"Homogeneity ... Comes With ... Xenophobia ..." (Black in Korea) | MFiles

[@TheBlackExJp]

Thanks for watching! Remember to subscribe for weekly videos on the black experience from diverse lands across the globe! Catch you on the next video.

[@SunkissFlower]

Enjoyable segment. She has a warm spirit that pulls you in.

[@shibainu9899]

I hope Alexia starts a youtube channel! She has a good sense of humor

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Appreciate it! 😊 My channel is in the works!

[@StCloud-ns7vt]

YES!

[@classic1001]

Shes so funny. Everytime she talk i smile... 😁

[@josiebrackett]

@@LivingMyLexLife yessss! We need more of you!

[@lofiCicada]

"Things don't have to be perfectly situated for you to pursue them." ♥

[@SilentNight-ko9vw]

If one is brave enough!

[@wunamon]

I am watching these videos to see what I can learn and implement here in Ghana. I love to travel but I cannot live in another country where I do not see more of me. It does not bode well for my psyche. Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and even China show me that we in Africa have no excuse not to build ourselves up. China did it in 50 years and they had no resources like we do in Africa. Nice interview. Please show us more +The Black Experience Japan

[@magovenor]

Ok, this old man thinks that she has to be one of the cutest women that you'll have interviewed in this series! Sweet personality !

[@mohmhk]

I agree. She is such a beauty.

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Aww, thank you! 😊😊

[@magovenor]

yaw!@@LivingMyLexLife

[@thxwanderer]

I did a teaching internship in SK a few years ago. Me, the other students on the trip, and our classes went to a historic town for a day trip. I was one of three black people (I'm AA, my friend was African, and my other friend was half Indian/half Jamaican) and some people went into a store for drinks while I was waiting outside. A child saw me and started crying. I almost cried myself. A woman took pictures of me and followed me around in Etude house. An old man put his phone close to my face when I was sitting on the metro. And we got a room at a hotel after the trip was over since we had a couple days to kill before our flight home. We get a room at this hotel and they charged us more once we got there and called us a word equivalent to dirty people. My Korean was okay at the time but my friend who was better caught it and we were all rightfully pissed.

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Thx Wanderer that is terrible and so dehumanizing!! I’m sorry those things happened to you! It’s unfortunate too, that many Koreans I’ve spoken to, seem ignorant of their countries’ intolerances towards non-Koreans and specifically black people. Interestingly enough, after my interview I met with a Korean friend who called out and was disappointed by the anti blackness he’s witnessed by other Koreans. We had a difficult but necessary conversation about it.

[@candyjamaican]

Saw my husband & daughter listening to this girl & I had to come find the whole interview. Love her spirit and her shirt too.

[@LivingMyLexLife]

yawdiejin Appreciate your kind comment! 😊 My sweater’s from a friend’s business here - Melanin Poppin Gear

[@emmasankofa]

"Oh Teacher 4c!" LOL 😂 Love this interview. 👐💖

[@moniquew3603]

When she mentioned Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche though... I was just like " Yes sis!!!!" I really enjoyed this interview, especially as a fellow Jamaican Canadian.

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Moni Que W Ayee!! 🇯🇲🇨🇦 thank you! I have a few more of her books I need to read

[@adventurousartavia4462]

The children noticing small differences in hair styles lol lol loved her interview ❤️

[@LivingMyLexLife]

They freak out over everything! 😂 Haha! Thank you! 😊

[@bornearth]

She is delightful. Adore her sense of humor.

[@LivingMyLexLife]

I'm flattered 😩 Thank you!!

[@keithbridges2144]

So.....

[@orangecat999]

I love her energy! I hope to see more of her on social media---get that platform going, sis!

[@LivingMyLexLife]

orangecat999 thanks for the push! 😩🙌🏿 It’s in the works!! Appreciate it! 🙏🏾

[@commenterperson4481]

29:00 I really like your take on dating, and how you explained it. It makes sense. Calling out the fact that most relationships will be short-term due to the short-term nature of most foreigners, etc. Something that I've not heard other interviewees discuss/cover. Dating is a challenge, and it's not just based on language --- unless you are primarily interested in a Korean partner.

