Korean Job Discussion Forums

[splok]

First of all, thanks to everyone who contributes to this site. I've been reading it relentlessly for the past little while, and it has been great resource. There are a few things which I've been wondering about that I haven't seen directly addressed however, and I was hoping to squeeze out a little more info


Slippers... I've never been much of a slipper person. I know that there are such things as slippers, but the only thing that comes to mind when I think of them are the puffy-furry-stuffed-animal-head-on-the-toe kind and the old worn out grandpa kind. I'm sort of picky about the comfort of my shoes, and I don't think either of those kinds will suffice. I also need to find a reasonable pair before I leave since I forsee some difficulty in finding a pair that fits once in Korea (size 13-14). So... any slipper advice?


Power converters... There have been a number of threads saying that these are readily available, but very few specifics other than that. The one pic I noticed someone post of one only appeared to be rated at 60 watts. As someone who has lots of gadgets, this is cause for some alarm. Are there converters stout enough for me to plug a multi-outlet power strip into? or am I going to have to buy a bag full of the things, hehe?


Banks/Paypal... I found the thread that mentioned the excessive Paypal charge for transfering money, but after checking the Paypal site, it seems as though the cost comes from the currency exchange. I was wondering if it was possible to maintain an account in Korea with only dollars or with both dollars and won. It seems as though there would still be a charge for currency exchange, but is this not also the case when using the much touted wire transfer? Maybe it's more trouble than it's worth, but I really like being able to move my money where it needs to go online.


Mail forwarding... My post office said that normal first class mail will arrive in Korea in a few days without a problem but how long it took to get to me after that was entirely dependent on the Korean system, so I was wondering how long normal mail from the US (bills, letters, and such) typically takes to arrive and if it does so reliably. Also, I seen a post stating that you were better off having the address written in both English and Korean. However, I wonder how you would go about explaining a korean address to your credit card company when you call them asking for a change of address, hehe.


Frisbee golf... I know it's an extreme longshot, but are there any courses?


Diploma... Since people seem to have different experiences with different Korean consulates, has anyone tried to get their diploma notarized with the one in Atlanta? If so, how did that go? It's almost a five hour drive there, but I'm hesistant to try to do it by mail.



Gifts... I've seen it mentioned that giving gifts to co-workers helps to create a peaceful workplace. Most of the gift suggestions seemed to be for your director though. What types of gifts would be appropriate for other teachers? Also, is wrapping gifts as an American would do for Christmas the norm?


Bringing your computer... I've seen a number of people who dismantled their computer and boxed everything up prior to brining it or who shipped it over. Is it a problem to just pack your entire computer into the luggage you take with you onto the plane? I assumed that security might want me to open the case so they can look inside, but that seems much better than shipping it or seperating it into its parts where security might want to poke things they shouldn't. It seems that at least if it's intact, a computer is obviously a computer.

Customs... Reading the customs sites can make a person paranoid I think. I've seen posts saying that Korean customs typically doesn't bother people when they are moving their things into the country. I wonder if its the same going the other direction though? According to the US Customs site, I should register everything of value I have with them before leaving the country to ensure that I won't be charged duty on it upon moving back to the US. I suppose I should register everything just to be safe, but it sounds like a pain in the ass. Also, even though people have said that the Korean Customs officials don't check your luggage, it is possible that they could, in theory at least, force you to pay an exorbant amount of duty on things you bring into the country or risk confiscation of your items, isn't it? Scary thought...

[BigBlackEquus]

Slippers: If you feel you must buy some large sizes at home, what you really want are the equivalent of beach sandals with no thongie-thing in between your toes. Honestly, though... you'll probably eventually end up wearing smaller-than-your-feet ones while you're here, anyway. When I need them, I usually buy them from a street vendor (never seem to be around when you REALLY need 'em though).


Power converters: Don't worry about them. Yes, you can buy different strengths, and you can plug in strips. How many 110v products are you planning to bring, anyway? I have my stereo system/sub plugged into a strip plugged into a converter. I don't think you read the wattage right on that one model. Mine is 2,000 watts, I think, and cost like 35,000 won. You can buy these at places like Link-O in COEX mall at Samsung station, or Carrefour in Bundang. Tons of places.

Paypal: I have no idea. I just open an account in won and use it, then transfer money every 6 months by wire.

Mail forwarding: Takes 10 to 14 days to send an average letter. Sometimes up to a month.

Frisbee golf: No idea

Diploma: I'm sure you can do it. Search google and find that consulate's number. Then call.


Computer: Box it up carefully with packing (someone had a link to this... maybe Demophobe) and put it with checked luggage.

Customs: Anything can happen. I've been lucky.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Slippers: unless you work at a public school you shouldn't even need them.

[Homer]

Money transfer: just use wire transfers. They are cheap, quick and reliable.

[seoulkitchen]

Computers...it seems like it would be a real pain to bring your whole kit -n-kaboodle (always wanted to say that!). Computers are dirt cheap here. Just bring your hard drive.

While you're in Korea, if you plan on doing a bit of traveling, you might want to pick up either an external case for your hard drive, or get a laptop.
Works for me.

