Jewish in Korea

I mentioned the other day the low number of Jews living in South Korea and have been meaning to write about this for some time. How does it feel to be Jewish in South Korea?

The background is that I've always grown up in Jewish communities in Montreal (DDO) and Toronto (Thornhill) thus never fully comprehending my minority status until attending University in Hamilton, Ontario. Even then there was nothing too shocking except for some ridiculous questions posed out of ignorance more than anything.

I'm not a religious person, but I do feel a cultural bond and value that part of myself. I feel like it does separate me from others, especially here.

I've found that my being Jewish comes up a lot more here than I think it does at home, or at least I'm more aware of it here. People constantly ask me my heritage, not only because we're all from somewhere else but because I guess I look relatively ethnic (especially compared to most teachers here who are whiter than white).

A recent conversation:

"Where are you from"

"Canada"

"No, but I mean, what's your background?"

[At this point I can say Polish, and also Russian, but I don't feel as though that is really what people are looking for. It would stop the line of questioning but those places are not something I relate to or consider a part of me. I used to avoid it, but these days I don't.]

"Well, I'm Jewish."

"Ohh, Adam Sandler!"

What the hell?

Some guy was talking about how there aren't enough Jews in Korea (before knowing my religion). I told him and how did he respond? "No you're not." Okay, if you say so. Another guy said that in Thailand there are signs on brothels denying entrance to Jews because they're known for being "very aggressive." What? Can that be true??

So far in Korea I've met three other Jews and that commonality definitely brings us together in certain ways. We can gripe about Christmas and the expectation that we treat Christmas as the only option at this time of year, we can show off our upside-down dreidel spinning skills, and we can not be the only different one for a change.

So how do I feel about it? I feel more different here than I do at home, which is to be expected. I don't mind my being different. It surprises me when people say dumb or completely inappropriate things, but it makes me realize what living in a homogenous community is like. And it reinforces my desire to not live in one. Not a strictly Jewish community nor a strictly anything else community.