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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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 Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 4:58 pm Post subject: So my parents came to Korea and ... loved it. |
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I can't believe how well my parents' trip to Korea went. I had really, really been wondering about how things would work out, but everything worked out almost perfectly (assuming of course that nothing happens with their flight home today). They had their cluelessmoments, which was to be expected, but no major problems whatsoever. The vast majority of people we met were very kind, polite, and patient. And did they ever get the VIP treatment when they came to our school. My principal even had the cafeteria manager prepare a special meal for us and the other English teachers and my handler drove us all over the area around my school.
My mother in particular was treated so well everywhere she went. She's 68 and has completely white hair, and it seems Koreans must have thought she was 88 or something. She never had to stand more than 20 seconds on any subway before someone was offering her a seat. I even saw several Koreans about her own age getting up to offer her their seat.
Living here for a number of years I had rather forgotten what good sites there are to visit. My parents really loved the War Memorial Museum and Korea Folk Village near Suwon.
While finding a good place to stay in Seoul was bit difficult given that the first week of May was really busy, they were still very happy with each place I found. They stayed at an international hotel (W135,000), a tourist hotel (W45,000) and a love motel (40,000). Their favourite? The love motel. They couldn't believe everything they got for W40,000 - 'Such a large TV, and even a computer in the room, and such a nice bathroom!' - and couldn't believe that the W80,000 bill was for two nights. Of course I let them remain blissfully ignorant of what the place actually was ... 'yeah, that's strange that they put curtains around the car park, isn't it'?
At any rate, if your parents are interested, I say bring them over. With a bit of inside knowledge of the country you can plan a really nice stay. My parents are as multi-culturally inept as they come and yet still had no problems enjoying it. |
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asams
Joined: 17 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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My parents have been talking about visiting later this year and I have the same reservations that you had before your parents came. I think they were surprised that I wasn't living in a hut when I first got here, so I'm pretty sure they would be dumbfounded when they step off the plane to find a country not much different (in terms of urban development) than back home
Last edited by asams on Fri May 15, 2009 5:20 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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| asams wrote: |
| My parents have been talking about visiting later this year and I have the same reservations that you had before your parents came. I think they were surprised that I wasn't living in a hut when I first got here, so I'm pretty sure they would be dumbfounded when they step off the train to find a country not much different (in terms of urban development) than back home |
I think mine had the same view whien I first shipped out, most of their knowledge of Korea before I came probably coming from MASH. My mother would ask me questions like 'how do you wash your clothes? Where do you get food'?
'Well every Saturday I take my laundry down to the river and beat it against a rock. And the US army ration truck stops by twice a week with foodstuffs'.
However, I had taken a group of students to Canada a few years ago so it's not like they weren't aware of Koreans general standard of living. |
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Gnawbert
Joined: 23 Oct 2007
Location: The Internet
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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| That's great to hear your folks had such a wonderful time. Mine came out here last October on a layover for a few days and both left with great impressions, as well a new found appreciation for kimchi. |
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Dazed and Confused
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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My mother has been to Korea 5 times over the years since I came. She has even told me that she will move to Korea permanently as soon as she gets a few things in order at home. AKA: When Dad and Grandma are dead and buried.  Speaking of Grandma, she's been here 3 times and in two weeks my sister and her family will be comming for a visit. |
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
| Well every Saturday I take my laundry down to the river and beat it against a rock. And the US army ration truck stops by twice a week with foodstuffs'. |
That was a good one. |
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Unposter
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, my parents have been over here a few times, too. They also love it. And, I do think the fact that they are elderly does help a lot as well. Almost everyone went out of their way to help them being of the grey hair set.
It is amazing how nice Korea can be when you don't have to deal with shady hakwon owners and you don't have to avoid a ddongchim. |
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Hyeon Een
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject: Re: So my parents came to Korea and ... loved it. |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
While finding a good place to stay in Seoul was bit difficult given that the first week of May was really busy, they were still very happy with each place I found. They stayed at an international hotel (W135,000), a tourist hotel (W45,000) and a love motel (40,000). Their favourite? The love motel. They couldn't believe everything they got for W40,000 - 'Such a large TV, and even a computer in the room, and such a nice bathroom!' - and couldn't believe that the W80,000 bill was for two nights. Of course I let them remain blissfully ignorant of what the place actually was ... |
The first time my parents came they arranged their own lodgings in Seoul (Shilla, 450k a night) but when they came to visit me in the countryside I put them up in the VIP room of a love motel (70,000won a night). The room was massive and really nice. The computer in the living room was particularly useful for my father who had to do a bit of work via the internet. (In contrast the 450k a night room in the shilla meant he had to trek downstairs to a computer room where they then charged around 10,000won for 30 minutes or so..).
