Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JediMindTrick]

Okay, I'm not really English....Though I did develop the accent from living there for a few years.

My girlfriend and I have been in Changwon for nearly a month now and finding it a pretty nice place to live. We live in the Palyong-dong district (right next to Top Mart).

Anyway I was just seeing if anyone on here knew where there were some decent martial arts classes going on (aside from Taekwondo). I have only found Hapkido and the Korean version of Kendo classes, and they only cater for kids. Hapkido would be good, though if there were any MMA style classes I'd love to hear about it.

I was pretty pissed off to find out that we were the only ex-pat teachers working at our school when in the job description it said there would be 4 others...oh well....I guess these things are expected here. So if anyone fancies a pint or would like to have a bit of a jam, I'll be up for it.

[Imbroglio]

There's a guy named Bejarno-Korea that wants to meet you, and he's British!

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=102795

[just because]

Good old Palyong-dong or as I used to call it whoop whoop dong as it is in the middle of nowhere. Lived near there for a year in the pink apartment behind the train station for a year.

If you feel thirsty there is an Irish owned bar in changwon with a good mix of people...

www.obriens-bar.com

[kat2]

There are also a fair number of changwonites active on the koreabridge.com forums. You could see if you can find anything out there.

[JediMindTrick]

Its true, it really is the back and beyond. Its a 10 minute taxi just to get to Tesco!

We did get to check out the Irish pub and the IP bar, which both seem like cool places. Had a couple of games of darts, watched a paralytically drunk Korean bloke stand amidst the dancing people, eyes closed and swaying ever so slightly with clenched fists...a little strange.

So no ideas on any decent martial arts classes about. I just wanna break the whole 'work-home-work-home' routine. Any fellow guitarists in the area? Also I have heard that people get together and play football in the evenings somewhere, know any details?

Cheers

[JediMindTrick]

Nice one Kat2, I'll be sure to check it out.

[ceesgetdegrees]

[JediMindTrick]

I dunno if 'nut job' is the right term. I haven't had the same experience that he has, though you can kinda see where he's coming from....

[just because]

[Santiago]

I live near you JMT. You can't PM me so send me an email if you like - Might be nice to have someone to go to the corner hof with.

[email protected]

[sojourner1]

Welcome to Changwon.

Yes, I know that must seem isolating to be near the train station, but the good thing is you are close to the train station to set out on weekend trips and there are plenty of stores and services in that area. I would not guess there are very many foreigners there as there isn't in my area either which is between downtown and Tesco Homeplus in Bong Gok Dong. Even though there are a few foreigners here and there or near you, you probably won't hang out with them after work if you work with them.

I am up for a beer and I do play guitar, but I don't have a guitar here. I enjoy drinking Budweiser at home often and sometimes go out to beer hofs, samgyeopsal, and mountain hiking with a couple Korea friends. It took me many months to make some Korean friends as it typically goes that you have to be introduced which Korean teachers and Koreans at Korean language classes. I should go to Tuesday night Korean class downtown, but don't. I don't go out to IP's and O'briens anymore, except with co-teachers once in a blue moon, because beer costs 3 to 4 times more than at a store and I can't stay late enough. I would go more if it was walking distance and I didn't have to get up so early. I understand that if you go to IP's and O'briens to meet other foriegners, the night is still young at 11 O' clock due to many teachers working until 9 or 10PM.

I noticed too that martial arts seem to be child centered rather than adults though the masters and teachers are adults. We have several taekwondo, hapkido, and gumdo hagwons, but they are for kids only. Surely there are some adult ones, probably found in downtown areas and business districts I would guess.

Across the street from the train station is a bus stop where you can get a bus to Junam Resevoir which is a very nice nature preserve and migratory bird watching site in the Fall and Winter. This is one of my favorite features near Changwon, but it takes time as the buses run about once an hour only.

Despite being a little distance from downtown and even Tesco Homeplus, you can still ride buses for 1000 Won each way which is cheap, but it takes time.

[bejarano-korea]

Hello and welcome! I have been here a week and will buy you and your good lady a drink of your choice in the upcoming future... can't play any musical instruments apart from the spoons though!

[JediMindTrick]

Thanks for all the suggestions and things!

Sojourner1, I'll be sure to check out your recommendations. My girlfriend and I are big on spots of natural beauty so it sounds like Junam Resevoir is right up our alley. A fellow guitarist too? Nice. I dont have mine here either though once I get my first pay cheque, I'll be sure to buy a cheap acoustic to strum away on.

I cant seem to PM as I'm pretty new to Daves so if anyone would like to send a mail and sort some time out for a pint, its: [email protected]

Well, I'm off to Busan for a night of drinking and debauchery!

[Carlyles Ghost]

[JediMindTrick]

So I still cant PM anyone, if anyone wants to leave their e-mail address I'll get in touch this coming week.

Bejarano-korea, you dont live around my area do you?

Need to be out of the boredom that is Palyong-dong.....