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smurfetta
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
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Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Definitely write down on your application that you have a family. Why live in a tiny studio apartment when you don't have to. I know it is doable but having at least one more room will make it more comfortable for your family. |
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wilsonslacker
Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Location: Guri, South Korea
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Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 4:25 pm Post subject: We did it...my family stayed with me for 2 years in Korea. |
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I worked for W School in Guri and Dekso 2007~2009. We had a great experience, but you might want considered a country town and/or a suburban location. The cost of living is lower and you might find a school more willing to get you a larger apartment. We had the entire 4th floor of a shop/house to ourselves. My son is 5 now...he always talks about going back to Korea. He was very popular and the center of attention everywhere we went. He got a lot of free candy and ice cream etc.... the Koreans would give him all kinds gifts (usually without asking his parents).
I had taught in Korea years before I got married so I pretty much knew what I was getting into.
The main trick of getting the dependent visa was getting my tax certificate to prove I earn enough income to support 2 dependents. Most schools don't have a clue how to get this document (immigration rules change often). I spent hours on end waiting in Korean Immigration to figure out exactly want they wanted. If you haven't been to Korea you will experience a bit of culture shock...but you'll survive.
Oh...prepare yourselves to pay a lot for diapers, formula, etc... but kids clothes are cheap and good quality in Korea. There's so much to do for kids..Kids Cafes are awesome...you just chill out drink coffee and the baby sitters watch the kids in amazing indoor playgrounds (we called these places "paygrounds"). I used to take my son on field trips with the hagwon students...they loved him and all wanted to be his best friend and speak English with him. Their parents were so happy too!
Now I work for government here in the Metro Washington DC area. I work on Korean relation issues. I would have never ever gotten this job I have now without teaching experience in Korea..... So now we all have insurance, nice house, decent salary, etc..... but honestly we miss Korea and are bored to death in the States... When my current contract expires... we're going to find a way to move back to Korea. |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010 Location: Victoria, Canada.
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Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: We did it...my family stayed with me for 2 years in Kore |
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| wilsonslacker wrote: |
Now I work for government here in the Metro Washington DC area. I work on Korean relation issues. I would have never ever gotten this job I have now without teaching experience in Korea..... So now we all have insurance, nice house, decent salary, etc..... but honestly we miss Korea and are bored to death in the States... When my current contract expires... we're going to find a way to move back to Korea. |
It might be better for you and your wife here, but do you really think it's better for kids? I'm planning on leaving Korea because I'd rather have my kids educated in Canada. |
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kingplaya4
Joined: 14 May 2006
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Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| It costs me about 2.3 million won just to support my wife and I. And we live pretty frugally, although not like complete monks. (We go out to the movies a few times a year, maybe a concert a couple of times, and a trip every two years or so, and only eat western food a few times a year). Unless your wife can also get an Epik/hagwon job I wouldn't recommend it. There's also the children to consider, but I'll leave that to others who have experience in that area to comment on. |
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Chaucer
Joined: 20 Oct 2009
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 3:20 am Post subject: Re: should i bring my family to KOrea |
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| shifty wrote: |
You don't know what a slimer is? Usually, I'd tell you to look it up yourself, but I'll help you this time alone.
It's a FMPJ with buttons on. |
AN FMPJ... |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 3:52 am Post subject: Re: We did it...my family stayed with me for 2 years in Kore |
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| Who's Your Daddy? wrote: |
| wilsonslacker wrote: |
Now I work for government here in the Metro Washington DC area. I work on Korean relation issues. I would have never ever gotten this job I have now without teaching experience in Korea..... So now we all have insurance, nice house, decent salary, etc..... but honestly we miss Korea and are bored to death in the States... When my current contract expires... we're going to find a way to move back to Korea. |
It might be better for you and your wife here, but do you really think it's better for kids? I'm planning on leaving Korea because I'd rather have my kids educated in Canada. |
As someone whose son started school in Korea and who now lives in Canada the answer to the "what is better for the kids" really depends on a lot of things!
Your relative work situation (Korea vs Canada)
Where you can afford to live (in Canada and in Korea)
It is not as simple as "one place is better than the other".
I can say that Korea offered some advantages that Canada did not and vice versa!
Good luck.
PS I will echo what wilson said, the current job I hold with public service was offered to me in large part because I had lived and worked in Korea for years and was fluent in Korean. My department deals with Canada-Asia relations and our specific targets are Korea, Japan and now China. |
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