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Thanks! Long-term isn't impossible, but not much a norm for foreigners from what I've seen. And you're right, it's definitely not just language barriers. Thanks for your input!

[@MaryRalladi]

ALEXIA!! I was watching this and thought "waitttt I know this girl" then I realized we're from the same Highschool!! I can't believe you moved to Korea haha freaken small world. So happy to see you living your best life :) Hit me up next time you're in Tokyo.

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Mary Ralladi Mary!! 💖 The same thing I said when I saw your interview! 😩 Small world! I last saw you at an international fair at Ryerson U. So proud of you, and all you’ve been doing! I’ll definitely let you know when I plan to visit Tokyo! 🙂

[@saintseer9578]

This interaction is so pure and beautiful. Shout out to you guys y’all are very inspiring 😊✊🏾

[@usernamesarehard7178]

Bruh.....this is the most wholesome comment section I've ever seen.😂💖

[@mikybacooper8436]

Yayyyyyyyyy! Another great interview

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Your support girl!! 😩😩😭 Appreciate you! ❤️️

[@FlOwGeTiCsPoEtRy]

Sooooo dope!! Thank you Ranzooo!! She seems like a real friend of mine i would have, awesome interview!

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Thank you! 😊

[@FlOwGeTiCsPoEtRy]

@@LivingMyLexLife I'm gonna add you to my IG we should be friends like for real!!

[@tigress27559]

Great video! I love her honesty and positivity. So brave and open-minded!

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Thank you!! 😊

[@daddams100]

Another interesting interview...keep them coming!

[@lethabomaponyane4542]

"I know the water touched my hair, but don't call me out" LOL

[@LeslieSpeights]

Alexia sounds like a fabulous teacher. Her experiences reaffirm what I've learned from other ALTs about the anti-Blackness there. Is the money THAT good compared to China orJapan?

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Leslie Speights thank you! 💖 I think the appeal for Korea compared to China/Japan, is the ability to save - most often Korean institutes cover your airfare (returning flight varies), and rent too. Japan’s cost of living is much higher, so for those saving/paying off debts, it might not be the 1st choice. But from what I hear, China is also a great option for making money.

[@LeslieSpeights]

@@LivingMyLexLife On average, how much can one expect to modestly save in a year starting out? Girlfriend is looking at 20k in student loans by graduation next year.

[@zooboo2u]

I love how her JA side pokes out every now and again... I do that to! lol " One piece of bawl', .. ".Run Tings" But yeah love her energy and can relate to all of this from my stay teaching in Japan! Really regret not going to Korea when I had the chance!

[@teerich2011]

When I heard "one piece of bawling", I had to rewind. That is def a Caribbean ting! How have you lost your chance to teach in Korea? I almost wish I liked kids and had a Bachelor's. The racism/discrimination thing has me very leery of doing more than visit at this point. Many of the Koreans here in Houston don't seem to have a problem servicing us blacks in their beauty stores and restaurants!

[@zooboo2u]

@@teerich2011 I was teaching in English in Japan, Kobe, & Yokohama Tokyo and lived there. Some people were going to Korea for a visit, but I didn't go! Wish I did because I love to eat. Anywho I say if you're open to a new adventure and a self starter then do it! Do a lil research and don't sweat the small stuff. It's not quite the same US racism, more so that you're a foreigner. Best tip I got was this: Imagine you go to the zoo and see an elephant, that's cool maybe unexpected. Now imagine seeing a unicorn... You're the unicorn and you're a unicorn with wings if you know the language. ( I speak Japanese and French so I could get around and have conversations.)

[@teerich2011]

Oh that's great. We'll see how things go. Have wanted to visit for two years, but no one to go with me. Might try next year to go with a friend in the Philippines. She wants go to Japan too, so we can kill two birds with one stone.

