Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Homer]

These are the things I enjoy about living here in Korea.


1. Public Baths
I was wondering how many of you use them and at what frequency. I live in Busan and go to my neighborhood public bath on a daily basis. The man who owns the place charges me a monthly rate now since I go everyday. It comes down to 10 000 won a month! God bless his soul. I buy him gifts for new years and chu-sok for his kindness. This bath is a small affair, your typical public bath. I find that it starts my day very well and when I am back in Canada I miss the baths like mad.
My first roommate introduced me to the baths back in 1997 and I have been hooked since. Yes at first there was staring but who cares! The place where I go now, its become second nature, no one pays much attention to each other. There is this old dude that goes there every friday, he is 74. The man has a wealth of stories and is one of the kindest old men I have met.
On saturdays its the weekly trip to the spa in Busan, this is a good deal too. I have to admit I am now hooked on the baths and the spa. These are a godsend when you need to relax! You come out of them feeling like a new person.
So what about you guys, use em? Hate em? Don't care for em?

2. The food
I like the little family owned restaurants here, the ones you find in the neighborhoods. The street vendors are also nice for snacks. I basically like the fish oriented diet here and the soups. I do miss the variety of foods from back home but alleviate it by cooking these foods at home.

3. Taxis
Fast, cheap and efficient, what else could you want? Sure sometimes a few of them pass you by but overall I like them better then I did back home. On the plus side, the drivers (some Korean speaking ability required) have great stories and are usually quite friendly.

4. Public Transit
Its fast and efficient as well and cheap to boot. It can be a dangerous affair to board a bus here but heck they get you there, except if the traffic is especially bad. The subway on the other hand is great. Better then back home as far. Cleaner for sure. Its crowded as hell but hey can't have everything.

5. Open Markets
Love those, just walking around in them or going shopping for fruits and veggies in the morning. Walking distance from our place too.

6. Basic transportation
Trains and inter-city buses in Korea are great. Cheap (compared to home) and they can get you anywhere. They are also always on time. Unfortunately they are also quite crowded but that's just part of life here.

7. Movie Bangs
Great place to watch movies when you don't want to go to the theather.

8. Heating in the floors
Thats great during winter. Also good when you sleep on the floor.

9. Basic Kindness of people
This might be just me but I am often amazed at how kind and helpful people are here.

10. Temples
Great places to visit and to take in.

11. Mountains & Hiking
This is a good place to go hiking, nice vistas and trails.

Now the bad thing, because of course there are some

1. Air Pollution
What can you do? Its bad in certain areas, not so bad in others. Hopefully things will improve in time.

2. Noise level in certain areas
Especially in the shopping districts, crazy levels of decibels!

3. Bundegi
Silk worm larva....enough said.....

4. Traffic in Busan
All it takes is rain and it becomes a parking lot. All you can do is be patient..or smart and use the subway.

5. The "rainy" season
Its not a real rainy season but it sucks nevertheless. Everything is damp for a month....oh well.

6. Church people
Well thats not excusive to Korea but here some of them are so adamant about it all.

Thats it for me.....

[Dan]

[Zyzyfer]

Or perhaps he does, but doesn't care what people think about it, because it actually can be a great place to watch a movie...

[Homer]

Thanks Zyfer....

[mishlert]

I really like the DVD bangs because I can see a Korean, or other foreign film and read the English subtitles. Plus, large screen and 5.1 surround sound.
Yes, I know what they are there for, but they can be more comfortable than a movie theater and, as mentioned above, I can see that Korean, or foreign film that everyone is talking about.

[Yaya]

Korean churchgoers are more of a problem OUTSIDE Korea than inside, in my opinion. Some churches act like businesses - they try to attract and retain congregation members like customers. In fact, the largest Korean church outside of Korea is located in Anaheim, CA - Sarang Church with a congregation of 9,000. You gotta be a member of a certain church clique to even have a chance at a Korean girl who looks half-decent.

A bad point about Korea (yes, even I have my gripes about my motherland) is the rampant smoking. I was pleasantly surprised that California bans all smoking inside buildings, and to think that I got my current case of bronchitis from inhaling all that smoke in Korea. In fact, police are stationed inside bars and clubs in LA's Koreatown to make sure no one smokes.

[indytrucks]