Cultural Laziness

[spanglish4u]

Hey there!! I randimly found your videos, I taught in Turkey for a while now back in my country for a year till I go back again. I was wondering if you had the opossite reaction back in Canada, such as listening all korean music n cultural stuff when in Canada....You seem really wise about all this experience I though It might help to listen what happened to you when you went back home...:) Thanks for your previous videos, they are extremely helpful!!!

[194jms]

Lots of nice examples of "cultural laziness". What's missing from this video, though, is any discussion or explanation of what's wrong with being "culturally lazy"?

[azdaveg]

Good video and great advice. Thanks for softening the message by including yourself! Your videos are very helpful.

[hamongog2015]

marijuana causes laziness. It also causes smokers to be passed over for higher paying promotions. Smokers r suckers to any con on the street. Weed isn't natural, it is a hybrid that has been specifically altered by breeders. Every high alters brain cells. Users habitually smoke away their intelligence, becoming shells of their former selves. Yes, weed is habitual. Users waste all their cash away on it. Pot is for fools who are headed nowhere fast.

[NickTechReview]

I forgot too add english of course. Best way to learn a langauge is a combination of langauge software and visiting the country to get used to different accents.

[NickTechReview]

I love going to other countries, At this point in time I can understand, speak, read, write in Russian, Armenian, Italian. Curently learning Spanish then Japanese

[li0nr0se]

I'm really loving your videos - our dynamic gesticulating and clear articulation make it a joy to listen to them! They're really helpful for me considering I'm working on an application to teach abroad in South Korea.

All the best to you in Japan - though I realize this comment is late by about a year. Yeah Canada!

[MargaritasAntesPorco]

you have the right attitude though, BusanKevin,---good luck

btw, i'm finding 2beersinasia quite interesting too...(!)

[BusanKevin]

check out my other channel "jlandkev"

[MargaritasAntesPorco]

good points--i agree w/ you that to be "culturally lazy" is to miss valuable opportunity to expand language capabilities and knowledge of the world. But i can also assure you that this "laziness" is prevelant in America too--its not just westerners in asia who are culturally lazy--its lots & lots of people! There are masses of immigrants, including asians, to america who can barely speak english and know basically nothing at all about american or european history, even after decades here...

[EverTommy]

Im English but ive been livin in Wales for the past 10 years but cant be bothered to learn the local lingo because all the sheepshaggers here can speak English so whats the point. How old are you Kev?

[raztaman420]

I just watched a bunhc of your videos since I'm going to teach in S. Korea soon, and I can see you've gotten a lot better with the lighting and framing of the shots! Shooting while walking around is a little nuts, but aren't we all?

[BusanKevin]

Thanks a lot. I suppose its a learning curve thing. the more I do it, the better I get. Since this video I have moved from PC to Mac as well. That helps in the editing!

[Mobbs1]

Put some Utada Hikaru on yer iPod if you want a nice compromise, She has both american and japanese albums, fluent in both!

It is just pop, but I personally particularly like j-pop compared to western pop...

[tommiskey]

Hi Kevin, I was a JET for 2 years in Japan, from 1996-98.  Like your time in Korea, I had no computer or internet back then (and the internet back then was not nearly what it is today). In many ways I'm thankful for it. I know that if I spent as much time on the computer there as I do now in the US, I would not have seen or done half as many things as I did. My 1 connection to American culture back then was renting movies at the local video store, which I did about once a wk.

[DhammaDan]

I just started studying Korean and have been learning Japanese for about 5 years so I know how similar the two are. That being said, I've been culturally lazy myself seeing as how I've slacked over the summer in my studies in both language and culture. Here's wishing you the best!

[mienchen07]

I'm German and I've lived in China for 6 years. I learned the language a bit, got to know the culture a bit but I regret that I didn't learn as much as I could have. You're really right, it's true that it's important to get to know the country in which you live in.

[plzwakeup]

Think you will be well received anywhere you go. The more I view your videos, the more I come to like this cool dude.

[BusanKevin]

cool! Thanks a lot for the kind words. I'm busting my ass studying Japanese now. Slowly, it's getting better :)

[KateLove21]

I tend to find you preoccupy your time with what's not around you. I love Korea I've been wanting to go and teach there for over 5 years now, and I'm in Uni to get a degree to teach there (going to visit my 남자 친구 in Pusan in 3 days! For 2 months !!) & I'm definitely living a "Koreanized" life in the US - I have mostly Korean friends, I tend to listen to only Korean music/movies,Korean Podcasts (Of learning Korean) - I might find when I'm in Korea I'll gravitate towards American things

[BUMBACLUT]

wut ethnicity are u may i ask?