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Lol yes, my family is Jamaican! 😆🇯🇲🙌🏿 Thank you! 😊 Hopefully you can visit Korea one day. Teaching in Japan is definitely of interest to me too

[@teerich2011]

Irie! You're pretty close, and I've heard about the Jet program for Japan a lot. Hope you get a chance one day!

[@Just-Princess]

I love this! I lived in Seoul for 8 months while studying abroad at KU. I've been thinking about returning to Korea to live for a while. This girl reminded me of the things I loved and and didn't love (staring happens in Seoul too!) about the country.

[@nelliehyder2658]

Covid-19 prevented my travel to Seoul South Korea. I still intend to visit the country. I'm still excited about it. I know I would not be surprised about any attitude because I'm an American, (Black). I've experienced all types of abnormal behavior since I can remember. The cruelty came from my own nationality of people. To be honest, other cultures have always treated me better than my own culture. I would get along with her kids who eat what westerners term "breakfast food". I eat pinto beans, corn bread, collards, sweet potatoes, etc. you name it. I eat FOOD for breakfast. I can adapt to anything as long as it does not challenge my dignity. I never ask for respect, I DEMAND IT! Alexia is very sweet and intelligent. She's comfortable with herself. She's confident. I have lots of respect for her. I enjoyed this episode. People will be people no matter where you are. I love different cultures.

[@marianslife5073]

such a great interview!!

[@marlishamarsh1573]

•Vegetarian •Teaching the youth (and adults) about black people's hair. The youth speak when they see you out side of the school = social progress! • Solo in a foreign country Yes Alexis you're changing the world into a better space!!! Protection over you for life!

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Marlisha Marsh Thank you! 🙏🏾

[@marlishamarsh1573]

@@LivingMyLexLife Welcome much!

[@TheOther-Dude]

Yes! Please make a KZbin channel. Your personality is amazing, as well as your humor. I'd gladly subscribe

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Thank you! 😭😭 Content is in the works, so subscribe if you'd like to see what I post in the near future

[@sylviagray4206]

I really enjoyed her story. She seems to have it all together. Alexia will do well wherever she goes.

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Sylvia Gray thank you!! 🙏🏾 I definitely don’t have it all together. Haha! But definitely always learning :)

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the love, encouragement and sharing your thoughts! 😊 If you'd like me to clarify anything, feel free to ask, and I'll get back to you ! Even in 35 minutes, there's a lot more that could be said. Lol. My KZbin channel is in the works 🙂 Subscribe to my channel to see future videos which will focus on life in Korea (expanding on things I mentioned here), cultural commentary, and my likkle one, two jokes! 😂

[@ChikoMatenda]

Great interviews, watched all the through. 💯 agree not waiting for perfection 🙌

[@Octavus5]

It's not homogeneity that leads to xenophobia. It's colonialism, occupation, conflict and war.

[@KhaotiqGold]

I think fascism is the proper word.

[@Octavus5]

@@KhaotiqGold Proper word for what?

[@KhaotiqGold]

Homogeneous behaviour can lead to fascism by means of only wanting their type of people to lead and feel welcomed into their society.

[@Octavus5]

@@KhaotiqGold When you're country is homogenous, there's no "desire" to keep it so because it already is. Fascism is a form of authoritarian government that marries despotism with corporatism. Let's try to keep our "-isms" straight here.

[@KhaotiqGold]

In spirit of keeping this straight fascism is characterized by many factors, one being a strong regimentation of society(i.e. Staying homogenous)

[@BW_GYEDU]

Try the Happy Cow App. They help you locate vegan and vegetarian restaurants worldwide. I used it in Busan recently.

[@alcfoxxy]

I love this interview. ❤😊

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Alicia Craig-Ornsby thank you! 😊

[@ItsTreen]

Brave to move to a foreign land.

[@shotelco]

From my POV, it takes far more courage to remain in the U.S.

[@goldyd144]

@@shotelco She's Canadian.

[@shotelco]

@@goldyd144 I'm aware the subject of the video is from Toronto. I wanted to encourage Treen to consider looking at it from a different perspective.

