tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84176136835630240502024-03-17T03:52:59.948+09:00Ask the ExpatThe Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-76502506593156526992011-02-21T18:22:00.000+09:002011-02-21T18:22:09.088+09:00Democrats Abroad (DAROK) Trivia Night Fri 25 Feb 2011, Itaewon, Seoul<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">You don't have to be American, a Democrat or political. It's just for fun and a good cause!!!</span></strong></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>DATE: </strong>Friday 25 February 2011</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>TIME: </strong>from 7:30 PM until completion</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
<strong>COST: </strong>Entry fee of W100,000 or $100 per team of five members each with winners receiving individual gifts and prizes. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
<strong>VENUE: </strong>Rocky Mountain Tavern (RMT) Itaewon, Seoul</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Democrats Abroad Republic of Korea (DAROK) is holding this fundraising event to support their hosting a Welcome Reception for the Annual Convention of DCPA in Seoul from 18 to 20 March 2011.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>TEAMS</strong>: Trivia Night Fundraiser for teams of 5 members each (maximum 10 teams)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
<div><strong>RAFFLE</strong>: An additional Raffle will run concurrently for other prizes.</div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Contact: darok.counsel@gmail.com or 010-6695-8323</span></div><div><br />
</div><div>You don't have to be American, a Democrat or political. It's just for fun and a good cause!!!</div></span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-91137420973879045632011-01-21T13:48:00.000+09:002011-01-21T13:48:00.939+09:00Who wants free money? Seriously!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My tenure as an expat is coming to a close and I'm in need of a little help. My wife and I are heading to Europe in May where we'll travel for a couple months before settling down in the US. We're excited, but have recently run into a few obstacles. Well, just one really. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our dog needs to fly to the US before we leave for Europe. We were originally planning on shipping him in cargo, but the US has changed their laws making that option impossible. At this point, the only thing we can do is pay a pet moving service nearly 2k to move him or I can fly back and drop him off. Both of those cost a lot of money. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So --and this is where you come in-- I'm looking for a pet courier. If you are going to be flying back to the American Midwest (plus PHX), all you'd need to do is check my dog in with you. My family will be waiting on the other side to get him. It's legal and you'll have nothing to worry about with customs.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While in Korea, I'll take care of all the paperwork and related cost, plus I'll pay you for your "service" and I'll even take care of your bus ride to the airport. If you're in Seoul, my wife and I will take you out to dinner and drinks before this whole thing happens. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the end, you'll make some extra cash and REALLY help me out. </span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-66349141179133590512010-12-22T15:17:00.000+09:002010-12-22T15:17:08.753+09:00What makes Korean Christmas unique?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the question:</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I'm putting together a funny email for my family and was wondering if you knew any unique Christmas traditions that Koreans celebrate. </b></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's a pretty general question and I'm sure that whatever I list has been listed millions of times by others. So, I'm going to avoid most of the commercially-imported stuff along with the mandatory Christmas accessory (boyfriend/girlfriend) , Christmas cakes and the gigantic <i>Coca-Cola</i> advertisement that is Gangnam.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think the most unique part of Korean Christmas is that instead of putting gifts under the tree, many Koreans put gifts next to the heads and/or on the pillows of their sleeping loved ones. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyone care to add something <i>unique </i>to that list?</span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-40916588479344234712010-12-17T13:13:00.001+09:002010-12-17T13:41:27.456+09:00Buses with Bathrooms?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the question:</span><br />
<blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Planning on teaching in Korea (of course English) and hoping to travel all over the country. What I am concerned about is the long trips (3 hours or over) that you have to take on bus rides. Do these buses have bathrooms? I heard that during these trips people like to eat and specifically drink? During a bus ride and let's say for lack of a better word have to pee or even worse go #2, what do people do during these types of situations?</span></b></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm a big fan of bathroom-related questions. You can tell a lot about people, cultures and history based on their bathroom habits, jokes and facilities.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I personally stay away from a lot of bus travel for this very reason. First of all, no buses available to the general public have bathrooms on them. Instead, the driver will pull into a very busy rest-stop at the halfway point on most trips over 2.5 or 3 hours. Of course, not everyone has the exact same bladder functions and this presents a problem. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In all honesty, you have one option: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>begging the driver to pull over</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In most cases, they will. It's not totally uncommon to see a bus in the shoulder and a lone passenger ducking behind the bushes. It's embarrassing for sure, but much better than, say, pooping in your pants.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Koreans have largely gotten used to this arrangement and since they're also the world's greatest transit sleepers, they generally doze through the entire process. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In other words, make sure that you're empty before the trip and don't booze too heavily the night before.</span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-48417725744165617872010-12-02T20:04:00.000+09:002010-12-02T20:04:57.630+09:00Buying Real Christmas Trees in Korea: It's not worth the effort<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the question:</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Do you have any clue where I can buy a real Christmas tree? I've asked all my co-workers and they have no idea. I live in Suwon. Where can I go???</b></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Man, this question never seems to go away. Before I even begin, let me start with a quote from one of my old pals who lived in Korea for nearly six years. I was chatting with him about this online.</span><br />
<blockquote><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me</span></u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: I'm looking for real trees in the Gyeonggi area. It's a brutal search.</span></blockquote><blockquote><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Him</span></u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: Real ones...in Korea? Hmmm...an Army base?</span></blockquote><blockquote><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me</span></u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: That's about all I can think of, too. </span></blockquote><blockquote><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Him</span></u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: <span style="color: #333333; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;">I</span></span></span>f you find a place and its owned by a Korean make sure to congratulate him for me on having the most useless business imaginable.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As cynical as it sounds, it's true. Koreans aren't into real Christmas trees at this point and opening a business for it just wouldn't be that lucrative. In other words, there aren't many tree lots opening in the parking lot of Kim's Club or Home Plus. And even if there were, the fire codes in most Korean apartments and villas would prohibit such decorations. Besides, why would Korea need real stuff when they're a <a href="http://www.christmas-tree.com/real/realchristmastrees.html">leading manufacturer</a> of the fake ones? </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Option one is finding a Korean tree farm. They do exist. A thread on Dave's mentioned a site called <a href="http://etree.kr/">etree.kr</a>, but unless you've got some Korean language skills or a friend willing to do a lot of leg work then I'd suggest you try another route. Chances are that you won't want to invest the time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your next bet is to look online and find a company that delivers to Korea. I found this <a href="http://www.tree-shop.co.uk/">one</a>, but you'll have to c<a href="http://www.tree-shop.co.uk/contact.asp">ontact them for a quote</a>. There are plenty more out there. Snoop.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You could also try finding a connection within the US military. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/christmas-trees-about-to-go-on-sale-at-aafes-nex-in-pacific-1.126325">Yongsan, Humphreys and Osan all have trees for sale on site</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, but getting on the base and getting the tree out is a challenge in and of itself. Remember, military personal all have </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.usfk.mil/old/org/j1/dmgt/rc_faq.html">ration control cards</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> that prevents them from doing an awful lot with the products they purchase. If you have a friend with a car on one of those bases, then that's your ticket. Don't count on it, though.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your last bet is a little risky and pretty damn stupid, but if you're really desperate then I'd suggest heading to a sleepy piece of forest and pulling a Clark Griswold. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img height="188" src="http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/2009/12/03/christmas-vacation-560x330.jpg" width="320" /></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Don't do that. