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mayorgc
Joined: 19 Oct 2008
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 Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 11:34 am Post subject: Did anybody arrive in Korea in the Autumn of 2008? |
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| In the 2+ years, has much changed? Are you still enjoying your time? What are the reasons for staying? |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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I did. The main thing I noticed was crazy amounts of construction in Seoul. New subway line (line 9), lots of remodeled subway stations, and all-new sidewalks and bus stops. A lot of people are mad at 2MB for tearing down historic neighborhoods to build new stuff. Also, there are a CRAZY amount of coffee shops in Korea now, they must have been multiplying like rabbits.
I left a few months ago because I didn't want to spent more than 2 years of my 20's living in Korea. I felt like staying too long would stunt my career and social development. |
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machoman
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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i came in the summer of 2007. left after my first year to go to china. came back the year after. in one year's time, i noticed subtle changes in culture, and a lot of changes construction wise.
it's crazy. like, i see deodorant being sold more and more, it used to be difficult to find. they used to not sell tampons at convenience stores, now they do... subtle things.
one thing i realized about korea is that everything can change so fast.
redaxe, where do you live now? i read before you have a chinese fiance? so i'm guessing you're in china now? |
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rumdiary
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Easier to get western items in grocery stores. Itaewon has become more upscale (on the Hamilton hotel side). Better concerts (still pretty weak). |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:28 am Post subject: |
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| machoman wrote: |
i came in the summer of 2007. left after my first year to go to china. came back the year after. in one year's time, i noticed subtle changes in culture, and a lot of changes construction wise.
it's crazy. like, i see deodorant being sold more and more, it used to be difficult to find. they used to not sell tampons at convenience stores, now they do... subtle things.
one thing i realized about korea is that everything can change so fast.
redaxe, where do you live now? i read before you have a chinese fiance? so i'm guessing you're in china now? |
Korea does change fast, but it only makes the parts that refuse to change all the more obvious.
Speaking of deodorant and tampons... they still don't sell condoms in convenience stores OR at Emart, oddly, at least in the neighborhood of Seoul where I lived. It's weird how difficult it is to buy condoms in Korea. It's so easy to buy the pill though. You just walk into a yakguk and ask for it.
I live in Seattle now. The Chinese girlfriend is still in Korea, but she'll be joining me here as soon as the paperwork goes through and she gets her fiancee visa. So I guess she's basically my fiancee in the sense that we're going to get married, but not officially because I haven't given her a ring yet.
A couple years down the road we'll probably try moving to Shanghai together. |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| rumdiary wrote: |
| Easier to get western items in grocery stores. Itaewon has become more upscale (on the Hamilton hotel side). Better concerts (still pretty weak). |
Oh, yeah. That street behind the Hamilton has cleaned up nicely in the past 2-3 years. I remember it being pretty sketchy when I first got there, but by the time I left it had become a place I'd bring my girl on a date. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:37 am Post subject: |
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I came here in August of 2008, and have lived up in Gangwon. I don't feel much has changed in terms of things that affect my daily life. I stay because I like it here, dislike the situation in my home country, and have some plans for my studies here after I master the language to a greater degree.
The E-Mart in my town sells condoms, right in the impulse buys section while waiting in line to check out, too. All the details on the box are in English, though. |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 1:09 am Post subject: |
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| redaxe wrote: |
| they still don't sell condoms in convenience stores OR at Emart, oddly, at least in the neighborhood of Seoul where I lived. |
Seriously!?! They sell condoms at all the franchise corner stores in my small sized provincial city. |
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redaxe
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 7:30 am Post subject: |
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| jvalmer wrote: |
| redaxe wrote: |
| they still don't sell condoms in convenience stores OR at Emart, oddly, at least in the neighborhood of Seoul where I lived. |
Seriously!?! They sell condoms at all the franchise corner stores in my small sized provincial city. |
I dunno man, if you're ever in Yeouido feel free to try the E-Mart or any of the GS25's there and see how many condoms you find for sale... |
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machoman
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 9:06 am Post subject: |
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| yeah, i never had a problem finding condoms. i see them everywhere at emart, near the toothbrushes, next to the cashiers... see them frequently at convenience stores too. the packaging doesn't really look like condoms though, it's covered with pictures of fruit. |
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