Author Topic: On the Other Side of the World (Read 4935 times)

Spak-Spang · « **on:** July 04, 2009, 08:21:21 AM »

Hey everyone,

My life is finally beginning to settle with my move to South Korea. I am in a city called Gwangju, and it is very beautiful here. I am not used to seeing mountains, because Texas is flat almost everywhere.

For the past 2 weeks I have been living out of a suitcase. The first week in America we packed up and moved out of our house to jump from parents while getting the last things done before the move. Then in Korea we stayed in this "love motel" because we were under quarantine. Apparently, the Koreans are deathly afraid of the swine flu. It has already entered the country, however any foreign teacher coming must be quarantined for 1 week before interacting with the students. This paranoia also includes a fear of mad cow disease, and they refuse to buy American beef. The stores actually label any beef coming from America so the Koreans know the risk...and it is marked cheaper.

I have found that I love Korean food, which isn't too surprising since I love Chinese and Japanese food, but still it IS different. Kimichi is good, but I find I must be in the mood for it because it is so spicy. The Korean meal is about balance. Hot and cold; spicy and sweet. Plus, there are several strange vegetables to eat with your meals.

I have only been working for 1 week, but I can say I love teach the kids. Everyone says that the job is easy, however I find it can be quite difficult to remember everything and time your classes properly. We have 40-55 minute classes but only teach between 2 pages a day and a story book. Sounds like it should be easy, but I seem to always run out of time. Discipline is also quite hard, the kids can be crazy and wild, but they are so cute...and I am not a strict person. I need to learn how to teach and handle children better.

The apartment I am in is very nice, it is larger than the first apartment my wife and I had after being married, but there are little cultural aspects we have to get accustomed to. For instance, they don't use dryers only washers really. So we must air dry all of our clothing. To use the hot water for a shower we must turn the hot water on first, ect.

The Korean language radically different from English, I want to learn it but it feels impossible. The alphabet is supposedly very easy to learn, and I am hoping to get that down quickly....and then practice my pronunciation and then increase my vocabulary. It is going to be a LONG process, but I may be here more than a year so I should be able to learn some.

I will let you guys know more as I settle more, and I hope to see you online to talk games, even though I am sitting the rest of this year out of the gaming market.

Stogi · « **Reply #1 on:** July 04, 2009, 10:36:06 AM »

I'm glad to see your enjoying your stay so far!

I'm like you, I love Korean food though I especially love kimchi. I'm sure you know this by now, but a lot of best food in Asia comes from those po-dunk little restaurants that do one thing and one thing only and are owned an operated by families. I haven't been to Korea (yet) but I'm sure they are there too. Do be afraid to try everything!

I assume your teaching english. I guess we have another thing in common. I use to teach english at the Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid (about an hour away from the capital city of Amman). I actually never felt so rewarded. It's a lot of fun, and I'm sure you know this, but it takes a lot of patience as well. Our classes maybe different (at the time, the students were older than I was), but I'm sure they are probably very similar curriculum wise. If you'd like any advice or are just curious to how I ran my class, please don't be shy!

I wish you the best in your endeavors! One love.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #2 on:** July 04, 2009, 11:42:23 AM »

Do be afraid to try everything???

Ha.

I know, there is a nice play called Kimbop Nara's is something like that, and it is very good and cheap. My wife and I ate for 4,000 won.

Right now I am teaching mostly elementary school kids and they are super cute, and I love working with them, but you are right it can take patience, I am having a more difficult time because I have never taught or worked with kids before. I am looking at this as a long term possibility for my life. I hope to be here for 2-3 years. I want to learn the language as well.

Thanks for the support, I may take you up on it. Its just to nice to know another person to talk with.

BeautifulShy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2009, 11:57:12 AM »

I am going to take the liberty of listing some things about the city and some places you might want to visit in your time there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwangju
There is the wiki page for the city.
http://eng.gjcity.net/_eng/htm/culture/culture_01_04.jsp
That page should get you to any interesting landmarks in the city.It has operating hours and prices for them. Also has contact numbers for the places.