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chances are that after an hour or two of searching and calling your Korean buddies or friend who has a friend on Yongsan, you'll get tired and start looking for a fake one. <a href="http://www.goneseoulsearching.com/2010/11/buying-christmas-tree-in-korea.html">Gone Seoul Searching</a> tried the same thing and ended up at Daiso instead, but since there are endless places to find fake trees, there's no need to discuss that.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know it's frustrating, but luckily after you return home to your respective nation you can rest easy knowing that the Frasier fir you're admiring probably was a native species of Korea. If you think the widely criticized </span><a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/01/117_57895.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Korea Times articl</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e was obnoxious, just type in "아비에스 코리아나" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">into Naver or Daum for pages of endless nationalism on full display.</span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-88800359713516347402010-12-01T13:46:00.001+09:002010-12-01T13:47:59.921+09:00Shipping on the Slow Boat to America<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the question:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hey do you know how much the slow boat costs roughly. Lets say I wanted to ship a box from</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1291175439_0"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Korea </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to NYC, filled with clothes and what not. Lets say it weighs 50 pounds. How does one go about doing this? </span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a pretty simple one. Since you don't want to deal with <a href="http://fedex.com/kr_english/">FedEx</a>, you can simply visit your <a href="http://www.koreapost.go.kr/kpmcfokp/gps/gpsUserView.action">local post office</a>. Before going, I'd spend a few minutes looking over the <a href="http://www.koreapost.go.kr/eng/main/index.jsp">English site</a> of the Korean post office. United States (as well as Canada and the UK) are in <a href="http://www.koreapost.go.kr/eng/sub/subpage.jsp?contId=e1010601">Zone 2</a>. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are in Zone 3. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shipping a box around 50lbs (22kg) looks like it'll cost around <a href="http://www.koreapost.go.kr/eng/sub/subpage.jsp?contId=e1010605">40,000 KRW</a> if you go the surface route. By air, it'll run you 120,000 KRW and SAL will cost about 150,000 KRW. If time is not an issue, sending it by boat is easily the cheapest method. There are a few other <a href="http://www.koreapost.go.kr/eng/sub/subpage.jsp?contId=e1010607">fees</a> you might want to consider as well before shipping it, but it's pretty simple.</span></span><br />
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</span></span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-78609462500970180082010-11-26T21:15:00.001+09:002010-11-26T21:17:29.641+09:00Hiring Trends in Adult Language Institutes in Korea<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2010/11/talk-of-public-schools-phasing-out.html">Brian made a few comments</a> about the rumors of a possible reduction of NSET's and contract renewals in public schools over the next couple of years. I don't think the situation is <i>as</i> dire as he predicts, but the timing of this news is telling and it's worth making mention of another trend I've been noticing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the past couple years, many adult languages institutes have been slowly moving away from basic E2's in favor of F2's. Without going into detail, F2's are quick and easy hires. I've been an F2 for nearly three years and while I personally haven't had any problems, I know plenty of F2's who are having an unusually hard time getting the exact position they want. It sounds entitled, but F2's usually get the position and salary they ask for because schools don't want to deal with immigration, documents and processing times. It's a win-win. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, however, being an F2 isn't as rare as it once was since many are staying in Korea a little longer trying to ride out the economic downturn. The competition is high for these good gigs and the F2 isn't the golden ticket it once was. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's old news though. The trend that I'm seeing both from recruiters and other managers of adult institutes (including mine) is that NSET's are being replaced by gyopo. Adult students tend to be a <i>little</i> more tolerant than mothers and that allows these institutes to save cash.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>How?</b></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simply put, a basic pay scale at an adult institute follows a pretty common pattern. The F2's generally make the most cash, followed by the E2's, then the gyopo and then the Korean teachers. Schools might prefer F2's to E2's for a variety of reasons, but the demands that F2's make makes it harder to keep them around. E2's, on the other hand, are cheaper but require plane fare and housing. They are both expensive.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gyopo usually don't get much of anything, though. Many times, they must pay their own way over here and then, once here, they usually don't get any housing or allowance. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unlike E2's and F2's, gyopo are generally getting paid per class which is still better than many Korean teachers who get paid per student, but the total earnings usually fall short of their NSET counterparts. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Money aside, these trends are suggesting that the English industry is quickly warming to non-Big 7-ers and non-traditional methods of education. More and more parents are turning to <a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/03/180_41418.html">video/phone English</a>, some provinces are paving the way for <a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2010/11/181_76086.html">Indian teachers to enter the classroom</a>, and the Filipina nannies are <a href="http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20101010000210">increasing in number</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't think that this means the end is near for the NSET's, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is the beginning of a cycle for Korea and the English industry to improve itself and shake some of the loose-ends free. There's no denying the need for reform on all levels and this might be a catalyst. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's just call it growing pains.</span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-33122015338603485362010-11-01T20:03:00.002+09:002010-11-01T20:03:51.926+09:00Why Are Asians So Smart?Aside from the over-emphasis on test-taking skills, I think it's a decent start. <a href="http://www.suite101.com/content/why-are-asians-so-smart-a303197">Are Asians actually smarter</a>?The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-30040604260055529302010-10-29T12:44:00.000+09:002010-10-29T12:44:22.182+09:00International Relationship Advice<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyone want to add anything to the <a href="http://www.suite101.com/content/5-easy-tips-on-how-to-make-an-international-relationship-work-a301426">initial list</a>?</span><br />
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</span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com81tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-12242980771754654532010-10-27T12:53:00.000+09:002010-10-27T12:53:55.468+09:00Simple Lessons from Buddhism<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is much to learn from Buddhism and even during short temple stays, solid messages can be taken away. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I could could go into detail again, but it don't think I need to. For a look at what Korean Buddhism can teach Christians, <a href="http://www.suite101.com/content/what-korean-buddhist-temple-stays-could-teach-world-christians-a301327">click here.</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From a recent conversation on the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Korean-Temples-Temple-Stay/dp/8992162170?ie=UTF8&tag=asktheexp-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Korean temple stay program</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=asktheexp-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=8992162170" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The problem, however, with temple stays in Korea is that they are often just that: a short term stay where little philosophical or theoretical instruction is given so that the Westerners visiting can take home with them something to alter their worldview and free their minds from the torment of stress, confusion, and negativity, and ideally recognize their true nature as human beings.</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He continued:</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After years of practicing Zen in Korea and abroad, I remember vividly a conversation I had with a Buddhist nun from Europe who was practicing and living in a temple in Northern Seoul. She confirmed what I feared the most regarding the state of Buddhism in Korea….”if you really want to study Buddhism temple stays are not the place, this is merely tourism Buddhism.” I couldn’t have agreed more, sure the temple stay was a break from the fast pace of modern Korean society where time seems short and everyone wants life to revolve around them, but I was truly searching for a place to dig deep and grow roots under the guidance of a proper teacher where the full import of Zen practice could take hold.</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A temple stay is clearly designed for both domestic and international tourists and I fail to see just how that is a problem. To me, the intention of the stay is NOT something meant to "alter...worldview[s] and free... minds from the torment</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> of stress, confusion, and negativity, and ideally recognize true nature as human beings." If you were to ask a monk or even a layperson in Korea whether or not a stay is meant to be anything more than an interesting tourist activity, you'd get a resounding, "NO!"<br />
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Anyone who practices any form of Buddhism knows that not only is breaking free from foolishness in search of right-mindfulness a difficult and long-term goal, but those who seek Enlightenment by name usually fail. The goal of these retreats is not conversion and most people have no expectation (or desire) for such a thing. The goal is the same as what most people want when they sign up -a relaxing and semi-spiritual taste of something that is different from what they're used to.<br />
