How I Know I Live in a Homogeneous Society

I still remember...4th grade...Mrs. Headstream's class. She was teaching us about homogeneous societies. And while my little small town in Texas didn't offer too much diversity, I couldn't quite understand when she showed us pictures of everyone looking the same...same hair color, similar builds, similar eyes, similar skin color.

Fast forward about 15 years, when I first came to Korea...at that moment, I understood what Mrs. Headstream was teaching us about. Even though it was about 4 years ago, I remember that exact moment I realized...Wow, this IS a homogeneous place. I had gone to a graduation ceremony for several of my students at the hagwon, and as I was standing there, I looked out across the crowds of students and parents. At that moment, I clearly remember thinking, 'Whoa, this place really does lack diversity.'

And in the years that I've lived in Korea, things happen every now and again (some more often than others) that remind me just how homogeneous this place really is.

So, I've compiled a small list of reason why I'd say that Korea is still a homogeneous society. Please consider these are my own opinions and I can't speak for every foreigner that lives in Korea. So here we go...in no particular order:

1. People stare...and not just a little...A LOT! It's like I'm an alien...which to them I am! I think if I had spent the last 40 years of my life never seeing someone like me in person, I'd probably stare out of curiosity too.

2. People get really excited when I use Korea, even if it's only to say 'hello'. I mean, can you imagine if every time a foreigner said "Hello" in English back home, us saying, "Oh wow, your English is so good,"? Yea, I can't either. And, I've traveled to other countries before and used their language for greetings, but I've never had someone say to me that I spoke their language well, after merely a small greeting.

3. I get invited to events, such as weddings, in order to be the 'token foreigner'. I've been to a few weddings this past year, and there have definitely been a few times when I've thought I only got invited to show that the bride had foreign friends.

4. Koreans can identify foreigners in about 0.0001 seconds. I'm just thinking about people I see in America...if I assumed everyone non-white was a foreigner, I'd be in for a real treat. There is so much diversity in the States that it's impossible to assume that someone is a foreigner strictly based on their appearance.

5. Outsiders can never 'really' be apart of the culture. I think even if you've lived in Korea, speak Korea fluently, follow all of the traditions, and so on, as a non-Korean, you would never be accepted fully into the society. Koreans would still call them 'foreigners' and treat them as such.


All of this is not to say that Koreans are not friendly or welcoming to foreigners, actually it's quite the opposite. Most of the people that I encounter are very happy to see foreigners in their country and kind to lend a helping hand if they can. There have been a few situations that have been unpleasant, but mostly, those are with people from the older generations.

Overall, I can see a shift in the Korean culture, but I'd still consider it one of the homogeneous societies of the world!

What Legacy Do You Want to Leave Behind?

Last week, as I was flipping through the lastest edition of the Wayland Baptist alumni magazine, Footprints, I couldn't help but reminisce about my old days at WBU.

I can remember it clearly...sophomore year...an interview to become a member of the Student Union Board...Dr. Lusk asked me, "Sara, what legacy do you want to leave behind after you're finished at Wayland?" Being the 19-year old that I was and having never given thought to any kind of legacy before, I said the first thing that came to my mind, "I want people to remember me as a fan...a lover of all sports at Wayland and the biggest supporter on campus!" Well, I suppose that wasn't the answer he was looking for since I wasn't selected to be in the organization, but as I look back on my time at Wayland, I think that's exactly the legacy I left.

Almost always, when I see an old friend from my days at Wayland and they're introducing me to someone else, it comes up that I was a sports fan at WBU. I guess I didn't realize it at the time, but sports did take up a lot of my time during my four years in Plainview. Most of my memories when I look back have something to do with working at an athletic event, hanging out with someone involved in the sports world, or traveling to a game.

I guess it all started my freshman year at Wayland. I became really good friends with a fellow freshman, Nicole, and we spent a good portion of our first year at the baseball field. We even drove all the way to Arizona during Spring Break so we could cheer on the Pioneers. I would find any means possible to go to a game, especially when the team played their conference games in Oklahoma...catching rides with friends, riding with players' mothers, getting up at 5am to make it for first pitch. I guess the baseball team noticed my obsession support, because at the end of the season, they presented me with the 'Most Dedicated Fan' award at the Athletic Banquet. I was shocked and very grateful! And from there, my love of sports just grew and grew!

The following year, I started working at basketball games doing stats with Rhane and Jennifer. Little did I know how much I would love being courtside at the table. I have never been much of an athlete, but my new job allowed me to be about as close to the action as I could have been. I was learning about other sports that my high school didn't have, like volleyball and soccer, and taking an interest in sports I hadn't before, like golf. Also, by then, I was starting to become friends with some of the athletes, which made being a fan even more fun!

The next two years were full of countless sporting events...and lots of miles on my car! Whether it was going to Oklahoma for conference match-ups every other weekend, Abilene for midweek games, or Amarillo for golf tournaments, I did everything in my power to support my friends and watch them in action. Between games, Rhane let me start working in her office during the day so I could get a feel of the life of a Sports Information Director, and I started writing sports articles for the university newspaper. Soon enough, my life revolved around the world of athletics.

Fast forward to August 2006, I started a graduate assistantship at Mercer University working in the Sports Information office. It was my chance to get experience in a field of work that I loved and earn a Master's degree while doing so. I spent two years there, working primarily with the volleyball and softball teams, and of course, doing stats at basketball games. I feel certain that I would have never pursued that chance if I hadn't developed a love for athletics during my time at Wayland.

And here I am today, halfway around the world and thinking of the 'old' days. I could have chosen one of many different paths when I became a student at Wayland, and because of the one I did choose, I can surely say that I'm happy I did so. I made wonderful memories, and more importantly, I made amazing friends.

So when people ask me what kind of legacy I left at Wayland, I'll proudly say I was a sports fan...and a darn good one!


(PS...Thanks to my little sister for scanning these photos for me since I'm far from home right now!)