Off the Beaten Subway Path: Life in a Small Korean City

While it’s possible to be located in real the countryside in Korea, not well connected to any major city or downtown center, the majority of Gyeonggi-do province surrounding Seoul is well developed and densely populated. Though neighboring townships like the one I work in might be considered rural, civilization is never too far off! I'm always amazed by how a 15 minute bus ride can take me from farms and rice paddies to a crowded city center with many of the comforts of Seoul (overpriced coffee shops, massive apartments complexes, rows of cosmetics stores, countless PCbangs, Italian restaurants, etc). While not without its drawbacks, living in a smaller city has had a lot benefits as well. 

The Pros

The space. Aside from those living near the Han River, people often complain about the lack of places to enjoy a good run, or open space, Seoul. I myself really enjoy running and biking, and don’t know how I would have made it through my experience in Korea without having large parks nearby. This park surrounds part of the bike path that extends from Seoul to Busan. 

Enjoying some BBQ on the river.

It has a real oven! 

You might also have some extra living space. Now this isn’t a guarantee, I have plenty of friends in town who live in typical shoe box size apartments, but living in a less populated area with cheaper real estate might mean getting a bigger place! My situation is highly unusual, but I lucked out with my school and landed a 3-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen. This certainly would never happen in Seoul!

Korea like you’ve never seen it. I’d say I’ve found more cultural depth in my town than I’ve seen even in parts of Seoul, and anyone who has lived in smaller Korean towns and cities can tell you that such treasures are everywhere. Living outside Seoul can be a great way to experience more authentic Korean culture and life. Here a few of my favorite gems from my city: 

I was in Korea for almost a year before my friends stumbled upon this incredible sculpture park, filled with contemporary statues and models of Korean monuments.

Interestingly, it's a model of a palace that is (was?) in North Korea.

This old amusement park just five minutes from my apartment complex is like a trip to another time.

Yeoju is known for its ceramics and home to many nationally recognized, and even internationally renowned ceramics artists. These are photos from the Biennial International Ceramics Festival in Yeoju.

Photo from the Yeoju city homepage

Yeoju has many other cultural destinations, most notably King Sejong's Tomb. Yes, that King Sejong, the one who invented Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. I think it's one of the nicest landmarks I've been to in Korea, and a great place for an afternoon stroll.

Going back to the pros:

Tight knit expat community. Thanks to Facebook you don’t have to worry too much about wandering around to find friends. If you’re not into Facebook, or need to get out of town, there is also Meetup where you can find interest groups, or Couchsurfing for meeting other travelers. You can also take weekend trips with groups like WINK, Seoul Hiking Group, and Adventure Korea, which are great for meeting people. No matter where you live, in Seoul or a larger city, you will have to exert some effort to meet people. For every expat I hear complaining that they wished more foreigners lived in their city, I hear expats in Seoul complain about how they don’t meet many people outside of their hagwon.

Gaining an incredible sense of independence. Many teachers come to Korea seeking new experiences and that deeper perspective of the world that comes with living abroad. However like many newcomers, I also thought there was no way I could last in Korea without eventually moving to Seoul or a bigger city. After a few months though, I found that having to make my own way and make my own fun were more life affirming challenges. I feel I’ve had to adapt and become more independent in ways some of my Seoul counterparts haven’t. Now of course, a lot of this is personality, a proactive person will be active anywhere he or she lives. I know for myself, being fresh out of college when I got here, that if I had had a lot of night life and other distractions around, I probably wouldn’t have been as motivated to push myself outside of my comfort zone and try new things. 

Saving money. Most people agree that the cost of living is manageable in Korea no matter where you live, but when there are less places to spend your money and less temptation you tend to save more. This is personal of course, but I know if I lived near downtown Seoul I would certainly be broke from shopping in Myeongdong and schmoozing at nice bars and restaurants.

Still having access to good travel. Korean public transportation is incredibly efficient and cheap. If you live in a Gyeonggi-do city you shouldn’t have to worry too much about getting around. I don’t live on a subway line, but buses between my city and Seoul run every half hour on the dot! If you're travelling far, The Arrival Store has a great post on reserving bus tickets for long trips! 

More public school jobs- while getting harder and harder to come by in and around Seoul, public school jobs are much more common farther out in Gyeonggi-do. In my city the vast majority of English teachers work at public schools.

So what are the cons? 

The drawbacks are probably what you’d expect from living in a smaller city in a foreign country: less going on socially, less international cuisine, fewer English speakers, and fewer facilities. In general it’s easier to feel isolated physically and socially. However, Korea is continuing to change rapidly. Every month I see new restaurants (including more international cuisine), updated shops, and new constructions. Just this past summer they put up a large luxury hotel with a water park next to my apartment complex, which is a big deal for Yeoju! By 2015, Yeoju will be accessible by the Seoul Metro. Witnessing this transformation has been an interesting experience in and of itself. 