[@sophiaatn5339]

@@shotelco I was going to say that

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Thank you! The experience definitely grows you. I'd recommend it to anyone considering it :)

[@sssssssss111]

I feel like these asian countries really attract the best of us lol. No shade just an observation

[@unknowingreaper6556]

KzFive Alive hood boogers lol

[@TweSunshine]

@KzFive Alive don't do this

[@TweSunshine]

@@unknowingreaper6556 not funny

[@TheRealHonestT]

Clicked so fast, my animation couldn’t keep up 😎

[@rain1676]

Faster than the flash and shazam

[@jai3064]

She's dope ‼️

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Aww thank you! 😀

[@rochellemckinney3220]

Very nice interview 👍🏽👍🏽

[@thelaw6153]

Yeh being vegan when I first got to korea was hella hard definitely had to give it up. But dang the wet rooms is one of the things imma miss about korea.

[@LivingMyLexLife]

THE LAW Really?! 😂 You like them?

[@KoiinuNe]

she should watch Megan Bowen. she's a vegetarian and did a few videos eating out at a few vegetarian places. might be helpful?

[@LivingMyLexLife]

KoiinuNe Thanks for recommending! :) I’ve checked some of the videos out but the restaurants are mostly in Seoul >.< there’s a lot more vegan/vegetarian restaurants there compared to other cities, but I’ve been to a few in Busan, which have been good!

[@KoiinuNe]

@@LivingMyLexLife welcome!

[@worldhealthrn]

Great interview, very vivacious...I can tell you respect your natural black but I think we can go further ...instead of kinky curly, I like simply coily, or skinny coils or fuzzy. Kinky has negative connotations and only 4c has negative words attached to it, even though we could use negative words to describe the other textures like flat, slick, thin, stringy, weak, hairy(sideburns, eyebrows, body hair)

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Love those other descriptors! I'll add them to my natural hair arsenal :P

[@WTFVIDSok]

She's funny! One of my favorites out of the whole series.

[@onewithgod8738]

I lived in Korea for couple of years....every countries has its ups and downs but overall Korea is a nice place to live, Koreans are always willing to help!

[@tallblackpunk]

Such a beautiful spirit😇

[@2seeornot2see]

Truly enjoyed that.......that baby crying thing happened to me here in NYC with a white family, it's nothing (they've never been around anyone different). When she said she gotta keep that melanin poppin I was like heck yeah. Keep being you and don't let negative vives around you. Hope she connects with more black people in korea. Great interview.

[@MrRodQ]

beautiful woman! Do your thing in your travels.

[@SilentNight-ko9vw]

North Americans including Canadians are mighty insular to the point of ignorance in many cases.

[@NewBlueTrue]

Silent Night Where’s the lie

[@lovelydiva06]

One could say the same about you

[@SilentNight-ko9vw]

lovely, absolutely no denying that North Americans are insular, they know very little about the world they want to dominate.

[@halojeff15]

well at least they're not as bad as i thought but what's the main issue that koreans would have ?

[@Doomreb]

Student: *Touches my hair* oh teacher 4C? 4C hair!! Me: *POW* Student: *flies through window* Me: Sorry you had to see that everyone. Let's begin. 😂 Sorry I couln't help it

[@guyhabone]

In new york i've noticed that Korean never seat near black people in the train but i enjoy that more room for me they can stand up for what i care very weird people indeed

[@BuckheadVolvoS4]

Korean xenophobia is exceptional... there’s no comparison...

[@Octavus5]

Maybe they're "xenophobic" for a good reason?

[@mamaedina1]

@@Octavus5 do tell. What reason could that be?

[@Octavus5]

@@mamaedina1 Colonialism, conflict, war, division and occupation, which continues to this day.

[@김재형-g1f]

Actually there is, Poland. Both countries have something in common which psychologists have also noticed. Both countries have been sandwhiched by aggressive super powers threatening to erase their existance and culture every few years or so. Anxiety breeds conservatism, and Koreans always have to be anxious about their neighbors.

