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Expats who left Korea: how often have you been back?
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PatrickGHBusan



Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ThePoet wrote:
PatrickGHBusan wrote:
ThePoet wrote:
I left in Feb, 2008 and my wife and I spent 2 hours at Incheon airport waiting for our connecting flight to Manila in Feb, 2013. No plans to return for vacation or extended time ever.


Is your wife Korean?


No, Filipina


That would explain not wanting to be back or at least it could.
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Janny



Joined: 02 Jul 2008
Location: all over the place

PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

After 8 years in Korea, I am confident in saying I will never go back for a visit or vacation. Maybe a job, if I ever get desperate.

But now that things have worked out so well in China, I don't see that happening. The galbi and kimchee are just as good in Shanghai, and that's the ONLY thing I miss about Korea.

Korea was, and still is, a last resort.. for me anyway. For anybody out there that thinks Korea is just mindless, easy, party-heavy money, try China. It's the same thing, just less zenophobic, immature bullshit.
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dogbert



Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Once a year on vacation.
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PatrickGHBusan



Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

dogbert wrote:
Once a year on vacation.


Same as us then.

I will say with 2 kids it is getting to be an expensive vacation based only on airfare costs!!
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dogbert



Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PatrickGHBusan wrote:
dogbert wrote:
Once a year on vacation.


Same as us then.

I will say with 2 kids it is getting to be an expensive vacation based only on airfare costs!!


You got that right!
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Scorpion



Joined: 15 Apr 2012

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 6:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PatrickGHBusan wrote:
Interesting responses.

We left in 08 and have returned every year or so for a family visit. We usually stay 3-5 weeks depending on available vacation time, money and our kids school and activities.

I have also been to Korea for my work a few times over the years, sometimes more than once in a calendar year.


You don't say. Where exactly were you living in Korea? How long were you there? Where did you go after you left Korea? Back to the States? Or was it Australia?
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edwardcatflap



Joined: 22 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 6:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you still have business interests in Korea? Laughing
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Died By Bear



Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Location: On the big lake they call Gitche Gumee

PostPosted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 12:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just got back from Korea last night, and I found IPIC in Santa Monica. He schooled me on how he makes his money.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yxSsSM8BkU
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byrddogs



Joined: 19 Jun 2009
Location: Shanghai

PostPosted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 2:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scorpion wrote:
PatrickGHBusan wrote:
Interesting responses.

We left in 08 and have returned every year or so for a family visit. We usually stay 3-5 weeks depending on available vacation time, money and our kids school and activities.

I have also been to Korea for my work a few times over the years, sometimes more than once in a calendar year.


You don't say. Where exactly were you living in Korea? How long were you there? Where did you go after you left Korea? Back to the States? Or was it Australia?


Good and fair questions. Those haven't been addressed before afterall.
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PatrickGHBusan



Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -

PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 5:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dogbert, those air tickets for a family of 4 do cost a fair chunk! Especially since our son has entered school and our travel window has been narrowed to the summer!
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Ginormousaurus



Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PatrickGHBusan wrote:
those air tickets for a family of 4 do cost a fair chunk!


This is my biggest worry. Right now it's just my wife and I, but that will no doubt change. She is pretty set on visiting Korea at least once a year. I can understand that and, for now, can afford it. But I foresee difficulties in the future when I don't want to plunk down several thousand dollars just for plane tickets for yet another trip to Korea. I'd much rather spend the money flying to more comfortable destinations to spend my vacation time.
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caniff



Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map

PostPosted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have seriously lost count at this point. Maybe my wife could calculate it, but I'm at a loss. 5 or 6 times (at least) of stints of anywhere from 6 months to years.

God help me - again, since I just got back a few months ago.

And why do I come back to Dave's? Homer, of course. Why else? (pffft)
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PatrickGHBusan



Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -

PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ginormousaurus wrote:
PatrickGHBusan wrote:
those air tickets for a family of 4 do cost a fair chunk!


