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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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 Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 10:53 pm Post subject: |
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| sirius black wrote: |
| FDNY wrote: |
| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
I'm a city boy and barely survived rural/small town even in my home country, so more power to you OP. Visits are nice, though.
I just wanted to add that I have a problem with this idea that you get more 'real Korean culture' out in the sticks. Seoul is in Korea and last time I checked houses about half the population of the country, so I don't really know how you can get more Korean than that. Being able to grab a burger every now and again doesn't negate the Korean food us Seoulites eat 90% of the time, plus all the other Koreaness that's heaped upon us like everyone else. Try using the green line every day at rush hour, or zipping through Jamsil in a taxi or having a nice bike ride along the Han and tell me about real Korea. To me, this is the same line of reasoning people like Sarah Palin uses; "Real America", etc. It just creates this us vs them mentality. Besides, I think by saying that Seoul (and specifically Gangnam) is not 'Korean' people imply that only poor, old and unsophisticated things are authentically Korean which is a whole other world of ethnocentricism. Let's just agree that Korea, like all countries, is much more than one location and experience. The OP will just get to see one side of it. |
The above comments are fantastically obvious and 100% true. It is like somebody stating Manhattan or San Francisco isn't really the States. 
In defence of people who think deprivation, boredom, lack of a social life and hicks are the REAL Korea, I think they need to lash out, vent and try and convince themselves that their position is something EVERYONE must endure. When in fact it is their lack of planning, foresight and possibly just rotten luck being stranded in the sticks. We should pity them and try and show a little empathy. |
The only truth you've posted when these similar topics come up is that Korea is Korea. However, you are misleading people with misinformation who are trying to make a huge decision whenever you post the its Seoul or nothing advice. Its wrong to play with someone's life like that.
There are tons of people who don't like living in Seoul. Its such an egocentric thing to give advice based on YOUR likes as if its what everyone shoulld abide by.
Seoul is a great city. I have nothing against it and love visiting it. I've spent weeks there for winter or summer camps so its not just a weekend visit as well as spending my vacation there when my ex gf lived there. I know the trains and areas as much as any NET living there (maybe a bit more as I actually visited the museums, etc.). But I don't want to live there and enjoy going to visit one of my former small towns as much, in fact more, than I do Seoul.
To the OP, you got a good idea of small town life from the preceding posts. Most are very accurate. I will add this. You also have to enjoy your own company. This is advice that applies to people going to Seoul as well. You will spend a lot of time by yourself in your room. Recommend to have something to occupy that time. Some people have gotten another degree online like a Masters. One guy I know was a poker player and played online poker, I've met a day trader who was up at odd hours, a Kindle may be of use. Download movies, whatever. I'd have a plan just to cover the first couple months while you're getting adjusted and before you're able to make friends. Again this applies to anyone new, anywhere in Korea.
In small towns often times you have B or C list rock star status. Get used to being stared at. Sometimes its great but when you're moody its annoying. As for dating, it depends on you. Yes, its true, a lot of girls or the ones that can leave to go to bigger cities but you are a big fish in a small pond and depending on your game, you can have a lot of fun...wink wink. People will know your business to some extent but who cares, you're getting laid.
Learning Korean is always a good thing to do. No downside ever to learning it. Its not imperative. Depending on your ability to pick up languages it can be frustrating or fun. What is true is that it opens up a whole, huge world. Much bigger world than if you didn't learn. You don't have to be fluent but you can get a lot knowing only a little.
Finally have an open mind and a sense of humor, both will come in handy and that's for anywhere you live, home or abroad |
Just want to distance myself from FDNY's comments since my name appears in the quote. As I said, different strokes for different folks, nothing wrong with living where ever makes you happy. |
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FDNY
Joined: 27 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
| nothing wrong with living where ever makes you happy. |
Wow, this astute comment has certainly cleared everything up. Why did we waste five pages on this?  |
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edbailey10
Joined: 05 Jul 2011
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| Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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Hi kcmo,
We came across your post saying that you are moving to Jinyeong. My girlfriend and I currently live in Jinyeong and teach at one of the hagwons. We've been here for almost three months and we really like it here. It's hardly very rural. We have almost everything you could need here and if not you can go to gimhae or changwon easily. We're on the KTX, we went up to Seoul last week really easily, and there are good bus connections from Masan or Gimhae to anywhere in the province. And there is a lot to see in the province! When do you arrive? We can show you around. We tried to private message you but apparently you need to write 25 posts first. Try and private message us if you can and we can give you more info if you want. |
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seoul777
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Masan can be a good year. Then again any city could I guess. This meaningless post is brought to you by the mind warping activity of deskwarming. |
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Squire
Joined: 26 Sep 2010
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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Lack of women is a big deal in a smaller place. I live in a small si (but still a si and not what you'd call rural) and typically when I've wanted to meet a Korean girl for language exchange (or vice versa) they've insisted on bringing a friend. I understand the reasons for that but still find it insulting. The only girl I've regularly spent time with in public here has been my language partner who worked in Australia for a year and already has a boyfriend in Gwangju. Occasionally I'll get a girl's number but when I have they've never replied if I asked them out for dinner. It's a pain and expensive having to travel to the big cities just for dating
On the other hand I expect the NETs who've seen the most of Korea will have been the ones posted in small cities, towns and even villages. When you've seen everything where you live you'll be forced to look outwards. |
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kcmo
Joined: 24 Nov 2011
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:37 am Post subject: |
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| edbailey10 wrote: |
Hi kcmo,
We came across your post saying that you are moving to Jinyeong. My girlfriend and I currently live in Jinyeong and teach at one of the hagwons. We've been here for almost three months and we really like it here. It's hardly very rural. We have almost everything you could need here and if not you can go to gimhae or changwon easily. We're on the KTX, we went up to Seoul last week really easily, and there are good bus connections from Masan or Gimhae to anywhere in the province. And there is a lot to see in the province! When do you arrive? We can show you around. We tried to private message you but apparently you need to write 25 posts first. Try and private message us if you can and we can give you more info if you want. |
Hey I only have 9 posts so far, so I guess I better get to work on reaching 25. I arrive on Feb. 19th, so in a few days. Am I allowed to just post 16 nonsense replies in this thread? I am going to find out. |
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kcmo
Joined: 24 Nov 2011
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:14 am Post subject: |
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| 5 Mor |
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kcmo
Joined: 24 Nov 2011
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| e t |
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kcmo
Joined: 24 Nov 2011
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| o g |
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kcmo
Joined: 24 Nov 2011
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| Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| o!! |
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