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In some cases, a casual tourist really connects with the retreat and chooses to stay on longer in a different capacity and study the religion in greater detail. That is always available to "tourists". From where I'm standing, temple stays don't represent Korea's departure from its already checkered past with Buddhism, but appears more as a stab at combating the rabid globalization that is consuming much of the spiritual and philosophical world. Most religions and places of worship open their houses to the curious knowing that the full experience is impossible to gain in a short time.<br />
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My own experiences with religion in Korea have easily proven this. They happily welcome me into their fold, yet put the burden on me to seek a deeper connection and understanding. In fact, some of them have even openly challenged me to engage directly with them and their text.<br />
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Why does Buddhism have to be any different? Their burden only goes so far and, until recently, most Orders haven't pursued any form of aggressive proselytism. This, to me, is a good start in the right direction.</span></span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-57877610102089963262010-06-23T15:15:00.001+09:002010-06-23T20:35:43.301+09:00Reporting Domestic Abuse in South Korea<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the question:</span><br />
<blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have a problem, and I was hoping you might have some advice. In the apartment above me there is frequently </span></b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1277192475_0"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">domestic violence </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">going on--I hear lots of noise and a girl screaming like she is very hurt. I have called the police multiple times. They come, knock on the door, but of course the people inside won't open the door, and the police won't open it either.</span></b></blockquote><blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My school asked me if I want to move to a different apartment, but that does not solve the problem. I want to know, what can I do to help this girl? Every time I hear her scream, I feel so guilty. And when she stops screaming, I wonder, is it because the beating stopped or because now she is too hurt to scream?</span></b></blockquote><blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have </span></b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1277192475_1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Korean</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> colleagues and friends, but all of them seem unwilling or unable to help me. Please help me help her!</span></b></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What a terrible situation to be put in. I'm truly sorry that you have to endure being around such violence. I'm pretty sure I heard a little bit of domestic abuse when I first moved to Korea, but wasn't ever certain. As I've learned since, Koreans are sometimes a tad emotional and overly passionate, so screaming and crying might be provoked without violence. Also, Koreans have gotten used to noisy neighbors and tend to block the disturbance--whatever it might be--out. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm not sure if you mean 'girl' as in a child or an adult, so I'll answer for both. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If it is a child then the situation is a little trickier. Koreans very deeply use and approve of corporal punishment. While the trend might be slowing in the public school system, it is still very much a part of discipline in the home. It all boils down to respect and adherence to the hierarchal norms that Korean society is obsessed with. To some Koreans, if a child misbehaves it's not because they are a child or foolish, but rather that they intentionally chose to disregard the structure of Korean relationships and must be disciplined. The method doesn't matter to them as long as the child understands and follows the pecking order. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In this sense, a call to the police over what a Westerner might call "child abuse" could prove to be useless. The parents would justify it and unless the child has severe or easily noticeable injuries (not just bruises), the police will probably overlook it. Remember, "culture" is always the excuse offered up when defending questionable behavior. I know that isn't comforting in the least for you, but that's how it goes. However, if you can spot the child out and about around your apartment, maybe say 'Hello' and take a causal look at her neck, arms and legs. If you see something questionable, contact one of the links below.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, if the 'girl' is a woman and, therefore, a battered wife or girlfriend, you can take more direct action. You could call the landlord or maintenance person and let them know of the "disturbance". You could try spotting the woman outside her place and having a face-to-face conversation with her (although she probably won't open up to you and language could be an issue as well). You could even try banging on the ceiling or their door while the abuse is taking place. The bottom line is that you need to make sure the abuser knows that other people know what's happening. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think calling the police over and over again isn't a bad thing to do at all. Eventually, the locked door excuse won't work (as they often do) and the police will demand entry. The problem is that the victim might not be interested in talking to the police. Koreans don't like legal solutions, nor do they like losing face. This situation offers both. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Luckily, you're not Korean and you don't have to deal with the culture barriers.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If the police won't do anything and you're sure that your neighbor is being beaten and/or is in a helpless situation, then you could always go to </span><a href="http://www.hotline.or.kr/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Korean Women's Hot Line</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">www.hotline.or.kr) or visit the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;"><a href="http://www.mogef.go.kr/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ministry of Gender Equality and Family</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">www.mogef.go.kr). Both of them have English websites and I'm sure will be able to communicate with you considering the amount of abuse that takes place among foreign-born brides on the peninsula. It also wouldn't hurt to drop by <a href="http://www.korea4expats.com/">Korea4Expats</a>' post on <a href="http://www.korea4expats.com/article-abused-foreign-women-korea.html">Help Centers for Abused Foreign Women</a>. Your neighbor might not be a foreigner, but they could at least give you some solid advice or point you in the right direction.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px;">You have a few options for now and hopefully they will work out because this kind of thing needs to stop. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 6px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 6px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Does anyone else have any advice?</span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-61125208501927813832010-06-22T10:49:00.006+09:002010-06-22T16:00:29.666+09:00Will the North Korean soccer team go to a prison camp?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the question:</span><br />
<blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I read somewhere that the 1966 North Korean footballers were put in jail for blowing their World Cup match. Do you reckon it'll happen again? Also, will do you know if SBS will be showing the English game live or will they be giving the Yanks that slot?</span></b></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The '66 North Korean World Cup team did in fact end up in a prison camp -Yodok to be exact. The reasoning for the imprisonment is not only due to their loss to Portugal. That was certainly embarrassing as they blew a 3-0 lead. However, most would say it's because they were seen in public doing very "bad things".</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kang Chol-Hwan, survivor of Yodok and author of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Aquariums of Pyongyang</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, wrote this:</span><br />
<blockquote><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To celebrate their victory [over Italy], the players went on a wild drinking binge and, by the end of the night, were seen carrying on in public with some girls.</span></i></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That doesn't seem too extreme considering the odds that were against them to beat the Italians. Pyongyang, however, didn't have the same enthusiasm.</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">..the national teams barroom antics were judged bourgeois, reactionary, corrupted by imperialism and bad ideas. Upon arriving back in [North] Korea, the whole team - save for Park Dou-ik, who, suffering from stomach pains on the night of the party, had been forced to stay in his hotel room - was sent to the camps.</span></i></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's hard to tell whether or not such behavior would have been excused had the North defeated the Portuguese. I assume that the punishment wouldn't have been as severe, but I really have no idea. In fact, one of the North Korean soccer players Kang discusses in his book </span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/korea-boys-of-66-are-alive-and-kicking-616618.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">denies</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> that he was ever sent to a prison camp as a result of such behavior.</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pak Sung Jin, also 59, coaches one of Pyongyang's First Division sides. In 1966, his spectacular volley earned Korea a last-gasp equaliser against Chile, and the crucial point that set them up for Italy. South Korean newspapers claim Pak spent years incarcerated at Yodok internment camp, living off the insects he could catch, but he denies suffering any direct fall-out from his English sojourn.