While you may have to look harder for them, there is no shortage of activities to do and things to try. I know teachers in Yeoju who have done everything from getting black belts in Taekwondo to taking pottery classes with renowned artists. Living in a less connected city requires a higher degree of independence, willingness to be proactive, and the ability to deal with some more frustrations and discomforts, as you may have less access to certain resources. But if you want a challenge, and to see a different side of life in Korea, living in smaller city can be very rewarding. 

Where to Live in Korea: Big City vs. Small City

My newest post is up on The Arrival Store Blog! You can also check out the original here:

As the capital and cultural hub of South Korea, Seoul is of course the most popular option for prospective teachers. Gyeonggi-do, the province surrounding Seoul, is also a popular place to look for jobs. While your gut instinct may be that you must live in Seoul, and nowhere else, don’t be too quick to judge! There are plenty of great alternatives, such as large Seoul satellite cities (eg. Anyang, Suwon, Seongnam, Yongin, etc.) and smaller cities outlying cities such as Yeoju, where I reside.

 It can be daunting to search through job listings and try to choose a location based on cities which you know little about. For a complete list of the cities in Gyeonggi-do, you can check out the subdivisions section of the Seoul Capital area wiki. Before you get worried about landing in the middle of nowhere, keep in mind that Gyeonggi-do is very densely populated and well connected.  

Large satellite cities and smaller outlying cities are usually connected to Seoul, and to each other, by bus, subway, or KTX high speed trains, all of which are highly efficient. I live about as far out in Gyeonngi-do as you can get, and it usually only takes me an hour and 10 minutes to get to the world famous Gangnam. While some cities may be lacking some of the culture Seoul offers, most will contain all of the same amenities, access to universities, and active expat communities.

It’s important to realize that South Korea is an incredibly homogenous country and that much of these cities, including Seoul, will look the same. As you travel throughout Seoul and Gyeonggi-do you will inevitably encounter the same architecture, same stores, and same atmosphere in cities large and small. The fun part is finding the hidden gems. And there are many! Lately I’ve stopped going to Seoul to see my friends, instead they come to visit me to experience a different side of Korea.  Choosing a smaller city in Gyeonggi-do, where Seoul is still nearby, is a great way to get the best of both worlds!  

A taste of Yeoju and the Korean countryside. 

People often ask me what to look for when deciding where to live. Experiences and preferences vary widely, so the best thing you can do is consider what you want out of your city and make sure it has those things. In addition, I would research:

• Variety of Facebook groups- most cities have Facebook groups, but it’s also good to find cities with groups that cater to diverse interests, such as sports clubs, language exchanges, etc.
• Use Naver or Daum, Korean search engines- if one were to Google my city, there would be few returns, however this is not the case on Korean search engines. While the returns will be in Korean, many sites have English titles. There are lots of Korean bloggers out there, and even if you can’t understand their posts, they’ll provide lots of pictures you won’t find on Google, Yahoo, or Bing. It might give you a better idea of what your city is like!
• Historical and cultural attractions – it’s my opinion that cities and districts with more history are more likely to have more hidden gems and traditions. Try to look at tourist sites to see what kind of attractions are around. If you find that your prospective residence is a very industrial area without many cultural sites that could be a bad sign, as that usually indicates that there will be factories, offices, coffee shops, and not much else.
• Personal blogs- I try to stay away from public forums like Dave’s ESL and Waygook when searching for unbiased opinions about cities, as they seem to attract a lot of naysayers, or those who think there is no life outside of Itaewon. Try to look for personal blogs of teachers living your city; people giving thoughtful day to day accounts about what life is like there.
• Universities – A reputable university usually means there will be some culture, nightlife, and vibrancy that comes with having young people around! There will probably also be Korean language classes, language buddies, and more opportunities for cultural exchange if you’re interested! 

What to Pack for South Korea

You've probably noticed that my blog now has some additional flare from The Arrival Store on the side bar and bottom banner. I recently signed on to be a contributing blogger for the The Arrival Store (TAS), an American company that, among other services, will deliver bedroom, kitchen, household, electronic, and other items to your apartment before you arrive in Korea! They are starting a blog in order to expand their teacher resources. My first post was just published! You can see it on their site here: http://blog.thearrivalstore.com/?p=77

To my friends and family: I will be putting up my work for TAS (first week on the job advice, packing tips, etc) in addition to my personal posts, but don't worry! The majority of posts will still be about my own ridiculous adventures living and working in Korea! I am just putting the TAS posts on my blog in case anyone reading this finds out that they know someone who is moving/ thinking about moving to South Korea. If you could pass along my informational posts/ my blog along to anyone you know going to South Korea that would be super fabulous for me! 

