Korean Job Discussion Forums

kasain · Joined: 25 Oct 2008

Hey, I am moving from a private to a public school. I was wondering what life is like in Uljin County. I seen some pictures. It looks nice there. But I know pictures can lie.

What should someone expect when they teach public children vs private schools? Any advice would be helpful.

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

PRAISE BE GOD FOR ANOTHER LIFE FORM TO COME AND GIVE ME COMPANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES: I am in Uljin County and there's not alot of us out here... It's a nice rural area. Not many foreigners. Do you know what city your in? I was told by EPIK I would be in Uljin but I am in Hupo, about 40 minutes to the south. PM me and lets talk/meet!!!! It would be nice to not be the only foreigner in Hupo anymore... however there are plenty of other small villages on the coast with no one.

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

actually youprobably cant PM because your new... So, when are you coming here?

About the area. Its a coastal county so your never far fromt he water. The Public School kids I think are better than Hagwon. Although PS can be trickier at times because you have alot moer kids per class.

If we meetup and I can introduce you to most of the local foreign populace that does exist here.... about 5 or 6 of us LOL! Uljin city is quaint and nice. Very clean also.

Hupo is a little smaller and directly on the sea. It's a little run down but there is great biking in this part of the area due to the backroads.

You could end up in Bugu, the north part of the county, i dont know much about it. Give me some details and I'll see what I can dig up for you if you have some questions.

OH... my name is Jesse and sorry if I sound alittle excited... I'm hoping your in my part of the county... I"M THE ONLY ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Here is the County Government website. It's in English and give a good idea on what there is to do and see here. The caves are descent and the temple is beautiful.

http://eng.uljin.go.kr/

Welcome to the boondocks!!! Laughing

samcheokguy · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: Samcheok G-do

I lived right over the border in Hosan. Let me tell you one thing, that nuke plant is driving the entire economy. Can't imagine what people did before it. It amazes me how everything in Uljin is kept up, compared to the relatively decrepit standards of gangwon-do.

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Yah Bugu has that also! Hosan? Never heard of it! Hop on over and let's hang out.... this communing with nature is messing with my head lol. j/k.

The quality of life is pretty good overall thank's to the Nuke Plants, and the future looks pretty good too if they expand operations.

kasain · Joined: 25 Oct 2008

Well I E-signed my papers. No need to fax. My current contract ends on Dec 12th what is a Friday. But depending on how fast they process my new VISA I am not sure of my start date. I would hope Dec 15th a Monday.

They Say I may have to go to Japan for a day.

They didnt tell me what background check I need, but I did get a city background check with AP stamp. I started my health exam last week. Just waiting on blood test results.

They wanted 2-3 letters or documents from me what I am unsure of at the time. I hope they get back to me so I understand what they need.

I love swimming, I dont care if water is cold. I buy a wetsuit. I cant say I am the biggest alcohol drinker, but I am a lot of fun to do things with.

I just hope the schools let me do more then "Repeat after Me" My current boss hates ALL worksheets, games and so on. He tells me just have them repeat after you for 50 minutes.

I feel sorry for those kids.

Wow so a small village, sounds like a lot of fun. Not everyone can live close to the beach. Even though I am from California and 20 minutes from the beach there.

I am in Gumi now, super small city. 2-3 streets of shops, and a mountain with things at the top. Boring. Most people just drink there money away. So sad.

I will look my contract over and see if it says what city I am going to. I think it just says the school district. But the recruiter said I could call the school.

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

They'll pay for your visa trip I think. I hope you CBC is good, if I recall you need atleast a statewide check, but immigration offices vary on rules.

All cities in Uljin are small podunk towns with nothing exciting going on. We're close to nothing.... Gangneung is 2-3 hours and Pohang the same.
I have complete liberty on what I teach and how I teach it. From what my friends say they got the same deal. However there's never a guarantee.

The letters of reference are a joke. Really, people write these thing themselves and sign mickey mouse on them, they're just for show. I got mine from my co-teachers in my hagwon.

Get a list of everything they need and where you need to send it, which will be the EPIK head office in seoul or maybe your recruiter will take care of it. Either way they're pretty fast. Atleast they were with mine.

kasain · Joined: 25 Oct 2008

Hey I was wondering if there is a Costco around that city. I guess not as some people say it is small. I know there is a Costco in these cities, but not sure if any of these are close to where I am.

Korea
Daegu
Daejeon
Ilsan
Sangbong
Yangjae
Yangpyung

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

As far as I know, the closes one would be in Daegu. From me that is 3 hours.

mayorgc · Joined: 19 Oct 2008

I was supposed to be stationed in Uljin. The recruiter told me over the phone "yeah..... about seoul and the seoul metro area, they actually want white people teaching their kids english, it's not really racist, but it's just the way it works." so they suggested i go to beautiful Uljin. I accepted (damn whiteys, always keeping the coloured man down). a few weeks later, i get a call back from the recruiter "ummm, the school in Uljin actually wants a white person to teach". What the *beep*. but it just so happened that I was offered a job in beautiful anyang city, just south of seoul, like 30 mins away.

samcheokguy · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: Samcheok G-do

My school was convninced I was from South Africa as I'm too dark to be a good american. Come on, if your mom is half arab half-italian, what you going to look like? Ivory Snow?

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Believe it or not there is a black guy working in Uljin county!

Boodleheimer · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 7:45 am Post subject:

re: Costco, i always ordered from ezshopkorea.com

i hear there's two black men and one black woman in Uljin. (i've actually met the black woman)

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

She just quit her job!!!!