[lateblossom]

BusanKevin, God has a wonderful plan for your life. I think you should ask him what you're meant to do as teacher, and even in Japan! If you ever feel confused, or restless, he can help you no matter where you are.

I just felt like I should tell you that.

[eskimoqueen66]

(cont) 3 years and travel back and forth and am raising children bi lingually and bi culturally. I have seen your utubes here and there for a year or so now. This is the first one that I am commenting on. You seem like a cool guy. Give yourself a break!

[BusanKevin]

Awesome! Thanks a lot for the kind comments. It's true that when I meet foreigners who go "too native"...they seem pretty weird!

Nonetheless, I'm making more of an effort to learn the language.

Thanks for watching :)

[eskimoqueen66]

Kev. Give yourself a break. Koreans or other immigrants who live in USA and maintain their culture/identity are respectable. That is what I hear you doing. Just because you live in another country does not change who you are and the core of your actions. You can take the Canadian out of Canada, but you can't take the Canada out of the Canadian. I think you are a very worldly and travelled person. Give yourself a break man. I am a Korean -American married to a Korean native and lived in Korea for

[lazypuddycat]

I agree with eskioqueen. I found myself doing the same thing when I was in Japan as well. I would check Vancouver sun first (yes, I am from Vancouver) and then BBC news. Much as you would embrace the Japanese culture, there gets to be a point, where you want to feel closer to home (heck, anything counts when you are home sick) It is just good to embrace both cultures and still feel close to home.

[sintaks]

Goooo Kevin! Glad to see you're up for change.

I'm culturally lazy in my own country. I move around a lot within the States, but never make an effort to "get local" with things. Maybe I should poke around more.

[69lashia69]

Good luck combatting your ~*Cultural Laziness*~!

I guess I've been guilty of that too - when I went to Paris after having studied French for three years, I tried really tried to immerse myself in the language and culture there. But I think all of the shop owners could tell that French wasn't my first language, and they would speak English to me. So I just slipped into the habit of speaking English everywhere :\

[narutosasuke1986]

Hey BusanKevin do you know is there is a age requirement for esl teachers in south korea or japan? beacuse i will be graduating in two years and am planning to go to one or the other and teach there!!

Im exited!!

[arumanokokoro]

It's good that you realise what's happening! Kudos for taking action and not being complacent about it!

[iridescent24]

lolz u arent walking this time

[technovidiomaster20]

I am learning japanese and I live in america so its hard to get emersed in japan and its coulture so yes I'm guilty

[enbejey]

I agree with you Kevin! Gotta get out of that comfort zone. It's great that you realize this (and are sharing it) because it will pay off in the long run. Maybe in 1 year you can look back to this vlog and see how far along you've come. Good luck!

[winDragon79]

i'm jealous, cuz I'm one of those people that has been stuying Japanese language/culture upwards 3(.5) years. I'd give anything to have an opportunity like yours. Don't let it slip away. :/

[jiffmartin]

You made decide to search out some cool Korean music to put in my videos.!

[durkeeinkorea]

hey man, you are who you are and you can't help but gravitate to the familiar...even it out. my girlfriend likes no korean food so we always end up going on quests to mcdonalds or kraze burger or anywhere in itaewon...i think..as long as you respect this place..your place whatever. you're okay. I'll always be american. but, ill always stay openminded....................­.but yeah, i hear whatcha saying...bummer when ya realize it... hahah

[MessagesFromEarth]

I always look forward to eating McDonalds and Pizza Hut. The school lunch is enough of a food adventure for me.

I think most of us are at least a little culturally lazy.

[patrickbseattle]

I know what you mean, I am in Busan now but I jump on my ipod quite abit, I have some Korean friends but they are really fluent in English.

[midori1]

If you're looking for Japanese music, I don't know what type you like, but I like Greeen, Funky Monkey Babys, Monkey Majik, m-flo, & a lot of ppl really like Utada & Arashi

[ddflame]

The bubble is extremely easy to fall into. I`ve been living in Japan for two months now and I`m embarrassed to say I`ve already started watching Lost and Samantha Who? on AXN rather then studying the language more so I can actually form a coherent sentence. This video really gave me some food for thought. Changes will be made. Thanks! :D

[midori1]

^^ happens to me too

I have to keep pushing myself to keep going out & interacting with my Japanese friends

It can help to watch shows you like in the language you're studying. It's entertaining & you absorb a ton of stuff

[kansaiPJ]

You have so described me as well. Gotta make some changes...

