I just recently had a phone interview with a prospective employer in South Korea for a teaching position. We spoke for nearly a half an hour, and I thought things were going great. I was prepared, I answered quickly and intelligently, and I ended up keeping her engaged with my own set of questions towards the end.
However, as the conversation ended something strange happened. She asked me if she could ask me a personal question, and I could chose to answer or not. I said yes of course, I mean why would I say no right? She then stated she was inclined to note on my application ( and I suppose for her own personal opinion) to ask whether or not I had any tattoos, if they were visible, and if any, what they were.
Ah dios mios. As soon as she asked I knew that this wasn't a job I was probably going to get. I do in fact have two tattoos. One in the middle of my back, and one on my right ankle. And you know the ironic thing here? I've been researching Tattoo Removal for the past few months, hoping to get the one on my ankle removed before heading to Korea. But since I have about two months before that happens, I can't really say that's actually going to happen.
My tattoos are not offensive, large, or even that intrusive. However, I do hate the one on my ankle and have wanted it removed for quite some time. It is such an internal battle for me because sometimes I go through periods of times that I feel like I could care less about my tattoos and I think they're kind of cool because they represent an experience in my life. I got them both on a trip to Thailand when I was 16. Wild right? Cool story right? Well wrong. I could care less about the one on my back merely because I never see it. The one on my ankle....eeek...I am ashamed to even say what it is out loud. A typical butterfly intertwined with a heart and blah blah blah. Typical right? Disgusting right? But hey, I was 16 and in Thailand. Although I wish I would have picked something else, and who knows what I was thinking at the time, it's there...and it ain't coming off any time soon.
So here's the dilemma. I've always had trouble in professional work environments with my ankle tattoo. Feeling that I always have to hide it, or cross my legs in a certain way so people cannot see it. Usually it's not even a problem, more of a problem for me really than an employer. However the fact that she asked, means she probably doesn't approve of them and won't hire someone with visible tattoos. Apparently she's had problems with Americans coming over having very offensive tattoos, and South Korean parents do not tend to like them. Well I don't think that they'd be offended of my silly little butterfly, but probably just the fact that its there. Since I believe the Korean culture appears to be a little more conservative than my Western American culture...I might be at a little disadvantage here. Which bottom line, sucks.
It's frustrating to me because all I want to do is be on my way to South Korea. Hopefully I'm being over-paranoid (Me?! No Way!). And hopefully my Thailand regrets (there were many other than the tattoos, haha) will not hinder my way of getting to South Korea.
I'm still counting down the days to South Korea, and counting down the days where I might have my tattoo removed, or even counting down the days where I don't care anymore. But as much as this hurts to say, you were right dad. Go ahead. Muck up my shame. :)
