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wanna_teach
Joined: 11 Jul 2009
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 Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:44 am Post subject: living outside of Seoul |
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I am considering teaching in Korea and want to save some money, so I was thinking about living in a small town.
I am thinking that it would be cheaper, but I am worried that I won't find the things I need in Seoul
What kind of activities and social scene will I find in a smaller town?
Will I be able to find a variety of foods (meaning, can I find western groceries)?
Will I be able to make friends in a smaller town?
Any thoughts?
Thanks |
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Karea
Joined: 07 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Don't worry. According to most recruiters, everywhere is "only 30 minutes from Seoul". |
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pie eater
Joined: 07 Jul 2009
Location: The Bando
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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Listen wanna teach, do you wanna find some posts on here and do some research yourself? That would be a good idea - the questions you are asking make up the great bulk of what we talk about on here. 
But I'll bite because I am a nice guy...
How old are you? How big is 'small'? A fishing village in Jeolla? Or somewhere like Mopko? A lot of people consider it small and if you think about how big Seoul is - a lot of people would consider every other metropolis 'small' in comparison.
What kind of friends? Korean? Western?
Can you make just a smidgen more effort? |
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wanna_teach
Joined: 11 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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ok..I guess i should have phrased the question differently.  Please forgive me I'm a newbie
Many of the threads here basically say that Seoul is the place to be and that if you end up in one of the smaller cities, you will probably end up travelling to Seoul every weekend anyways.
I guess i'm asking whether living in the smaller citiies is as bad as everyone seems to think. (I was thinking a smaller city, not a fishing village.)
I don't party all the time, but I do need to socialize. I also need to be able to get western groceries. Just wondered the chances of getting these in smaller cities
Any advice is appreciated |
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pie eater
Joined: 07 Jul 2009
Location: The Bando
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| wanna_teach wrote: |
ok..I guess i should have phrased the question differently. Please forgive me I'm a newbie
Many of the threads here basically say that Seoul is the place to be and that if you end up in one of the smaller cities, you will probably end up travelling to Seoul every weekend anyways.
I guess i'm asking whether living in the smaller citiies is as bad as everyone seems to think. (I was thinking a smaller city, not a fishing village.)
I don't party all the time, but I do need to socialize. I also need to be able to get western groceries. Just wondered the chances of getting these in smaller cities
Any advice is appreciated |
I lived in Changwon and found a decent supply of western food at the local emart. If you are not a big partier or don't have a penchant for Indian food for example you don't really need to live in Seoul in my opinion. Basically - keep away from the countryside but you could comfortably live in the many small/medium sized cities that dot the country in my opinion.
After living around Bundang and district - I have come to the conclusion I could happily live in any medium sized city in Korea and be happy - It transpired to my good self that I didn't need all that Seoul had to offer. Don't get me wrong - I loved the subway and Gangnam but the rest I could take or leave - I like Seoul but I don't have to live there to be happy in South Korea.
Try and get as near to Seoul as you can for your first contract and from there on in you can make a more educated choice if you decide to stay for your second contract - good luck!  |
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asmith
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: living outside of Seoul |
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| wanna_teach wrote: |
I am considering teaching in Korea and want to save some money, so I was thinking about living in a small town.
I am thinking that it would be cheaper, but I am worried that I won't find the things I need in Seoul
What kind of activities and social scene will I find in a smaller town?
Will I be able to find a variety of foods (meaning, can I find western groceries)?
Will I be able to make friends in a smaller town?
Any thoughts?
Thanks |
Seoul actually kind of sucks--in my humble opinion. It's huge. It's dirty. You can't walk without people bumping into you because it's so crowded.
Wherever you live on the peninsula, you're only going to be a short train or bus ride from a city with millions of people. So if you don't land in Seoul, I wouldn't sweat it.
It's an interesting country. I think you'll have a good time. |
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afsjesse
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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I live in a small fishing village in Northern Gyeonbuk. It's 10k people and is boring as paste. I am close to nothing and far from everything. 2 hours to Pohang, 3 to Daegu, 4 to Busan, 5 to Seoul in that sequence. However it is rather nice to wake up next to the ocean and mountains. I find it rather peaceful but boring during the weekends.
I lived in Busan my first year, Korea's 2nd largest city. Although it is big, it has a feel that makes it seem rather rural. I used to go to the Starbucks in Seomyeon at 10AM on Sundays and there would hardly be anyone in the streets. It was rather refreshing.
As Asmith said, you will be close to many cities wherever you are...except in Uljin.
Good Luck,
J. |
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yesnoyesyesno
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: living outside of Seoul |
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I also think Seoul sucks. I'm in Seoul now.. yesterday it rained and I got rain/garbage/pollution splashed all over me.. went on the Subway and had to share tiny spaces with way too many sweaty and wet people.. I can't listen to my ipod because it's so loud.. (cars, cranes, people yelling, subway, music blasting from stores), garbage, pigeons, it's just horrid..
plus the fact that both Seoul Koreans and foreigners think this place is so great makes me want to puke as well..