Thanks for giving us something to think about.

[watsursnbaby]

I totally typed out a good comment to give you a bit of a theoretical explanation of this, but It didnt post for some reason. : / I'll type it again since I like you.

[watsursnbaby]

Better yet, I did a video response haha.

[DeeDoubleYou81]

Great points!

I hope to avoid cultural laziness when I move to Japan, but as we all know, it's easier to "say" we are going to study and work hard and not be lazy than to actually "do" it!

[RMSanford]

interesting to hear of your experiences! good luck in your study of japanese. :)

[DerSchnurrbart]

Is there still animosity between Koreans and Japanese today because of the history between those two nations? That might be a good video for you to make because you have lived in both countries.

[JoeCubicle]

Good for you. I think it is important to do what you just described.

[lon21]

Yes! I lived in France for about 5 months studying and I had internet in my room but no TV, so I found myself watching english programmes online, and going out to the Irish pub (the opwner was Irish) with my English-speaking friends. I spoke french when I went out to order food etc but that was about it, apart from passively listening to the language in my classes. The thing is when I arrived I was starting to become fluent in the language. It's such an easy bubble to slip into!

[hakiem1]

Wow... I feel guilty of cultural laziness, but I don't know why. lol! And don't worry BusanKevin, I'm sure you'll overcome your cultural laziness.

[tokyocooney]

Yes, but to some extent, you can do the local thing, then take a needed/desrved break from it. It doesn't have to be soba & NHK 24/7 Though it is a good point you make.

[BusanKevin]

hey there. Yeah, I do have to make more of an effort to get out there and be "local." I just started a new class and plan to dedicate myself more to study.

Oh yeah...I've been catching you on tv from time to time on NHK after 11pm! Cool stuff :)

[DavePerry2012]

Actually, a good quick way to have some cultural fun might be to learn the Japanese for "I''M INFECTED!!!" and then go stand in a crowd of those people wearing surgical masks and scream it as loud as you can. :-)

[Bureikeisan]

great video Kevin, but strang e not to see you for a walk,, I hear ya even though I am not living there yet I have been with a Japanese women for almost 10 years, I am almost ashamed that I do not speak more Japanese than I do.

[DavePerry2012]

(cont.) So, yea, you can live somewhere and stay too isolated to really absorb the culture. You've obviously got serious connections there but I'd say improving in the language is probably the most immediate way to get connected more with the culture, since you can read more as well as talk to more people.

[DavePerry2012]

That happened to my friend who lived and did English teaching assistance in Saitama for about three years. He wasn't really getting into the culture beyond getting his Aikido black belt there (and didn't learn the language).

He ended up leaving and was pretty eager to go by the time he did.

[6663000]

CBC is awesome!

They really have great tv and radio programs. World class stuff.

I've never really thought much about the whole "cultural laziness" thing. Now that I think about it, I would probably be quite culturally lazy if i were in Japan right now. The problem would be that I just really enjoy english music and movies and of course YouTube. I'm sure being in Japan would make it alot easier to get a better appreciation for the culture, language, and the media though.

[danierusama]

i think we live in a weird time where technology turns us culturally lazy, because we know almost every kind of knowledge can be acquired just by clicking or typing.

this information era is definitely evolving the way human beings live on earth, so it's good to know that you will spend some of your valuable time on just knowing more about people and how they communicate :)

oh, nice site btw! the one from Hikosaemon :)

[nokomarie1963]

I'm a nurse in the US and I run across people who have lived here for twenty years and still cannot speak English. No need to what with all the media available. I speak Spanish and can get by with some of my patients better than their own grandchildren. They came, they tell me, with good intentions to learn English but ended letting their early knowledge slip. I think Americans should speak more languages but cultural laziness is across the board and has been around a long time.

[ArtWatt]

yeah! runners world!

[thinker900]

Kev. It's only natural to disassociate and ignore your surroundings. I think it has do with the culture we come from. For example, I live in the US(the melting pot) a place that has African-American, Native American, Asian-American history months. Unfortunately, we don't learn a single thing about the culture we're supposed to be celebrating. I think this tends to bowl over our "cultural laziness" when we finally are surrounded by that specific culture. Look at the limitations on foreign lang.

