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rosetintedwanderlust
Joined: 06 Sep 2010
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 Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 5:38 am Post subject: Coming to Korea next week and have some questions |
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So I am about to embark on my first journey to South Korea and have a few questions..
My school and apartment are somewhere in Seongnam. I really hope my apartment and surroundings are nice. Anyone else live in the area? I don't know anyone there so I hope I make some friends soon 
I have heard fitted sheets are hard to find in Korea so I was thinking of buying some in the US before I leave. My co-teacher said my bed is a single size. Is that the same as what we Americans call a twin size? She also said the school will give me 300,000 won to get some things for my apartment and that I shouldn't worry about bringing sheets with me. I'm probably going to go ahead and buy some here so I don't have to search for them in Korea. Since the school is giving me money to buy bedding I'm guessing I wouldn't have anything besides the mattress to sleep on when I arrive which is in the evening and I have to start work the next day.
I am arriving Thursday and I have to be at the school by 8:30 am the next day. My co-teacher said "Near your place, there are Yatap station. You get on the subway(yellow line) for Bokjung and Sunreung and transfer to purple line for Sansung station at the Bokjeong station". I'm guessing no one will meet me in the morning and show me the way. I guess I thought someone from the school would from what I've heard from different people's experiences. I just hope I don't get lost because I have to figure out how to first find the subway from where I live, pay for it, get on it, transfer to a different line, get off and walk to wherever the school is. Can someone tell me how to say "Where is the subway" in Korean? haha.
It really sucks I have to go work the day after I arrive and don't have a chance to explore my area and figure out how to get to my school before I start working. Obviously I'm going to ask my co-teacher for more directions and how long it takes to get to the school, but is that how it normally goes? Or does someone usually show you how to get there your first day?
I'll probably think of some more questions later.. Thanks for any help! |
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:16 am Post subject: Re: Coming to Korea next week and have some questions |
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| rosetintedwanderlust wrote: |
So I am about to embark on my first journey to South Korea and have a few questions..
My school and apartment are somewhere in Seongnam. I really hope my apartment and surroundings are nice. Anyone else live in the area? I don't know anyone there so I hope I make some friends soon
I have heard fitted sheets are hard to find in Korea so I was thinking of buying some in the US before I leave. My co-teacher said my bed is a single size. Is that the same as what we Americans call a twin size? She also said the school will give me 300,000 won to get some things for my apartment and that I shouldn't worry about bringing sheets with me. I'm probably going to go ahead and buy some here so I don't have to search for them in Korea. Since the school is giving me money to buy bedding I'm guessing I wouldn't have anything besides the mattress to sleep on when I arrive which is in the evening and I have to start work the next day.
I am arriving Thursday and I have to be at the school by 8:30 am the next day. My co-teacher said "Near your place, there are Yatap station. You get on the subway(yellow line) for Bokjung and Sunreung and transfer to purple line for Sansung station at the Bokjeong station". I'm guessing no one will meet me in the morning and show me the way. I guess I thought someone from the school would from what I've heard from different people's experiences. I just hope I don't get lost because I have to figure out how to first find the subway from where I live, pay for it, get on it, transfer to a different line, get off and walk to wherever the school is. Can someone tell me how to say "Where is the subway" in Korean? haha.
It really sucks I have to go work the day after I arrive and don't have a chance to explore my area and figure out how to get to my school before I start working. Obviously I'm going to ask my co-teacher for more directions and how long it takes to get to the school, but is that how it normally goes? Or does someone usually show you how to get there your first day?
I'll probably think of some more questions later.. Thanks for any help! |
Seongnam is one of the best places to live in in Korea in my opinion, though I hope saying things like this doesn't cause more people to consider teaching there, as it's not totally saturated yet. The Bundang line takes you directly to Gangnam in about 20 minutes and the new section will take you to city hall in about 30. It's the only subway line that compares to the green line in terms of efficacy and going through places you actually want to visit. That, and it also transfers to the green line in Gangnam as well. As the wiki says, Seongnam is actually a well-planned city, so there's less traffic congestion and the layout is more westernized and new. One of my friends, a gyopo, lives there and goes to Yonsei University. He loves it.
Sounds like a twin sized to me. I highly suggest that people bring their own sheets. They may tell you to bring them, but Korean sheets usually aren't fitted, I've found, just a top sheet you tuck under the bed that can scrunch up while you sleep on it, and the fiber count sucks, so they're brittle and hot. Bring a high quality fitted twin-sized top sheet for your own safety. Sadly, this has happened to me *shudder*. Never again.
The subway stations are easy to find, they look like... well, subway stations. There will be signs. If you have any trouble, usually the subway workers will help you. I suggest trying to find some youtube videos explaining how the systems work and ones that show people riding on the yellow and purple lines, there should be a good number of them. If you need clearer instructions, e-mail your school or recruiter and ask if there will be someone there to assist you. If you arrive with enough time in the day, you could always try a demo ride to your school's area when you get to Seongnam the day before class starts, though you'll probably be wiped out.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Seoul_subway_linemap_en.svg
As simple as possible,
1. Get on a subway train at Yatap station on the yellow line
2. Go past Moran, Taepyeong, and Kyeongwan Univ. stations, arrive at Bokjeong station. No matter what, don't ride any further than this or you'll be in for a hassle.
3. Get off and find the transfer signs that are rose colored and follow them to one that points to Sanseong, get on the subway and ride one stop until you reach your destination.
To get back just go back the way you came.
No one showed up my first day to help me find my school, but I was smart (I guess) and found it on Google maps before I came to Korea, so I kind of knew to turn left here, right there, etc. Essentially, I made directions before I left. I left like 2 hours early my first day, just in case. I ended up at my school with an hour and 30 minutes to spare, but better safe than sorry. The subway wasn't too much of a hassle, since everything has English, including the automated ticket booths, and the workers are helpful. Just walk up to a machine in Yatap station, choose the English button, and it'll ask you for your destination (Sanseong, line 8 ) and it will give you a ticket. Hopefully whoever picks you up will give you some money right away for this, but it's not a bad idea to bring a little money of your own to exchange before you leave the terminal when you arrive in South Korea, again, just in case.
Good luck, let me know if you have any more questions. |
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rosetintedwanderlust
Joined: 06 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 5:56 am Post subject: Re: Coming to Korea next week and have some questions |
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| Thanks for to help! I'll definitely bring my own sheets. |
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah, I'll be in Bundang next year hopefully, send me a PM and let me know how it's going! |
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