Korean Job Discussion Forums

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

Computer for me...

I assume this is excepting food, clothing and other necessities.

shawner88 · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

oops double posted

shawner88 · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Magic slippers. You put them on your feet and walk/slide around your apartment and they clean the floor. Easy to get behind desks and tables. Throw them in the washer machine and they're as good as new for the next time.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

shawner88 · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

You can sometimes get pretty funny/useful things from subway salesmen. I saw a guy selling garlic cutting thumb rings one time. Another time this guy was selling eletric shavers for 5,000 won.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

My Daelim Forte 125cc autobike.

Back home, we'd call the thing a scooter. In Korea, you call it an autobike, because when Koreans hear "scooter", they think of the little motor-chairs the old people drive when they are unable to walk.

I would never be caught dead riding this thing much back home, even though I'd still love it. I was planning to buy another crotch-rocket next year if I have the cash, but might not, because my Daelim Forte is so darn convenient. It uses less gas. I don't have to shift. I have a fairly nice size storage area I use frequently, and I can park it on the sidewalk in many places.

I also weave between cars like a banshee *laugh*.

Squid · Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Anyang

Canvasses, they're plenty cheap,

Long handle spoons,

Notebook,

Zippo,

...

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Apart from my computer which is my complete entertainment centre........

I'd say the little hand pump which fits onto the big delivered water bottles. I can't believe I went for 2 years humping 2 litre bottles of water from shop to home.

Delivered water and hand-pump is the only way to go.

Alvin Stardust · Joined: 12 Nov 2003

A blow-up doll.

carcerate · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Location: Cerritos, California

When I bought the 도란스, it really helped. That is the transformer which changes the voltages from 220 to 110. It was very useful for when I wanted to use my American made electronics.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I have a cleaning lady come in once a week for W20,000. It's such a great feeling to come home on Friday evening to a clean home.

My laptop keeps me out of the PC bangs and that is a blessing.

But my #1 best purchase was a convection oven/microwave combo. I can heat up my tea in the morning and bake bread, cakes and casseroles for real home-cooked food. (Right now my sourdough bread is rising in the oven. It'll go good with my home-made chicken noodle soup for lunch.)However, on Monday my new real live stove with a real oven will be delivered. Hallelujah!

gajackson1 · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2003 3:55 am Post subject:

Hmmm, useful . . .

Ok, for when I first got here: my LP Korean Phrasebook. Got me started learnig the lang 7 bailed me out of a lot of situations.

Next: my handphone - I also use it as an alarm, and mine is a Samsung w/ the built-in MP3 player. I will probably upgrade to a decked-out rig w/ a camera soon enough.

My computers. no explanation required.

My oven. Opend up a lot of entertainment/nutrition options.

My car (thanx, Elmer!!!) US 500 for a beautiful black 4-door sedan. Stylin.

All those are good candidates. But, if we are talking TRULY PRACTICAL . . .

condoms. Embarassed

bashfully,

G.

HardyandTiny · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

My apartment.
It's a good investment because it's not part of the extended speculative market.

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Word of mouth is your best bet. Ask around among your director, coworkers, Korean friends, or maybe put up an ad on your apartment bulletin board. There are agencies for this but I've been advised their employees might provide indifferent service.

I have no trouble trusting my housekeeper. She has her own key & I only see her when I stop home for lunch she has waiting. Thats our chance to discuss household stuff (in a stumbling mix of basic Korean & English) but usually she just intuits what needs doing.

When I first hired her a Korean friend helped explain what I expected. She's got a simple routine & if she finishes early she's free to go home, but if something extra comes up she tackles it cheerfully.

I've never had reason to criticize her work. Though not required to I give her holiday bonuses & occasional days off with pay -- maybe I'm appeasing my liberal guilt at having a 'servant!' Well, no. I'm happy to reward her loyal help & she's a genuinely nice person to boot.