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sojourner1
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
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 Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject: Anyone in Taebaek, Gangwon? What's it like to live there? |
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I am interested in what it's like living in this small town of about 50,000 people as recruiters are advertising for 23 new EPIK teachers to be placed there.
How many foreigners?
Any EPIK teachers out there?
Any public transportation?
Are food and basic essentials available without traveling to a larger town to shop?
Any access to fishing, hiking, and working out?
Is housing low or high rise?
Anyone taught or teaching in Taebaek public schools? If so, how was it?
Thank you for your insights on this little know area of Korea. |
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lokog
Joined: 22 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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You poor bastard. I've been there a few times. If I had to live there I would probably be an Alcho.
Good for skiing in winter though. |
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sojourner1
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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| lokog wrote: |
You poor bastard. I've been there a few times. If I had to live there I would probably be an Alcho.
Good for skiing in winter though. |
Could you clarify? Have you lived in the Taebaek area? In my travels in Korea, I found I liked the green forested low pollution areas more than city areas usually looking like a set of white wafer hi-rise lego block buildings where pollution hangs low in the valley. You can visually see this when you hike up to mountain peaks and take a look down and feel a huge difference in the air. I visited one tiny town last year with only one foreigner and wished I had his job.
I lived in a town of 500,000 people last year, but I did not care much about getting involved with the expat scene since it was about drinking and playing poker in a bar. I went out to the 2 foreigner bars for a grand total of 6 times and found it to be dull each time. I never enjoyed bars at home either. When not at work, on the computer, or sleeping; I hiked mountain paths and explored many parts of Korea, but I also enjoyed having a drink at home about once a week where I was my own DJ. I found most foreigners to be disinterested in hanging out and even having friendship as we all knew we would definitely part ways in less than a year so it's not biggie for me to go where there are few or no other foreigners present. As you might already know, Korea is nothing like Thailand where you have many wonderful snapshot friendships with other foreigners and where it's easy and fun to make friends with plenty looking for a good chat. I couldn't find good chatting and friendships in Korea like common in many other countries. My only real concerns are transportation, communication, access to necessary services during business hours, understanding how to find everything I need, and how to know everything I need to know to live and work.
This makes Korea, if not a regular in the bars, a loner independent persons dream though it can be highly social if living in Seoul, but you pay dearly for the conveniences and availabilities of the big smoke. I realize I will have to travel 1 1/2 hour or more to shop Emart or Homeplus so this makes small town living inconvenient, but conducive to saving money. It's no big deal to me to be a bit lonesome and isolated as I am used to that. I thought my time lived in big cities in the states and Korea was the most lonesome, impersonal, and dehumanizing way of life I could have which made me unhappy. I found happiness in nature and simplicity, while taking 3 to 6 trips a year to big cities for shopping, sightseeing, and culture. I too would prefer to have friendships and chatting with other foreigners, but I am going for what Korea has to offer in exchange for my time and efforts; not what other foreigners have to offer as that is not a part of what Korea is about for the most part.
This sure has been a great site for exchanging ideas, experiences, and facts as I found Korea is not an environment conducive to foreigner interaction like in Thailand and other countries which is why so many do not like it in Korea. I can't say it's my first preference country to live in, but it's most practical for a world traveler of modest means as other countries such as Thailand pay too low, though are much nicer places than anywhere in Korea. I am going to pay my dues to be able to save money, travel to exotic places, and learn more though I am looking to have direct access within walking distance to mountain trails, fishing, and outdoor fitness equipment so I picked a small rural town this time around realizing that Big Macs, modern stores, high # of English speakers, and foreigner services are not locally available which presents hurdles. |
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Imbroglio
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Behind the wheel of a large automobile
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| Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 2:25 am Post subject: |
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I've been there, Hi-won ski resort is about 30 minutes from there...
Went to a beef restaurant in Tebaek and had great Tungshim steak for cheap...
Didn't stay there long enough to answer any of your other questions though...there was an Emart though, maybe on the outskirts of town... |
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oots
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Taebaek, Gangwon-Do
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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Heya Mate,
I currently live there, and have done for the last 18 months.
23 new EPIK positions? they are kidding right? We are all underworked with only 10 of us here currently  Most of us are doing 15ish classes per week, some more, some less depending on the particular schools.
As for the town. Its a small city, spread out through the mountains and valleys. Quite beautiful and an easy place to live if you are not after big city thrills. The people are extremely friendly, much more so than the bigger cities, and the students, while low(ish) level more than make up for it with sheer enthusiasm.
Skiing is great, with Kangwonland (High1) 20 mins away, and the new resort, Seohak Resort opening up this winter.
Basically if you want a nice small friendly place to live its great. If you want huge nightlife and a plethora of things to do, it might not be for you.
The only other downside is location, its about 3.30 hours to seoul by bus.
But, it is the highest city, the coolest city, the smallest city in South Korea. No mosquitoes, not much yellow dust, no pollution, nice cool summer nights, never too hot etc etc etc.
give me a yell if you want more info. I'd love to see the advert for 23 peoples thou,
mike
PS, we may be small but we do have E-Mart |
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IlIlNine
Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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... and, if all that didn't convince you...
Taebeak has a racetrack where which you can ride around on on your motorcycle. I'd love to live near there for... 6 months or so at least! |
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oots
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Taebaek, Gangwon-Do
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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Oh yeah, I forgot about the racetrack.
And the Coal museum. Taebaek-san mountain is famous too.
Not forgetting our mascot, the black smurf.
http://tour.taebaek.go.kr/english/index.asp
mike |
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Luna
Joined: 22 Feb 2007
Location: seoul suburbs
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 12:58 am Post subject: |
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I'm not sure I could live there - because I'm not sure small cities are for me and I'm not used to all that snow.
However, I did really enjoy visiting Taebaek.
People there were extremely friendly, and went way out of their way to help me when I visited for the Snow Festival. |
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trailrunner
Joined: 06 Mar 2008
Location: Cape Town
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 12:17 am Post subject: |
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| I am looking for a PS school job myself in the Gangwon area myself and Taebaek looks great. Am into the outdor lifestyle and dont mind the relative solitude, anyone know of definite jobs there please post. Thanks. |
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sojourner1
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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Oots,
Thanks for your reply. Korean Horizons recruiter ran this add a couple weeks ago on this site. Click on, "Jobs," in the top left of this web page and do a job search for Korea to get many ads from schools and recruiters as this is really the main ESL job site. It's the first place I look for job leads. |
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trailrunner
Joined: 06 Mar 2008
Location: Cape Town
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks soujourner, will try that |
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