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So do you believe Park or Kang? Park says nothing happened to him while Kang says this:</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Among the prisoners I met in the camp was a celebrated former athlete who made a name for himself in Yodok by making it through very long stints in the sweatbox. According to rumor, his survival secret was to eat every insect he could get his hands on. Whether or not true, it won him the nickname Cockroach. Park Seun-jin, as he was really named, had lived his earlier moment of glory back in the 1966 World Cup in England.</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kang also claims that Park had been in the camp for almost twelve years by the time he entered in 1978 and that Park was still there when Kang was released ten years later. It's safe to assume that Park doesn't have any plans on going back to Yodok, or any other camp for that matter, and denying his imprisonment is a good start.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, do I think it'll happen again to these guys? Well, it's hard to say. I would like to say 'no way', but there are a few factors working against them. First of all, North Korea decided that this game would be the </span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10371350.stm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">first one aired live</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> in North Korea. They clearly didn't think that a 7-0 walloping was on the horizon. The North Korean national soccer heroes have been humiliated and since Kim Jung-un himself instructed the team to be "unbeatable" it might reflect poorly on him in the bizarro reality that is North Korea. He's not turning out to the a lightning rod for success.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The second issue is one that North Korean defectors raised.</span><br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's hard to know how much credence to give to the claims from the North Korean Football Association that the country's leader has been giving the team personal guidance and help with tactics. But true or not, North Korea wouldn't be alone, of course, in wanting to exploit sporting success for political ends.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mr Kim shakes his head when he thinks of the fate that might await his former countrymen.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"The result will be blamed on their weak minds," he tells me. "I'm sure the players will have to go though extreme re-education and self-criticism."</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They know better than I do and if they fear it then perhaps this current national team should as well. Still, it doesn't appear that the North Koreans did anything outwardly embarrassing(aside from their loss), so hopefully these guys will escape with a slap on the wrist and not a stint in a camp.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As for the games, SBS will be showing the England match and SBS Sports will be showing the "Yanks" game. Go Yanks! Boo England!</span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-53228636516879285482010-06-20T22:14:00.001+09:002010-06-21T16:20:52.899+09:00Why do Koreans smoke so much?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the question:</span><br />
<blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Why do Koreans smoke so much? I'm from Delaware and am very used to a non-smoking environment. This is a disgusting shock.</span></b></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For those who don't know, Delaware banned smoking in public workplaces almost a decade ago, so I imagine coming to Korea would be quite the shock. Some foreigners love it and others hate it, but Koreans are all used to it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Korean men do smoke an awful lot (a trend <a href="http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2921235">increasing among women</a> as well). It's hard to walk into a building or a bathroom without catching a whiff of it and while the government is trying to broaden their ban, it doesn't seem to have much of an effect on the prevalence. There are a lot of reasons why smoking among men is so common in Korea.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Military</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aside from the youthful temptations, curiosity and peer pressure, young Korean men must face the most difficult smoking challenge: military service. Up until the mid-nineties, cigarettes were provided to young soldiers along with their coffee and tea. The brands changed (Hwarang, 88, This) but they were free and presumably included in their Type 3 rations. Now, cigarettes are no longer provided, but they are offered at a discounted price. Of course, you don't have to smoke and while no one is forcing you to indulge, those who opted for healthy lungs often got stuck doing more work than their smoking counterparts simply because when you're smoking you're not working. As a result, many young men pick up the habit in the military and when they rejoin civilian life they have trouble shaking the addiction.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Self-Expression</b></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you were to ask a Korean why so many people smoke, they'll say that stress causes them to do it. Some will offer fun excuses like "I'd be much more unhealthy if I couldn't relieve my stress through smoking", but we know that doesn't make sense. Smoking might dilute the physical response to stress yet it does nothing for releasing stress or curing it. Everyone all over the world is stressed. Korea has not cornered that market. What's really at issue here is that Koreans typically don't use proper avenues for releasing stress. Instead of expressing themselves and sorting through the problems, many of them hold onto it (or <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/south-korean-suicide-rate-leaps-19-per-cent/story-e6frf7lf-1225874775988">jump off a building</a>). </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Koreans might seem emotional when it comes to their national pride, but when it comes to themselves or their loved ones, silence is the answer. The reasons for this is a whole different topic in and of itself. In short, the curse of respect shines through. Burdening others with your problems is viewed as disrespectful and selfish. Throw that in with the fact that the Korean language is anything but loving and tender and you have a cocktail ripe for stress. And w</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ithout a release for their stress, they look for ways to dampen it. Enter tobacco. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Leisure Time</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yeah, Koreans don't have any. Sure they might go to Jeju for the weekend or a day trip on the slopes, but in general, Koreans do not have a leisurely culture. Because of this, they seek very quick and gratifying solutions. Smoking, drinking, room salons, sexy bars, kissing rooms, screen golf, PC rooms, game rooms and singing rooms are all quick ways to get your jollies. They can move from one to the other in a relatively short amount of time. It's a 빨빨 culture that prides itself on its pace. When generation after generation seeks this type of gratification, smoking will always find its way into the fold. In my building, there's an office where the men take smoke breaks every thirty minutes for ten minutes each time. If you do the math, you soon start to realize why they have to work such <a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/06/123_67610.html">long hours</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Work Life vs. Family Life</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a simple one. Work life is very important to the Korean man. If he's under fifty then you can assume that he'll be working everyday and most nights. It's not that he wants to spend time away from his family, but he has to if he wants to climb the ladder. When family is not the center of your world, then priorities change. At home, you typically want a nice, clean, quiet, peaceful and pure atmosphere that you have some sort of control over. At work, however, it's a fast-paced late-night drinking, smoking orgy of opposition to the atmosphere desired at home. By the time one reaches his fifties and is still smoking, they might say something like one of my older Korean friends did just the other day.</span><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Look at Korean <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Life_Expectancy_2008_Estimates_CIA_World_Factbook.svg">life expectancy</a> compared with nations who smoke less. Korea is higher than many of them</i></span>."</blockquote> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Cost</b></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And finally, my biggest obstacle: cheap smokes. One of the first thing foreign smokers realize when they get to Korea is that cigarettes are cheap. I remember being pleasantly surprised by this when I first arrived. Except for a few places in SE Asia, it's hard to find Marlboro's for less than three bucks a pack. I'm sure there's some data somewhere to back me up or disprove me, but I'm willing to bet that the smoking rate would drop pretty quickly if the cost of smokes jumped to UK or Canada-level. Personally, I'm still wondering when the health care system will start to take a hit from all the smoking-related illnesses that are sure to continue increasing. (Smokes haven't increased in price since the year 2000. Someone's going to have to pay for the poor health of smokers.) Either way, the low cost is certainly keeping some potential quitters <i>off </i>the fence.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You certainly noticed that I only focused on men. Women and smoking in Korea is an interesting topic and while I'd love to tackle it in my own way at some point, we'll allow James from <i>The Grand Narrative</i> do what he does best and continue on with <a href="http://thegrandnarrative.com/2010/06/06/smoking-korea-women-gender/">this topic</a>.</span></div>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-85552354816104094822010-04-14T09:31:00.000+09:002010-04-14T09:31:57.241+09:00Korean Criers<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's the question:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I'm new to the Korean teaching scene, but I'm not a new teacher. I taught fourth grade in the US for a few years and did my training in a third grade class. I've been teaching in a public school for couple months now and am shocked by how much these children cry. I don't think I'm tough on them. Is it me or them?</span></b></blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's them.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Korean school children have been ruined by the repressive culture and by their over-zealous parents. I'm quite confident that Korea is about to face an entire generation of whiners, quitters and criers. </div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Always remember, Koreans typically react to embarrassment in three ways: anger, laughter or tears.