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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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marsavalanche
Joined: 27 Aug 2010
Location: where pretty lies perish
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 Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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there is no way you gained 40lbs. the dude from supersize me at 3 times a day and didn't gain 30.
fail. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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| My advice is to grow a pair. A series of posts by people asking every friggin' question about living in Korea as if it's some alien planet has gotten irritating. |
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akcrono
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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| nathanrutledge wrote: |
You should smoke a fat bowl and relax. The closer to take off date, the better.
There is a thread around here by Skippy, about the stupid questions people ask on here, and sir, your question is stupid.
Why? Because every single person who has ever come to Korea has felt the same way you feel right now. And most of them have posted threads on here about it. Most of those threads have dozens of answers.
You're going to be fine. Korea is like America except with more Asians and less space. You're going to get off the plane and the airport is going to be just like the one you left (probably better, it IS ranked as the best in the world). You're not going to notice the cultural stuff right away (America is a low context culture - i.e., we're very dense) and by the time you DO start to notice the cultural stuff, you'll have been here a few weeks.
Seriously, calm down (to be fair, your post is calmer than most), enjoy the last few weeks with friends and family (none of them will come to visit, despite their promises to), and remember, you are not the first person to do this, nor will you be the last.
And for the love of god and all that is holy, read the other threads on the board that answer your EXACT question. They are scattered about here like Asians in Korea. |
WE CAN NEVER BE HELPFUL |
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toadkillerdog
Joined: 11 Nov 2009
Location: Daejeon. ROK
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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| The best way to prepare is to bring an open mind to Korea. You will also need to be ready to accept the fact that Korea is NOT your home country and comparisons between the two are usually less than helpful. |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
Personally, I'd suggest bringing any spices, vitamins, or OTC medicines that you think might need during your time here.
Beyond that, most other things are easy enough to find
Sorry...forgot about clothes. Some people who do not fit into the Korean body type mold may have difficulties in finding clothes that fit. Pack accordingly. |
+1
That was about the only reasonable thing said so far in this thread. Vitamins can be found nowadays no problem, but they cost about 400% more than they do back home. Same for most spices if you cook a lot and use more than salt, pepper, red pepper and basil.
OTC meds is a good idea as well. Every time I go home for a vacation I always bring back around 50$ in medication. The X-Large size aspirin bottle is surely worth bringing if you bring nothing else.
On a side note, in the last year or so I have been finding some korean brand of Airborn (sp?) at Homeplus and have been totally pumped about that since I used to bring 10 tubes of it back with me when I went home.
As always clothes. If you wear bigger than a medium-large back home for men, bring your clothes. For women, anything bigger than a medium-large is near impossible to find, especially pants and bras. |
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marsavalanche
Joined: 27 Aug 2010
Location: where pretty lies perish
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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| toadkillerdog wrote: |
| The best way to prepare is to bring an open mind to Korea. You will also need to be ready to accept the fact that Korea is NOT your home country and comparisons between the two are usually less than helpful. |
The first useful reply in this thread. |
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420trader
Joined: 22 May 2011
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Ramen wrote: |
| 420trader wrote: |
| Ramen wrote: |
i brought a tube of ky jelly. fortunately, i never had to use it.  |
Why fortunate? A nice lil Korean girl and a fun detour is great with a lot of KY!
As for the other guy, yeah, all of those items can be found in Korea. |
my ladies don't need ky. |
pewp?
lol@nathan
After reading Captain Corea's post, it reminded me. If you take a lot of natural supplements and vitamins, definitely bring a bunch. I have a whole cabinet full of supplements and had to have a friend bring them all over. They do not have a wide variety of vitamins and supplements here. They have a GNC and a few other small companies but they only have the "popular" supplements, e.g. omega 3, vitamin C, etc. (saw palmetto has been gaining popularity here but that's about it). |
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refugee
Joined: 17 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 7:02 am Post subject: |
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| Lnngo88 wrote: |
| refugee wrote: |
I'm in the same boat as you. Just waiting for my Visa now. If it makes you feel any better I'm not worried in the slightest 
I feel like I should be at least a bit nervous though. I think either it hasn't sunk in yet or I'm an emotionless husk of a person.
Where are you moving to and from? My advice, which doesn't really count for much because I'm not there yet, would be to not party too much when you 1st get there. Find your feet teaching and whatnot first then once you think you're doing OK go mental!!! |
You know what, that's exactly how I felt last week when people keep asking me how do I feel about going. I just said, I'm not worried, because I don't know what to expect to be worried.
But now, it's like, will I make friends? How do i get around? What if I get lost, and not know my way back? How can I read signs, and ect.?
I'll be teaching at ECC school in Daejon. Luckily, I know one person in Korea (he was a foreign exchange in my highschool), so hopefully, he can show me around and help me make friends.
Where are you going and when? |
I'm going to Incheon in a few weeks. I have a few friends who are coming over as well who will be near me and a few in other schools around the country which I think will help.
