Korean Job Discussion Forums

[namastebre]

Hello All!

I'm going to be moving to Cheonan in about 3-4 weeks for a year to work at an SLP. Does anyone have any advice (what to pack, what not to, what to prepare myself for, things to prepare). I don't know much about the area and would be welcome to any and all information

[koreatimes]

Same as any other place. Look at the location relative to where you are now. If you are more south, then prepare warmer clothing. If you are north you probably don't need as many sweaters.

[Adventurer]

I would pack vitamins. Vitamins are expensive. I would pack a few sticks of your favorite deodorant, tea (if you're a tea drinker), condoms (if you think you'll need them). I worked in Cheonan when I first came to South Korea.

I think it now has a population that it is anywhere from 500-700,000. I believe SLP has great kids you'll work with, but it can be a lot of work. I think I know where it's located. I knew a bunch of people who worked there years ago, and they were mostly women. They kept to themselves. Of course, it was that bunch, and the lone guy who was Irish wouldn't even talk to my Irish friend and was kind of unusual around other men. SLP is located in Ssang-Yong Dong. It's in a building.
I forget which floor. It has lots of kindergartners. At the bottom of the building is a little sort of Korean style subway type place (if it's still there) called "Sand and Food". You're close to many apartments, restaurants, and you've got about a 10 minute walk to Lotte Mart (the grocery store for the area). Lotte Mart is decent. Opposite of Lotte Mart was a nice Thai restaurant. Who knows if that place is still there. The food was good and there are many cart vendors near Lotte Mart. I liked buying this kind of bread with honey on it.

Cheonan is a down-to-Earth place. It has grown tremendously in the past five years! When I first went there, you could not find a Starbucks or anything like that. There were limited foreign joints. I think they've slightly increased. If you can somehow find this Coffee shop called Mysore, I would highly, highly, highly recommend it. Get the Ethiopian coffee. The join is downtown across the street from some pool halls, near this park looking area. Cheonan is about 35 minutes away from Seoul by the bullet train. Of course, there is a last train. Do not get too drunk coming back from Seoul and miss the train and end up in Busan.
That has happened to people. No, not me. It happened to a friend. What a funny guy. Downtown will have a burger king, TGIF (Fridays), Starbucks, a book store with some English books. There were no Indian restaurants there except for a place that is totally a hole in the wall, so I shouldn't mention it maybe, but it was close to downtown. You won't find a movie theater near where you live, you'll have to take the bus. Buses are relatively easy to take and so are cabs.

Remember when you're trying to get back home on a cab (All you have to say is Sang-Yong Dong. And if you're at your location and want to say here say "Yogi" pronounced like Yogi bear.

Cheonan is kind of small by Korean standards. It's kind of quiet, but growing rather fast. The subway line does connect all the way to Seoul, but I do not recommend taking the subway to Seoul! Only go as far as Songtan or Suwon, but not Seoul. The look on the subway map is deceiving. If you want to go to Seoul, take the KTX (bullet train). It might cost you say 13 bucks. Songtan is the nearest foreign district to you if you take the subway. The subway is located walking distance from the downtown through some old little shops where it can be dingy and there are old shops and I think sometimes women of the night. You would be walking in the opposite direction of the downtown, past the bridge. The subway is near this square looking area. Station is (Yok) in Korean.
You could say in the cab "Cheonan Yok Jusayo" (Cheonan Station Please).



You have decent Korean restaurants in the Ssang Yong Dong area. I would highly recommend you eat Dak Galbee (spicy chicken) with your foreign friends. Usually three people will eat together. Also, across the street from the Western Bar in the Ssang Yong Dong area is a restaurant that serve pork spine soup. I never tried it, but my Irish friends swore it was delicious. If it's your thing, go for it.

Oh, if you know someone who has car, up in the mountains somewhere is the biggest Buddha state in Korea. A friend of mine loved walking up many steps to go there. Ask someone about getting there. It's absolutely beautiful. You go into this mountainous area and near the steps going high up to the Buddha there is a huge pond with lots of fish. And you will hear this Korean voice on a loud speaker saying calm things about Buddhism in Korean that I can't understand. Korea, however, is not a very Buddhist nation. I hope that changes. You're more likely to run into folks who are clueless about Seon Buddhism and bump into many born again Christians. There are many churches in Korea. I wasn't bothered with proselytizing much in Cheonan. Seoul is a different story.

I hope this helps somehow....When I was there years ago, there was even a Cheonan website for expats and pool nights. Also, many foreigners liked hanging at this bar called Western Bar in the Ssang-Yong Dong area. Your school will be in the Ssang-Yong Dong area. The owner is awesome. He used to be a policeman once upon a time.

Don't forget to look for Mysore (great coffee joint). I also like this Italian joint downtown. Actually, there are two.

Check this site for more info. about the food joints:

http://www.squidoo.com/where-to-eat-in-cheonan

For Italian, Dono Marco is very good. It's downtown. You have to look for it. It's kind of straight up from a convenient store. You walk up the street. You have to be on the opposite side of the street, not where you take the buses and look there. Also, you can look for Abis. It's a very cool looking Italian restaurant. Their Marguerita pizzas are fabulous.

Some of my info. might be somewhat dated. You could print it and ask people.

Learn how to understand Korean prices ASAP. Man Won (10,000 won, around 10 bucks). Oh Chon Won (5,000)

Chon means a thousand, Bek (100s). Oh-Bek=500 Oh Bek Won

Sam=three

Suppose the cab said you owe 3,500 won (about 3 bucks)

Sam (3) Chon (1000) O (5) Bek (100) won. Sam Chon Ohbek Won

If it were 2, 500

Eee (2) Chon (1000) O (5) Bek (100) won. Eee Chon Oh Bek Won

have someone teach you that stuff....

Print this and ask your mates about the stuff...

[Zyzyfer]

+1 to Adventurer

[jlb]

Here's a little site I made about Cheonan (along with that Cheonan food one I made):

http://www.squidoo.com/cheonansouthkorea

[Optimisticeyes]

I've been at Cheonan SLP for 3 months now. If you want I can try to answer any question you have.
I thought when I came here that Cheonan would be a smaller city. I was so wrong--this place is really big and has lots of neighborhoods (called dongs).

My only critique of Adventurer's post would be don't say "yogi" when the cab driver is dropping you off. It is considered really disrespectful to not add the "yo". Say "yogi-yo" for here. There are other cultural things that we can tell you about as far as what to do and not to do when you get here.

Stick deodorant is a good call, because Koreans don't seem to perspire as heavily as we do. Make-up is VERY expensive here, so stock up before you come. If you wear a bra size with C or larger be sure to bring several, because you will not find bras here to fit you. The underwear is also made for a different body type, so unless you are a petite Asian already bring some packages of underwear from home. Also, if you are tall or big then be sure to bring your own pantyhose etc. Bring your own shoes--going out dressy shoes and then sneakers and/or work shoes. The washing machines here suck and place a lot of wear and tear on our clothes. We don't have dryers at our apartments and have to air dry everything. It's not too bad but you have to plan ahead.

I just got a care package with ranch dip, real mayonnaise, chips, and peppermint patties. You can find chips everywhere in Korea but they are always sweet. Tomato products here are also really sweet, and the Korean gum sucks. Even my students prefer American gum.

We're already waiting for you. You're coming to SLP at a good time--everyone gets along really well and even though you'll be working a lot your classes aren't that hard to teach. You actually kind of have an easier schedule compared to some of the other teachers. Everyone here is capable and smart, and everyone finds time on the weekends to do what they like. Our apartments are clean and nice and 2 minute walk from work.

[Adventurer]