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Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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pokesplort
Joined: 05 May 2008
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Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:59 pm Post subject: faster way to GEPIK orientation from subway line 4? |
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hey all. i'm just jumping out of my skin over here, can't wait to meet people and live in a cramped hotel room for 4 days. i just love not having personal space. at any rate, is anyone else coming from line 4 on the subway and if so, are you also going to just take that long ass ride to the end of bundang line? i'm familiar with the subway just not with any other forms of transport to other cities. is there an easier way? a bus i should take? also, has anyone gone to this before and escaped for food other than what they serve you? i'm all for free food but i sadly haven't developed a real taste for korean food yet. and any info about the internet room would be great. how big, time limit? or can we escape to a nearby pc bang? as a courtesy to my roomates its better if i can decompress somewhere alone. ANYWAYS, i have read the info they posted just wanted any other feedback, experiences people can share. thanks! see you there! |
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bogey666

Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:55 am Post subject: Re: faster way to GEPIK orientation from subway line 4? |
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i had to endure the VERY long ride back home on the subway on line 4.
However, going there was faster, by around 30 minutes, because there is a bus you can take to Bundang from around Anyang that cuts the time by 30 mins or so. My Korean coteacher and coordinator lives there and the VP instructed her to take me to the orientation pickup (and she got the rest of the day off).
I would have never been able to navigate this myself on a bus.
so grin and bear it.
re your other questions (I'm assuming you're staying at that Hyunday Learning Center?
you will be busy at presentations from 9 till 4 with an hour lunch break. at noon and there is a sign in system that they check so you can't easily cheat. (though if you're determined and have a friend cover your behind it can be done I suppose, but I wouldn't recommend it)
essentially the asnwer to your food question is NO - you'll have eat what they prepare, though they do take some care in ensuring at least some variety and having at least some stuff more palateable to Western tastes.
the area outside of the building.... is fully Korean, and it's a bit of a walk, so you won't get any non Korean food outside... your only hope is junkfood (cookies, chips, etc) from the cafeteria in the basement.
the Internet room is an open room for your use outside of times when you don't have to be in the hall for presentations. the evening activities are optional, so after 4:30 pm or 5 of whatever the time was.. my memory fails me now... you are free to do whatever you want and if that means sitting in that room, up to you. Bring coins though.. it's 500 won for 12 minutes if I remember correctly.
there is probably a PC bang outside somewhere (but as noted a bit of a walk).
My advice to you would be to use the evening time to socialize and talk to the other teachers, to swap war stories about teaching/students, ask questions and listen to others.
and stop whining... geeessh. You're getting paid, aren't you? and you don't even have to "work". |
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pokesplort
Joined: 05 May 2008
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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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you think that was whining? wait till i get going:) no but mostly i was just curious what other people thought of how things worked. i guess i have no patience to wait and see for myself:) it didn't really look that difficult to deal with, mostly i just wanted to make sure i could call my man back home from skype. its my only addiction here. but thanks for all the info. and i'm really a picky eater. even back home so i guess thats just my problem to deal with. i'll live.ithanks again |
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bogey666

Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:56 am Post subject: |
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pokesplort wrote: |
you think that was whining? wait till i get going:) no but mostly i was just curious what other people thought of how things worked. i guess i have no patience to wait and see for myself:) it didn't really look that difficult to deal with, mostly i just wanted to make sure i could call my man back home from skype. its my only addiction here. but thanks for all the info. and i'm really a picky eater. even back home so i guess thats just my problem to deal with. i'll live.ithanks again |
I'm also a very picky eater... this goes with ALL food, not just Korean, and further perpetrated that I am kind of on a diet (meaning I simply try to carefully watch what I eat without set strict limits)
at the same time, a hungry man tends to get less finicky and there aren't really any alternative options there (and I didn't want to eat the junk food). As I said, you will suffer a bit with that all Korean cuisine, but I also think you may find something you like.
not sure if that center has headphones/mike that you'd need with skype?
anyways, go there with an open mind. I was literally groaning inside before going but in the midst of it all I decided I was pleasantly surprised.
for me, since I am a lone soul at my PS, it was such a relief to finally have real conversations with people in normal English (instead of the simple dumbed down variety one has to use at school) and the best thing was simply bouncing experiences, ideas and suggestions about your teaching situation off other people. That in itself was worth the "price of admission" (though it was free  |
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