In case you missed it.

The internet is chock full of forums with teachers panicking over what to pack for living in Korea. Many repeat the same questions: asking what to bring, how they can get a phone without an alien card, where they can find fitted sheets, if their straightener will work, etc. I'm promoting The Arrival Store because it saves me the trouble of answering all of these questions and writing a snooze-fest blog post.

Again, if you have a friend who needs these things and more, refer them to my blog and tell them to hit one of the banners for The Arrival Store! Poof!! All of their packing problems will be solved. Items can also be delivered to the airport, your school, or orientation meeting spots. You don't have to be a teacher, the service is for any foreigner moving to work in Korea.   

Having traveled abroad four times I can honestly say that this is one of the most helpful and convenient services I've ever used, especially since I'm living in a rural area and didn't have access to much transportation when I first got here. If you buy nothing else, I'd recommend these three items from TAS (trust me, they'll drastically improve your transition in Korea):

1) Cell Phone- you cannot get a cell phone in Korea without an alien card, which takes up to four weeks to receive (actually in my case it's been taking longer). You might be able to get a phone illegally, but it's not worth the trouble when you can have a working, legal phone delivered to your apartment. Not having a phone when you first get here can be super isolating, especially if you meet new people and then find you have no easy way to contact them!

2) Memory Foam Mattress Pad- I realize this is a splurge, but the rumors are true, Korean mattresses are about one step above concrete. In fact, I'd say using the term "mattress" is being polite. To be fair, I think this is because most Koreans actually sleep on floor pads instead of beds. Point is though, if you like a soft bed, you'll at least want to invest in a feather mattress pad. Otherwise, you'll definitely get some practice with Korean numbers counting sheep.

3) Sheets and Towels- alright this is two items, but whatever they basically go together. Due to the lack of beds in Korea there is also a lack of sheets, especially the fitted bottom one. They are impossible to find and very expensive, even at stores like E-Mart which are huge Target-like chain stores. Towels in Korea are also very small, if you want a nice big body towel I'd order a set or two. You can bring them from home I suppose but they take up a lot of space.

Here are also some personal packing tips I have (for things you can't get from The Arrival Store):

1) Bring your favorite toothpaste and deodorant- it's true that few Korean toothpastes contain flouride, plus in general I find them to be lacking in refreshing flavor. Deodorant is practically non-existent here and very expensive. Bring it!

2) Leave other toiletries at home - unless you're living truly out in the middle of no where, or super super picky about your cosmetics, chances are you will live near an E-Mart or similar store which will carry most popular American brands for around the same price. For girls especially you'll find that Koreans have their own great skin products. I've personally found that I like some shampoos and cosmetics better than what I get at home. I'm going to do a post on Skin Food, my new obsession, their Royal Honey skin care line is awesome.

Love. Love. Love.

3) Cover your eyes gentleman- if you're a girl and use tampons, bring them. Also hard to find and can be expensive! If you have a big chest, don't count on finding bras that fit you here either.

4) Shipping is cheaper than you'd think! If you are coming in the spring/ summer and don't want to be bogged down by bulky winter clothes, have your family/friends ship your heavier clothes later! Relatively cheap shipping, even for big boxes, takes about three weeks. I'm not sure of the exact rates, but I'm pretty sure it costs less than the baggage fees charged by airlines. Even if it costs as much as baggage fees, it will save you a lot of hassle in the airport.

5) A word on clothes/shoes- if you have small feet, I'd say American sizes 5-7, shoes here are cheap and easy to find! Don't worry about bringing tons of shoes cause I guarantee you'll buy more anyway. The one exception is sneakers! If you're a runner or hiker and want good shoes for intense physical activity, you'd probably be better off bringing a pair from home. Good sneakers here can be pricey and don't always have as good of support.

Typical Korean shoe shop in the subway.

I wouldn't stress too much about clothes unless you are very tall. While clothing here seems to run a bit small, there is no shortage of cute cheap clothes to buy in Korea! If you're a guy, perhaps you can get a suit or two made while you're at it.

6) I spent way too much money on a North Face backpacking pack for post-teaching traveling. My excuse was that I wanted something adjustable since I'm short...but it turns out that they sell adjustable packs in Korea for less than half the price. You can get cheap luggage here in general.