Korean provinces are way better than Seoul.. nice mountains, QUIET, no crowds,
The only benefit of Seoul is the "Indian food" like mentioned above and.... yup that's it..
stay away from here (Seoul) unless you have a high tolerance level |
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pentheus
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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| wanna_teach wrote: |
| Many of the threads here basically say that Seoul is the place to be and that if you end up in one of the smaller cities, you will probably end up travelling to Seoul every weekend anyways. |
That is utter Cock.. Seoul is nice for the odd visit to check it out but, for me, I'm happy to stay clear. Guess its what your into but you'll find a party in every place with more than 200,000 pop |
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b-class rambler
Joined: 25 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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| pie eater wrote: |
I lived in Changwon and found a decent supply of western food at the local emart. |
But, mr pie eater, have you ever found pies there, or anywhere else in Korea? If so, please, please divulge the information. 
And, if it wasn't obvious already, I'm talking about what Brits & Aussies think of as pies. |
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asmith
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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| pentheus wrote: |
| wanna_teach wrote: |
| Many of the threads here basically say that Seoul is the place to be and that if you end up in one of the smaller cities, you will probably end up travelling to Seoul every weekend anyways. |
That is utter Cock.. Seoul is nice for the odd visit to check it out but, for me, I'm happy to stay clear. Guess its what your into but you'll find a party in every place with more than 200,000 pop |
TOS Violation!!!!!!! |
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drunkenfud
Joined: 08 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| b-class rambler wrote: |
| pie eater wrote: |
I lived in Changwon and found a decent supply of western food at the local emart. |
But, mr pie eater, have you ever found pies there, or anywhere else in Korea? If so, please, please divulge the information.
And, if it wasn't obvious already, I'm talking about what Brits & Aussies think of as pies. |
Shinsigae Department store, attched to Howhyeon station on Line 4 (Seoul). "Aussie style" pies. Not sure if they really are Aussie style, but as a Brit I find them more than acceptable. Good British syle sausages there too. |
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lithium
Joined: 18 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| wanna_teach wrote: |
ok..I guess i should have phrased the question differently. Please forgive me I'm a newbie
Many of the threads here basically say that Seoul is the place to be and that if you end up in one of the smaller cities, you will probably end up travelling to Seoul every weekend anyways.
I guess i'm asking whether living in the smaller citiies is as bad as everyone seems to think. (I was thinking a smaller city, not a fishing village.)
I don't party all the time, but I do need to socialize. I also need to be able to get western groceries. Just wondered the chances of getting these in smaller cities
Any advice is appreciated |
Looking at Pie Eater's join date, it would appear he is no veteran either. |
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pie eater
Joined: 07 Jul 2009
Location: The Bando
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| Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:29 am Post subject: |
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| b-class rambler wrote: |
| pie eater wrote: |
I lived in Changwon and found a decent supply of western food at the local emart. |
But, mr pie eater, have you ever found pies there, or anywhere else in Korea? If so, please, please divulge the information.
And, if it wasn't obvious already, I'm talking about what Brits & Aussies think of as pies. |
No - no pies in Changwon which wound me up big time!  The nearest I got to a pie sort of savoury treat was in paris baguette - those hot dog pastries with the cheese on them - they were allright but a bit sweet for my tastes.
I am back in England - in Wigan of all places!  First thing I did when I got back from Korea was go down to Greenhalghs (best pie shop on the planet), bought a load of meat and potato pies, sausage rolls, meat and potato pasties and Lancashire pasties (a Greenahlghs speciality) a bottle of HP brown sauce and a bottle of 'daddies' tomato sauce - sat on a park bench and ate the lot! It was a lot of pastry and whatever but it got the taste of kimchi out of my mouth - might do it again tomorrow!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/istirland/2717326088/ |
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pie eater
Joined: 07 Jul 2009
Location: The Bando
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| Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:31 am Post subject: |
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| lithium wrote: |
| wanna_teach wrote: |
ok..I guess i should have phrased the question differently. Please forgive me I'm a newbie
Many of the threads here basically say that Seoul is the place to be and that if you end up in one of the smaller cities, you will probably end up travelling to Seoul every weekend anyways.
I guess i'm asking whether living in the smaller citiies is as bad as everyone seems to think. (I was thinking a smaller city, not a fishing village.)
I don't party all the time, but I do need to socialize. I also need to be able to get western groceries. Just wondered the chances of getting these in smaller cities
Any advice is appreciated |
Looking at Pie Eater's join date, it would appear he is no veteran either. |
Hello Albert Einstein the IV
Do you honestly think I joined Daves as soon as I landed on Korean soil?
You berk! |
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