Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jeni_escobar]

WOW I can hardly believe it, but I just got my visa permission code and I'm finally coming to Korea!!!! I have been coming to this site and wanting to go abroad to teach English for roughly 6 years, and since my husband has gotten deployed to Iraq (big ) I'll finally be going to Korea to have the experience I've always dreamed of ( ).

Besides posting my first post simply to gush, I also wanted to see if anyone on this board is living in the Gwangmyung area (a suburb southwest of Seoul, near the Cheolsan station) who might be interested in participating in a book club. Yes, I'm a nerd, but how about a book club that meets at a bar? Send me a PM if you're interested.

Also, can anyone tell me anything about Gwangmyung city or the Gwangmyung Elementary School? How far will I be from Seoul by subway?

[Bigfeet]

You sound too happy, I don't like reading your posts.

[afsjesse]

Stop being a spoiled sport Bigfeet. She's happy and we should encourage her!

Congratulations! I hope your experience here in Korea is a wonderful one. And that you don't encounter any (many) problems here!

[jeni_escobar]

Well here's the deal --- I've been waiting soooo long for this stupid visa permission code and being out of work for 5 weeks has taken its toll - I've found that it's much more preferable to have a boring job than NO JOB!!! So I'm out of purgatory... whether I'm headed for heaven or hell is irrelevant!

[Lukychrm42]

[Hobophobic]

You are really close to Seoul...on the subway line and by bus won't take you long to get around here. Good luck.

[jeni_escobar]

[aboxofchocolates]

Ok, your enthusiasm is refreshing, but I hope you're wise enough to temper that with a fair amount of caution. There are a lot of great people here, but there are also a lot of jerks. I am one of the many people whose employer stole their money in my first year. I met them, they seemed great, they loved me I loved them etc., but come tax time the climate in the office changed (-2 mill for me, c'est la vie). That isn't to say that will be your experience, a lot of people came through here just fine. There's even a thread dedicated to the happy campers. Just be aware of your rights, read the job related discussion forum here (one of the big reasons I am still here and not back home minus one degree is due to the information I read there) and make sure your employers know you are aware of your rights up front. Beyong that, enjoy and good luck!!

[aarontendo]

Anyone wanna take bets on when she'll make a post asking about runner advice?

(I keed I keed!)

[valkerie]

There's a monthly 'bookswop' in Seoul. Info here and Facebook. Other book club info on FB too.

Welcome.

[Ruraljuror]

I like Gwangmyung quite a bit and spend a lot of time there as that is where my mother in law lives...I even got married there. I would definitely spend most of my time in Cheolsan cuz that area is pretty rad. It's hopping all night. There aren't very many foreigners there though. It's VERY rare I see another foreign face.

As to how far you are from Seoul, that kind of depends on what you mean. As for the Seoul city limits, you are REAL close...like practically on the border. No more than a few minutes. But in terms of going anywhere worth going in Seoul, it's about 45 minutes by subway to Itaewon which is in the middle of Seoul geographically and as far as most foreigners are considered the best part of Seoul. I wouldn't get too caught up in the Seoul vs. Non-Seoul thing, as once you get here you'll see that that the satellite cities of Seoul are absolutely identical to Seoul in every way. Utterly indistiguishable. Gwangmyung is no suburb, believe me. It's as urban as urban can be. Which is good or bad depending on whether you like polluted, congested, crowded areas. Personally I'm a city guy, so I dig it.

Good luck with your next year!

[danby_ll]

[Louie]

You mentioned that your husband is going to Iraq......is he active duty or reserve.

First of all- BRING YOUR ID CARD!!!
As soon as you get settled in, go to Yongsan and get yourself processed into DEERS. You might also be eligible to get a ration control card (which would allow you to shop at the PX/Commissary), but you would have to go to the 34th ASG to find out what benefits you truly get.

But with that alone, your stay in Korea would be alot more bearable than other people's.....

Enjoy your stay!

[I-am-me]

An old saying comes to mind on this post: Something like when the cats away..........

[jeni_escobar]

Thanks Ruraljuror and danby_ll about the information about Cheolsan; I'm breathing a sigh of relief because I am very much a city person and wanted to be close to the pulse of urban life as opposed to in a far-flung area. Sounds like there will be plenty to see and do. I don't have enough posts to PM yet (this is my very first foray) but you can PM me!

Louie, thanks for the info! My husband is in the National Guard, so a reservist but this is his second time getting deployed to Iraq since he signed up. Thankfully I didn't know him the first time he went; I don't think I could do this twice! I'll have my military ID with me and was planning to get hooked up with whatever services they offer on the bases. One thing I was wondering is if there are significantly better prices for things like laptops and digital cameras in the PX's on the bases. I'm assuming there's no sales tax as well? I'm in the market for a new laptop and figure that would be a good way to use up my devalued won once I start getting a paycheck, since saving it isn't as appealing it as it once would have been!