7) If you think you'd be into this: bring candy and little trinkets from your home country- they'll make great prizes for students! If you're a chocoholic, be warned, Korean chocolate is super mediocre. I've got a stash of Godiva in my fridge....

8) Coffee here is also mediocre unless you like really sugary lattes or bland instant coffee. If you're a big coffee drinker and want the real stuff, I'd bring your own. You can get a coffee grinder through The Arrival Store!

Korea (also) runs on Dunkin'

9) Medicine- if you're not one of those people who doses all your food with Sriracha and you're not sure how you're body is going to react to all of the new spicy food, I would bring some Tums or Pepto Bismal type medicine. Though they have pharmacies, Korean medicines usually come as a cocktail of several different pills. I'd suggest bringing along Advil, Nyquil, or whatever else you like to use for colds and the occasional aches and pains. 

Aside from these things, unless you are truly in the middle of no where, you can usually find what you need. It might be pricier, but if you really need something just buy it. If you don't want to spend the money, then you'll find a substitute or a way to live without it. There are even several Costcos scattered around the country where you can get American food products. Except limes...they don't sell limes in Korea...

Pretty much captures how I feel. 

Overall, teachers and students will be very welcoming and helpful, so if there's anything you need that you can't find, you'll have lots of help! Asking your teachers where to buy good food in your town might be a good idea. I used to go to E-Mart to get all of my food until another teacher told me about a great grocery store close to my apartment that gets all its vegetables locally. Sooooooo delicious!

Riding a Motorbike in Korea, Red Lights Optional

Riding a motorbike, or moped, in the States is about as cool as driving a ten year-old mini van...oh wait, I already did that....well I guess for the sake of continuity I recently bought a moped to get around Yeoju since my apartment is a bit far from my school/ the downtown.

Gangsta.

In my humble opinion however, riding a moped in Asia is way cooler than doing it in the States because 1) lots of people drive them here 2) I'm in Asia...this sounds really obnoxious (probably cause it is) but seriously, try adding "in Asia" to the end of any first person verb phrase and see how infinitely cooler it sounds..."I hiked a mountain....in Asia", "I went to a water park...in Asia", "I ate a bug...in Asia"...see what I mean?

And the big number 3) unless you're at a major intersection or downtown, traffic laws in rural Korea are OPTIONAL. Red lights? I ran three of those this morning. Now I'm not doing this out of sheer stupidity. Some people do obey traffic lights, signs, etc, so I simply follow what the other cars around me are doing. If it's an empty street and everyone is running the red light then I will run it too...it's better to run the light than get passed by cars and trucks, which is quite scary. Also since I'm technically still a bike (no license or registration required), I'm not sure how much traffic laws apply to me anyway...I mean...I park on the sidewalk.

The first week I had my bike I was pretty much too scared to ride it, a fear which I attribute to my parents (hi mom! hi dad!). However, this isn't because they are overly paranoid, in fact, it's their lax attitude towards most other things that made me think twice about getting a bike. In general, my parents have been surprisingly cool about my many shenanigans (transferring to a college 1500 miles away, an impromptu trip to Bratislava, moving to South Korea...), but I've always heard them talk about how dangerous bikes can be.

I found it extremely uncomfortable at first. The throttle can seem jumpy and making good turns is tricky; you can't be afraid to stick your feet out for balance.  It took me a few tries to stop and go without wobbling all over the place. I also made the mistake of learning on the go in real traffic. Why you ask? I don't know...because I'm in Korea and logic has escaped me a bit. Luckily no one was hurt by my inaugural solo ride through the downtown (though they may have been offended by my dress which was riding up the whole time). 

I got my bike for a good price since I bought mine from another foreign teacher who is moving. If you're moving to Korea and looking to get a bike you can get cheap used ones for as low as 400,000 won (around $375), though usually they run around 500,000 won. If you're buying one in a shop, bring a co-worker or someone one who speaks Korean so you don't get ripped off and/or end up buying a crappy bike.

Even if you don't need one for daily use, it's fun to hop on a country road, open up the throttle (max out at 45 mph) and feel the breeze. Now that I've gotten used to riding it I don't know what I'd do without it...probably a lot of walking or hand gesturing to cab drivers. I started going to a Korean class and so far I can write my name is Korean...which impressed my co-teacher much less than I thought it would. What would impress him about that? I don't know...Korean kindergarteners and I now have something in common?

Anyway here's a blurry photo I snapped while riding my bike (sorry mom...but look no traffic! Plus it's good for practicing balance):

This is the view driving from my school (which I stopped to take a photo of):

Minus the streetlight....the mountains are really beautiful. It's been very cloudy and raining a lot here because of monsoon season, so today was an unusually nice day.

