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daveeslcafe888
Joined: 09 Apr 2011
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 Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 8:37 am Post subject: Any General Welcoming Advice (and Food Question) |
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Hi Everyone,
Thanks for answering all my questions so far; it seems like Korea is a place that's Westernized enough to get by. Two things to ask:
1. Are there general welcoming clubs for Americans?
(I.e. is there a Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, etc.)?
2. I've heard there are Middle Eastern districts in Seoul (one for past Arabian immigrants, and one for a recent Iranian delegation). Do you guys know anything about this?
I love Middle Eastern food; so, I think a Middle Eastern district would be a good place to start.
Thanks |
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NSMatt
Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Location: London
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 8:50 am Post subject: Re: Any General Welcoming Advice (and Food Question) |
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| daveeslcafe888 wrote: |
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for answering all my questions so far; it seems like Korea is a place that's Westernized enough to get by. Two things to ask:
1. Are there general welcoming clubs for Americans?
(I.e. is there a Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, etc.)?
2. I've heard there are Middle Eastern districts in Seoul (one for past Arabian immigrants, and one for a recent Iranian delegation). Do you guys know anything about this?
I love Middle Eastern food; so, I think a Middle Eastern district would be a good place to start.
Thanks |
Stop trying to plan every aspect of your life before you get here. Enjoy your remaining time in the US and it will all fall into place when you come. |
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Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Any General Welcoming Advice (and Food Question) |
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| NSMatt wrote: |
| daveeslcafe888 wrote: |
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for answering all my questions so far; it seems like Korea is a place that's Westernized enough to get by. Two things to ask:
1. Are there general welcoming clubs for Americans?
(I.e. is there a Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, etc.)?
2. I've heard there are Middle Eastern districts in Seoul (one for past Arabian immigrants, and one for a recent Iranian delegation). Do you guys know anything about this?
I love Middle Eastern food; so, I think a Middle Eastern district would be a good place to start.
Thanks |
Stop trying to plan every aspect of your life before you get here. Enjoy your remaining time in the US and it will all fall into place when you come. |
lol i'm glad somebody said it |
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daveeslcafe888
Joined: 09 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:07 am Post subject: |
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| Good advice. I apologize; I just want to make sure everything goes well. |
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Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:25 am Post subject: |
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| daveeslcafe888 wrote: |
| Good advice. I apologize; I just want to make sure everything goes well. |
Nothing you can do will make sure everything goes well. This isn't weekend trip to Disney World where you can make a trip itinerary. You're flying halfway across the world to work for a year, no matter how much you try to plan for this things will happen.
Just relax and enjoy yourself, once you get over there you'll talk to people and find places that have things you enjoy and go to places which have things you've never heard of before that you might enjoy. Just go with the flow or you're gonna burn yourself out.
Is this your first time leaving the States?
Last edited by Hokie21 on Tue May 17, 2011 9:30 am; edited 1 time in total |
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daveeslcafe888
Joined: 09 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:29 am Post subject: |
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| I've vacationed in Canada and Mexico before. But, I've never lived outside the US for so long. |
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CarolinaTHeels
Joined: 07 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with guy wanting to plan everything. Planning and preparation goes a long way in the travel and in life in general.
Stop flaming his post with useless drivel. |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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There are no Middle Eastern districts in Seoul. The closest thing you'll find to that is a handful of Halal(Muslim) Indian/Pakistani and Arabic restaurants in Iteawon. Iteawon is one of the few multi-ethnic area's in Seoul. That's becouse it's long been viewed as a playground for US soldiers. It used to be a hard-core red light destrict. Despite that it has mellowed in the post decade although you can still see signs of it's past.
There is also a Mosque for Muslims to pray in Iteawon. |
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nstick13
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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| I've lived here for a year+ and would be curious to know where a ME district is. My Arabic is rusty, and I and I'd love some good Egyptian food. (Ali Baba's in Itaewon is awful). |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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| nstick13 wrote: |
| I've lived here for a year+ and would be curious to know where a ME district is. My Arabic is rusty, and I and I'd love some good Egyptian food. (Ali Baba's in Itaewon is awful). |
I have no idea. I agree Ali Baba is no good. It's more like soft taco shells
Go to the Mosque on the top of hooker hill. I'm sure there is someone who will point you in the right direction. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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| CarolinaTHeels wrote: |
There is absolutely nothing wrong with guy wanting to plan everything. Planning and preparation goes a long way in the travel and in life in general.