[thinker900]

--uage in grade schools or college's. Most schools only teach GERMAN, SPANISH, RUSSIAN(occasionally),or French. Other's may adopt traveler/business or situational Japanese, Chinese, and very little to no Korean. Arabic is usually skipped entirely. The best thing American's do to "celebrate" is to either dress up in "native" clothing, eat semi-native food, and try to say things they learned from a 50 page pocket phrase(as you can tell this really ticks me off). The best thing now is to ...

[ManaStar]

This is a really great topic! I'm actually going to post a video response to this because I can relate to this topic a lot :) Great video, Kevin!

[betamaxdc]

great words of wisdom man. and hey...don't think this will stop me from stealing the "busan walk"...because i am still taking it.

[phampants]

People are too use to what they're doing, that they're refusing to explore. That's why I'm kinda glad (and also scared) of my European trip next month. I'm going to be couch surfing to meeting new people, culture and have a whole new adventure.

[ElevenColors]

Mmmm. True. Same has happened to me, and it's gotten worse ever since I got more cable channels with a hard disk in the tuner.

[BusanKevin]

Yeah...I have still avoided cable tv. I only have about 10 channels and they are all in Japanese.

I just started a new Japanese class. I plan to study a lot harder now.

[TokyoBrando]

goodluck Mr Kevin..and i kinda agree with a comment below, havent you ever gotten help about the language and culture from your wife? im not saying use her, just wondering

[BusanKevin]

Of course, but normally, when a couple meets using a particular language, they tend to stick with that one. I of course live with an amazing language resource, but when I get frustrated with japanese, it's easy for me to give up since I know she speaks fluent English!

[TokyoBrando]

wow..that IS lazy lol..goodluck tho man

[tanio12]

Hey Busan did you hear about the tragic news of the former South Korean president ROH. I am in shock right now but I agree it's easy to get wrapped up in your own rather than learn something else. HOwever when you do, it opens up a whole entire new world.

[BusanKevin]

Yeah. That was very sad. I was very shocked. I remember actually being at the candlelight protests in Seoul when they were trying to impeach him. I actually have a video of that. It's one of the earlier ones here on my channel. I think it's called "Korean protest."

[bluesheeft]

Good stuff. I wonder about things like this.. I am looking for English-speaking computer work in Tokyo at the moment, but if I can't find any and my visa or money start running out, I thought that if I do end up taking some English-teaching job out in the sticks then at least it will force me to be immersed in Japanese. I want to be captured by mountain Samurai like Tom Cruise :)

While I'm waiting for that, the plan is take lessons, get conversational then try interacting with more locals..

[kanarakuotoko]

what are you waiting for?! furigana to replace all Japanese? that's about 25 years away so you might want to learn modern Japanese now.

[thinker900]

Can you site me your info on about that?

[thinker900]

-submerge yourself in the culture your currently in and see what you like. You found a problem and now it's time to figure a way to solve it.

[takura13]

i am proud enough to say i have never practiced cultural laziness, when i went up to canada i did all the things a regular canadian might do such as buy a gun, drive a zamboni, watch hockey, drink beer, and i even adopted a canadian accent, all at the same time!

[tias90]

It's not such a bad thing to be culturally lazy. It's great that you have realised it, though. As you said, being in a cocoon is fine, but one can only achieve things by challenging oneself. You do marathon running, you've moved to Asia... huge challenges. I am sure that you can take on one more challenge! :) You have support from a Swede/Aussie guy

[BusanKevin]

For sure. i just started to get more serious about my language studies. I have to put aside at least some time everyday to study. It's cool. I'm looking forward to it :)

[MicknFumi]

Yes I'm guilty...we're very similar in that we are both married to Japanese ladies we met outside of Japan & we don't speak Japanese. I know about 50 Japanese words, about enough to say hello, get me a beer, find out where the toilet is, say goodbye & tell my wife she looks beautiful. Ok thats all pretty important stuff, but it would be good to know more. I've just about read a 1000 page book on Japanese history which has been great. But yeah, I would also like to not be so Culturaly Lazy.

[BusanKevin]

I just started anew class this week and have promised myself to study every night...at least a little bit! I feel re-energized to study now.

