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What would you have done differently?
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marlow



Joined: 06 Feb 2005

PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PICTURES OF THE APARTMENT.

When the contract said housing is provided I figured it would be of a decent standard. I mean, if someone says they'll have you over for dinner you expect more than shoe-leather soup.
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UknowsI



Joined: 16 Apr 2009

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pwillig wrote:
Replaced the clothes in one of my suitcases with boxes of All-Bran.

After coming back from summer vacation I noticed that some insects had eaten all my cereals from back home. So if you bring a lot of these make sure that they are closed properly. I now bought a bunch of Lock&Lock boxes to make sure it never happens again. The insects had simply eaten their way through the cardboard boxes and bags Sad they had even eaten some of my dry pasta and coffee
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crossmr



Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
#1 it's all the same everywhere

Its certainly not. One of the meds I occasionally take isn't available here. The doctor said its too cheap, they can't make an profit on it, so it isn't sold here.

I also haven't found a Korean equivalent of "Pepto Bismal". They've got various stomach remedies here, but not a catch-all like that.
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PRagic



Joined: 24 Feb 2006

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would NOT have taken any split shifts.

I would have changed jobs every year just so that I could have done a month on a beach in S.E. Asia a few times before I got really serious.

I would have insisted on single housing or a housing allowance, neither of which were an option at my first place of employment.
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Konglishman



Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would have never entered a hostess bar...
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curlygirl



Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Location: Pundang, Seohyeon dong

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Konglishman wrote:
I would have never entered a hostess bar...

Laughing Why not? (just curious)
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Jane



Joined: 01 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 5:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've lived year to year, expecting to go home for good after every year contract. If I'd known 8 years ago that I would still be in Korea, I would have started taking Korean classes in the first years.
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kinerry



Joined: 01 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jane wrote:
I've lived year to year, expecting to go home for good after every year contract. If I'd known 8 years ago that I would still be in Korea, I would have started taking Korean classes in the first years.


You get immunized for yellow fever yet?
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP



Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Electron cloud

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jane wrote:
I've lived year to year, expecting to go home for good after every year contract. If I'd known 8 years ago that I would still be in Korea, I would have started taking Korean classes in the first years.


Ditto, except 6, not 8.
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP



Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Electron cloud

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

oldtactics wrote:
I agree about the photos from home - I don't have any photos of my family or my hometown on my facebook because.. why would I? I think I'd really like a video of someone driving through downtown, or walking around my neighbourhood. Seems silly but I think it would help a lot with the homesickness.


Bizarrely, you can often find this for most places in the world on your old friend youtube.

In case anyone wonders what my small hometown of Farnborough, Hampshire, England looks like to drive through I found this scintilating little gem on youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHF14UvJuYw
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Jane



Joined: 01 Feb 2003

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

kinerry wrote:
Jane wrote:
I've lived year to year, expecting to go home for good after every year contract. If I'd known 8 years ago that I would still be in Korea, I would have started taking Korean classes in the first years.


You get immunized for yellow fever yet?


I'm going home next year. I promise. Really.
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xingyiman



Joined: 12 Jan 2006

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

curlygirl wrote:
Konglishman wrote:
I would have never entered a hostess bar...

Laughing Why not? (just curious)


Probably the recurring herpes.
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DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP



Joined: 28 May 2009
Location: Electron cloud

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

xingyiman wrote:
curlygirl wrote:
Konglishman wrote:
I would have never entered a hostess bar...

Laughing Why not? (just curious)


Probably the recurring herpes.


Or he fell in love with one of the workers, thought she was keen on him, had fantasies of rescuing her and running away with her to a better, happier life... I've known I few guys who went through this. I was like 'they're called hookers for a reason, you know....? She doesn't really love you and she won't run away with you etc...

Either that or Konglishman is actually a woman and entered looking for work and got more than she bargained for!
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Konglishman



Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP wrote:
xingyiman wrote:
curlygirl wrote:
Konglishman wrote:
I would have never entered a hostess bar...

Laughing Why not? (just curious)


Probably the recurring herpes.


Or he fell in love with one of the workers, thought she was keen on him, had fantasies of rescuing her and running away with her to a better, happier life... I've known I few guys who went through this. I was like 'they're called hookers for a reason, you know....? She doesn't really love you and she won't run away with you etc...

Either that or Konglishman is actually a woman and entered looking for work and got more than she bargained for!


First of all, I am not a woman. And no, I do not have herpes or any other STD's. Further, just to set the record straight, I didn't engage in any sexual activities with her unless you consider kissing and dancing to be sexual activities. I guess I was inviting such comments by bringing up this topic.

Anyways, the first scenario is a closer description of what I went through although I never tried to rescue her. She was Korean by the way and not an immigrant. So, actually, I don't think she wanted to be rescued. She was doing quite well in terms of money and would occasionally go on vacation with all of the money that she earned.

Usually, months would go by between my visits to the hostess bar where she worked. But during those time gaps, we would call each other or send text messages. In fact, one time, she took me out to dinner and paid. So, in an odd sort of way, I considered her a friend, but yes, I do admit there were times when I was in love with her... However, in the end, I realized that this was not the sort of relationship I wanted and I didn't think she could change.
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wakingup



Joined: 20 May 2009

PostPosted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was pretty well-informed before I came, but...

1. I would've brought more of my clothes instead of giving them away. I was expecting it to be really taboo to wear sleeveless or anything that showed my shoulders, but really it's no big deal in my area.

2. I would've brought more stuff (not a Korea thing, but I thought I'd maxed out my weight limit but totally didn't).

3. I would've actively tried to make friends sooner, rather than thinking it'd just happen or I'd become close to the people at work.

4. I would've gotten more information about the bus system sooner.

5. I wouldn't have brought any jewelry (except the good stuff) because there are tons of cheap accessories here any which way you look.

6. I wouldn't have worried about shoes because I can find them easily here even though I'm a 7.5/8.

7. I wouldn't have bothered with American stickers/prizes from back home. The kids don't really care - any candy or stickers are basically the same. Something being "American" or foreign is really not that exciting to my kids.
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