[@Octavus5]

@@김재형-g1f China was/is not an aggressive superpower. Japan became an aggressive neighbor in the 20th century. Korea was not sandwiched. NE Asia was generally peaceful.

[@MrNanah38]

I dont think I could live in a place like that. Good luck. Not for me.

[@Zikomo7]

Same. She lost me when she said they don’t allow black People into certain spaces

[@Octavus5]

Maybe it's black men and foreign men. I've not heard of clubs barring foreign women. (Bars sometimes restrict foreign men because of military bases and the trouble that follows out of control soldiers.)

[@ravenone6255]

You are not an andventuer----keep looking for the greener pastures then

[@ravenone6255]

Zikomo7 a VIP club are you a VIP?

[@Octavus5]

@Coman Rabiot Is there anything that black men are responsible for? Even a little partly to blame?

[@zenairzulu1378]

great show

[@joseotero2555]

I would like to learn how to speak korean.

[@shakirawright95]

Then download the apps and start !

[@afesi22]

Try Duolingo

[@sidni.d5989]

Did she say the bathrooms and streets are clean?!?! Bih where?? You can't flush toilet paper in public restrooms so the bathrooms stink and have used tp piled up in the trash cans.

[@jkrv4653]

we don't flush tp in my country either ,it doesnt smell now streets people just throw their trash when they don't see a trashcan

[@IamINERT]

I wanna visit there

[@QTEPYE]

What are your views on internet there in South Korea?

[@JDiva44]

The internet is EVERYWHERE here. There are many ppl who come here and dont have a number or data but wifi is eeevvvveeerrrywhere lol and its fast, good quality

[@LivingMyLexLife]

Widely accessible and super fast! But certain pages and websites are often blocked, which can be restricting, but you can use a VPN to access them

[@QTEPYE]

My bust! I meant the technical aspects of internet service in South Korea?

[@commenterperson4481]

Ranzo, you should consider renaming your channel BEJ is now greater than just BE in J.

[@commenterperson4481]

_14:20__ "kids will be kids, I suppose" -- Alexia_ Eh...nope. Kids learn from their parents. Kids don't have any inhibition. The sad part is that this is blatant child-abuse -- i.e. teaching/instilling-in your infant evil/detrimental thoughts.

[@LivingMyLexLife]

To clarify, "kids will be kids" is what I imagined the father was thinking when he looked at me and smiled, not my personal opinion. The way I said it, was probably a little confusing. Parents definitely play a role in how their kids see and treat those who look different from them. I also mentioned that the father could have scolded the child, but perhaps he didn't if he himself didn't see issue with it :/

[@Octavus5]

Commenter Person Can you explain how a parent, in a homogenous society, teaches his child to hate on black people? Maybe the explanation is a LOT simpler? Viz, a child that has never seen a human being that looks different reacts with fear at someone that appears different?

[@commenterperson4481]

@@Octavus5 First, tell me why you are asking me to explain that to you. (Also, asking with an open-mindset will be beneficial, so please consider rectifying your fallacious argument.)

[@Octavus5]

@@commenterperson4481 You're projecting a point of view that is inapplicable to this part of the world. I don't know how young the child was, but the younger, even less applicable still. No parent is going to go out of its way to "teach" a baby/toddler/child that a certain ALMOST NEVER ENCOUNTERED phenotype in real life is "bad". The "opportunity" would just not be there. Kids don't have "inhibitions"? Of course they do! Have you never heard of instances where the father shows up with a beard and the child cries?

[@Octavus5]

@@LivingMyLexLife Why didn't the parent scold the child? Again, I don't know how old the child was. The older it is, then more room for proper instruction. But my guess is that the parents were probably confused and beside themselves. Have you ever been in a social situation that was utterly baffling and confusing? How do you act/react? Probably like a dear in headlights. Could the parents have acted/reacted better? Maybe. But that's in hindsight. And I bet they look back on it with some regret because they didn't deal with the situation with better tact, more wisdom and social grace. I know that I do for the MANY MANY instances I just "stood there" like a clueless dumb dumb because I simply didn't know what to do. I don't want to minimize the impact and hurt these experiences can cause. I'm aware that they do, even though it comes from a child. I understand that some experiences, though relatively benign/innocent, can cause lasting pain.

