Korean Job Discussion Forums

StAxX SOuL · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: London

Just wondering what it's like...

I know its not too far from Busan

Had quite an attractive newbie job offer from there so looking for input!!!

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

In summmer it's nice as it's less crowded and the air is cleaner. It's much easier to go hiking or something.

If you're into nightlife........ it's slowly changing. There's now a foreign owned bar in shin eah dong that caters to foreign customers. There's a new Italian pizza/coffee house in Oe dong (just up the street from Mc Ds)

The bus service out here is not great , the buses run every half hour and if you miss it you have to wait.

There are some not so great schools here also. I would be careful and do a bit of checking if I were you. Talk to some past or present teachers...if you can't....that's usually a red flag.

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

Just arrived Saturday. I found the Indian restaurant, Namaste. Any other foreign food restaurants of note?

GoldMember · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

Gimhae is FANTASTIC! It's really really close to the airport (10 mins by taxi!) so it's super convenient for midnight runs and leaving the country in a hurry, especially useful, in case you get falsely accused of raping a girl, or molesting a child.
Forget about stuff such as restaurants and night life, the MOST important criteria in selecting location is ease of exit!!
Unfortunately as International airports go destinations are limited, but if you can get yourself to Hong Kong, after that the possibilities are limitless..

Matilda · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Location: Gimhae gal

Gimhae is great!

Small sized city, but is a comfortable lifestyle. We have a big Homeplus and some reasonable coffee shops and takeaway places. The cultural centre in the middle of town is fantastic. We have had several international groups visit and perform. It also houses a sport centre, including a big indoor pool (stinks of chlorine!) and a fantastic ice-rink.

The biggest plus of Gimhae would have to the expats. Very strong community feel - alot of hagwon and public school teachers get togethers.

Busan is not too far away - yes would agree the public transport can be a bummer in traffic. Usually just over an hour to Busan for shopping for weekends.

Namaste is one of the few nonKorean food haunts in town... so we try to frequent it often and keep the place open!

Matilda · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Location: Gimhae gal

Welcome huffdaddy!

Nope - not many exotic tastes in town to treat our taste buds to. You stared with the best though.

Saw there is a new pizza place with an actual Italian guy in the kitchen cooking up a treat. It is called Poccacia (yep without the F) and is located up from Paris Baguette near Hanguk Apts. Not sure what it is like though...

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

THERE'S NO TRAIN TO PUSAN FROM GIMHAE????

2-3 HOURS IN TRAFFIC??????

IT'S ONLY 4 HOURS FROM SEOUL!!!!

OUCH!!!

wow I'm so glad to find this out - I have an interview with the public school there - guess it's history now -

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

Matilda · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Location: Gimhae gal

Huffdaddy - You are assured of meeting others for drinks at a place called Beer & Girl (yes, only 1 gal - you have to share) Wink

There are 2 of these in town - but the most popular is the one near Lavazza coffee which is a left turn opposite from Lotteria on the main drag.

New Years was a blast in a bar near Namaste. Can't remember the name - but is owned by a Pakastani guy.

If you wander around Hanguk Apts - Trial Mart etc - you will be guaranteed of bumping into people. All the City Hall public school recruits are housed in these 2 villages.

Moosehead - do check out the postions. Our City Hall contracts (as opposed to those through the Education Board) have been revamped for this year. We get to leave 1 hr after our last class each day wahoooo!

Busan is really only 1 hr by bus from the Oedong area (Hanguk Apts) if the traffic is normal.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

well I did my interview and the lady was very very nice - I liked her immediately - but there was also a K guy participating and he kept making snide remarks - he really didn't like it that I asked about air conditioners in the teachers' apts - then towards the end he said if I was offered the contract and there was no air con would I accept it or not?

don't you all have ac? I expressed amazement that considering how far south they are, and how virtually everywhere in Seoul (I think) teachers' apts all have ac, that they wouldn't provide it automatically there.

so I may have washed out - oh well - ce la vie!

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

Went to Chingdao, aka "Chinese style fusion food restaurant" last night. Most excellent. I'd say 90% Chinese and only 10% fusion. It's on the restaurant row a block east of the main drag that McDonald's is on. About a half block north of McD's. Large entrees are around 10,000. Large bowls of soup around 5,000. Fried rice for 4,000. Spent 21,500 for two people with left overs. Only complaint is that it was a little greasy.

They even have a website, in Korean though:

http://www.chingdao.co.kr/