Korean Job Discussion Forums

LeChuck · Joined: 10 Oct 2008

Hey, everybody. I've only got about a month left before I make my way over to Korea to offer the children of Ilsan a sub-par education, and I still have some lingering questions that I was hoping you fine folks could help me out with.

1) My understanding is that I won't be getting paid until the end of my first month. So, with that in mind, how much money should I have on hand to last me for the first four weeks? I was thinking somewhere in the ballpark of $1,000 CAD. Is that too much? Too little?

2) Drawing from my only other overseas experiences, I can't help but wonder if I'll need some sort of electrical convertor for things like my laptop, iPod adapter, etc. Is this the case, or can I get by with plugging my stuff directly into Korean wall sockets?

3) I've heard (or read, for that matter) all about the various things I should bring with me such as deodorant, bed sheets, etc., but there are a few things I haven't heard much about. What about toothpaste? Shaving cream & razors? Multi-vitamins & supplements?

Thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to help out.

chickenpie · Joined: 24 Dec 2008

LeChuck · Joined: 10 Oct 2008

Oh please. I was joking.

Would someone who actually has the keen sense to detect humour be able to answer the questions?

oldtactics · Joined: 18 Oct 2008

I think it's safe to assume that your entire post is a joke. Why not post on some Korean websites and ask them if they've ever brushed their teeth?

LeChuck · Joined: 10 Oct 2008

Oh for crying out loud. Why is it so hard to get a straight answer without some elitist clown doing their best to make us first-timers regret *gasp* asking for help.

I have never been to Korea. So, naturally, I'm kind of ignorant to a lot of stuff over there. I have read that deoderant is hard to come by, so I was wondering if the same was true for other toiletries. I have been to Europe where the voltage in power outlets is different than it is in North America, and I was wondering if that was the case in Korea. I also don't know how much day-to-day expenses are in Korea, so it's kind of hard for me to estimate how much money I'll need when I don't even know how much things cost.

Would the holier-than-thou folk do everyone a favour and just ignore threads like these if you're too damn arrogant to actually offer a modicum of useful advice? Thanks. I'd really appreciate it.

Rutherford · Joined: 31 Jul 2007

1) My old school payed on the 10th of each month. If you started on the first, you weren't scheduled to receive your first pay until around 40 days after you arrived. My boss was nice about it and gave us an advance of the money we'd already earned after two weeks of work. That's something you should ask for.

$1000CD should be enough. You could get by on less if you had to, but it's nice to have enough to cover an emergency, buy things for your apartment, or get out and meet new people.

2) Big items (laptop, digital cameras) usually have a voltage converter in the charger. They work if you plug them in through a simple adapter. Other things (electric razor) need to go through a voltage converter you can either buy here or bring with you. The ones I saw here were big and bulky. I bought one off another teacher and it's nice and small. I think he got it at radioshack.

3) I went overboard when I first came to Korea and brought bulk packages of deodorant, toothpaste, 12 toothbrushes or something crazy. Most of it is over there waiting for me to come back. You can find anything in Korea, it just might not be your favorite brand and it might cost more. This time I'm saving room for truly rare items like Goya dried black beans and Maker's Mark bourbon.

Good luck!

LeChuck · Joined: 10 Oct 2008

michaelambling · Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Location: Paradise

Some people need to unbunch their panties.

oldtactics · Joined: 18 Oct 2008

And some people need to read the FAQ section. Wah wah.

travelingfool · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Location: Parents' basement

warren pease · Joined: 12 May 2008

Just to be clear about what needs an adapter and what doesn't: If Somewhere along the electrical wire there is a box with some writing on it, it should have a voltage input rating. if it says something like input 100-240V then you're set. You just need a $.50, 500 won, plastic adapter that fits over the western flat ends. If not then you'll need a power converter.

Really make sure you read voltage input ratings though, don't just assume. I brought over an X-Box 360 that has a giant converter box (I know that this is not the correct term) that looks like could transfer enough power to run a factory but it wasn't rated for anything over like 120 volts.

Don't pay any attention to the idiots on here. There are some people who spend 10 hours a day on this site and expect every person to be as informed as they are. The FAQ's are helpful but like everything on this site are sometimes confusing, and well just avoid trying to use the search engine.

Simple rule, if you have a question just ask. 99% of the time someone will be happy to help you out. Just ignore the idiots.

Good Luck!

oldtactics · Joined: 18 Oct 2008

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

Chuck,

I think $1000 would be more then enough, especially given the exchange rate right now. The only thing on your list of personal items I'd worry about is bringing maybe bringing 60 days of your Multi-vitamins & supplements to hold you over until you have time to find a good source and a few months of deodorant. Personally I brought bed sheets and other linens with me, but call me a prepared person.

In regards to your electronic items, as someone else said, you need to look at each item and check to see what the voltage rating is. If it's 110/220, then you can go to Youngsan Electronics Mart and buy a small adaptor for about 4,000 won to stick on the plug and then plug it into the wall (this just changes it from a western style plug to Korean style plug).

You might also want to check with your airline as to how many pieces of luggage you are allowed and the maximum weight that each pieces can be. It sounds like you are thinking about shipping quite a bit of stuff.

Good luck

NightSky · Joined: 19 Apr 2005

it takes less time to write what he needs than it does to link all the threads, often outdated, on the subject. come on people, be nice.

*if you have a preferred brand of anything (toothpaste, condoms, deodorant), definitely bring at least a few months' supply if not the whole year.
*bring vitamins too, they are very overpriced and poor quality here. any kind of health/medical supplements you take--bring them.
*a thousand should be fine but more is always better if you have it.
*even if you bring too much of something (say 12 tubes of Colgate) you can always resell it here or heck even go all crazy and give it away to a grateful coworker. western products are NOT readily available especially as you get away from seoul.
*to sum up, anything you use/need/crave on a daily/weekly basis back home, bring it. (with the exception of drugs, natch Very Happy

)

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007