Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Advice on Living in South Korea?

Advice on Living in South Korea?
I am moving over in a few months after i finish my undergrad to teach English for a year or so (to sort of kill time until grad school and make some money). I sort of took the job on a bit of a whim and other than the obvious of trying to learn a little of the language, Are there any good need to know type things that a rather green traveler should know about? Thanks
Korea - 10 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
they drink a lot, and they respect teachers a lot...good thing u r going. But the living cost is high tho. Heard of the scam on accomodation where the employer promised to take care of rent but didn't. Google Teaching english in Korea, u get quite a few good websites, discussion board. If i remember correctly, there's one called Dave's ESL cafe or something like that....Good Luck!
2 :
budget your money well, in the best and worst times keep your composure give them a good impression of who you are and where you come from. Friendliness, willing to learn the local language, and open mind will serve you as well as properly budgeting your money
3 :
About clothes- Koreans will respect you more if you dress professionally and clothes are very expensive in Korea, make sure you bring enough nice clothes to wear on the job. Also, If you wear XL size, you will have a hard time finding that in Korea. The American embassy publishes a nice information packet to read and explore. here is the link... http://seoul.usembassy.gov/t_overview.html
4 :
Be friendly and have a good attitude. They can be very pushy people. Go with it or you could offend them. I have taught some Korean children in the past and they are very eager to learn. They love seeing Americans and will stare a lot...get used to that. It will be easier on you to learn some of their language. Don't stick your nose up at their food and drinks without trying them. They tend to look and smell gross but they aren't that bad. Some delicious! Soju is huge here. The bigger cities like Seoul, Pusan or Daegu will be about the same as the big cities in the states; a bit on the pricey side. Almost every city has a market with cheaper things for your budget though. It is a great place to live. Very safe and friendly. Enjoy!
5 :
The site SeoulKoreaAsia is specifically about Living in Seoul.
6 :
As I answered another question previously, you will never get a "really, totally correct" answer as to what's the best part of South Korea. Everybody who answers your question will be giving their own answer as to location, activities, weather, foods, etc . Some people go "ga-ga" over visiting or living in Seoul. Other people go "Ooohhhh" over Pusan. Some of the best advice you will ever receive about living, or visiting, in South Korea is - 1) Act natural and be friendly with everybody you meet. Just being friendly towards the people makes a lot of points for you. You can still have a wonderful time without knowing the language, but it’s a definite plus if you know the language, or have somebody translating for you. 2) Be open-minded that many things here in Korea are somewhat "different" than what you're used to or expecting. Different in no way means inferior. 3) When not working, don't hesitate to go around and visit the different locations, festivals, beaches, activities, etc., that Korea abounds with. It’s guaranteed you will find something to spark your interest. Remember, if you get bored living here in Korea, it's your own fault. 4) Don't act "more superior than thou" so many foreigners (especially Americans) behave like; blend-in and "go with the flow." 5) Don't have concerns that items, foods, clothing, etc., in Korea might be "inferior" to any standards you're used to. Is it different? Quite likely it is or will be for you, although Korea has a lot of good quality items and products. 6) Don't worry about Medical care. South Korea has gained a reputation as being top-notch concerning medical care, especially in the larger cities. 7) Like eating really good food? Korea is full of fantastic, tasty food (a lot of it is traditional). Don't hesitate about anything; at least try any item once before deciding whether or not you like it. And, learn to use Chopsticks. And a really big item to remember - "Seoul is not the center of the universe" as a lot of foreigners tend to believe. These people really believe either nothing exists outside Seoul city limits, or perhaps they believe outside Seoul there only exists farm villages and Rice Paddies, or??. (I feel sorry for them) Yes, Seoul is nice and has its attractions, but so do other locations around Korea.
7 :
have you taken a job with a hagwon? if so i would look into the public school right away there is a big difference in pay and a difference in months of vacation look up Canadian connections they are fantastic for finding great jobs i am Irish and came with them this year i have been in Korea 3 years trust me i much prefer working 4hrs a day then 9 with a hagwon (private school) after that i would thing about bringing clothes and spices and deodorant
8 :
These are all good responses. I would suggest reading the book Culture Shock! Korea. I read that before going, and it really helped a lot in the transition. I would reiterate that you need to be wary of hakwons. So many of them will work you to death. As well, many will work you illegally. I, personally, will never work for a hakwon again! Though, there are some reputable ones, like YBM (though, some people might disagree with me on that). If you go to daveseslcafe.com, you will find a lot of positions listed. Do try to get one in a highschool or other form of public school. You'll definitely be glad you did! As well, stay away from agents as they often are only out to make a quick buck by suggesting you to any hakwon that will pay them. If you need any other suggestions, feel free to email me at christensenjunk@yahoo.com.
9 :
Learn how to negotiate, and don't feel compelled to accept any first offers on anything. Shop around and do your homework regarding salary and conditions,etc.
10 :
Went to high school in Seoul @ an army base and was hesitant of going because it was a culture I did not know anything about. Was able to make friends with Koreans my age who were allowed to attended the school on base. They were welcome to the idea of taking me with them off base to experience their culture. Koreans from my experience were friendly.