This is my biggest worry. Right now it's just my wife and I, but that will no doubt change. She is pretty set on visiting Korea at least once a year. I can understand that and, for now, can afford it. But I foresee difficulties in the future when I don't want to plunk down several thousand dollars just for plane tickets for yet another trip to Korea. I'd much rather spend the money flying to more comfortable destinations to spend my vacation time.


We were set on a once per year visit too but the cost is turning this into every 18 months or so.

The thing for us is that we both agree and put a lot of value on going so that our kids have a close relationship with their Korean grand-parents, uncles, aunts. In a sense, this trumps cost but not completely.

We do manage to squeeze in other trips of shorter duration to other places.

We do keep an "emergency" fund in case her family get seriously ill. That fund covers the cost of airfare for my wife and myself along with some money to help the family. We had to dip into it once so far when her mother had to get surgery and treatement for cancer (she made it thankfully) and it was a huge load off our minds to not have to worry wether she could go or not or to worry over the cost. She was simply able to call her mother and tell her she was on the next plane.
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dogbert



Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210

PostPosted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PatrickGHBusan wrote:
Ginormousaurus wrote:
PatrickGHBusan wrote:
those air tickets for a family of 4 do cost a fair chunk!


This is my biggest worry. Right now it's just my wife and I, but that will no doubt change. She is pretty set on visiting Korea at least once a year. I can understand that and, for now, can afford it. But I foresee difficulties in the future when I don't want to plunk down several thousand dollars just for plane tickets for yet another trip to Korea. I'd much rather spend the money flying to more comfortable destinations to spend my vacation time.


We were set on a once per year visit too but the cost is turning this into every 18 months or so.

The thing for us is that we both agree and put a lot of value on going so that our kids have a close relationship with their Korean grand-parents, uncles, aunts. In a sense, this trumps cost but not completely.

We do manage to squeeze in other trips of shorter duration to other places.

We do keep an "emergency" fund in case her family get seriously ill. That fund covers the cost of airfare for my wife and myself along with some money to help the family. We had to dip into it once so far when her mother had to get surgery and treatement for cancer (she made it thankfully) and it was a huge load off our minds to not have to worry wether she could go or not or to worry over the cost. She was simply able to call her mother and tell her she was on the next plane.


I agree with you, and I think it's worth it. Of course, you really have to plan so that you don't get wholly reamed on airfare.

Another alternative is flying the in-laws to you for summer vacation.
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PatrickGHBusan



Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -

PostPosted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

dogbert wrote:
PatrickGHBusan wrote:
Ginormousaurus wrote:
PatrickGHBusan wrote:
those air tickets for a family of 4 do cost a fair chunk!


This is my biggest worry. Right now it's just my wife and I, but that will no doubt change. She is pretty set on visiting Korea at least once a year. I can understand that and, for now, can afford it. But I foresee difficulties in the future when I don't want to plunk down several thousand dollars just for plane tickets for yet another trip to Korea. I'd much rather spend the money flying to more comfortable destinations to spend my vacation time.


We were set on a once per year visit too but the cost is turning this into every 18 months or so.

The thing for us is that we both agree and put a lot of value on going so that our kids have a close relationship with their Korean grand-parents, uncles, aunts. In a sense, this trumps cost but not completely.

We do manage to squeeze in other trips of shorter duration to other places.

We do keep an "emergency" fund in case her family get seriously ill. That fund covers the cost of airfare for my wife and myself along with some money to help the family. We had to dip into it once so far when her mother had to get surgery and treatement for cancer (she made it thankfully) and it was a huge load off our minds to not have to worry wether she could go or not or to worry over the cost. She was simply able to call her mother and tell her she was on the next plane.


I agree with you, and I think it's worth it. Of course, you really have to plan so that you don't get wholly reamed on airfare.

Another alternative is flying the in-laws to you for summer vacation.


We did that a few times. Flew them in in the spring, fall and once for xmas. In the summer they cannot come.

It makes for a "cheaper" option as only 2 tix to buy!
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