ABSTRACT 
Quite often among our foreign colleagues we hear of frustrations experienced working with and living among a culture which is so different from their native one.  Then we also hear of problems which Koreans have in relating to and working with foreign staff.  So what can we do to improve this? When there is dislike for something, it is quite often rooted in misunderstanding.  A good first step towards solving problems is dialogue. So come to this session for an open discussion where we will bridge this gap between cultures.  Warning: attendees are expected to participate! 

PRESENTER BIOGRAPHY 
Jerry Foley was born in Savannah, Georgia, US.  After high school, he first attended Young Harris College in the mountains of North Georgia, majoring in Speech and Theatre.  Then, after transferring to LaGrange College, he changed majors and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education.  He acquired other training and various experiences serving in the U.S. Navy.  He also received an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Travel and Hospitality.  This is his third year in Korea and at the Institute of Foreign Language Research and Education at Dong-Eui University.  He sees teaching in a foreign country as a way in which all his education and various experiences can be applied. 

MATERIALS 

1. Addressing teachers by the first name only. 

2. The problems with traffic and driving:  Why don’t the police enforce traffic laws?   
A. Also why do people put up with this?   
B. Why is there not more public demand to improve road conditions? 

3. One pet peeve which was received is pushing and crowding, and ‘tailgating’ when walking behind someone. 
4. People trying to get in an elevator before others have exited. 
                  
5. One of the lessons of  “political correctness” is that “tolerance”   of difference is a trap.  The idea is that “you can be different, but not too different-it is not a right but a privilege.”  How can teaching people to “tolerate” cultural differences avoid this trap? 

6. Why do so many Koreans seem to not want to take responsibility for their children? (allowing them to go unsupervised or not correcting them.) 

7. Now let’s go back to the personal questions, what are some of them? 

8. Saying “Hello” to our backs. 

9. I have been told that it is thought to be rude here if a young man has a beard.  Well if this is so than at what age am I no longer young? 

10. Why do some businesses have everybody eating lunch at the same time, therefor making it difficult to get service ( banks do not operate like this.)? 

11.   Why does it seem like so many people are paid to do nothing?  (This is mostly men.) 

12.   Urinating in public. 

13.   Why does ‘getting married’ seemed to be so important to Koreans? 

14.   Weddings, now this could be a whole session by itself.