Korean Job Discussion Forums

CBP · Joined: 15 May 2006 Location: Korea

Hello from the States:

In three weeks I'm leaving for Europe, where I'll be studying for my CELTA. It's my first time overseas. From there I'll probably seek work in Korea. I'm trying to sort my thoughts on how to manage my finances. I've had various tidbits of advice, but nothing's quite come together into a good understanding of how to handle even the more basic of things. I'm not naive, I'm an older woman, I spent a few months in Central America (winged it, quite young and naive back then!) ... and I'm stumped.

Edited: Forgot to include ... concerns for my safety, both financial in terms of theft and what not, and also physical safety. I was chased by someone with a gun once. All I did was make eye contact with him when he was screaming at random people. So no eye contact. My bus was hijacked by armed men in Guatemala in the middle of the night, possibly guerrillas. A Mayan man put his straw hat on my head and told me to sit low in my seat. But otherwise there wasn't much I could do. I'm talking about things that I can actually do in terms of prevention.

Any tricks and tips you'd like to share?

Thanks!

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

CBP · Joined: 15 May 2006 Location: Korea

Thanks, Tiger Beer. My post has been edited. Surprised

)

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Where in Europe are you going? Advice will differ country to country. When are you planning on coming to Korea?

As for Korea, it's not particularely dangerous in my experience. A lot of Koreans tell me that catching a taxi alone can be dangerous. Ive never heard of any stories, but a lot of Koreans stress safety with this. I always talk on my mobile phone when I catch a taxi.

If a Korean man asks if you are married, say yes even if you are single. I have been harrassed by some men (usually older) about going home with them (in one case it was a taxi driver), or going on a date.

Money - unless you are sending it back to the States regularely, you'll need to open a bank account. The largest bill here is about US$10 note and its a LOT of money to be stashing in your apartment.

Zark · Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 5:00 am Post subject:

South and Central America can bit a bit dicey - but I think you will find Asia - and particularly Korea and Japan - far safer than back home.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

As far as safety goes, I've lived in 2 countries (Czech Republic and Korea) and traveled alone a lot (10 countries and counting) and I've felt MUCH safer than I did in my 30,000 population home-town! Guns are nearly non-existant. The worse that can happen (well...pretty much!) to you in Korea is that some guy will ask if you're Russian. ALWAYS say "NO"!

In my hometown, my Mom won't even let me walk to the 7-11 that is 2 blocks away after dark. In Korea, I've walked almost everywhere at all hours and never had a major problem.

Where are you doing your CELTA?

CBP · Joined: 15 May 2006 Location: Korea

Thanks for all the great feedback. That taxi thing is important to know, for sure. I'm doing my CELTA in Budapest.

Question: If I use my debit card overseas (Korea, Hungary, etc), how is it charged? In the local currency that my bank knows to convert to dollars? Jumping the gun, need to ask my bank about this. But considering the problems I had sending an international wire to London, I think this might be over their heads.

Also, in my town there was a string of debit card problems; people's pins were stolen from the information they entered into keypads. So we've been advised to use the credit card option since debits can function as both. Any concerns about using your debit cards, either linked to American accounts or your Korean accounts?

CBP

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

The only thing you'll have to worry about there is pickpockets. Keep your money close to your body, not in your purse or backpack. Don't let beggers get too close to you. Hold your purse in front of you, not over your shoulder, when you're on public transportation or walking in crowded areas. I always had a canvas backpack, as the theives in Prague had a reputation for cutting the bottom of a backpack with an X-acto knife and grabbing your stuff just before the doors of the subway closed. Canvas is MUCH harder to cut than the nylon ones.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

davai! · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Location: Kuwait

I did the CELTA in Moscow in 2002. About 1200 dollars, plus the accomodation, which was WAY out of town and then there was the quoted price for that, and the surprise! real price (about 200 bucks vs. 300)
Add to that expenses for a month. They wouldn't let me stay in the apt. after I completed the course (not having taken a job with BKC), so I had literally 24 hours to get out.

The best thing, I thought, about CELTA is you suddenly have 15 friends who are new to the city too.

While I would never consider doing it again, just for the sake of education, I found it worthwhile, having never been a teacher prior to that. That said, I have always announced to potential employers that I have the certificate, but no one has ever asked to see it.

My biggest issue with CELTA was...

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003