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mayorgc
Joined: 19 Oct 2008
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 Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:39 am Post subject: Korean Nostalgia: Any good stories to share? |
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It's been 3+ years since I left Korea and every once in a while, I get hit with some fierce pangs of nostalgia (it's probably some sort of undiagnosed mental condition).
Are there any other former teachers out there with good stories to share? Any former SMOE/GEPIK/EPIK teachers who get melancholy while thinking of the good ol' days?
I stumbled upon this youtube vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKZILcTxkxk
Almost teared up seeing my old neighbourhood.
I've got a pretty decent life right now, but I still drift back to the fall of 2008 now and again and think back to the day I arrived in Korea. Wandering the streets my very first night trying to find a pay phone. Walking into my Homeplus the first night and not realizing there was a lower floor filled with groceries.
Meeting my elementary school kids the very first day and getting the rock star treatment.
Running into my future wife on public transit.
Sightseeing on foot all over Seoul and destroying my shoes in the process.
Anyone have good stories of their time in Korea as a teacher? I'd like to read some positive stories. No negativity today, the internet already has enough of that. |
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Rutherford
Joined: 31 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:17 am Post subject: |
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| Wiring home 1,000,000 won and getting over $1000 dollars. Brings a tear to my eye. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:23 am Post subject: |
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Oh man, that hasn't happened since 2008. Here's another nostalgia story:
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| With the way they are going.... EPIK will probably find a way to reduce the holidays even further next vacation and hagwons will seem more appealing. When I first taught with EPIK, I had no desk warming at all, I was off for 2.5 months in Winter and around 1 month in Summer. I was also free to work for external camps in that time. Usually, I pulled in around 5 - 6 mil a month for winter. Sadly, those days are long gone. |
(@.@) 5-6 mil a month for two and a half months equals 12,500,000 to 15,000,000 won. (!_!) |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:46 am Post subject: |
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| I remember a few years ago getting about 450 quid for every 1,000,000 won I sent home. Nowadays I get around 550. And it's been like that for ages. Good times. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:40 am Post subject: |
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| That's your nostalgia story? (?_?) How many quid were you getting mid 2008 and prior? |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:45 am Post subject: |
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| Just saying, not everything's going downhill |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:49 am Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| How about answering the second question? |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:51 am Post subject: |
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'91-'97 making 5 million a month with a 700 exchange rate and lower prices, 400 won subway, 800 won smokes, 900 won base taxi fare, 1,000 won brew....
Those were sweet days indeed!!!
Still good now but am glad I started when I did. Not sure... Scratch that, I'm pretty sure I would not chose Korea if I were starting now. If I were in my first years I'd more than likely be elsewhere.
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:51 am Post subject: |
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| Ha ha, I just told u, 450 to a million won. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:56 am Post subject: |
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| Are you sure? For the exchange rate of U.S. dollars into Korean won, it went to crap late 2008 extending into 2009 and has never fully recovered since. How many quid were you getting in 2007? Probably amazing amounts. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:59 am Post subject: |
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| I can't remember, though I'm pretty sure now is around the best it's been |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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| So I was right then, it's been good for a while. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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Well, for Brits. Not everyone on in this board is a Brit. The most common nationality represented on this board is Canadian. Sucks for them. Sucks for Americans, too. (And the U.S. dollar is the most widely circulated currency in the world.) Sucks for the Irish (who use the Euro). Sucks for the Aussies. Sucks for the New Zealanders. Rules for the South Africans.
The won's value went up (relative to their home economies/poorly performing currencies at least, which have been crap) for: Brits and Saffers.
The won's value went down for: Canuks, United Statesians, Aussies, Kiwis, and the Irish.
Generally speaking, the won's exchange rate became worse for expats. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Well, for Brits. Not everyone on in this board is a Brit. The most common nationality represented on this board is Canadian. Sucks for them. Sucks for Americans, too. (And the U.S. dollar is the most widely circulated currency in the world.) Sucks for the Irish (who use the Euro). Sucks for the Aussies. Sucks for the New Zealanders. Rules for the South Africans.
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Well we don't get our pension back so that sucks for us. And the Irish. But everything financial sucks for them. |
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