If you want a beer in Incheon let me know. |
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Lnngo88
Joined: 25 Apr 2011
Location: TX, USA
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| Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| refugee wrote: |
| Lnngo88 wrote: |
| refugee wrote: |
I'm in the same boat as you. Just waiting for my Visa now. If it makes you feel any better I'm not worried in the slightest
I feel like I should be at least a bit nervous though. I think either it hasn't sunk in yet or I'm an emotionless husk of a person.
Where are you moving to and from? My advice, which doesn't really count for much because I'm not there yet, would be to not party too much when you 1st get there. Find your feet teaching and whatnot first then once you think you're doing OK go mental!!! |
You know what, that's exactly how I felt last week when people keep asking me how do I feel about going. I just said, I'm not worried, because I don't know what to expect to be worried.
But now, it's like, will I make friends? How do i get around? What if I get lost, and not know my way back? How can I read signs, and ect.?
I'll be teaching at ECC school in Daejon. Luckily, I know one person in Korea (he was a foreign exchange in my highschool), so hopefully, he can show me around and help me make friends.
Where are you going and when? |
I'm going to Incheon in a few weeks. I have a few friends who are coming over as well who will be near me and a few in other schools around the country which I think will help.
If you want a beer in Incheon let me know. |
I can't PM you my e-mail address, you can e-mail yours to me here: [email protected] (also on Facebook, if you want to add me). |
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Ruby Thursday
Joined: 29 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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Korea isn't about preparing. It's about letting go.
Come with only the shirt on your back.
Oh, and cheese. |
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mikeybhoy
Joined: 14 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| My advice, learn hangul. Its very easy to pick up and you have a long flight. After a few hours of studying the characters from internet sources, you'll land and constantly be practicing as you read store signs. Its very easy practice as many of the signs are in Konglish. Also, spend a few hours learning basic phrases that are helpful in restaurants, stores, taxis etc. |
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mkpopcorn
Joined: 22 Apr 2011
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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To prepare... hmm
Well, lock yourself in your room, but remove everything American. Remove the bed. Practice sleeping on the floor in there and being in there alone for at least 10-12 hours a day.
Start smoking, because if you don't already you practically will in Korea. Everyone smokes so you are always getting second-hand, and then the air pollution is so bad that its like sucking in toxic waste with every breath.
Put earplugs in and walk around without talking to anyone or listening to anyone. Once you arrive you will be invisible and understand nothing, so get used to it.
Start eating rice and meat three times a day. Don't eat any vegetables or fruit.
Stop drinking water. Every time you want some water take a dollar out of you wallet and throw it away. Water is toxic here, you will always be dehydrated. |
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akcrono
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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| mkpopcorn wrote: |
To prepare... hmm
Well, lock yourself in your room, but remove everything American. Remove the bed. Practice sleeping on the floor in there and being in there alone for at least 10-12 hours a day.
Start smoking, because if you don't already you practically will in Korea. Everyone smokes so you are always getting second-hand, and then the air pollution is so bad that its like sucking in toxic waste with every breath.
Put earplugs in and walk around without talking to anyone or listening to anyone. Once you arrive you will be invisible and understand nothing, so get used to it.
Start eating rice and meat three times a day. Don't eat any vegetables or fruit.
Stop drinking water. Every time you want some water take a dollar out of you wallet and throw it away. Water is toxic here, you will always be dehydrated. |
I don't know anyone without a bed here. Plenty of things to do so you don't have to be home all the time.
Smoking is bad, but there are plenty of restaurants and coffee shops where its not allowed.
You will not be invisible, but if you're in a major city, you won't be a big deal. Unsure about the 'burbs.
They actually don't eat too much rice here. Certainly not as much as they used to.
The tap water is fine (although it tastes like city water). If you don't like the taste, get a water filter. The government has been promoting the safety of the water for 3 years or so. |
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yogini
Joined: 16 May 2011
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:44 am Post subject: |
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| GOOD sheets and soft blankets!!! I just got here and have sheets that feel like toilet paper :S I think that finding soft blankets at an affordable price is kind of difficult lol |
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SoylaMBPolymath
Joined: 21 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:05 am Post subject: |
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I keep making new friends.
I eat good food. People complain that it's not really "good" Asian food, well, if you were starving and it was the last thing you had to eat I bet you'd be shoveling Korean food into your mouth. I don't need to go to those lengths. I love what I eat here. And yes, that includes 김치.
I love my students.
The men and the women are beautiful.
The children are all kinds of adorable.
I love my students.
오징어입 and squid with my 맥주.
Batting cages.
Frequent bus service.
Easy access to anywhere I want to go via the train.
Amazing pens, pencils, and stationery.
There's just too much.
I love Korea.
I have only been here three months, and I am happier than I have been in quite some time. I am so many of the things you read should make for a less than pleasant experience (i.e. I am not white, not thin, and not as young as most of you, but I am open-minded, and I am actually concerned with trying to bestow some type of appreciation for the English language upon my students...whether or not I will be successful is another story entirely) I have to avoid these boards at times for fear of being inundated with negativity.
FIGHTING!!! |
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