My impression of Koreans was based on my limited experiences with them during previous visits to the Middle East. A fun-loving bunch of people basically. So I thought as such regarding the four Koreans in my colloquial class.
In the class, they appeared to like me. However, outside of class it was a different matter.
Despite that, for some time, they had requested I teach them English. To this I agreed as long as they also taught me Korean.
So it was in the last week of term (in the TAFL Center) that they took me to a cafe where, instead of having a language exchange, they preceded to preach to me. They wanted me to convert, but I felt it would make little practical difference. Most of their preaching was based around the prophets, which I was already supposed to believe in, and about sacrifice.
They also explained how at least one of them had a serious drinking problem and had it not been for their new faith they would not have been able to quit! In order words, it was only through the help of God that such things could be accomplished.
However, apart from the father and son part of their creed, I saw little point in converting. I was already aware that not all Christians believe that Jesus is the literal son of God and perhaps for that reason I did not see much difference between being Muslim or Christian. After listening to them, the essentials of faith appeared to be same in both religions.
For now, I just wanted to be friends.
In the end, they convinced me to read the Bible, which I agreed to do when I returned to London. I already had a copy on my shelf.
Some time later, my Korean friend in Amman explained to me that these Koreans (that I met in Alexandria) were probably Protestant and evangelical and that many of their kind had migrated to Jordan. One of them had preached to her too.
Apparently, they had a low opinion of all (other than their own). Back in Alexandria, one of them described Koreans (in general) as Christian ‘in name only’.
I thought we were friends 😭
Arabian Misadventures 