[Eric]

Hi and welcome to korea... eventually!

You can get almost everything you need for your life and for teaching here in korea. there are a few things that are hard to come by, though. deodorant is really hard to find. any other toiletries that you are attached to you should bring as well.

depending on your hobbies, you may want to consider bringing your hobby paraphanelia. it depends on what you are into, though.

also, a set of books that you would be willing to trade with other teachers after you read them.

gifts for directors: bottle of wine, some kind of gourmet/specialty food, etc..
gifts for students: stickers, fun pens/pencils, trading cards
gifts for teachers: cheese, books, good beer...

if you are already deciding on what gifts to bring people and doing research, i think you got the ugly american syndrome curbed already. just bring an open mind and you'll be fine.

if you have any specific questions as to what to bring, post them.

eric

[livinginkorea]

Hi and welcome. One thing that I always say to people coming to Korea is have an open mind and don't let anybody push you around. A lot of people have postive experiences in their first year but some don't and have a hard time as they didn't do enough research before coming here. If you are going to some country school then it will be a lot harder to get used to Korea than some big city, naturally. Korea is a totally different culture than you can even imagine so be prepared for it and study on the net about it. That's your homework!!!!

I'm sure that you will be fine. When and where are you going to in Korea?

[sp6416]

Thank you, Eric and the Ninja!

I appreciate the encouragement. I've just sent my contract, transcripts, etc. to KNC Language Institute in Gunsan. One of the teachers there has been talking w/ me and she has said it's the best thing she's ever done. My "expedited" passport renewal has still not arrived, however. I suppose there is a glut of applications due to the new requirements for entry into Canada and Mexico. I'm not really sure how long the process takes, from this point. I still have to give notice at my job, and rent a storage unit, sell my car and my plants. I have an 8 foot ficus lyrata that I grew from a scrawny Wal-mart reject.

I've heard about deodorant, sheets, towels, and larger sized clothes and shoes being scarce. I'm really curious as to what you wished you'd brought, or wish you'd left behind, once you got there? Also, doesn't anyone eat brown rice? How 'bout organic foods? Just curious. I'll eat anything. Maybe even dog (why does this grinning icon say becky?)

[Eric]

Quote sp6416

I've heard about deodorant, sheets, towels, and larger sized clothes and shoes being scarce. I'm really curious as to what you wished you'd brought, or wish you'd left behind, once you got there? Also, doesn't anyone eat brown rice? How 'bout organic foods? Just curious. I'll eat anything. Maybe even dog (why does this grinning icon say becky?)

I wish I had left my 150 CDs at home. iTunes and an iPod is sufficient. Bring clothes for all purposes. Clothes for attending weddings and funerals (you'll probably be invited to both) so you don't have to rush out and buy those are worse, not be able to find a style/size that works for you.

Haven't seen brown rice yet...

Vegetaian & Organic foods

I don't want to get all political but here's a note about eating dog that I only learned after living here for a few years. Dogs that are eaten are strung up by their necks and beaten with a stick until they die. This is thought to fill their muscles with adrenaline giving a man more stamina....

[livinginkorea]

Quote Eric

...I don't want to get all political but here's a note about eating dog that I only learned after living here for a few years. Dogs that are eaten are strung up by their necks and beaten with a stick until they die. This is thought to fill their muscles with adrenaline giving a man more stamina....

Following on from that it will also depend on where you will be living in Korea. I lived in the countryside (very small town) in my first year here and I could hear the poor dogs getting beaten every week during the same (they have offical dog eating days here in Korea). It was awful since I am a big dog lover and always had a dog around the house but it depends on your preference. I have known a few teachers who enjoy eating it but I'll never be going down that road!

It's interesting that this country is so conservative but cares only about "stamina." What do you say about that Eric?

[Eric]

Quote livinginkorea

It's interesting that this country is so conservative but cares only about "stamina." What do you say about that Eric?

The contradictions in life here are amazing and confusing! It's been fascinating to me since the day I arrived and i have come no closer to making any sense of any of it. i just chalk it all up to living overseas.

Why is sex so taboo yet adult pc rooms, adult stores, "coffee girls", adult karaokees and the like exist every?

Education is so important yet why do many schools hire teachers based on appearance instead of qualifications?

When family is so important in korea, how can families send their pre-teens abroad for years at a time to study in a foreign country?

There are so many other contradictions yet i can't think of most of them now. i always come across them day to day. maybe i'll post more as i remember...

anyway, these things make life very interesting in korea. I guess our own countries also have these contradictions though they are harder to see with our eyes.

sorry to hijack the thread...

[sp6416]

Hey Y'all,

Got lost in space for a while there... sex is taboo? As in? Not that I'm too concerned, I don't do it either...

Anyway, I appreciate you guys talking with me. Any more news, stories, hints, or advice? I'm not there yet, and am starting to wonder if my school in Gunsan has given up on me. First it took three weeks for my passport to arrive, and now I have business matters that will keep me here another 3 weeks. My contact (Assistant Director?) hasn't sent my visa issuance # yet, and I haven't heard from her. Nor has the recruiter from ESL Planet. She made the offer back in February. I get the feeling my case is inordinately slow in getting "sorted", as they say in England. I sent the signed contract and my diploma about three weeks ago. Is this something I should worry about?

Thanks, Suzanne