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jlaskie
Joined: 19 May 2007
Location: Boston, MA
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 Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject: life outside of the bars and other random questions |
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so i'm headed to seoul in less than 2 weeks (gangseo gu), and from reading this board and other sources, it seems as though meeting other people revolves mainly around bars...and i can dig that to an extent, but just wondering--how easy was it for you to find buddies for things OTHER than drinking (yes, i'm a 21 year old whose primary source of entertainment is not getting tanked every weekend...i'm a rare breed)?
on a semi-related note, if anyone has any suggestions for some nice 2-3 mile running routes (anywhere--no better way to see a city...trails are also cool), those would be much appreciated.
oh, and has anyone managed to take guitar/music lessons here? i don't communicate well in korean, but i'd like to continue studying. maybe willing foreigners floating around somewhere? |
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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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I don't drink or go into bars either.
I also have socialphobia so I am pretty happy not to be talking to people.
I have no idea what it is like to have to go out and meet people. i have never felt the need to go out and track down a random person to befriend and spend time with.
Good luck. |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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| mrsquirrel wrote: |
I don't drink or go into bars either.
I also have socialphobia so I am pretty happy not to be talking to people.
I have no idea what it is like to have to go out and meet people. i have never felt the need to go out and track down a random person to befriend and spend time with.
Good luck. |
But being a teacher we're always meeting new people, ie our students. You've chosen a strange occupation if you don't like meeting people! |
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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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Students are different to your average foreigner.
Students are interesting, most foreigners are not (or at least the ones that I have met)
Students don't have the urge to brag all the time about their lives and their past exploits. They will participate in a conversation rather than just talking at you.
And at the end of the day you can go home and leave them at work if you want to without having to think about it. |
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Cohiba
Joined: 01 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:55 pm Post subject: Opposite |
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Students are interesting, most foreigners are not (or at least the ones that I have met)
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I think that the total opposite is true. I find Koreans to be extremely
boring people. They are generally not travelled, know nothing about
cultures or food other than their own. If I have to explain to one more
Korean that I don't eat rice with every meal and then watch his face break
out into complete incomprehension and bewilderment I'll probably die
on the spot. |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| mrsquirrel wrote: |
Students are different to your average foreigner.
Students are interesting, most foreigners are not (or at least the ones that I have met)
Students don't have the urge to brag all the time about their lives and their past exploits. They will participate in a conversation rather than just talking at you.
And at the end of the day you can go home and leave them at work if you want to without having to think about it. |
I agree that, unfortunately, too many foreigners - especially those in Korea - "have the urge to brag all the time" and tend to talk as opposed to listen - but not all. I've met a few nice foreigners in Korea - it's just a case of looking in the right places, just as you would do at home. |
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lowpo
Joined: 01 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 8:06 pm Post subject: Re: Opposite |
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| Cohiba wrote: |
| Quote: |
Students are interesting, most foreigners are not (or at least the ones that I have met)
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I think that the total opposite is true. I find Koreans to be extremely
boring people. They are generally not travelled, know nothing about
cultures or food other than their own. If I have to explain to one more
Korean that I don't eat rice with every meal and then watch his face break
out into complete incomprehension and bewilderment I'll probably die
on the spot. |
I have been lucky that most of my Korean friends have traveled to other countries. But I also don't hang around with the average Korean.
Most have a good education, nice jobs and money. |
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endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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| As for running trails, there are absolutely fantastic trails along the Han river and its tributaries. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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| If you don't want to hang around in bars and get drunk you can always hang around in parks and get drunk. |
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ron_j
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:18 am Post subject: |
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| there are tons of things to do that aren't alcohol related. Check out the Seoul times and you will find activities. eg: art exhibits, musicals, drams, etc. I plan to get my culture on in hyehwa and jongno. |
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HighTreason
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:56 am Post subject: Re: life outside of the bars and other random questions |
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| jlaskie wrote: |
| how easy was it for you to find buddies for things OTHER than drinking |
 buh? I find this question self-contradictory... Isn't the definition of a buddy someone who would not subject you to having to do something other than drinking??   |
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Treefarmer
Joined: 29 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:16 am Post subject: |
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lots of ways to meet people
join clubs, take up a sport etc, just the same as back home
most people do tend to meet up in bars, but that's my experience of england too, doesn't mean there is nowt else to do..... |
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mateomiguel
Joined: 16 May 2005
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, give me a PM when you get to Seoul and I'll show ya!
I'm running out of foreign friends, they all keep leaving Korea  .
And I haven't been able to take music lessons, but I've been able to give them. |
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Mashimaro
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: location, location
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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| mrsquirrel wrote: |
Students are different to your average foreigner.
Students are interesting, most foreigners are not (or at least the ones that I have met)
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Oh yeah, students are way interesting. The conversations I used to have with them.
Me: what did you do on the weekend?
Student: Sleep
Me: what did you do on the weekend?
Student: played computer
repeat * 99999
Funnily enough students and adults answers were often the same |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: life outside of the bars and other random questions |
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| jlaskie wrote: |
so i'm headed to seoul in less than 2 weeks (gangseo gu), and from reading this board and other sources, it seems as though meeting other people revolves mainly around bars...and i can dig that to an extent, but just wondering--how easy was it for you to find buddies for things OTHER than drinking (yes, i'm a 21 year old whose primary source of entertainment is not getting tanked every weekend...i'm a rare breed)?
on a semi-related note, if anyone has any suggestions for some nice 2-3 mile running routes (anywhere--no better way to see a city...trails are also cool), those would be much appreciated.
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There's a trail in Gangseogu that runs along the Han river. It's back there behind the Kayangdong E-Mart. Your boss or co-workers would probably know about it.
There are some really nice areas in Gangseogu to jog around. Not that I go jogging, but I do explore with my scooter. I don't see very many foreigners walking around, though, and I never want to meet people, so I couldn't tell you about that aspect of life in the Gang. |
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