[@britmicheyeager5995]

26:56 Did anyone hear the music in the background? For a sec I thought it was BTS Fake Love XD

[@bone1410]

Alexia you seem like an awesome person💯💯💪🏾 you should do UTube!

[@LivingMyLexLife]

BoNe 1 thank you!! 😭😭 the KZbin channel’s in the works!

[@swats214]

I have faced enough racism in my lifetime in the US; I damn sure would not tolerate that mess in Japan or South Korea. I won't visit either of those countries.

[@charleslucas1784]

Jim Crow in South Korea? Wow!🤔

[@SilentNight-ko9vw]

Many comments have disappeared from here!

[@epifanny]

I've experienced the table thing when visiting Korea...

[@VKitty]

What's the name of the podcast you mentioned?

[@LivingMyLexLife]

VKitty “Passing Through” hosted by Nneka J! It’s really insightful and soothing. All credits to her for that quote 🙌🏿

[@jordysmom479]

So now in Korea said of you being a vegetarian you're more by pestatarian where you don't eat the actual flush but you drink the broth or you know the vegetables that are cooked in with the meat I have a friend that does that and he doesn't favor flesh but he doesn't turn down like if his wife makes a meat stew or soup you eat the vegetables in the broth but he's he doesn't eat the flash so that's what that's called he wears leather shoes he doesn't he just wants the flavor of the meat but he eats veggie burgers and stuff like that yeah so it's hard because the system is not the same as no meat at all and that you said by products and thinks you have to do the best you can you still avoiding it as much as you can that's all that's it that's all you can do good video thanks.

[@staringanime]

💜💙

[@KhaotiqGold]

Im from new orleans please do a video on the experience Here!

[@youneke]

She can teach me English

[@LiamDzCarWash]

She's fun!

[@californialove4316]

Why even live there why not just go back home

[@LivingMyLexLife]

127 127 keep in mind, a lot of the stories I shared aren’t the everyday experience. The positives of living here definitely outweigh the negatives, otherwise I perhaps wouldn’t have stayed :)

[@highfrequency8234]

Say what? She wants the father of that baby to scold the baby for crying when she saw her? Why? What for? It's just a baby. Let it go.

[@chimchim95serendipity18]

I think you are too sensitive! I saw many Korean are very friendly, they love black cultures and music, as well as black people love kpop. korean people love white/fair skin, straight hair, actually just their beauty standard and each country has its standard.

[@josiebrackett]

Boy you better go somewhere else with this foolishness. You are not black, so you don't get to comment on the experience of a black person. You have zero knowledge as to what she has been through or actually experienced.

[@-xnnybimb-9398]

Ok. Don’t complain about a homogenous societies’s views. No outsider has a place there, they have to earn it. That is their lands and you must respect that.

[@-xnnybimb-9398]

@@josiebrackett cool. Stay out of Asia. Do not destroy our homelands with “multiculturalism”

[@cyc20976]

Breakfast is food eaten early in the morning to start your day with, that is the meaning of breakfast, what you eat doesn't matter in the biggest sense of the meaning. I don't feel this woman thoroughly know the Korean culture. South Korea has a large vegetarian or vegetable based cuisine, even more than in the west, you cannot go wrong if you are a vegan in South Korea or in China. And babies don't know how to be racists, the baby would probably have cried with any unfamiliar face, whether korean or black. So these xenophobic claims is a bit far fetched...

[@judyjackson3576]

She did not say the baby was xenophobic but the children she taught in school was. When you are trying to argue a point and you have a serious error like this it will make your whole speech null and void. Why are you disputing this young lady experiences anyway? It is beyond me. Smh