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rumdiary
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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 Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:03 pm Post subject: Will $600 USD cover my first 3 weeks? |
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| I already looked at the FAQ and most people said they came with about $1000. I'll only have between $600-$700 to last my first three weeks in Seoul (at the end of the third week my final paycheck from my current job should be deposited). I already have a job and apartment so I won't need any money for hotels. Will this be enough money to survive the first few weeks or should stuff my luggage with stolen food from my parents house? |
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JAWINSEOUL
Joined: 19 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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I spent $500.00 in the first month. You should be fine as long as you have appropriate clothing for the classroom. Also in Korea the summers are really muggy so you will need some thin summer pants and shirts.
The subway is around $100.00 per trip and they have a monthly pass for around $45.00 if you travel a lot.
Food is dirt cheap if you shop with common sense. Rice is $35.00 for a bag which should last for 3 months.
Good luck with you new job.
P.S. if you drink you may want to bring more. |
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rumdiary
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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| I wish I had more to bring. I think I may go with the big bag of rice and spend the rest on booze! |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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| $600 is plenty. You'll be fine. Keep in mind, it may be a bit longer than one month before you get your first check, depending on the pay schedule of your school. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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with less than half that money you can afford to eat out every night in restaurants and get drunk if you want
go korean in terms of food and drink the first month
eat bibimbap, nang myeon, denzang jzigae, dubu jzigae, gimchi jzigae, jjoel myeon, etc (under five bucks each)
drink soju, makkoli, ohshipseju, etc (a buck or two each, per bottle!)
experiment, try out korean foods in korean restaurants
take advantage of offers from your director, coworkers, adult students... they will pay if they ask you to go (local tradition - especially with newbies).
enjoy! |
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rumdiary
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
drink soju, makkoli, ohshipseju, etc (a buck or two each, per bottle!)
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I've had soju but what are makkoli and ohshipseju? |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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| rumdiary wrote: |
| VanIslander wrote: |
drink soju, makkoli, ohshipseju, etc (a buck or two each, per bottle!)
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I've had soju but what are makkoli and ohshipseju? |
Makkoli is a milky rice wine, traditionally consumed out of a metal bowl. Tends to sneak up on you.
Ohship (50) seju is a combination of soju and baek (100) seju. It's pretty lethal.
Korean booze is cheap and gets the job done, but tends to leave me with worse hangovers. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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| seoulsucker wrote: |
| Korean booze is cheap and gets the job done, but tends to leave me with worse hangovers. |
I never ever get hangovers from Korean alcohol. I always do though if any kind of beer is involved, even if I drink my standard six cups of water before bed.
ohshipseju is deceptively smooth, really no bite or edge at all, and so it can really hit you after you share a jug of it in a korean restaurant (three bucks top in a korean restaurant, unless seoul gouges you guys more than elsewhere in the country). do it once for the experience at least. |
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rumdiary
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm gonna be in Gangnam (not sure what part), which I hear is pretty expensive. And advice on cheap places to eat and drink? |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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| rumdiary wrote: |
| I'm gonna be in Gangnam (not sure what part), which I hear is pretty expensive. And advice on cheap places to eat and drink? |
The whole "Gangnam is more expensive" thing is a bit blown out of proportion. It's easier to spend more money there, especially in the nightclubs and bars, but you don't necessarily have to. There are just as many places to eat and drink cheap as anywhere else in Seoul. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: Will $600 USD cover my first 3 weeks? |
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| rumdiary wrote: |
| I already looked at the FAQ and most people said they came with about $1000. I'll only have between $600-$700 to last my first three weeks in Seoul (at the end of the third week my final paycheck from my current job should be deposited). I already have a job and apartment so I won't need any money for hotels. Will this be enough money to survive the first few weeks or should stuff my luggage with stolen food from my parents house? |
I only spend that (about $700) as my regular monthly budget and I live a very comfortable life. I eat out several times per week, eat western food at home and pay my utilities and internet out of that. Admittedly, I don't drink so my weekends are pretty cheap. |
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re:cursive
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| I landed in the country with 85 Australian dollars. This lasted me 3 and a half weeks untill I got an advance from my school...600 USD is plenty. Just live within your means. |
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rumdiary
Joined: 05 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks everyone. Drinks are on me as soon as I get my first paycheck. |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| JAWINSEOUL wrote: |
I spent $500.00 in the first month. You should be fine as long as you have appropriate clothing for the classroom. Also in Korea the summers are really muggy so you will need some thin summer pants and shirts.
The subway is around $100.00 per trip and they have a monthly pass for around $45.00 if you travel a lot.
Food is dirt cheap if you shop with common sense. Rice is $35.00 for a bag which should last for 3 months.
Good luck with you new job.
P.S. if you drink you may want to bring more. |
Man, you forgot to tell him that it's customary to take all your coworkers out to eat at an expensive resturant every day for a week. |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:08 pm Post subject: |
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| rumdiary wrote: |
| Thanks everyone. Drinks are on me as soon as I get my first paycheck. |
Careful. I can drink $600 worth of alcohol in one night. |
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