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The question is related to tears, so let's discuss that. Korean culture is obsessed with academic competition, appearances and maintenance of structural social relationships. We all know that already, but these traits are directly related to the thin-skinned behavior witnessed by children (and adults).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Classroom competition is not always bad. People all over the world strive to excel in the classroom. However, that classroom competition is usually coupled with athletic competition or some sort of extra-curricular competition. When competition is limited to the classroom it tends to be diminished to numbers and bragging rights. The success is not shared with others and it's not celebrated publicly. Furthermore, it's commonly viewed (among students) that students who participate a lot in class are not doing so because they know the answer, but rather because they're showing off their talent. Being outwardly expressive or arrogant is a clear social faux-pas, so even the best students might choose to remain silent.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">An English class is different from normal classes, though. Students are <strike>forced</strike> encouraged to speak and express themselves. They don't like this. Students are not used to being called on and they don't like being singled out. When an English teacher singles out a student and makes them answer a question, it puts pressure on that student. Sounds normal to Western students, but this situation can only end two ways in Korea: you get the answer correctly and sit back down quietly or you get it wrong and suffer the loss of face. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Some students are so used to getting the answer wrong that they don't care anymore, but others are so accustomed to being the best, that something as simple as using the wrong tense can bring them to tears. This is pathetic, but the result of an overemphasis on educational competition and an extension of Korea's crippling obsession with face.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As a teacher you have a few options. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">1) You could ignore the criers and hope that they mature past this stage. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">2) You can accept this reality and protect students from failing.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">3) You can try to be the revolutionary teacher who taught students that failure is a part of life and that it's okay to fail every once and awhile.</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">None of them are great options. I think accepting it would be the best, but protecting them from failure is what led us to this problem. Parents want to coddle their only-child so much that any discomfort results in a tantrum.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So, I must give the advice that I have given many times before: You know the rules, now play the game.</span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-51549470183234758962010-04-07T16:45:00.001+09:002010-04-07T16:46:23.847+09:00The Basics of Adult Language Institutes in KoreaHere's the question:<br />
<blockquote><b>A </b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1270611386_0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; cursor: pointer;"><b>good friend</b></span><b> of mine is interested in teaching English to adults. She has been working at the same hogwan with me for about 7 months now and is really miserable there. Let's just say shes not 'kid person'. So she has made some kind of negotiation with our boss and is going to be able to get out of her contract like 5 months early (that was luck). She loves </b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1270611386_1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #dceeff; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: pointer;"><b>Seoul</b></span><b> and does not want to go home, so she is now considering a job working with adults. It is my understanding that most places looking for teachers to teach adults do not use recruiters and that they just hire directly. Is this true? If so, where is a good place to look at </b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1270611386_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: pointer;"><b>job postings</b></span><b> for these positions? And also, do these institutions that teach adults provide the visa like the hogwans do? How exactly does it work? </b></blockquote>Your "friend", huh?<br />
<br />
I think that after a few months of teaching kids in a hagwon, even the most well-intentioned and good-natured teacher has, at some point, breathed, <i>"I'm not a kid person."</i> Those gigs tend to have that effect on people, especially new teachers. Luckily, she's gotten permission to move on and soon that'll be behind her. Settled on that front.<br />
<br />
Finding adult teaching jobs is pretty easy. First of all, take a look at what I wrote <a href="http://asktheexpat.blogspot.com/2009/05/teaching-adults-in-korea-is-it-worth-it.html">here</a> and <a href="http://asktheexpat.blogspot.com/2009/07/getting-hired-and-other-tips-for-non.html">here</a>. There are some simple tips and things to think about before applying. (Also, take a look at what <a href="http://koreabridge.net/post/life-korea-20-things-check-your-contract-chrisinsouthkorea">Chris wrote about contracts</a>.) Second, you should think about whether you want to teach classes or 1:1. Both of them have their benefits and drawbacks. If your "friend" still feels inclined to make the move, then I would consider <a href="http://asktheexpat.blogspot.com/2009/07/adult-language-institutes-and-hagwons.html">applying directly</a> first. This way you can get around the fluff and recruiter sweetening. If the direct links don't yield any immediate responses, you can always go to the big job sites.<br />
<br />
The adult language institutes are hagwons as well. And just like with the kiddos, they sponsor your E2 visa; provide housing or allowance (careful though --DE and Pagoda only give one-hundred bucks a month); provide insurance and pay a pension. Flight tickets differ from place to place, so you'll have to ask about that. In your "friends" case, she's already in Korea, so they'll most likely pay for a visa-run at least.<br />
<br />
I usually recommend teaching adults to second-year teachers because there are a couple thing to consider if you're on your first go-around. Adult hagwons typically have split-shifts. You'll be teaching early in the morning (7:00-ish) and working late into the night (10:00-ish). With that in mind, traveling and weekday partying become more difficult. In fact, if you can't adjust to the split shift, then most of your afternoons will be spent snoozing and that's fine for some, but I encourage first-year teachers to experience more than just working and sleeping. I know that my first year was great because I worked from 10am-4pm. It allowed me to get to know the nation; culture and people quite well with all that free time. Plus, I got to travel out of the country with relative ease.<br />
<br />
Luckily, not all adult hagwons offer only split-shift shifts. You might have to wait your turn for block, but DE, English Channel and Pagoda offer both split and block. YBM and BCM typically (but not always) only offer split. Even those gigs, however, come with some other perks. Many times, teachers will only have a certain amount of classes they have to teach. After that, it's up to them. This system allows many teachers to teach the morning block on some days and the evening on the others. That, and those two places only teach twenty days a month. That leaves for a lot of three/four-day weekends and longer breaks on "red days".<br />
<br />
From what you told me, it appears that your "friend" is all set. As long as she has her docs in place, some nice interview clothesThe Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-45193557885159985892010-04-06T17:18:00.001+09:002010-04-06T17:19:40.966+09:00Koreans and Exercise<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the question:</span><br />
<blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm planning to live in Korea soon. And I was talking to some friends who studied abroad there recently. They tell me that unlike America, </span></b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1270525489_0"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Koreans</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> don't jog or run in the streets. I'm from Madison which is a very heavy biking and running city. I love to run outdoors and lift weights. I was wondering how Koreans exercise? Do they even exercise? One of my friends told me that they don't really exercise, but instead just eat less and diet. From the </span></b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1270525489_1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">international students</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I see here, majority of the korean students are very fit. I was wondering if you had any knowledge on exercise in Korea.</span></b></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your friends are right. Koreans don't run, jog, speed-walk or bike </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">on city streets</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. It would be nearly impossible to do so anyways. I typically am out running or biking with my dog at 5:00am and even at dawn, I find it difficult to get in a solid workout without being interrupted by traffic, drunk twenty-somethings, trash or, my personal favorite, the puddles of vomit --or "pizza" as Koreans call it-- which are flung all over the sidewalks.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They do, however, do a lot of exercising in other areas. There are countless gyms blanketing most cities that are usually pretty active from open to close. In most towns and cities, there are small parks that have body-resistance exercise machines. Those seem to be the most popular with the older crowd and especially with the ajummas. And if that wasn't enough, scores of ajumma can be spotted grouping together near any major waterway for some only-in-Korea-would-this-pass-for-exercise aerobics slash white-gloved hand movements. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the weekend, you'll find that most of the city parks are swamped with people of all ages exercising. They're riding bikes, running, jogging and walking dogs. Sports fields are full of people playing soccer, basketball and baseball. I like to play tennis and usually have to make a reservation nearly a month in advance is I want to play. In the summer, the rivers and lakes are bustling with skiers, windsurfers and jet-skiers. In the winter, you'll find it pretty packed on the slopes as well. Koreans certainly exercise, just in acceptable venues and the street, for the most part, is not acceptable.