[DC9990]

Loved the vid :) Does it count if your just lazy about your home county :P I dont read/watch/listen to anything from the UK. I dont really have a clue whats going on over here. My iPod is full of asian music/videos my laptops full of asian stuff & I'm forever watching asian things online.. Maybe I'm lazy too :O But seeing as I'm moving to Japan next year it doesnt matter hehe

[chrismecking]

I can really follow you...when I spent a year in Amirca a few years ago, it was much easier to listen to my own national music, and to talk to people from my country. But I was there rather for attending high school than for work! So I realized after some time that this wasn't the way of learning a new language! Well, this is a different story beside yours, but through that I can really understand you and the way you feel!

[CoNkOrE]

ask your wife about stuff!

[BusanKevin]

I do....have no worries. She is my main source!

[itsanthonyhere]

Many of the international students at my uni are like this. A lot of the Chinese band together and don't make any American friends..they live with each other, eat with each other, etc etc, and don't really gain any English skills even after years of being here.

[DaleCampbellAcoustic]

Cultural Laziness or real Laziness...... You're sitting still...!!

Just kidding, interesting video though.

[reynoldsair]

I used to be soo much better. Afterall, the first year and a half I was working with Japanese people that spoke almost no English. We didn't have cable so all of our TV shows were Japanese and we didn't have internet either. I studied Japanese everyday.

Then, I became an English teacher. We moved into a new place and never bought a TV. We have internet so everything is English. My coworkers don't want to hear my Japapese as part of the reason they work there is to improve their own English.

[reynoldsair]

It's regrettable that I'm not nearly as fluent as I'd like to be. On the other hand, we're far better off than we were 3 years ago and much happier. There's always some kind of trade-off.

[runnyrunny999]

It's a matter of course that people need to adapt themselves to our customs, manners and some rules of social communication if they want to live in Japan. That's what everyone knows but I would say that all they need to do is just enjoy(including struggling, culture shocks,etc) their life in Japan. Then they can finally live in perfect harmony with things in Japan. I'm a little big mouth on this hur?lol

[myargonauts]

good video - I totally understand what you're saying.

Off topic - your new profile pic scares me!

[blah22322]

i am the EXACT OPPOSITE of cultural laziness.. i love everything about japan, it all interests me.. good video, by  the way... OH and its my BIRTHDAY!

[BusanKevin]

Happy B'day! Thanks for likin the vid :)

[redmuzam]

You follow canadian politics ehh?

then you know that we might have an election yet AGAIN. we had like like 3 or 4 elections in a very short period of time. The conservative government already started running negative ad campaigns against Michael Ignatieff.

[TheGazettE1]

good luck

and you have to put the gazette in that ipod lol

[TakarazukaTim]

Good luck buddy. I've been taking Japanese classes outside of my normal study for the last 2 months... and I've had maybe 3 or 4 classes haha. She keeps ducking me.

Oh and if you want some tunes lemme know. I'll whip something up for you on our next meet up. I got tons of Foreign beer for my birfday!

Not a nama beer in sight!

[R0ots]

Awsome video! I never really thought that this issue really existed but so it does haha. Though I can't really say that I suffer from this since I still live in Canada.

Well... I do listen to alot of Japanese things daily, shows, music and the like. Would that be considered cultural laziness? =P

[Poopcopy]

but is that a bad thing. you can't lose who you are or where your from because some people can get swallowed by a culture. but I understand you need to stay in the loop and "do as the romans do" like reading up on the history, current affairs and language is a must but you are Canadian. listening to music is up to you, same for t.v. their humor, action, and so on is sometimes hard to watch.

[BusanKevin]

I'll never try to "go native" all the way, but I do need to get involved a lot more than I have been!

[abigor315]

just one more thing - music fits so well in background

[BusanKevin]

cool!

[HaxorLee]

I know a lot of people who love Anime, Japanese music but ever after 3-4 years of doing so, they never picked up any of the Japanese Language, and some of them hate the Idea of Living in Japan.

I dont think i have Cultural Laziness :P

I've been trying to learn as much as i can about the Japanese Culture.

I'm coming to Japan near the end of July to check out all the cool stuff i've wanted to see for so long.

We are gonna see how good my Japanese is then :P

[abigor315]

great vid kevbroski :)

[BusanKevin]

Cheers...thanks a lot.

[Daichen]

Japanese music eh? Perhaps when I'm done recording some songs, I should send them to you for your iPod!

[BusanKevin]

I'd love them. Please do send them along :)