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Shamrockman
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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 Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 11:37 pm Post subject: What's Wonju like? |
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| Hi folks. Just wondering if anyone has worked in Wonju before and if so what was it like? |
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Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:03 am Post subject: Re: What's Wonju like? |
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| Shamrockman wrote: |
| Hi folks. Just wondering if anyone has worked in Wonju before and if so what was it like? |
I'm in my 7th year of working in Wonju. I like it. Whether you'll like it depends on what you require to be happy. Wonju is a medium sized city and it's got all the amenities necessary for a pleasant existence: E-Mart, Hanaro Club, lot's of countryside to go hiking and biking in, and several western style restaurants/bars as well. If you like going clubbing, or require brand name shopping malls to be happy, better give Wonju a pass. Dong-Seoul is only a 90 minute bus ride away, but the commute gets old real quick. |
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Shamrockman
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:27 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Thiuda. I'm more an outdoors kinda guy and love nature and i'm not hung up on the trappings of the west, but a good pub works now and again.  Are there many foreigners in Wonju? It sounds like a nice place to live. It's my first time in korea so i don't have much knowledge I'm afraid. |
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Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 7:10 am Post subject: |
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| Shamrockman wrote: |
| Thanks Thiuda. I'm more an outdoors kinda guy and love nature and i'm not hung up on the trappings of the west, but a good pub works now and again. Are there many foreigners in Wonju? It sounds like a nice place to live. It's my first time in korea so i don't have much knowledge I'm afraid. |
There are two very nice pubs in Wonju that are frequented by foreigners, as well as a Hookah bar that serves wine and assorted beverages, so no worries on that front. There are quite a few foreign teachers in Wonju, I'd guesstimate about a 100 in all, so there is plenty to do.
Wonju is a nice a place to live if you don't like the hustle and bustle of big cities, but don't want to live out in the boonies either. My suggestion, get a bike. |
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Steve_Rogers2008
Joined: 22 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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| it seemed pretty nice when they bussed in teachers from Seoul for a Halloween festival.... more casual than Seoul and eager to assist foreigners, esp. if they're English speakers... |
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Shamrockman
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 12:23 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks Steve that sounds encouraging. Thiuda I'm due out there in a couple of weeks. By bike do you mean bicycle or motorbike? The school is GnB english school, jurip Campus. Do you know anything about it? i know it's small with 5 korean teachers and 1 foreign. I know it's elementary. Wonju sounds just right for me. Also is there a train to Seoul as I have friends there? I imagine Wonju is slightly cheaper than the bigger cities too. It's great to talk with somone who's actually been living there and feels positive about the place so thanks again. In case the name hadn't given it away I'm Irish. Do you know if there are any of my countrymen or women there? It's no biggie if there aren't. |
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Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 5:21 am Post subject: |
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| Shamrockman wrote: |
| Thanks Steve that sounds encouraging. Thiuda I'm due out there in a couple of weeks. By bike do you mean bicycle or motorbike? The school is GnB english school, jurip Campus. Do you know anything about it? i know it's small with 5 korean teachers and 1 foreign. I know it's elementary. Wonju sounds just right for me. Also is there a train to Seoul as I have friends there? I imagine Wonju is slightly cheaper than the bigger cities too. It's great to talk with somone who's actually been living there and feels positive about the place so thanks again. In case the name hadn't given it away I'm Irish. Do you know if there are any of my countrymen or women there? It's no biggie if there aren't. |
By bike I mean bicycle. Exploring Wonju by bike, as I've been doing for the last 6.5 years, is one of the reasons I stayed for as long as I have: Wonju-si and Gangwon-do are stunningly beautiful if you take the time to get to know them.
I know nothing about GnB, except that it's a Hagwon chain. Your gig sounds pretty standard.
All roads in Korea lead to Seoul. To get to Seoul from you can take either the intercity bus, the express bus, or a train.
Are there other Irish folk in Wonju? I have no idea, but I think the Irish are pretty spread pretty thin everywhere in Korea. No matter, there is plenty of fun to be had with everybody else. In any case, if you're really hard up you can always get a Guinness at The Pub, which'll ease any feelings of homesickness you may have. |
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Shamrockman
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Thiuda. I'm very grateful for all the info. Hope you don't mind but i might look you up if I think of more annoying questions. Thanks again  |
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chellovek
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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| "Pub" is a nice place to drink. Nice owner too. |
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Shamrockman
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Sounds interesting... tell me more Chellovek.. Do you teach in wonju and how is it for you? |
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chellovek
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Teached there a year a couple of years back. At first wondered about it, especially when first arriving at Siwei bus terminal which assuming it's as it was, is a bit run down, though the Express Bus Terminal for the buses to Seoul is quite nice. Once you find some people to hang around with it's pretty good. I think there's a group on facebook for English teachers in the city, so maybe that will be a good way to go. |
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Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
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| Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| chellovek wrote: |
| Teached there a year a couple of years back. At first wondered about it, especially when first arriving at Siwei bus terminal which assuming it's as it was, is a bit run down, though the Express Bus Terminal for the buses to Seoul is quite nice. Once you find some people to hang around with it's pretty good. I think there's a group on facebook for English teachers in the city, so maybe that will be a good way to go. |
The Intercity bus terminal has been relocated to a new building next to the Express bus terminal. The new Intercity terminal just opened early this year and is very nice indeed. |
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Shamrockman
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:06 am Post subject: |
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Thanks. I was wondering about gyms and leisure facilities. Is it expensive to join one there? I play a little basketball and soccer too and should i bring my golf clubs or will the cycling be enough exercise? Does Wonju airport only service domestic flights? i'm gonna try and find that facebook page for Wonju teachers now. Thanks for all the information  |
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themagicbean
Joined: 04 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:54 am Post subject: |
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Gym: Popular one is Helios, some English, gym is about 60k/month, 90k/month for yoga + gym. A friend of mine just opened another gym if you wind up near I-park I can recommend her (sweetest girl ever, no English, will kill you with a smile in your workout).
Facebook page is a good one. There's also a 2S2 Wonju (expat meetup group), Danielle is very sweet. There's also a KOTESOL group consisting mostly of cubanlord. (All this on FB, and you should definitely look up HOT WET -- the English Teacher group.) PM me if you come and I can also recommend some other friends if interested.
I know * about golf. There is a soccer club at about 7 am on Saturdays, if you can handle that early when The Pub closes at 4. There are lots of basketball courts around Tattoo Stadium.
Culturally Acozza is good for art.
Wonju isn't that great for a city, I never even saw one live band (I need live music to live, if not often) but it is a great place to explore nature. The expat community is tight, the Koreans are really friendly and helpful, there's an English language exchange club you can go to to meet fluent locals that are super helpful (they translated labor board hearings for a friend of mine and much more without the slightest expectation of payback).
I miss my Wonju friends ... guess I know where I'm going over that two-day break next week. ^^ |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:46 am Post subject: |
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| themagicbean wrote: |
| There's also a KOTESOL group consisting mostly of cubanlord. |
Not anymore, my friend. I am leaving Korea. The reins have been handed to the next person. |
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