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For those living in small-town Korea....

 
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mytime



Joined: 15 Oct 2006

PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:40 am    Post subject: For those living in small-town Korea.... Reply with quote

Do you like it?




I kinda like it


-Its great if you wanna save money
I spend like 80 000 won a week

-And if I wanna meet other foreigners I can take a bus to the nearest city...so I choose my friends, they don't choose me

-My Korean has improved a lot....very few students ask me something in Korean that I dont understand and I have soooo much free time to learn Korean and do other stuff

-Today I had 10 hours of free (alone) time.....I excercise a lot every day...watch at least 3 movies a week that I download...(who needs a cinema)...have time to read lots, use comp, meet koreans

-You can "blame it on your culture" ....
if you don't wanna meet your student's mother, just say "we don't do that in my culture"^^

- I can go hiking for miles and not see any Koreans...which is nice sometimes

There are downsides too though:

-Decent Korean girls in a small town are less willing to date a foreigner (especially if you are the only foreigner there)

-Can be very lonely

But I lived in a Korean city too and all in all I think living in a small town is just as good if you set yourself up well enough
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andrew



Joined: 30 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

.....

Last edited by andrew on Fri May 08, 2009 5:57 am; edited 1 time in total
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sheba



Joined: 16 May 2005
Location: Here there and everywhere!

PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 7:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I really like it too. Im not the only foreigner in the town, but its still pretty small. I think Ive been able to get to know Korean culture more intimately living in a small town.... the locals are really friendly, and its just more personal. My school is really grateful that I took a job in such a small town and they treat me really well.

I do miss the convenience to location sometimes though... my friends in the city never come out here to meet me. On the odd occassion I really crave some western food I hate having to go into the city... or if theres something I need to buy that they dont have here. Not so great after a big night out either when youre just ready to go home and sleep.

Im glad I live in a small town though. I like it here, has real personality! Walking back alleys out into the rice paddies, ajummas carrying all sorts of things on their heads, kids playing out on the back streets.... something homely about it!


Last edited by sheba on Thu Nov 30, 2006 6:33 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Roch



Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

andrew wrote:
I just returned to Korea this past weekend and am getting settled in a small town. I am actually beginning to like it.

In Japan, I lived in a 2nd floor apartment on a busy corner - all night long, sirens blared, motorcycles roared past and peoples voices drifted in. Now its QUIET and I love it!

I am learning the bus schedule and have been meeting the townsfolk. Very friendly, nice people.

Mayberry in Korea! Glad I came back!


Do you suspect that you'll feel negative emotions towards your new town after, say, five months - maximum?

Just curious; I'm certainly not atempting to take the piss, etc.

God bless you, and take care!

R
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jennateacher



Joined: 21 Nov 2006
Location: Nonsan, Land of strawberries and rice

PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am in a rural "city." I walk 45 min from school to apt. through rice fields mostly.

I spend alot of time alone. The old lady beating soy bean stalks on my way home is more likely to say hello than anyone in my neighborhood. This is my second year, I now have the produce ladies at the "grocery store" saying hello and bowing. Takes awhile to break in.

I have to be a bit careful on the street, anything I do is seen by someone connected to my school.
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andrew



Joined: 30 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

.....

Last edited by andrew on Fri May 08, 2009 8:49 am; edited 1 time in total
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spyro25



Joined: 23 Nov 2004

PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i lived in a TINY place called edit for one year back in 2003. it was my first year in korea, and it was probably the most rural place i had ever even see on tv, let alone visited.

as tough as it was (i depended on alchohol to get me through most nights, and a decent internet connection) i will never forget that year of life as long as i live. i learned so many things there that made me look at the world in a different way, and i really felt i developed many positive qualities for myself from my time there - patience being the main one.

also the food was awesome - you cant get food that fresh anywhere else!

however, without the two trains a day going to edit i may have not enjoyed it so much - you do need some of kind of escape from it all, but for those people who just need a big change in their life, i recommend taking a job way out in the sticks. it will help you understand korean culture in a way living in a big city cannot provide.


Last edited by spyro25 on Tue Aug 04, 2009 8:00 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Boodleheimer



Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Location: working undercover for the Man

PostPosted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 9:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i like it!

i'm here with my boyfriend of 3+ years, though.

some things are really odd: like shops don't take in all their merchandise off the streets at night. want free stuff? come to my town.
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