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SeminoleDoug
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
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 Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject: Moving to Suwon next week for a public school job |
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1st time poster, by the way. I'll probably start hanging out here a lot...once I get over to Korea.
I was predominantly wondering if anybody had any constructive advice to give me about Suwon or teaching English or teaching in public schools in Korea.
Just some introductory information about me, being that I am new and want to be a part of your little community for probably a long time. I've been overseas before (China and Hong Kong). I majored in International Affairs at Florida State University. I graduated in 2004. I am also a Certified Financial Planner who lost his job due to the market and economy. I volunteered on my own accord in college organizing and teaching conversational English classes for International students at FSU. I plan on likely doing this long term as a means of hopefully reducing the amount of stress in my life and increasing my ability to travel and see the world.
Thanks for any advice on the things I mentioned above. |
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Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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No_hite_pls
Joined: 05 Mar 2007
Location: Don't hate me because I'm right
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Moving to Suwon next week for a public school job |
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| SeminoleDoug wrote: |
I am also a Certified Financial Planner |
Who did you work for?
and oh, IMO you missed your chance with Korea. It was good until mid 2008. Now the exchange rate is bad and there is a lot of negative press about NT's. In you can find somewhere else to go, go there. |
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Mochi
Joined: 20 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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| I live in Suwon. It's pretty good, but can be limited. There are a lot of foreigners here and some OK bars. You'll probably end up taking the train/bus to Seoul a lot if you like nightlife. Suwon is pretty big, so depending on which 'dong' (neighbourhood) you live in, your experience will be different from other Suwonees. |
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SeminoleDoug
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Mochi wrote: |
| I live in Suwon. It's pretty good, but can be limited. There are a lot of foreigners here and some OK bars. You'll probably end up taking the train/bus to Seoul a lot if you like nightlife. Suwon is pretty big, so depending on which 'dong' (neighbourhood) you live in, your experience will be different from other Suwonees. |
I definitely am interested in taking advantage of being in a new place, experiencing the night life, and likely even date some. However, I am not at all a nightly partier and want to spend a lot of time time during the week writing, relaxing, watching movies, and studying Korean. The weekends is when I'd really like to spend time hanging out with people and drinking. So, I shouldn't need to go to Seoul often.
I'm going to be in Hwaseo 2dong.
** I worked for 3 companies: Ameriprise, Edward Jones, and USAA. Very different companies where very different formats and marketing strategies. |
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SeminoleDoug
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:55 pm Post subject: Are there Chinese restaurants in Suwon? |
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| Real Chinese restaurants with real Chinese food and not Korean Chinese restaurants? |
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Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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Hwaseo-2 dong is a pretty run-down residential area. Not the best area to hang out in to be honest. That being said, you'll be pretty close to Hwaseo Station, which is 1 stop from Suwon station, where most of the action in Suwon is. (or depending on your exact location, may be better to take a bus...10-15mins tops)
In terms of size, Suwon is actually quite small (120 odd sq KM), so your actual location isn't that important, as you can get pretty much anywhere from anywhere within 20 mins (30-35 in traffic) |
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SeminoleDoug
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:44 pm Post subject: Reply |
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| Otherside wrote: |
Hwaseo-2 dong is a pretty run-down residential area. Not the best area to hang out in to be honest. That being said, you'll be pretty close to Hwaseo Station, which is 1 stop from Suwon station, where most of the action in Suwon is. (or depending on your exact location, may be better to take a bus...10-15mins tops)
In terms of size, Suwon is actually quite small (120 odd sq KM), so your actual location isn't that important, as you can get pretty much anywhere from anywhere within 20 mins (30-35 in traffic) |
Is it pretty easy to meet people and make friends in Suwon? Are they, in general, fairly accepting of expats there? Thanks for all of those links, by the way. I read most of them and will try and save them. |
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Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:05 am Post subject: Re: Reply |
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| SeminoleDoug wrote: |
| Otherside wrote: |
Hwaseo-2 dong is a pretty run-down residential area. Not the best area to hang out in to be honest. That being said, you'll be pretty close to Hwaseo Station, which is 1 stop from Suwon station, where most of the action in Suwon is. (or depending on your exact location, may be better to take a bus...10-15mins tops)
In terms of size, Suwon is actually quite small (120 odd sq KM), so your actual location isn't that important, as you can get pretty much anywhere from anywhere within 20 mins (30-35 in traffic) |
Is it pretty easy to meet people and make friends in Suwon? Are they, in general, fairly accepting of expats there? Thanks for all of those links, by the way. I read most of them and will try and save them. |
Sure, go to the foreigner hang outs on a Friday night and you'll meet people just fine. Suwon has quite a large foriegner population by Korean standards (English Teachers, but primarily other Asians - Vietnamese, Filipino, Indian etc) so the locals don't really pay you much notice. |
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Mochi
Joined: 20 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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| You'll be living not too far from where I live. A small group of us regularly hang out at a nearby bar on Wednesday nights and you are free to join us. Message me when you arrive. Welcome to Suwon. |
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Ronald
Joined: 14 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:49 am Post subject: Yo! |
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| I'm in Suwon. I'm a 'Noles fan too. |
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Suwon4AGT
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the links!! There is some good info in those threads. I didn't even know that there was a foreigner hangout in Suwon. I've been on the southwest outskirts of Suwon (Omokchen-dong, Gwonseong-Ga) since March and I've never seen a foreigner in my area.
I do go to the Suwon Station and ride the subway into Seoul whenever I can. I'm a newbie at all of this expat stuff.
I took one of the hagwon gigs (9:30a-6p MF), but the director is nice and the kids are fun (sometimes). It would be great to get to know some English speaking people close to the area where I live. |
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SeminoleDoug
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject: I am leaving Texas on Thursday for Suwon |
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| Just as an update. |
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Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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Omokcheon-dong is pretty out of it - (the bus I take each day passes through it), on the plus side, your only about 10 mins from Suwon station, and quite a lot of foreigners hang out there (I should know, I'm one of them!).
Hot tip: If you are heading into Seoul from Suwon station, instead of taking the subway, take the train instead. It might be a little more expensive, but the journey times are much, much shorter (22mins to Yeongdeungpo, and about 30mins to Yongsan). The trick is, to check the schedule online before you go, to make sure you don't wait for a train. |
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Sophomorik
Joined: 15 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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Anyone hear anything about Seo Jong English School? That's where I'll be teaching in two weeks. I'll also be located in Gownseon.
So, hey locals, give me the scoop! I can't wait! |
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