Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lookingtoteach]

I'm leaving for Korea on January 1 (at 6:30am...grrrr....) and should be there on January 3 (good God that's two days of travelling!!) and will be living in Ansan working at the Kids Herald there. What is there to do in Ansan? Is there a large expat community there? How accessible is Seoul? I just don't want to be isolated from the foreigners in Korea, my sanity might be in danger otherwise. Any info would be great. Thanks.

[hojucandy]

i have lived nearly 2 years in ansan, and plan to live here next year too. it is a great area to live in. it is quieter than seoul, cheaper too. it is only a bit over an hour on the train to seoul if yu want to go there.

there are enough expats here to meet my needs, some excellent bars (one just opened up in the building right next to mine with a free pool table, and they let me take along my own music to listen to rather than the K-pop they usually play - last night the bar was awash with tom waits most of the night), good restaurants, excellent shops...

all yu need. i think i know who you are replacing at kid's herald. a couple of notorious members of this board worked at that school. one was fired (guess who?), the other (bill) left korea recently and is sadly missed in these parts.

yu will want to get a bike. there are bike paths everywhere. i may have a spare one in fact. get in touch when yu arrive. i'll show yu around.

[Sook-sun]

I agree with Hojucandy. I lived in Ansan all my life. It is the most multi-cultural place in Korea. Many foreigners live and work here. There are many thngs to do here.

[hojucandy]

ah sook-sun - i forgot the multi-cultural aspect of ansan. this is the best place in korea if yu like to cook with indian ingredients - tghey are available here.

only downside of ansan is the pollution. there is a lot of industry here.

[lookingtoteach]

hojucandy, that would be cool. I'm looking forward to moving there. Do you know anything about Kids Herald there? What am I getting myself into? I might take you up on that offer. Thanks.

[hojucandy]

will email yu what i know about kid's herald.

[matthews_world]

Sure foreigners live here, but it's not that easy to to meet other foreigners here. It is spread out into several neighborhoods and everyone pretty much sticks to themselves as far as I gather.

English churches don't exist. I would go to Seoul, especially Yongsan's Onurri Church. This is a large protestant service located near Ichon Station, Line 4, the same line as Ansan. Find the shuttle buses that take you there. Service time is 4:00 on Sunday I believe.

Foreigners in Ansan usually shop at Home Plus, near Jung-Ang Station. Here you can see Western movies at StarSix or at Handae-Ab Station - Meganex. Movies go for 6,000 won.

It's cheaper, sure but not the amenities and doesn't have the things to do that Seoul does.

Also, go to the saunas and check out a gym, usually 50-60,000won per month in Ansan.

I'd meet you but I'll be in Pundang, Seoul next month.

Also, don't forget about the Chinese New Year holiday where you will probably have 5 days off the 21st-26th. The major thing is that hotels will be quite expensive at this time and everything pretty much booked.

Several foreigners hang out in An-yang and Suwon, both 20-min subway ride from Ansan.

Have fun in Ansan.

[hojucandy]

matthews_world is right - we expats are spread thinly in ansan. ansan has several separate centres. working in kids herald yu will right in the heart of handaeap - which is a great area - probably has the most foreigners of any part of ansan. good restaurants, bars and a cinema too. its a university area.

churches though? who mentioned churches? i think there is an englsih speaking church round here somewhere. if yu are interested i think i can find out. am hindu myself!

the best thing about this area to me - and i only discovered it recently. there is a school here that teaches korean traditional music. i am enrolled. and i have the cutest teacher! (she recently joined the board)...

[Sook-sun]

You are embarrassing me Gr..

I am visiting hojucandy today. Someone tell him to stop posting on Forum and talk to ME!!!!

[princess]

Just my opinion....but I think Ansan has got to be THE WORST place to live in Korea. Talk about boring and the people are not as fashionable as they are in Seoul and I hated spending soooo much money and time going to Seoul every weekend...Every weekend...make the journey to hongdae...

[hojucandy]

hmmm... i love ansan. it is full of pakistanis, bangladeshis, indonesians, russians, turks.

i don't go to seoul much anymore. everything i want is here.

fashionable?! oh come on!!!!

[matko]

[hojucandy]

tis true...

so - who is princess ?

[matko]

Probably Gord.

[The Man known as The Man]