Unfortunately they worked out that the second place was a love motel due to (1) The condoms placed next to the bed. and (2) They went on a city bus tour when I was at work and a helpful Kiwi chap and his wife helpfully explained exactly what a love motel was and all that it entailed.. |
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poeticjustice
Joined: 28 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Everyone's parents are coming over these days. Mine haven't yet, but I'm planning on bringing them early next year.
All the parents I know who've come here have seemed to enjoy it. Good times had by all. I think that a lot of teachers get caught up in some negative things and stop realizing how the place could be viewed by tourists. We tend to overlook the small, kind things we experience day-to-day.
It affirms that Korea isn't that bad when you see the reactions of people who only stay for a short while.
| Hyeon Een wrote: |
Unfortunately they worked out that the second place was a love motel due to (1) The condoms placed next to the bed. and (2) They went on a city bus tour when I was at work and a helpful Kiwi chap and his wife helpfully explained exactly what a love motel was and all that it entailed.. |
I've told my parents all about Love Motels. They know the down low and they're extremely excited to stay in one.
For what they are and what they cost, Love Motels are f*cking awesome and more people need to realize that. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 10:33 pm Post subject: Re: So my parents came to Korea and ... loved it. |
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| Hyeon Een wrote: |
| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
While finding a good place to stay in Seoul was bit difficult given that the first week of May was really busy, they were still very happy with each place I found. They stayed at an international hotel (W135,000), a tourist hotel (W45,000) and a love motel (40,000). Their favourite? The love motel. They couldn't believe everything they got for W40,000 - 'Such a large TV, and even a computer in the room, and such a nice bathroom!' - and couldn't believe that the W80,000 bill was for two nights. Of course I let them remain blissfully ignorant of what the place actually was ... |
The first time my parents came they arranged their own lodgings in Seoul (Shilla, 450k a night) but when they came to visit me in the countryside I put them up in the VIP room of a love motel (70,000won a night). The room was massive and really nice. The computer in the living room was particularly useful for my father who had to do a bit of work via the internet. (In contrast the 450k a night room in the shilla meant he had to trek downstairs to a computer room where they then charged around 10,000won for 30 minutes or so..).
Unfortunately they worked out that the second place was a love motel due to (1) The condoms placed next to the bed. and (2) They went on a city bus tour when I was at work and a helpful Kiwi chap and his wife helpfully explained exactly what a love motel was and all that it entailed.. |
It boggles my mind to think of ever paying 450K / night for a hotel in Korea. I've stayed at tree international hotels, the Metro (80,000), the Ibis (135,000 / night) and Novotel (300,000) - the latter two times someone else was paying - and quite frankly I'd rather stay at most W40-60,000 love hotels even if the prices of the international hotels were the same. At the international hotels check-in takes bloody forever, there's always a wait for the elevator, and then they want to nickle-and-dime you for everything. Oh plus there's a 10% tax if you're a resident. I'll certainly only ever stay at love hotels in the future. |
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lille
Joined: 27 Jan 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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my folks are thinking of coming in the fall. they plan to bring their own forks.
i'm a little nervous. |
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grunden
Joined: 18 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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| my parents are coming this summer, but just for one day, then we are flying to China to see the Great Wall, and some cool stuff there. They want to go to Tokyo as well, and my dad wants to go to Saigon. I cant see spending that much money on hotels when you can get the same hotels next to world wonders and really see some cool sheet. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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| lille wrote: |
my folks are thinking of coming in the fall. they plan to bring their own forks.
i'm a little nervous. |
Mine brought plastic forks, but they're not very sturdy when it comes to galbi.
They also quickly ran out of real tea. They brought along a dozen bags of orange pekoe tea for when they couldn't find any real tea. Since that was all the time they quickly ran out. My dad wanted me to go with him to the supermarket to see what kind of tea they had. Ginseng, green, corn, various types of herbs - he just stood there amazed that they had every conceivable kind of 'tea' except actual tea. Finally he found a cafe that served Earl Grey the second-last day of their visit. |
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lille
Joined: 27 Jan 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 12:12 am Post subject: |
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hahah.. "real" tea? for someone who's been here awhile, that's an awfully westerncentric thing to say!  |
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WendyRose
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
Location: hanam-si, seoul
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| Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 5:35 am Post subject: |
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I'm glad things went so well!
Can I ask how you got to the Folk Village? I've been there on a rainy day with my school but would love to take my friends who are visiting in June and see it a little more lively.
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