Stop flaming his post with useless drivel. |
Don't agree.
Good planning of the essential things like, getting an employer with a good reputation and sorting out your visa correctly are important.....
.......but the more one tries to plan every little detail leaves one open to the distinct possibility that many of those plans will not be possible or will be meaningless.
Take care of the big things and just let the little things work themselves out.
I planned absolutely nothing when I first came over yet had a great first year in Korea. It was much more about luck and circumstance than planning.
Also over-planning often causes a stress spiral when people go overboard on trying to get everything 'perfect'...............Korea is not the place to come to if you want everything to be perfect!!  |
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sallymonster
Joined: 06 Feb 2010
Location: Seattle area
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: Any General Welcoming Advice (and Food Question) |
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| daveeslcafe888 wrote: |
1. Are there general welcoming clubs for Americans?
(I.e. is there a Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, etc.)? |
I like to think my Meetup group is pretty welcoming. . .
http://www.meetup.com/lost-in-seoul
Take a look around Meetup and Facebook and you'll find plenty of groups that might suit you and your interests.
I've heard that there are Toastmasters clubs in Korea. I suggest searching the internet as I know little about them. |
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decolyon
Joined: 24 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 11:14 pm Post subject: Re: Any General Welcoming Advice (and Food Question) |
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| NSMatt wrote: |
| daveeslcafe888 wrote: |
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for answering all my questions so far; it seems like Korea is a place that's Westernized enough to get by. Two things to ask:
1. Are there general welcoming clubs for Americans?
(I.e. is there a Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, etc.)?
2. I've heard there are Middle Eastern districts in Seoul (one for past Arabian immigrants, and one for a recent Iranian delegation). Do you guys know anything about this?
I love Middle Eastern food; so, I think a Middle Eastern district would be a good place to start.
Thanks |
Stop trying to plan every aspect of your life before you get here. Enjoy your remaining time in the US and it will all fall into place when you come. |
I've been telling this kid that for weeks now and he doesn't listen. Next he's going to be asking how many steps from his apartment to his school so he can time his ipod music perfectly.
OP, didn't I tell you to stop posting here? You're only making your anxiety about it all much worse. You need to let go and live a little. My first year I didn't have a clue about what to do or plan anything (we didn't need to plan visas back then, all you needed was a passport and a pulse) and it was the best damn year in Korea I've ever had. I came over with a bag of bare essentials and $300 in my pocket and had an amazing year.
The more you try to work out every little detail the more you're going to get frustrated that those things aren't working out exactly how you planned. You're already going to have an adjustment period, but that's just going to be worse when you're trying to adjust the whole dern country to your little plans.
Stop it. Now. Just relax and go with the flow.
P.S. I got a manwon that says he doesn't make it a month before he becomes another bitter waegookin and scrambles to ICN in the middle of the night. |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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Petra in Itaewon (there are 2 locations a stone's throw or two from one another) has some decent Arabic grub. Learn to cook if you truly crave it on a regular basis. Arabic food is easy and healthy.
You'll be fine. You'll meet people and love some and hate others.
You're going to have to play it by ear, though. Shiz happens but you bounce back almost immediately. Just be open to change at the last minute, and have money for "just in case" saved. Best of luck! |
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Plume D'ella Plumeria
Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Location: The Lost Horizon
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| Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 4:55 am Post subject: |
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The OP sounds quite stressed and angst-ridden over his imminent move to Korea, based on his several posts. First time out of his comfort zone, it sounds like.
Either he's going to calm down and embrace (as it were) the differences or he's going to go up in panicked flames rather quickly and bolt.
While I might wish for the former, I have a feeling that it might be the latter.
OP, you just can't plan something like this down to the millisecond. It doesn't work that way. You're going to get sucker-punched every which way at first by unexpected things that you never thought to plan for. That's simply how "adventuring" works. A series of surprises. Some good, some not so good.
Just take a deep breath, make the leap and hope for the best. After of course, having done your research. That's all anyone can hope for.
Best of luck. |
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