[buster brown]

I've used the Atlanta consulate to certify copies of my original diploma. Seems like it costs a couple of dollars per copy. It was really no big deal, I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. They're closed for an hour or two at lunchtime, so you might plan your driving schedule around that. PM me if you want/need more info.

[Big Mac]

It sounds to me like you're worrying a lot about things that you probably shouldn't worry about.

The computer question....I had a desktop computer before I went to Korea. I decided to trade it in for a laptop...which I carried to Korea in my backpack. Why bring a huge computer when you don't have to? Mine was cheaper than my desktop and actually works better. Also, laptops adapt to different world voltages much easier. All I had to do was buy a two dollar adapter in order to plug my computer in. Just make sure your laptop is rated for 220 Volts. Mine was good up to 240.

Remember, you typically are only allowed two bags plus carry-on on the plane. What do you need other than clothes and perhaps your computer and maybe a camera? Don't even bring CDs, just load them onto your laptop's hard drive as MP3s. Everything else is usually provided in your apartment. You can buy a cheap stereo or speakers in Korea. Just go to techno-mart...you can get anything there.

I had my degree notarized at the Korean consulate in Ottawa. It wasn't a problem, but I did have to go to a lawyer before going to the consulate to get a letter confirming it was a genuine document.

Why would you need an account in Korea for dollars? They're pretty much useless to you in Korea. It's easy to wire money to North America from your bank in Korea. Just do that once in a while and you can pay your paypal or credit card bills by internet banking from your account in the U-S.

The mail service is just as reliable (if not better) than the system in Canada. They even deliver on Saturdays. If it's a letter sent by regular mail, I usually had it within a week. Sending things to North America from Korea is much cheaper than the other way around. You can send a fairly large box by surface mail (takes about a month) and it will cost about 30,000 Won, or $30. The post office can read the address if it is in English. Just make sure you tell whoever is sending it to you not to write the address in cursive, but rather to print it...because Koreans typically can't read cursive.

[dharma bum]

frisbee golf: there's an ultimate frisbee team here, and, while it's not exactly what you're looking for, it is frisbee...i'm sure the guys there will know about any frisbee golf courses too

www.koreaultimate.com

[Son Deureo!]

My feet are size 12, and I can't find my size anywhere here except for bowling alleys. Bring all the shoes and slippers you think you'll need with you. In fact, definitely bring at least one pair of slippers with you. Many hogwons have ondol flooring, which means that you can't wear shoes indoors. This was the case at my first hogwon, so I had to teach in my socks for 3 months until my family could surface mail me a pair of size 12 slippers. And the shoe stores just laughed at me when they saw the size of my feet.

[SwimminThruAsia]

One more noob question:

How do you handle someone who seems to know EVERYTHING about you, when they are mostly just educated guesses?

Especially if you know some sensitive information about someone else.
Of course, YOU never mentioned that sensitive information to anyone.
You never passed it over the internet to anyone, either...open or closed source.

But, for some reason, that person is willing to dismantle and move an entire city to have you killed. Sounds like dogs are involved, too...poor pups.

I just wish more people could be peaceloving ASSHOLES like me.

[Little Laura]

Slippers: I have extra large feet (10 men's, 12 ladies.) And a foot problem that makes walking on the bare floors here very uncomfortable for me. I have winter and summer slippers. My favorite winter slippers are LL Bean polartec ones (they look like soft clogs), about $20. I'm able to find large enough men's open-toed ones for the summer here, but your foot size I haven't seen here; bring them if you need them.

I carry my slippers with me wherever I go; I wear them in the office, friends' homes, on the airplane, etc. No one has objected or even mentioned it; many other Koreans live in slippers at school or the office, but not in their homes other than on the wet bathroom floors (they don't use shower curtains here, so they all have a pair or two of just-for-bathroom slippers in there. Even though I have a shower curtain and my floor is never wet, I keep a pair of Korean-sized slippers in there just for my guests because they are used to that.)

[Little Laura]

Forgot to add: I just brought my hard-drive with me, put it in my largest suitcase; never regretted it. I found a monitor on the street people had chucked; a friend gave me an extra keyboard with Korean on it (you'll want one of those eventually, you can buy one cheap at a used furniture store). Printers are fussy, I wouldn't try bringing one; I picked one up cheap from Carrefour here, and all the other little stuff.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Damn Laura you got some big feet!


Though as far as shoes go you can pick up what you need in Itaewon made fresh from a Korean sweatshop knock off factory for a reasonable price for dubious quality.

[Little Laura]

Yup. It's been my bane all my life. Can't even buy shoes at a regular shoestore in America; it's either Pay Less or Nordstrom's for me.

But because Little Laura is over six feet tall, people don't seem to notice my big feet in America. Here, however, they draw quite a few surreptitious stares on the subway, especially when my legs are crossed and they're really out there. Koreans have much smaller feet than us westerners; it actually strikes me as odd and I find myself staring at their feet, too!

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Over 6 foot tall?

Laura when you wanna go dancing????????