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can't find it now, but I read a couple years ago that the average Korean child gets twelve minutes of exercise a day compared with the forty-eight minutes the American child was getting. In fact, it's getting so bad that child obesity in Korea is </span><a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/02/113_4687.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">nearly double what it is in Japan</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and rapidly approaching America's rate. The </span><a href="http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/01/21/2010012100771.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">adult rate obesity rate is getting pretty bad</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> as well, but that's what happens when you work late and eat dinner even later. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I guess dieting or eating less would be one way of staying slim and Koreans are just as </span><a href="http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2008/12/23/2008122361014.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">apt to fall for diet trends</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> as the rest of the world is (see the </span><a href="http://morningbanana.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Japanese banana diet</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">), but I think most people here (</span><a href="http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/03/29/2010032900962.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">outside of Gangwon</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">) see the value of an honest workout and a healthy diet -even if they are snobby about their foods' health benefits and/or superiority. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Oh, and in case you're wondering where I've been, you can visit </span><a href="http://piousone.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The Pious One</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">...</span></span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-27642083780748664402010-03-23T08:53:00.000+09:002010-03-23T08:53:03.265+09:00Korean (Shoe) Fashion<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's the question:</div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>I live about twenty minutes east of Wonju and am having a few issues with shoes. It's not the size, but the style. Out here we only have shoes that my grandfather stopped wearing thirty years ago. I know a trip in Seoul would do the trick, but what can I expect to find?</b></blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A trip into Seoul (Myeong-dong, Gangnam, Itaewon, Apgujeong, COEX) would certainly give you some more styles and since your feet aren't freakishly large, it'd just be a matter of finding the pair(s) you like. I've had two (male) friends in Korea that spent most of their money on shoes. I'm not talking about formal shoes either. They spent thousands on sneakers. One of them actually posted his pictures on Facebook. That's weird as hell, but it's a least testament to the variety you can find.* </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That variety can be a blessing and a curse. I recently saw a pair of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Clarks-Originals-Mens-Wallabee-Boot/dp/B0007MULPK?ie=UTF8&tag=asktheexp-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Wallabees</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=asktheexp-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0007MULPK" style="border: medium none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> being sold in COEX which certainly <strike>gave me a flashback</strike> took me back to my high school days of attempting to re-live <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dazed-Confused-Widescreen-Flashback-London/dp/B00029RTAI?ie=UTF8&tag=asktheexp-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Dazed and Confused</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=asktheexp-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00029RTAI" style="border: medium none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. It was honestly a little surprising since the hippie meme is a relatively uncommon sight in Korea. While I don't sport the look anymore, that would have been quite a blessing over a decade ago. The curse, however, is the resurgence of high-tops. Christ, they're ugly. I blame 2NE1...and Zach Morris.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><img alt="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xDHAcd06uos/SxuEaNzKVZI/AAAAAAAAAp8/YSea0yHBAeQ/s640/ee355a2f10d954fbcb094ac830706c7f1259261096_full.jpg" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xDHAcd06uos/SxuEaNzKVZI/AAAAAAAAAp8/YSea0yHBAeQ/s640/ee355a2f10d954fbcb094ac830706c7f1259261096_full.jpg" /> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Over the past couple years, I've seen Korean shoe fashion get progressively worse. To understand the shoes, you've gotta look at the rest of the threads.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Korean men pretty much have three looks aside from school uniforms.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>1.The College Student (19-26 yrs old)</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The college student is the most aesthetically diverse of the group. Just like their female classmates, male college students are dying to express themselves through fashion or hair. Some dye their locks while others attempt a shaved G-Dragon-esque doo. Some get in touch with their hip-hop roots and go for the urban look. There's nothing that says "I'm hard" like showing your colors on the mean streets of Gangnam. The most recent trend are the skinny jeans. Man, I hate skinny jeans. Since when was looking like a sissy a good look for men? Luckily, most college students dress pretty down-to-earth. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>2.</b> <b>The Businessman (26-55)</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The businessmen range from clip-on ties to really classy shit. For the most part, they like the dark, slightly-feminine leather shoes which, of course, compliment the shiny suits. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>3.</b> <b>The Ahjussi (55+)</b></div><ol style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></ol><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Depending on retirement age, the ahjussi look is a mixture of 70's upholstery and over-priced outdoor gear. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">All of them are unique from the other, yet every man must experience each style before moving on to the next. Women, on the other hand, are much more complex than men, so I'll just mention a few complaints.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Boots are huge for Korean women. Some of them are nice and others are pretty hideous. The UGG's that I hated seeing in the early aughts in college have been taking over Korea for the past couple years. I've gotten used to those at this point. There's also been a swing away from the skort to the skirt, but that changes so often that I'm not sure. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You see, I'm a Gangnam guy. I've always lived in Gangnam. I work on the main drag and live one street off of that drag. I'm bombarded with Gangnam fashion. It has its ups and downs. I get to see see mostly classy fashion all the time and that's okay, but I never get to see the "hipster" college scene that takes place in Hongdae. I also don't stay out late, so the late-night party scene is lost on me at this point. I'm usually pretty surprised when I see a woman dressed even slightly different than the other thousands on the streets.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you want fashion, head over to <a href="http://feetmanseoul.com/">Feetmanseoul.com</a>. Hurt's got his shit together. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bottom line is that once in Seoul, you'll have more than enough options for shoes.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*I've heard some expats complain about shoe sizes on here and I'm sure there are places you can find big shoes, but that's not the question.</span></b></div>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-52039061382025134442010-03-06T12:03:00.000+09:002010-03-06T12:03:39.251+09:00A Fellow Expat in Distress<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's the situation:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>I know the odds are pretty low, but I wanted to ask for your help. I just had my laptop stolen, and it has most of my entire life on it – I’m more than devastated. I wanted to know if you could ask around or maybe even post this information on your site, in the hopes of recovering it. I know how difficult it is to run through the police, and I’m really kind of panicking. Thanks for your help, and I understand if you can’t.</b></div></blockquote><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yeah, I'm not sure the police would be able to do much. It'd probably wind up frustrating you more than anything else. Luckily, I haven't had anything stolen in my time here, but it certainly happens. The questioner is clearly stressed and I hate seeing fellow expats suffer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Can you help?</span><br />
<br />
<blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Description:</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>White Macbook, 13.3 inch plastic</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>There are two dents on the right hand corners of the keyboard when you open it up</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>It was lost at Mike’s Cabin in Shinchon between the hours of 12 am and 3:15 am on Friday night-Saturday morning (March 5-6). </b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>It was taken out of a bag against the wall next to the DJ booth. Anyone who was any information, please contact me. (<span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: x-small;">k.j.derosa@gmail.com)</span></b></div></blockquote><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Or if anyone has been through this before, perhaps you could offer some advice...</span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-39237017391154605802010-03-04T15:51:00.000+09:002010-03-04T15:51:19.106+09:00Do you want to help North Koreans?<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://tiekorea.wordpress.com/">TIE</a> is a new organization aimed at doing just that. </div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i><strong>TIE (Teachers for Integration through English)</strong></i> is a non-profit organization founded by teachers whose principle goal is to reach out to North Korean refugees residing in the Seoul area. Our all-volunteer team of professionals has come together in hopes of further integrating North Koreans into South Korean society by providing free English instruction.</b> </blockquote><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you have some free time and want to help out, take a look.</span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-14115016607857496382010-02-26T05:55:00.000+09:002010-02-26T05:55:26.464+09:00Vote for me and YOU WIN!<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I want to be even more special than my mom/wife/dog makes me feel. Vote for <i>Ask the Expat</i> in <a href="http://10magazine.asia/2903/april-readers-10/">10 Magazine's online poll</a> and I'll buy you your very own <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCwn1NTK-50">Crossfire</a>. I promise.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><a href="http://10magazine.asia/2903/april-readers-10/"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">VOTE HERE</span></a>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-42135954552508147892010-02-25T13:55:00.001+09:002010-02-25T13:57:32.209+09:00Korean Bathrooms: A Photo Diary<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's the question:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>My name is Bernal and I am 28 years old. I developed <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1267069002_0">IBS</span> (<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1267069002_1">irritable bowel syndrome</span>) a few years back. Thanks to that I feel uncomfortable at places without bathrooms. So every time I go to a place the first thing I do is try to find the nearest bathroom, and when I located it, I feel better. I will go to Korea <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1267069002_2" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">in June</span> for a while. I was wondering if you can tell me how often you can find a bathroom in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1267069002_3">Seoul</span>, and if is true that since the world cup, is some type of law in which allows any foreigner to use any public bathroom, even buildings and stuff. </b><br />
<br />
<b>I'm from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1267069002_4">Guatemala</span> and here you dont find public washrooms.. only restaurants and stuff like that.</b></blockquote><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That sounds pretty awful, Bernal. There's nothing better than a spastic colon on a hot June day here in Seoul. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Determining bathroom locations is also a pastime of mine, but not because I have to poop a lot. My concern --while drinking usually-- is that I'll only have to go to the bathroom if I don't have the luxury of a bathroom. I think I developed this problem in college on backpacking trips. Before we started packing, I would try to force myself to poop so I wouldn't have to poop on the trail. I was fine dropping one at the campsite, but the hike-poop was always rushed and uncomfortable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bathrooms in Seoul are actually quite common. Depending on where you are in the city, you should be able to find some sort of public restroom within a minutes' walk. Some will be clearly marked with directions and others will be more allusive. The trickiest ones to spot are the ones that hide in the three or four-story "villas". There's usually a sign on or in the building somewhere that says "화장실". If not, just ask someone and they'll point in the right direction. Honestly, I've never had a problem. Even at the park, there are toilets all around.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-large;">Some Photo Warnings...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0tZtCCw-SXo0CgRuZ0uP6DE9o1ejXLfJ41NQN4pJmoN4JGA4lKowg6KEtpMru_3T4fFMfvmu7QTBgELuQdnZpYLVOIiT3oZb1oJFDvRnPCF857GdKvj9WLKZ78GWVW2zP7E4FS59ORI/s1600-h/1207587761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0tZtCCw-SXo0CgRuZ0uP6DE9o1ejXLfJ41NQN4pJmoN4JGA4lKowg6KEtpMru_3T4fFMfvmu7QTBgELuQdnZpYLVOIiT3oZb1oJFDvRnPCF857GdKvj9WLKZ78GWVW2zP7E4FS59ORI/s320/1207587761.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> They don't care if you're there or not.</span></b></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZCnI7BUECvt5eN4fFpzf6cDM6C6DW99BssNpllk2vNoi2-fXpHFvQHfuULh3aGmjjq5h491BXjPWU5iHZjRLNq2Q73aeVKLPpsz-6uuHz4SoNOneE2uRIwhodJHNVoeDAeQ_r0UsWT4/s1600-h/1_1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZCnI7BUECvt5eN4fFpzf6cDM6C6DW99BssNpllk2vNoi2-fXpHFvQHfuULh3aGmjjq5h491BXjPWU5iHZjRLNq2Q73aeVKLPpsz-6uuHz4SoNOneE2uRIwhodJHNVoeDAeQ_r0UsWT4/s320/1_1_.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">They're not all like this one, but... </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="http://maggiesmeanderings.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/chinese-toilet.jpg" height="213" src="http://maggiesmeanderings.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/chinese-toilet.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> ...they're not like this, either.</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/72/179622555_c62ca4b2b6.jpg?v=0" height="240" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/72/179622555_c62ca4b2b6.jpg?v=0" width="320" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is pretty common...</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghA5knGsTebR8Cc4jFjsB_WwRFpb1fPbHVIgL9UKUKYquW7bjZPQimtxJOcRiYstB5yxyOihOEPBaRyl6EzotmIdZJn_j0zFBToEiRFszpoYp75178xy1wSS0chk6Huyh4Pue4Gpr7rB0/s320/IMG_7936+(Small).JPG" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghA5knGsTebR8Cc4jFjsB_WwRFpb1fPbHVIgL9UKUKYquW7bjZPQimtxJOcRiYstB5yxyOihOEPBaRyl6EzotmIdZJn_j0zFBToEiRFszpoYp75178xy1wSS0chk6Huyh4Pue4Gpr7rB0/s320/IMG_7936+%28Small%29.JPG" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> ...but this is the norm. </span></span></b></span></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.itravelnet.com/photos/eu/greece/rhodes/rhodes-old-town/no-toilet-paper.jpg" height="240" src="http://www.itravelnet.com/photos/eu/greece/rhodes/rhodes-old-town/no-toilet-paper.jpg" width="320" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Confused? Don't be. </span></b></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://kristin.seidelmann-owners.com/fofc/no_paper2.jpg" height="240" src="http://kristin.seidelmann-owners.com/fofc/no_paper2.jpg" width="320" /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Just drop it <a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/02/137_40078.html">in that trashcan</a>.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiootSTb1fOHUovhJMF2nSjTIdzogWFJcKrm-8Wp8Mv-cem66W1G50Blgcc1dkhtZ3rMSZMBAoTdXJULpXV_Q3Lh5sXz6WlOeIbNG1ar8TdgDxG5CdVN8QjZ30NPtxkvnv0LlvgefI9G9IP/s320/soap.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiootSTb1fOHUovhJMF2nSjTIdzogWFJcKrm-8Wp8Mv-cem66W1G50Blgcc1dkhtZ3rMSZMBAoTdXJULpXV_Q3Lh5sXz6WlOeIbNG1ar8TdgDxG5CdVN8QjZ30NPtxkvnv0LlvgefI9G9IP/s320/soap.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Get used to it...</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://antoniofarinha.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/smallest-bathroom-sink.jpg" height="240" src="http://antoniofarinha.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/smallest-bathroom-sink.jpg" width="320" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>...but there probably won't be any soap, anyways.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://images3.iwilab.com/shared/item/1/107/107945_500x.jpg" src="http://images3.iwilab.com/shared/item/1/107/107945_500x.jpg" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Don't kid yourself. There will be plenty of smoking. </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> </b></span></span><img alt="http://images.veer.com/IMG/PIMG/DVP/DVP4972839_P.JPG" src="http://images.veer.com/IMG/PIMG/DVP/DVP4972839_P.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Just not much toilet paper. </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b> Accept it.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-46989183695242757352010-02-25T12:42:00.000+09:002010-02-25T12:42:09.150+09:00Purchasing Korean Basketball Tickets in Korea<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's the question:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>I want to take my girlfriend to a <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1267069150_0" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer;">Korean Basketball League game</span> on <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1267069150_1">Valentine's day</span>. I have a <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1267069150_2">Korean</span> teacher at my hagwon helping me with tickets. He called and got some info. You can't purchase tickets until 1 week before, and they are only available online. The only tickets that will be available the day of at the box office are the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1267069150_3">left overs</span>, from what hasn't sold online throughout the week. He helped me with a profile on ticketlink. But I've heard that even with this profile, foreigners can have difficulty purchasing tickets online, something about the citizen ID # being required. So I'm assuming that my ID # from my Alien Card won't work.</b></blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I didn't actually get around to answering the question. Luckily, the questioner told me that he had solved the problem. Check out his answer and his blog over at </span><a href="http://ripcitytoseoul.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/korean-basketball-ticket-purchase-fiasco/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rip City to Seoul</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">.</span>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-18807547700514283742010-02-23T05:58:00.000+09:002010-02-23T05:58:35.826+09:00Summer Camp Jobs<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's the question:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div><b>I'm currently working in Korea, but my contract ends in May. I don't really want to get tied into another 12 month contract straight away (unless I can find my dream ESL job!) so am considering teaching at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266824034_0" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">summer camps</span>. </b></div><div></div><div><b>Do you know if any recruiters specialise in recruiting for summer camps? And when do <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266824034_1" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer;">summer camp jobs</span> normally become available? Finally, is there much competition for these positions? </b></div></blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Summer camps are great ways to pick-up some nice, quick cash. They're really great if you're already in-country as well. Being February, there won't be many summer camp gigs being advertised yet, but in April you'll start seeing more and more.