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ch1can3
Joined: 30 Jan 2011
Location: US
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 Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:49 am Post subject: Looking for survival tips, first teaching job, sent to MUJU |
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I've looked for information on this tiny town. Being a complete newcomer, EPIK recruiters told me my chances of a big city were slim with a flood of highly qualified applicants this year. Without even a tefl, just a degree in political science, I applied, was accepted, and was sent to MUJU. I could have taken a hagwon job, but I figured public school was the better opportunity, less risk and all that jazz.
Does anyone know how I can make my time in such a rural place survivable? I've heard that Daejeon is fairly close, and has at least a club scene. I don't want to sound like a shark, but I do enjoy meeting women around my age, and I'm terrified there won't be much of a chance in MUJU. I doubt buses run 24/7 from there to big cities either. What about internet, a cellphone, hell, even a residence card. Am I going to have to go to Seoul for that? Does Muju even have high speed internet?
I'm not too worried about the week, but I wanna have fun on weekends and meet friends and girls around my own age, yea? They don't have to be foreign at all. How do I accomplish this from MUJU?
If anyone has any input, I'd appreciate it. Scoured the boards but didn't turn up much. |
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oldtactics
Joined: 18 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:05 am Post subject: |
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Your co-teacher should help you set up internet/phone/ARC - that's their job. Yes, you'll have highspeed internet, you live in a tourist town. You're not moving to the moon.
Daejeon is an hour away - motels are cheap & plentiful here in Korea, so nights in the city will be sleepovers and you'll be able to leave in the morning if you want to. Muju is rural but you'll meet lots of people in nearby cities, and it's not THAT small - you're not in a town with one restaurant. Lots of Korean girls for you to hit on too. You'll be okay.
Last edited by oldtactics on Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:06 am; edited 1 time in total |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:06 am Post subject: Muju |
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http://wiki.galbijim.com/Muju
You will not have to go to Seoul for either immigration, or to see the Epik POE (Principal Office of Education). Jeollabuk-do province will have offices for both, probably in the provincial capital of Jeonju. I believe Daejeon is a separate administrative region, same as Daegu, Seoul & Busan? Another website with a blog in Jeollabuk-do:
http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2008/06/2008-muju-festival.html |
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fungrel
Joined: 26 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:15 am Post subject: |
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I live near Youngdong, which is halfway between Daejeon and Muju.
As for other teachers living in your area, i've met quite a few people from there and there seems to be at least a dozen in Muju alone. Beats where i am, i'm the only foreigner in my village so things could be much much worse.
Other posters are right, get to Daejeon and you will feel more entertained. Quite a big expat community there. It ain't no Seoul but you would be suprised how many expats seem to gravitate towards each other. If you are the sort of person that can make friends easily, then you will be set with friends of all sorts including hagwon owners and taekwondo instructors. Oh, and Korean women if that's your fancy.
EPIK will sort you out for everything you need. Being the countryside, people are more willing to go out of their way to accommodate you. You never know until you ask. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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| fungrel wrote: |
I live near Youngdong, which is halfway between Daejeon and Muju.
As for other teachers living in your area, i've met quite a few people from there and there seems to be at least a dozen in Muju alone. Beats where i am, i'm the only foreigner in my village so things could be much much worse.
Other posters are right, get to Daejeon and you will feel more entertained. Quite a big expat community there. It ain't no Seoul but you would be suprised how many expats seem to gravitate towards each other. If you are the sort of person that can make friends easily, then you will be set with friends of all sorts including hagwon owners and taekwondo instructors. Oh, and Korean women if that's your fancy.
EPIK will sort you out for everything you need. Being the countryside, people are more willing to go out of their way to accommodate you. You never know until you ask. |
In a rural town with Korean women? I seriously doubt that. Don't want to rain on your parade. Many women will move to the city away from the country. Some who remain will be wary of being seen with a foriegner. They may want to meet one, but will want to avoid scrutiny from older Koreans. It's much easier to be anonymous in bigger cities, which is why women can be seen dating foriegners in Seoul. I'm not saying it's impossible. In rare cases, it can happen. But usually dating in a small town in non existent. You have to go away on the weekends.
As for other things, a small town can be ok for some things. I don't think they're as isolating as they use to be. More foriegners here than in the past. When I was in a rural area, larger than MUJU, there were only two of us. Now many more foriegners, but I don't live there anymore.
Anyhow, you can find hobbies and other things to keep you busy. Study Korean, take up photography, get a good bicycle. Spring and fall can be really nice in Korea.
The countryside can sometimes be more slack too. You may get some schools that send you home early, give you a light workload, exam days off. Whereas city schools will be more by the book and more strict with you. Not saying it's always gauranteed, you may get a lame school in the countryside too, but usually you change schools every semester.
Muju has some nice scenery; though I'm not very familiar with the place. I just assumed there would only be a couple of foriegners there. But with EPIK's expansion, maybe there are a lot more.
In a city, you can pick your foriegners. In the countryside, you're stuck with each other like it or not.
There are pros and cons. You can prob tough it out for a year and switch after that if you don't like it. |
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