3 weeks ago I joined a weekly Korean history and language class. Several weeks ago the coordinator asked me to give a presentation on South Korean history and I was so giddily, excited at the thought of sharing my information on pre-historic South Korea that I worked on my presentation for many days tweeking and perfecting the PowerPoint I created and checking my facts. I readied my South Korean stone artifacts like an elementary student excited about presenting her favorite toy at show-n-tell. I know, geeky. I am a geekazoid, no, a passionate geekazoid, when it comes to archaeology and particularly pre-historic archaeology. I actually couldn't sleep the night before, and when I did, I dreamt about my presentation. It was archaeological Christmas Eve for me.
I know. I know what you're thinking. Geek alert!! But I was happy.
The day that I was to present to the class was the same day as my 'coffee with Mr. Yi' as I like to call it. Once a week, my co-teacher, Mr. Yi, or, Hong Ho, shares coffee and conversation with me to keep his English skills sharp and learn new vocabulary. I like Mr. Yi. I feel I have made a true connection with him and a life long friend. Once Mr. Yi was comfortable in his classroom chair, coffee in hand, I took full advantage of my captive audience and imposed my presentation of South Korean pre-history upon him.
I had actually hoped that once he saw the presentation he would have something to add or correct perhaps. Or, shower me with compliments regarding my accurasy on Korean pre-history. [sigh] But, to my disappointment and utter shock, that was not the case at all. Mr. Yi sat through the presentation and like a good student posing a question here and there, even seeming genuinely interested as he asked the questions. However, there was a lack of true curiosity about the subject, which perplexed me, as this is the ancient history of his country. He was particularly weary when I told him that all humans came from the mother land of Africa and that his ancestors migrated eastward as my ancestors migrated westward. This didn't seem to impress him at all. As a matter of fact, I think he wanted to disagree and refuse to believe it. That was my impression anyway.
When I finished the presentation I asked him what he thought and he was honest saying Koreans have no interest in pre-history what-so-ever and only care about Korean history from the 3 Kingdoms era, forward to present day. He is speaking of the earliest historical days of Korea starting with the Koryo empire which was then divided into 3 empires stretching through atleast 3 dynasties to present day. These are the days of their "glory". These historical days are more defined where pre-history is abstract and unknown.
As perhaps you can imagine, I was a tad depressed by his disinterest. I know that there are many cultures who refuse to embrace the fact that we are all from Africa and that there is DNA proof of it (see Spencer Wells, The Journey of Man). Many cultures still hold tightly their mythological beginnings and perhaps that is true for South Korea whose beginnings are due to the Son of Heavenly beings, Dangun, who gave birth to the Korean people.
I don't know if that is the case for Mr. Yi. But I have the impression that few South Koreans question their origins and only have to offer that they are descendants of the Mongols, NOT the Chinese. Not a single Korean friend has had a curiosity about my artifact collection and that, unfortunately, includes my students. I can't express how sad and disappointed I am. Only one student has had a comment to offer and that was that I am lying about thier age and origins. Ouch! That hurt.
Luckily, my co-expat teachers were impressed with my presentation on Korean pre-history and the odd fact that there are over 40,000 dolmens (goindol) here. I have never had so much fun planning for and giving a presentation on the very subject I love. Sadly, I did not ROK my Korean friends with such information, but, I did impress my co-expat teachers, and that's good enough for me.
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