Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gaychel]

i am brand spanking new to korea. i just arrived in the techno valley area of daejeon on thursday night. i've walked around and done some exploring, but i am so ready to branch out some more.

my friend was trying to get me to go to seoul with him yesterday, but i couldn't tell him where i live to be picked up and brought to the train station. another friend was trying to get me to go to a bar in downtown daejeon last night, but the idea of climbing in a cab and trying to communicate where i wanted to go was a little too daunting.

how did everyone first learn how to get around? i speak no korean, and i pretty much have to do everything on my own right now because all of the people i do know are either across town or in seoul. typically, i am not scared of things, but in the past two days i've found that i have to force myself to leave the safe little cocoon of my apartment. but i AM willing to force myself to do things.

thanks for any help!

[curlygirl]

Hey there Gaychel, welcome to Korea.

First things first. Get a co-worker to write down your address in Korean. You can show this to any cab driver and just use body language to say "take me here". This way you can go out and explore then find your way back without difficulty.

Secondly start learning the Korean alphabet (tons of books and online resources available to help you do this - look through the FAQ section of this website). When you can read a little you'll feel much more confident about catching buses, reading menus etc.

Third, if you haven't already done so, join Facebook or similar. You'll be able to find out about groups, join clubs, and of course chat to people.

Have fun

[gaychel]

that is all awesome advice. the biggest problem for me, i think, was moving here right before a 3 day weekend. i showed up thursday night, met my coworkers on friday, and then went home to my apartment. now i have to wait until tuesday to ask the koreans i work with for help. i'm so stir crazy!

[waynehead]

Some survival korean:

ka ju-say-o (go please) - you can use this in a taxi. just know where you want to go and say it first, followed by "ka ju-say-o" so for example if you wanted to go to homeplus say "home plus-uh ka ju say o" and you should have no problems.

kam sam ni da - thank you

ol ma ae yo - how much is it?

yok - train station

that should be all you need to get around and do some shopping/exploring. writing down you address is a good idea (as well as some phone numbers of korean friends/co-workers who can help you in a jam) but it's not always practical to tell a taxi driver your address (he may not know your apartment complex area). look for a landmark near your place you can remember easily and use that to get back home in a taxi.

also, if you're bored just hop on a bus and see where it takes you. it's a good way to explore, and you know you can get back home just by crossing the street and going the other way.

but i agree with the other poster, learn to read hangul (you could probably get it done before you return to work on tuesday, it's not difficult) and you'll be a lot better off.

[tzechuk]

Hi gaychel! There is a coffee shop in Eunhaeng-dong (near the train station) that is packed full of foreigners.

I believe it's called Ee-dae. I will have to ask for precise direction but if you send me a PM, I will give you my phone number, then you can call me or whatever.

[DrunkenMaster]

If you want to get out and explore today, then it's easier than you might think because taxis provide free-translation service. You get in the taxi, say "free translation" and point to the sign where it is written inside the taxi or make a phone motion with your hand. Then they call someone who speaks English.

Korea also supplies a free tourist information service: just dial 1330. (only 4 numbers) If you're calling for information in another province, you'll need the area code first.

See if there is an envelope in your mailbox from the previous tenant, and if so, keep it (for today). You would then have your home address to show taxis.

If you want to go to Seoul today, you can get there in one hour on the KTX train. It will drop you off at Seoul Station. You could have a fun time for Sunday and come home on Monday.

One option for you is to go online and see if there's anything in Daejon that looks fun, and go exploring. If you stay in your house, you'll probably start feeling blue.

There are free maps at all the bus stations and train stations.

http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/south-korea/daejeon/things-to-do-in-daejeon/
http://tour.daejeon.go.kr/english/index.jsp

It's only noon now. Go enjoy your day. Anything will beat staying at home surfing the net on your first few days here! And take Tzechuk up on her offer. She's good people.

[Beeyee]

There's a soccer game at 3 o'clock at Daejeon World Cup Stadium. There is usually a fair few foreigners there, including myself. Just climb in a cab and say 'World Cup ga juseyo' and you'll get there. Entry is 10,000 won.

[gaychel]

thanks for all of the help!

the korean taxi words: thank you. priceless right now.

also, i had no idea about the translation service. maybe i'll try to make it downtown tonight to meet up with my friends' friends.

i'd love to pm you, but i dont have enough posts to pm. maybe i'll be able to find the place anyway.

if i were to just hop on a bus, do i pay on the bus or do i need to put money on a card or buy a ticket beforehand?

one big problem is that i don't know my address, and there's nothing of noteable interest to serve as a landmark, that i know of. actually, the new, big lotte mart right on the edge of techno valley is only about a 20 minute walk from where i live. during the day, i'd be fine with being dropped off there, but at night that walk might make me a little uncomfortable.

this whole experience has been weird. fun and interesting, but weird. i'm not a shy person, but suddenly i'm acting shy and unsure of myself. with good reason, i guess. i'm going to get out there, though. thanks!

[tzechuk]

I live pretty near where you are - assuming you are at KAIST?

[gaychel]

no. i mean, it could be in my backyard for all i know, but i have no idea.

basically, there's lotte mart. there's the major street that runs alongside lotte mart. if you go down the street (which direction, i certainly don't know, i just know there's a giant cross reaching up in the air), you'll reach an intersection with a kb star bank. i live, more or less, down in that area.

[tzechuk]

[Ya-ta Boy]

Where the heck is Techno Valley. I thought the poster was in Daedok/KAIST area.

[ciccone_youth]

i remember my first few days in seoul-- i woke up in the morning not remembering where i was!

then i'd venture down the street and explore little by little. it doesn't take long, in a few days you'll feel more familiar with everything. but the first few days are crazy, with the korean writing everywhere, i used to get dizzy seeing so much of it.

[Joe Boxer]

The basic Korean that was given may be a little confusing for gaychel, due to the differences in Romanization.

[oneota]

Not all taxis (in fact hardly any of the ones I've been in) have the "free translation" sign. I think it's more of a Seoul thing.

I've been handed a cell 'phone a few times (e.g., in a restaurant without posted menus), when Koreans couldn't understand me. The first few times, I had no idea what was going on: I hadn't asked to speak to any-one. Since I can't hear people over cell 'phones very well, it took me a number of times to even hear ANY-one talking to me and then to figure out that it was some-one speaking in "English." Usually even after hearing them, I've wound up being hung up on. Maybe this was just some friend or relative trying to help out, and not the translation service. Any-way, I still do better speaking Korean and pointing (when there IS some-thing to point at).

train station: yawk