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anomi
Joined: 16 Oct 2003
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 Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:28 pm Post subject: how do posties read english addresses? |
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Yes, i'm a thicko, and not even in Korea yet - leave on the 27th. But I have burning questions:
1) What do computer keyboards look like at your average Korean internet cafe? Do they have romanised letters on them? A B C etc?
2) How does mail get there when it's written in English? Does this mean all posties are familiar with English - so if i'm ever lost can I ask a postie for advice?
3) What is your experience of an employer-provided apartment i.e. what can i expect....
thanks in advance |
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peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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Most keyboards here have both the Korean alphabet( hangul) and the Roman alphabet on them, with a button to switch between the two. The keys for the Roman alphabet are the same as at home too.
Posties can read English, but that doesn't mean they can speak it. I usually get mailing labels done up with my address in Korean and send them off to my family, which speeds things up a little. The biggest thing is to print the address, because a lot of Koreans, especially the ones over 30 aren't familiar with cursive at all. |
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Holyjoe
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: Away for a cuppa
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:43 pm Post subject: Re: how do posties read english addresses? |
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| anomi wrote: |
| 2) How does mail get there when it's written in English? Does this mean all posties are familiar with English - so if i'm ever lost can I ask a postie for advice? |
A little tip for if you're ever lost and stuck for ways to get going is to nip into an estate agent and ask them for help. They usually have giant area maps on their wall and they usually have a pretty indepth knowledge of their local area, so they could at least point out the place you're going to on the map in relation to where you are or point you to the nearest subway. |
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vlcupper
Joined: 12 Aug 2004
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: how do posties read english addresses? |
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| anomi wrote: |
Yes, i'm a thicko, and not even in Korea yet - leave on the 27th. But I have burning questions:
1) What do computer keyboards look like at your average Korean internet cafe? Do they have romanised letters on them? A B C etc?
2) How does mail get there when it's written in English? Does this mean all posties are familiar with English - so if i'm ever lost can I ask a postie for advice?
3) What is your experience of an employer-provided apartment i.e. what can i expect....
thanks in advance |
Welcome to Korea!
1) Korean keyboards have Romanized letters on them. They're completely identical to Western keyboards with the exception to the won symbol. Although I still don't know how to type it. 
2) The people that work in the post office are familiar with English, but I think the mail carriers, not so much. They can read it, but I haven't had any that could speak it. If you're lost, ask somebody in the post office or the bank. But, then again, it all depends on what city you're going to. Because, you know, not everybody is going to Seoul.
Hope it helps!
Good luck!!
Last edited by vlcupper on Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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anomi
Joined: 16 Oct 2003
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| peppermint wrote: |
| I usually get mailing labels done up with my address in Korean and send them off to my family, which speeds things up a little. The biggest thing is to print the address, because a lot of Koreans, especially the ones over 30 aren't familiar with cursive at all. |
that's great advice, thank you very much. When sending off my docs i couldn't stop wondering how it would get there. cheers. |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| I actually think that postmen are familiar with post codes and then just look at numbers for flat # or street # or whatever.... |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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| that's right, your postal code and bun-ji number do most of the work for them. |
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nrvs
Joined: 30 Jun 2004
Location: standing upright on a curve
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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| the eye wrote: |
| that's right, your postal code and bun-ji number do most of the work for them. |
Is the bun-ji number what I've been calling the block number? For example, mine is "58-1 Something-dong" -- is that what you're talking about?
It was about a month before I figured out my postal code. Without it, my mail took a long time to get here! About two weeks from the United States. I think that stuff gets tossed into a special bin for the resident English speaker at the post office to sort through later. |
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kelly
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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| I noticed that anything that came in the mail from the US or home to me, had the address writen in korean obviously by someone in the post office, so the postie could deliver it |
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the eye
Joined: 29 Jan 2004
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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| nrvs wrote: |
| the eye wrote: |
| that's right, your postal code and bun-ji number do most of the work for them. |
Is the bun-ji number what I've been calling the block number? For example, mine is "58-1 Something-dong" -- is that what you're talking about?
It was about a month before I figured out my postal code. Without it, my mail took a long time to get here! About two weeks from the United States. I think that stuff gets tossed into a special bin for the resident English speaker at the post office to sort through later. |
yes, the bunji is usually two or three digits, followed by a dash and then one or two more digits. sometimes ���� is added. |
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casey's moon
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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Aww, those questions are delightful! It really reminds me of how I felt when I was first preparing myself to come here -- all the little things that would occur to me as I was lying in bed and trying to fall asleep!!!
Actually, most Koreans (pretty much all Koreans under the age of 40, I think) can read English, but that doesn't mean they understand what they're reading! Also, lots can understand, but that doesn't mean that they can talk or understand spoken English! One of the most interesting things I learned in Korea is that there are many many degrees of English ability! Literally countless!
The main piece of advice I want to give you as a person who hasn't arrived yet is to use this board very sparingly until you get here. It's good to ask a few questions and look up stuff that you need to know before you come, but if you spend a lot of time here it may colour and distort your perception of Korea.
I hope you have a great time here!!!! |
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anomi
Joined: 16 Oct 2003
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| Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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| casey's moon wrote: |
Aww, those questions are delightful! It really reminds me of how I felt when I was first preparing myself to come here -- all the little things that would occur to me as I was lying in bed and trying to fall asleep!!!
The main piece of advice I want to give you as a person who hasn't arrived yet is to use this board very sparingly until you get here. It's good to ask a few questions and look up stuff that you need to know before you come, but if you spend a lot of time here it may colour and distort your perception of Korea. |
thanks, i had been reading a lot of posts and feeling bit worried about all the bad stuff. Then i read one that said everyone's experience is unique and that hit home, so now I am not so worried. I do tend to think of hundreds of things while trying to sleep though!  Thanks! |
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casey's moon
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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| anomi wrote: |
| casey's moon wrote: |
Aww, those questions are delightful! It really reminds me of how I felt when I was first preparing myself to come here -- all the little things that would occur to me as I was lying in bed and trying to fall asleep!!!
The main piece of advice I want to give you as a person who hasn't arrived yet is to use this board very sparingly until you get here. It's good to ask a few questions and look up stuff that you need to know before you come, but if you spend a lot of time here it may colour and distort your perception of Korea. |
thanks, i had been reading a lot of posts and feeling bit worried about all the bad stuff. Then i read one that said everyone's experience is unique and that hit home, so now I am not so worried. I do tend to think of hundreds of things while trying to sleep though! Thanks! |
I just read your location and the "I know it stinks, thanks" part and see that you've been getting your share of dismal information already!!! I totally agree about the unique experience thing and I honestly feel that most people who come here have a great time. Those that do not tend to be way more vocal on this board. Also, although I love Korea (even married a Korea for goodness's sake!), I usually tend to talk about negative experiences here, because that's when I seek the understanding and shared experiences of other foreigners. You'll notice that (basically) no one ever titles their thread, "Absolutely nothing went wrong today," for obvious reasons! BTW, when are you coming? |
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