Hola from an Aussie in Gil-dong

[lee-rae]

Hi Folks, new to Korea and so far loving it. Great food, great people, fun students...what more could I ask for?

Teaching at Seoul Oryun Elementary.

 

[xiaoma]

G'day there Lee Rae.
My name's Lachlan. I'm an Australian who has set up shop in Korea as well.
What brought you to Korea? Who are you working for?
I've ben here almost 6 months now and my experience has been pretty good overall. Drop me a line if you wanna hear about the highlights!
Lach

[lee-rae]

G'day there Lee Rae.
My name's Lachlan. I'm an Australian who has set up shop in Korea as well.
What brought you to Korea? Who are you working for?
I've ben here almost 6 months now and my experience has been pretty good overall. Drop me a line if you wanna hear about the highlights!
Lach

G'day indeed! I was beginning to think that the Aussies weren't represented here in South Korea, between all the lovely Yanks and the Canucks that I've been bumping into 

My partner and I were looking for a change in lifestyle Lach! I was sick of the humdrum of office work and wanted to do something where I could use my dusty Arts degree in Languages. Doing the whole 12 months under the wing of SMOE - so public schooling system, Elementary kiddies. What about yourself?

Definitely keen on hearing about the highlights! What part of the Korea are you located in? Always keen to catch up for a beer with a fellow Aussie if you're in the same vicinity.

[thomas]

I visit Seoul a couple times a month. But I live in Icheon which is an hour away down south. I'll be up on the 17th next Friday if you want to have a Heineken and chat.
010-3153-9353

Thomas

[xiaoma]

Well...in 6 months, I've only met 3 Australians. You are the 3rd. When I left I didn't think that would be a bad thing but now I'm getting tired of repeating myself...having to explain every turn of phrase I use...

Note that when I said to an American friend I "cracked the sh*ts" recently she thought I was once again having problems with my digestive system...

But all's well, I like it here, after perhaps 3-4 months of not liking it that much but perservering anyway. I live in Bundang, which is unlike anywhere else in Korea I believe. It aspires to be western, more's the pity, but there are many things I like about it. I've come to love Korean food too, which helps a lot!

During Chuseok I am going to a place called Sokcho, which is in the east. I went there once in the springtime and it was definitely one of the highlights. The national park over there is magnificent! It only costs about 15 000 won to get there. If you like hiking you should do it, or even as a break from Seoul on the weekend it's ideal, and really close too.

But then everything in Korea is close, hey?

Oh yeah, I'm with the public system for Gyeonggi province - GEPIK. And after what I've heard about hagwons, I'm really pleased about this.

Where is Gil-dong?

[lee-rae]

I visit Seoul a couple times a month. But I live in Icheon which is an hour away down south. I'll be up on the 17th next Friday if you want to have a Heineken and chat.
010-3153-9353

Thomas

Sounds good! Always great to meet more people. Will send you a msg as soon as I get my ARC sorted out. Bane of my existence atm. How's the teaching thing going for yourself?

[lee-rae]

Well...in 6 months, I've only met 3 Australians. You are the 3rd. When I left I didn't think that would be a bad thing but now I'm getting tired of repeating myself...having to explain every turn of phrase I use...

Note that when I said to an American friend I "cracked the sh*ts" recently she thought I was once again having problems with my digestive system...

But all's well, I like it here, after perhaps 3-4 months of not liking it that much but perservering anyway. I live in Bundang, which is unlike anywhere else in Korea I believe. It aspires to be western, more's the pity, but there are many things I like about it. I've come to love Korean food too, which helps a lot!

During Chuseok I am going to a place called Sokcho, which is in the east. I went there once in the springtime and it was definitely one of the highlights. The national park over there is magnificent! It only costs about 15 000 won to get there. If you like hiking you should do it, or even as a break from Seoul on the weekend it's ideal, and really close too.

But then everything in Korea is close, hey?

Oh yeah, I'm with the public system for Gyeonggi province - GEPIK. And after what I've heard about hagwons, I'm really pleased about this.

Where is Gil-dong?

Haha that is gold! I suppose it kind of is an Aussie-centric saying.

Loving Korean food here as well School lunches are pretty damn awesome. Means I know what I'm ordering when I head out.

Sokcho sounds amazing, definitely on the to-do list for the partner and myself. We're looking at going on the Extended Seoraksan Combo Trip via adventurekorea at the end of Chuseok but depends on whether we can book our spots in time as I'm still waiting on my ARC.

Gil-dong is on the East side of Seoul in the Gangdong-gu area/district. I think that's how they refer to it.

[xiaoma]

Have you thought of just doing the trip yourself ie without the tour group? You would then have freedom to do what you like and not be locked into an itinerary. You also wouldn't need an ARC for that.