I came across this site for learning a second language.

http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/city/Gwangju__South_Korea.asp

Glad you are have a good time there Spak.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2009, 12:01:40 PM »

Sitting the rest of the year out in the gaming market? What about StarCraft 2? I thought every South Korean resident was legally required to buy it when it comes out.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2009, 12:44:34 PM »

Did you see the missles launch?

BeautifulShy · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2009, 01:25:59 PM »

Just looked at some time zone site and it tells me it is July 5th 2009 2:26 am in South Korea.

So did you and your wife celebrate anything on the 4th of July. Does Korean's have a holiday similar to 4th of July?

stevey · « **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2009, 01:33:59 PM »

So everyone on NWR is (or was at some point) an English Teacher.

Everything now makes sense...

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #8 on:** July 04, 2009, 08:48:35 PM »

Quote from: ShyGuy on July 04, 2009, 12:01:40 PM

Sitting the rest of the year out in the gaming market? What about StarCraft 2? I thought every South Korean resident was legally required to buy it when it comes out.

You have no idea how true this is. They have an entire television channel devoted to Star Craft it is insane. The television here is very interesting, more educational than anything else. They have a GO channel, a Star Craft channel, and several educational study channels. Then the censorship doesn't allow guns or knives to be shown on television so it is blurred out of movies. However, on the English channel the F-Bomb and more are aired pretty frequently.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Maxi thanks for the links. I have been to the main page and the wikipedia page, but that second language site may be useful. I know there are some java/flash Korean soundboards online to practice the alphabet. I am going to do that soon.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 05, 2009, 11:25:24 PM »

But what about the missles? Could you see them? Did they make you think of 4th of July?

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #10 on:** July 07, 2009, 12:19:25 AM »

I didn't see the missiles nobody here in South Korea even thinks North Korea is a problem. Nobody talks about it, and nobody cares...I think N. Korea has been like this for ages and nobody ever thinks its a problem.

Of Fourth of July, I wish I had something to help me remember. All the American teachers went out and got drunk, starting in the afternoon and lasted all night. I guess that is what happens when an American holiday falls on a weekend here. My wife and I were just moving into our apartments so we had to focus on moving and making it livable.

ThePerm · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2009, 12:32:30 AM »

id figure texas would have more mountains, i live in Arizona there is a mountain on every side of you no matter which part you live in.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #12 on:** July 07, 2009, 06:02:21 AM »

I know Texas is annoying it is so flat. There is a "mountainy area" in Texas, but it is mostly a joke. Nothing like real mountains exist in Texas.

Arizona is beautiful. But Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, is all pretty flat.

Stogi · « **Reply #13 on:** July 07, 2009, 07:38:01 AM »

Quote from: Spak-Spang on July 04, 2009, 11:42:23 AM

Do be afraid to try everything???

Ha.

Oh that wasn't a typo. Asia is really weird with some of their cuisine. Some of it should really not be eaten by anyone.

Quote

I know, there is a nice play called Kimbop Nara's is something like that, and it is very good and cheap. My wife and I ate for 4,000 won.

Right now I am teaching mostly elementary school kids and they are super cute, and I love working with them, but you are right it can take patience, I am having a more difficult time because I have never taught or worked with kids before. I am looking at this as a long term possibility for my life. I hope to be here for 2-3 years. I want to learn the language as well.

Thanks for the support, I may take you up on it. Its just to nice to know another person to talk with.

It's my pleasure. Send me a PM anytime.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #14 on:** July 07, 2009, 10:01:37 AM »

Quote from: Kashogi Y. Stogi on July 07, 2009, 07:38:01 AM

Quote from: Spak-Spang on July 04, 2009, 11:42:23 AM
Do be afraid to try everything???

Ha.

