Waeguking it out

The Korean word "Waeguk" can be loosely translated into English as "foreigner". But only loosely, because if a Korean went to America or Bolivia or France, he or she would still refer to the people there as "Waeguks". Why? Because the Korean people tend to see every other Korean person as an extension of their family, and everyone else as a Waeguk.

It is sometimes used somewhat maliciously, but most often it is just used by Korean people and even Waeguks themselves as a handy label. We refer to ourselves as "Waeguks" when we do things that Koreans find silly or different. We sometimes also like to "play the Waeguk card".... "Oh, I'm sorry - I wasn't supposed to sit there? Ah, well, as you see, I'm a Waeguk, so I didn't know." Uh-huh. It does come in handy at times.

Either way, regardless of where I go, there is never a doubt in anyone's mind as to whether or not I am a Waeguk. I, however, spend most of my time while travelling in Korea, either alone or with Korean friends. Both of which give me a bit of a higher foreigner rating. (We all have those...) So it was very strange on Saturday to walk around in Gangnam - a popular place for Waeguks - with my blond Swedish friend.

First, because I rarely travel with other foreigners. Second, because when I do it's usually with my Hawaiian or my Mexican friend. Third, because neither of us were as "foreign" as we looked...as in, we both know how to read Korean, and we have both spent several months here attempting to learn and adapt to the Korean culture. Forth, because when we used to spend time together in Cookeville, we both blended in quite easily. Fifth, he is married to a Korean girl and therefore also spends little of his time with other Waeguks.

So it was strange, to be with another blond person, looking the full part of Waeguks - travelling together, blond, speaking English, Gangnam, while both of us knew we had a much better understanding of our surroundings than any of the natives surrounding us could've known.