I stay at a place called the House Hostel in Sokcho. It's really cool cheap and clean accommodation where you'll meet plenty of other travellers, and the host is very helpful with information.

I'm trying not to think about lunch. It's only 9:30 and I didn't eat enough breakfast...bring on the kimchi!

Have you been to Cheonggyecheon yet? I think that's a nice place in the city.

[lee-rae]

Have you thought of just doing the trip yourself ie without the tour group? You would then have freedom to do what you like and not be locked into an itinerary. You also wouldn't need an ARC for that.

I stay at a place called the House Hostel in Sokcho. It's really cool cheap and clean accommodation where you'll meet plenty of other travellers, and the host is very helpful with information.

I'm trying not to think about lunch. It's only 9:30 and I didn't eat enough breakfast...bring on the kimchi!

Have you been to Cheonggyecheon yet? I think that's a nice place in the city.

Yeah, that's definitely on the cards as well. But I think we just want to get an idea of the who, what, where, when, why. I like the sound of the place you are referring to, will have to add that to the list. GAH!! So many places to go and things to see. Lucky this is only week 3. PHEW!

I think Sokcho has just moved to priority one.

PS. We had odaeng-guk with tang-su-yuk for lunch.

[xiaoma]

My email is xiaoma99@hotmail.com if you want to get in touch. Next time I come to Seoul maybe we could have a beer.
Speaking of which - I've decided to buy VB from HomePlus to celebrate 6 months in Korea. When I first saw it I thought yeah right I'm not paying 17 500 Won for that, but now, after 6 months of Cass and Hite etc., I'd love a VB thankyou very much...

[flowerbuzz]

all aussies, what about some kiwis

[lee-rae]

My email is xiaoma99@hotmail.com if you want to get in touch. Next time I come to Seoul maybe we could have a beer.
Speaking of which - I've decided to buy VB from HomePlus to celebrate 6 months in Korea. When I first saw it I thought yeah right I'm not paying 17 500 Won for that, but now, after 6 months of Cass and Hite etc., I'd love a VB thankyou very much...

Mate *shakes her head* VB? Seriously...tsk tsk - check your facebook.

[lee-rae]

all aussies, what about some kiwis

What about them flowerbuzz? Just kidding  Where-abouts in Seoul are you?

[isanghan]

Have you thought of just doing the trip yourself ie without the tour group? You would then have freedom to do what you like and not be locked into an itinerary. You also wouldn't need an ARC for that.

Adventure Korea is not a "tour group" in the traditional sense, though. The only "itinerary" that ever is strictly enforced are meeting times and departure times. The "tours" allow members to go off on their own and do their own thing, while meeting back at the bus at a designated time, or allows people to stay with other members if they so choose.

And we stay at a lovely place in the Osaek area. ^^

Welcome to Korea.

[Arsalan]

My email is xiaoma99@hotmail.com if you want to get in touch. Next time I come to Seoul maybe we could have a beer.
Speaking of which - I've decided to buy VB from HomePlus to celebrate 6 months in Korea. When I first saw it I thought yeah right I'm not paying 17 500 Won for that, but now, after 6 months of Cass and Hite etc., I'd love a VB thankyou very much...

Hey Xiaoma (and anyone posting emails), just a suggestion, to avoid getting spam.  Anytime you decide to post your email (here or anywhere on the net), you should try to break it up or make it not look too much like an email address as there are a lot of "bots" that are sent out to simply retrieve emails to add to a list, it then gets used by spammers.

For example, you'd want to post somedude@somemail.net as:   somedude ~at~ somemail *dot* net  , or somedude ^at somemail !dot net  , or whatever suits your fancy. 

[flowerbuzz]

im in namyangju (gwangrengu)...i live with the cows...lol i need some friends 

[cwells]

Hi Guys,
I live in Busan and have only met 3 other Aussies down here in the last year and a half...seems we're kinda rare. I head to seoul from time to time and would love to meet up^^
You can find me on facebook or email me- crystalw  at  y7mail.com

[KiwiInKorea]

Well...in 6 months, I've only met 3 Australians. You are the 3rd. When I left I didn't think that would be a bad thing but now I'm getting tired of repeating myself...having to explain every turn of phrase I use...

Note that when I said to an American friend I "cracked the sh*ts" recently she thought I was once again having problems with my digestive system...

As a fellow Antipodean, I feel your pain. Miscommunications can be hilarious but then it gets old very quickly when people keep telling you that the correct word for queue is line, the correct spelling for cheque is check etc. Come on people, we speak variations of the same thing. There's no right or wrong, lol.

[lee-rae]

I think there is a need for a Southern Hemisphere meet up! You know beers, "wa-ries" (aka stories), laughs, Korean foodage. When is everyone due down/up in Seoul next?