I will. My wife and I have already decided not to eat the whole Octopus and I remember watching some episodes of No Reservations and thinking to myself how can anyone eat that. Though he was in China, not Korea.

Oh that wasn't a typo. Asia is really weird with some of their cuisine. Some of it should really not be eaten by anyone.

Quote
I know, there is a nice play called Kimbop Nara's is something like that, and it is very good and cheap. My wife and I ate for 4,000 won.

Right now I am teaching mostly elementary school kids and they are super cute, and I love working with them, but you are right it can take patience, I am having a more difficult time because I have never taught or worked with kids before. I am looking at this as a long term possibility for my life. I hope to be here for 2-3 years. I want to learn the language as well.

Thanks for the support, I may take you up on it. Its just to nice to know another person to talk with.

It's my pleasure. Send me a PM anytime.

BeautifulShy · « **Reply #15 on:** July 11, 2009, 05:48:54 PM »

So Spak what have you done recently. Visit anywhere new?

that Baby guy · « **Reply #16 on:** July 11, 2009, 05:56:13 PM »

WOAH I knew you went somewhere, but I had no idea you were going to South Korea. Amazing! Congrats on the successful move!

...And remember, you can still listen to the radio over the internet

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #17 on:** July 12, 2009, 10:22:55 AM »

I have learned the (sorta) the bus system, which now means I can get to downtown cheaper. Gwangju has a lot of great art to see by wondering the city. The downtown area has the most statues but you can find them everywhere. I went to an awesome Buddhist temple which was like hiking through a museum.

The bus system has a very nice setup where you can buy these ring passes or card passes and if you use those passes and catch a connecting bus before an hour is up the connecting bus if free. Also the debt cards here earn you rewards and you can get different cards that get you different rewards. In the end, it means that each month you get money back into your account. Very cool.

At the end of July the school has its biggest break, so my wife and I will probably travel then. Seoul and perhaps a beach...but now we still have so much to learn/see/do in Gwangju that going somewhere seems pointless.

Thatguy: Yeah you can get radio over the internet which is important, you can't get American Television unless you go slightly illegal routes which I try to avoid. ABC's (which airs lost) website won't allow to view video unless you are in the US and Hulu won't work either. It is depressing because sometimes you just want to watch some American television, and they have a few that are on, but most of it isn't great.

I have photos on Facebook, but you have to be friend-ed by me, so PM me and I can help you find me.

BeautifulShy · « **Reply #18 on:** February 22, 2010, 11:14:54 PM »

I have seen Spak-Spang the past few days and I was wondering what he has been up to since the last post in this topic.

I had my Mafia game but I couldn't contact you for it. I will have 2 more Looney Toons ones in the future so I hope you can play in one of them.

Sessha · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2010, 06:39:24 PM »

Whoa a forum member in my neck of the woods. If you ever want to know anything about tourist attractions food etc PM me or just ask on this thread I would be more then willing to help any way I can.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2010, 07:45:03 PM »

Is that where they eat dogs?

Sessha · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2010, 07:49:49 PM »

You can get dog stew here, but I think the misconception is that at the time dogs were raised as livestock, it was something out of necessity and now it is served as somewhat of a delicacy. It's not common food fare

ThePerm · « **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2010, 07:55:57 PM »

my brother just got back from living in Korea for a year. He ate dog...and i've been giving him a lot of **** for it. That's like a big Taboo for me. We used to have a pug named Gir. Me and his wife are like "you ate Gir!"

Dasmos · « **Reply #23 on:** February 23, 2010, 08:32:15 PM »

Eh, I don't have a problem with people eating dog. I personally wouldn't, but then again I doubt any Hindu would approve of me eating beef. I just don't care for any inhumane killing of animals and I guess there's more of that in Asian countries than in western societies.

Stogi · « **Reply #24 on:** February 23, 2010, 09:18:21 PM »

I wouldn't imagine dog tasting any good. Or even cat for that matter.

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Author Topic: On the Other Side of the World (Read 4935 times)