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There are a couple different types of summer camps as well. People who teach in public schools know that"summer camp" does not mean really mean "camp" and it usually requires longer days (sometimes with better pay). But you're looking for a contracted summer gig that usually lasts 4-6 weeks. Some jobs will be longer/shorter, but most of them offer pretty decent deals. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I personally don't know any recruiters who specialize in summer camps. I doubt the cash-flow is consistent enough to warrant an agency dedicated to that, but I might be wrong. As far as competition goes, it's usually not that stiff. The busy hiring season in Korea is in the spring and fall, so the applicant pool isn't as crowded. That means that summer/winter camps often look for teachers who are abroad as well. Since you'd be here, I'd think you'd have an easier time locking in a job. Remember though, the market has tightened a lot over the past couple of years, so get your resume ready and start scouring the job boards in about two months.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'd shoot for Jeju. That seems like a nice parting-image from the country.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li>I'm sure that <a href="http://lostonjeju.blogspot.com/"><i>Lost on Jeju</i></a> might be able to help. (Summer camp post <a href="http://lostonjeju.blogspot.com/2007/05/teaching-english-on-jeju-warning.html">here</a>)</li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li> You could also shoot an email to Jeju-based Jung Hae-min: <a href="mailto:smilebiglala@gmail.com">smilebiglala@gmail.com</a></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Anyone else have any leads? </span></div>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-61541749864248073342010-02-22T10:34:00.003+09:002010-02-22T19:30:09.612+09:00"After-school" Programs in KoreaHere's the question:<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<blockquote><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I am still in Canada searching for teaching work in Korea. It's been like two months and I just don't know what job I want. There are so many that advertise LONG hours and those don't appeal to me and these so-called recruiters never listen to my demands.</strong></span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span>Nothing better than new young teachers who want a job, but don't like working. That mentality --in part-- is why I don't hire young teachers or anyone fresh out of college anymore.<br />
<blockquote><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I started to see more afterschool and afternoon positions recently. They sound great! Why doesn't everyone want those? Are they hard to get?</strong></span></span></blockquote><br />
First of all, there is usually a difference between "afternoon" and "after-school" positions. An "afternoon" position is at a hagwon and will typically start at 3 or 4pm and run till 9 or 10pm. An "<a href="http://www.worknplay.co.kr/jobseeker/jobSearchView.php?jobNum=189796&start=&page=">after-school</a>" position is at a public school and typically runs from 12 0r 1pm until 5 0r 6pm.<br />
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It sounds like you want to an "after-school" position. I've worked at several in my time here and all of them are essentially the same. Although the venue is a public school, you are actually working for a recruiter/education company. For example, <em>ABC Education</em> is a recruiting/education company. They have a curriculum, books, managers, supplies and teachers all within their company. These companies go from school to school trying to make contracts with the principals. Once they have the contracts, they choose the teacher who best suits each school (which means the prinipal has a say). So, each teacher is not actually working for the public school system, but rather a separate company.<br />
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The pay varies greatly as well. If you're north of the river, then expect your pay to be less than if you're in the south. And even in the south, you'll be paid based on the neighborhood. For instance, in Yangjae I was making okay money, but then I moved over to Songpa and was making 30% more. Now, I'm in Gangnam making nearly 60% more than I was in Yangjae. Of course, the higher the pay, the more competitive the job is.<br />
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You asked "<em>why doesn't everbody want those</em>" jobs? Well, <a href="http://www.worknplay.co.kr/jobseeker/jobSearchList.php">a lot of people do want those jobs</a>. In fact, many of those positions require an in-person interview which puts teachers abroad at a disadvantage. However, it's still worth trying. <br />
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On a side note, the after-school jobs are oftentimes looking for teachers on the F2 visa. They do that because F2's are easy to hire, have been in Korea for awhile and usually have housing already. These days, however, some F2's are even being forced to submit the same paperwork at E2's. I protested at first but soon realized that if I didn't do it, then I wouldn't get the job.<br />
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In short, the afterschool jobs are great. You're typically teaching medium-sized Elementary classes (10-20 students), have relative freedom in the class (even with the Korean co-teacher) and get a lot of free time. The details of the contract depend on the job and company, but for the most part, they're super sweet gigs.The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8417613683563024050.post-8200301399559348242010-02-21T09:08:00.000+09:002010-02-21T09:08:44.025+09:00Is this the end of Seollal and Chuseok?<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's the question:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><blockquote style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Since so many people live in Seoul now, what's going to happen during Chusok and Chinese New Years in the future? No more traffic jams? </b></blockquote><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I can't tell you how many times I've thought about this. In fact, I often take it a step further and wonder if some of the traditions that make Chuseok and Seollal so fun and unique will go the wayside once the 70+ generation dies off, presumably changing the "hometown" from a provincial town/village to Seoul or another big city. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This recent Seollal doesn't appear to have been much different from the others before it. Tons of people headed to their grandparents/parents or in-laws for the holidays just like they always have. The Korea Times reported that <a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/02/117_60782.html">3.6 million people were heading out of Seoul</a> for the holiday and over 22 million people were going to be moving around the country. That's a pretty big number. The population of South Korea is hovering around 50 million these days, so we're looking at nearly half of the population still heading somewhere for the holidays. For now, it seems that the holiday and the adherence to the traditions seem safe.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span id="font"><img alt="" border="0" height="178" src="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/news/100212_p02_seollal.jpg" width="320" /></span> </div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">However, as Seoul's population continues to <a href="http://english.seoul.go.kr/gtk/news/news_view.php?idx=8409">increase</a> and more and more people are <a href="http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200904/200904080006.html">considering Seoul as their official "hometown"</a>, it'll certainly be interesting to see how that pans out in the future. I know from personal experience that many Seoulites are opting to either delay the family visit and take a much needed vacation or are skipping the holiday altogether. They're probably in the minority though. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I guess I could speculate that younger Koreans might not be as "<i>into</i>" traditional holidays as they used to be and <i>maybe</i> that would be true, but I think that there are other factors working against the holidays. The biggest obstacle --to me-- seems to be that the majority of Koreans are not buried anymore; <a href="http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=040000&biid=2009120254608">they're cremated</a>. And not only are 60% of Koreans cremated, but <a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/01/123_60006.html">9 out of 10 Korean prefer cremation to burial</a>. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's fine except that one of the crucial ceremonies of both holidays is 절 or the bowing to elders/ancestors. Most Koreans have a tomb they visit where they offer some form of alcohol, fish or fruit before they bow and pay respects to their ancestors. That ancestor is typically a parent, grandparent or maybe even a great-grandparent. One would think that this trend would continue for some time since Korea is such a <a href="http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_business/126854.html">rapidly ag<strike>e</strike>ing society</a>, but the issue is not a shortage of old people, it's a shortage of tombs and space.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That shortage is the crux of my argument. As each generation trucks on, the ancestral tombs will fade further into the grey. Honestly (and you might not agree), no one wants to visit the tomb of their great-grandmother every year. I've seen my great-grandmother's grave in Indiana twice and that's enough for now. Maybe some Koreans will drop-in every five years or so if they're in the area, but the annual traffic-fighting voyage to a town that isn't your "hometown" anymore just doesn't sound realistic to me.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
Just because the tomb trips might become less common or Seoul is their official "hometown", doesn't mean they can't partake in the traditions though. As with everything, traditions usually take a hit as times passes. That's normal. Still, Koreans can still bow and the family can still gather for the holiday. It might just mean a trip from Gangnam to Nowon, rather than Seoul to Daegu and if that's the case --well-- I guess there will be more traffic in Seoul, but that's nothing new.</div>The Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10795876773477053551noreply@blogger.com7