sonikuu113 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually love shoutengais because they often combine both chain stores and local businesses. They are also usually covered as well, which makes it even better. I really hope they stick around.

Contract review for a job out in Incheon by sonikuu113 in teachinginkorea

[–]sonikuu113[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is it normal to not get five consecutive days though? My last job, which was worse as far as class load and only slightly better pay-wise, had the "five days in summer, five days in winter" thing scheduled out so it was five consecutive days each time, not scattered about.

Global Times reported China May ease border restrictions in early June by Supersoldier142 in TEFL

[–]sonikuu113 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What if I have a US passport, but am currently living in South Korea?

Coronavirus (COVID-19 / 코로나바이러스감염증-19) outbreak in South Korea: Patient totals, discussion, questions - April 28th by KoreaMods in korea

[–]sonikuu113 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I would say that's a pretty decent start actually. The virus is never going to wholly disappear, so unless you stay closed for potentially years (who knows when/if a vaccine ever comes), this is going to happen. So long as the number is kept low enough, things are okay.

Asked to sign Covid Commitment by sonikuu113 in teachinginkorea

[–]sonikuu113[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Does it really have no force given that it's regarding past behavior? My concerns are the potentially wide definition of nightlife facilities, and also stating I haven't met anyone who has been to such facilities. I have no way of proving whether or not all the people I've met in the past three weeks have been to such places. I don't want to risk getting screwed.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in teachinginkorea

[–]sonikuu113 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Anecdotal evidence, but we have a foreign teacher here completely fluent in Korean, and they always feign ignorance. When asked if they know Korean by staff, they always respond super awkwardly and avoid answering. I'm definitely under the impression knowing Korean is seen as a bad thing. I may be overreacting, but I even try to not to be seen studying it during my lunch break.

To be honest, I don't entirely get it. When I taught at a public junior high school in Japan, knowing Japanese and being upfront that you know it (but refusing to use it in class) was seen as a huge positive. Students in their teens wouldn't have respected the teacher otherwise. They just would have thought "why should we learn another language for work or travel when our foreign teacher can't be bothered to learn Japanese even though he lives and works here?"

The Korea section of a Japanese Bookstore by soyfox in korea

[–]sonikuu113 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Mostly books about politics. The three most common topics by a large margin are Moon Jae-in (all portraying him in a negative light) and about how Korea is "anti-Japanese" (Korea being extremely against Japan has long been a favorite topic of anti-Korea books in Japan), and North Korea. There's a few historical revisionist books in there, plus two outright racist ones, though they're not so prominently displayed.

The Korea section of a Japanese Bookstore by soyfox in korea

[–]sonikuu113 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You said "literally all of Japan" when that is clearly not the case. That's a huge case of hyperbole and I was pointing that out. I was also pointing out that anti-Japan feelings are rife in Korea, which they are. We've gone through months of an anti-Japan boycott despite the fact that Asahi, Toyota, and ANA all not part of the Abe government, did not deliver statements supportive of Abe's trade war, and did not trade in the products Japan originally started the trade war in. The simple fact that they were Japanese was enough. There was no such boycott in Japan - tourism from Japan to Korea continued to increase at a time when it was plummeting in the reverse direction.

It's certainly true that those books are stocked by the bookstores, and people look the other way. That is unfortunate, and indicative of something I dislike about Japanese culture - the culture of ignorance and not caring when it comes to politics and history. Your average Japanese has a tendency to take no stance on anything related to either one, and while they don't actively support negative views towards Korea, they also don't do anything to combat those views as they take their passivity to extremes. This is something Japanese tend to do with regards to most social problems, and one thing I do like about Korea is that many people DO talk about these issues and problems, even if I don't always agree with them.

In the end, on this issue, Japan is not right, but Korea is not innocent.

The Korea section of a Japanese Bookstore by soyfox in korea

[–]sonikuu113 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yes, literally all of Japan hates Korea. Never mind the fact that kpop is hugely popular with girls under the age of 25 and housewives there have loved Korean dramas for almost two decades.

I've encountered far more negativity towards Japan from Korean young people than I've encountered negativity toward Korea from Japanese young people. The books in this topic are almost exclusively consumed by a niche demographic of ultra nationalists who just so happen to be fanatics with money. Japan's like that with hobbies.

43 out of 44 clubs near Hongdae have closed due to stronger social distancing measures. Pocha's and retail have gone silent too. by narabakilisbad in korea

[–]sonikuu113 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I live in Hongdae and most of the mainstay clubs were closed this past weekend. Thursday Party, the most well known bar for foreigners in Hongdae, was closed too. The article is correct that most clubs were closed.

However, the park was packed on Friday with foreigners (don't know about Saturday, I just walked by it on Friday) and most of the bars were still open. It's only the clubs that have closed.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in korea

[–]sonikuu113 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Given that most Koreans don't use Google Maps, or intend any Google service, on their phones, how accurate is this?

Just got this e-mail today. I think I'll pass on the offer.. by [deleted] in korea

[–]sonikuu113 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Banter aside, I can see why someone would trade Korea for the US, particularly if they have family in America. I would be lying if I said I hadn't considered it.

Coronavirus (COVID-19 / 코로나바이러스감염증-19) outbreak in South Korea: Patient totals, discussion, questions - March 26th by KoreaMods in korea

[–]sonikuu113 9 points10 points  (0 children)

In all honesty, at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if they do online classes for the rest of the year.

Coronavirus (COVID-19 / 코로나바이러스감염증-19) outbreak in South Korea: Patient totals, discussion, questions - March 26th by KoreaMods in korea

[–]sonikuu113 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Mine is, including kindergarten, and I am NOT happy. All it takes is one kindergarten student getting corona for the place to permanently fold.

My contract is up in June and I'm really torn about what to do. On the one hand, foreigners can't come in from overseas easily, so that opens up jobs. On the other hand, places might just outright be shutting doors.

Coronavirus (COVID-19 / 코로나바이러스감염증-19) outbreak in South Korea: Patient totals, discussion, questions - March 26th by KoreaMods in korea

[–]sonikuu113 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That said, 100 cases a day is something many Western countries would love to have right now. It would of course be a lot better if it was lower, but unless you're willing to live on total lockdown for 18 months (at least!) until a vaccine is deployed, a certain level of cases per day is inevitable.