Wenham, MA—When Inn Gee Kim came to the United States for college, he didn’t know he would be finding a McDonald’s on every street corner. Kim, 21, a junior political science and philosophy major from the capital island Manila in the Philippines, considers himself what’s called a “third culture kid,” that is, someone who doesn’t grow up in their own culture.
Kim is one of many third culture kids at Gordon who see cultural differences as not merely the number of fast food restaurants on one block, or the overall size of the United States. They recognize that cultural differences include character, attitudes, and generalizations. Third culture kids experience these tensions on a daily basis.
Born in Korea 21 years ago, Kim was 40 days old when his parents moved to the Philippines to work as missionaries. They are among a large percentage of Koreans who have left their homeland to work in missions. Kim’s view of the U.S. was always a far away place that was a major super power. He wondered what it was like, and found out two years ago when he moved to 255 Grapevine Road to attend Gordon College.
“American humor is more dry than third culture kids,” Kim said when asked about cultural differences. Tim Shin, 22, a senior sociology major at Gordon College, agrees with Kim. “In Asia, we belittle when joking, but not here in the U.S.,” Shin said. “We don’t always laugh at American jokes.” Shin is also a third culture kid born in Korea, but moved to Japan when he was three months old.
Shin spoke of the differences he’s found in attitudes here in the U.S. “Americans are independent and self confident,” Shin said. “Everybody is not group oriented.” He said in the U.S., everyone seems capable, and that the social norm is to get to the top by oneself.
The need for independence is not found in Korea. Dr. David Lumsdaine, 62, full professor at Gordon College, taught international politics at the Korea Development Institute in Seoul, South Korea for five years in 1998, and spoke of a 30 year-old student he had while teaching. This student had a full time job while attending school. In American standards he was doing well. The student lived at home with his parents, and after giving them his salary, they would in return give him an allowance. “Almost all Koreans live at home until married,” Lumsdaine said. This is an example of the different traditional customs still very strong in Korea.
Both Kim and Lumsdaine link a part of the traditional Korean customs of family and academics to Confucius. Kim sees the support Korea gives older generations as Confucius society, and found the relaxed and friendly way Americans interact with older generations to be a surprise. “It is hierarchical. Children support parents,” Kim said. “Korea’s traditional culture was very influenced by Confucius,” Lumsdaine said. Morality, hard work, obedience to parents, family, learning and scholarship are a few of the Confucius customs they still hold to strongly. Learning and scholarship to be among the highest.
“Intelligence is prestigious in Asia,” Kim said. Academics are laid back here, and more competitive there, Kim, Lumsdaine, and Shin all agreed. Studying and testing have been apart of the culture for all high civil officials since before America was founded. “Americans don’t value academics as much, and that’s basically definitely Asia,” Kim said. Kim and Shin, being third culture kids, said this was difficult to adjust to when they came to Gordon College.
Kim doesn’t see himself as an immigrant while living here, but an alien. He is here for school, and knows he’ll be returning to Korea when finished. Kim and Shin are third culture kids getting an education in yet another culture. Shin does see himself as an immigrant, but knows he won’t be staying in the U.S. after graduation. “Whenever I’m in Japan, I’m home,” he said. “Whenever I’m in Korea, I’m home. But when I’m in America, it’s my job.”
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