In cute news, I found the pet store where all the Koreans get their tiny dogs from:

The best thing about this picture is that you can see me making my "awww-I-want-it!" face in the mirror. I have to say...this guy is making Gus look bad...

Yeoju

My friend Morgan pointed out that the Yeoju wikipedia page is severely lacking, so while exploring today I took some pictures of the town for everyone to see. One of my biggest regrets from living in Padova, Italy was not actually taking any good photos of Padova! I think I got so used to living there that I forgot about that kind of thing. To avoid the same remorse, I decided to take some pictures of Yeoju while I still don't mind feeling like a tourist/ crazy foreigner (though I'll probably always look like a crazy foreigner, or ""waygook", to people who live here).

This the view when you leave my apartment complex. Not sure what that funky building on the right is, it might be a love motel. For those who don't know, many Koreans live at home until they're married, so if they are in need of some cuddle time with their significant other they can rent a room at a love motel (for a night or by the hour). I've heard they aren't always as sketchy as one might imagine, but a lot of them are themed!

FamilyMart is like the 7 Eleven of Korea, even though they also have 7 Elevens...it's also very curious that most big chain stores in Korea have English or pseudo-French-sounding names even though no one here really speaks any English...A for effort I guess?

 I live about a mile from the downtown, so here's a nice view from my walk today. More big girl news: I didn't even get lost!

 Up until the 1960s Korea had an agricultural economy and culture which is still very much active today. There are rice paddies everywhere around here, even next to highways! This may seem silly, and hard to tell from the picture, but they are such a lovely shade of green! I think they make the landscape look very pretty, a literal "sea of green".

Across the highway you can see more agriculture. They grow a lot of corn as well as various fruits and vegetables I think. Towards my school, which is farther from the downtown, you can see much bigger growing areas...I'm not sure if it's right to call them farms. Either way it's nice to see where my food is coming from! This might also sound strange but food here actually smells, and not in a bad way, it's just not overly sanitized like the food we eat in America. To me at least, the local vegetables I've bought here have had a little more of a distinct taste.

This is the Yeongil pavilion. It used to be an entrance way of sorts to the town office which has now been moved. It's in a park about halfway between my apartment and the main downtown area. The best part of the pavilion however is this:

After hiking up the long stairway to the pavilion I was rewarded with this view! And this one:

 

That's the opposite side of the river, my school is a bit beyond those buildings I think. 

 

Those are the stairs I went up to get to the pavilion, though it sort of looks like a flat path from this angle. Once you go down the stairs and out of the park you're pretty close to the main shopping/dining area in Yeoju.

The best thing about the river is the long running/walking path that runs along it. Finally, some good motivation to get back into shape!!

Here's a cute little street I found while shopping. I like it because those stands sell fresh tempura vegetables! Smells soooo good. you need some smell-ivision right here.

This is the pedestrian street. There are tons of shops there, and every five days is market day when the vendors fill the street with temporary kiosks. The street is lined with arches that are a bit hard to see with the glare from the sun.

I'm sure I'll post some more pictures of Yeoju when I get to know the town a little better, but perhaps for now I should help out the town's wikipedia page...

Dear New York, Please Take Notes (A Love Letter to the Seoul metro)

Way less scary than it looks. Plus digital maps will plan trips for you!

Despite having arrived in Korea only a mere 48 hours before, I decided to join my friend Julia on Saturday and venture into Seoul proper. The funny thing is, I feel like I can’t even begin to discuss Seoul without first discussing the subway system. While some of you might be snoring already, after having grown up next to New York City, which has one of the world’s least tourist-friendly subway systems, my jaw nearly dropped when I saw the pristine, mind bogglingly efficient complex that is the Seoul subway. 

 

Riding the subway in New York during the summer time is like riding through a filthy sauna. By contrast, though it was still a bit warm once you reached the Seoul underground, the stations themselves are spotless. While waiting you can watch the television screens, which not only count down the time until the next train, but even have a cute little image at the bottom of the screen that shows you where the approaching train is on the map. 

See the little train at the bottom?! I'm easily amused...

The railway itself is blocked by a glass wall with sliding doors, much you like see when getting on an airport tram. Though the walls are in place under depressing circumstances (to prevent suicides), they make it so that the train doors always stop in the same spot, so you can line up accordingly before the train arrives. This may not mean much to anyone who doesn’t live in a big city, but to anyone who has ever played the where-is-the-train-going-to-stop-so-I-don’t-have-to-awkwardly-push-to-the-nearest-door-game would highly appreciate this convenience. 

What efficiency looks like.

It's hard to get truly lost. There are digital “foreigner maps” that will determine your route and tell you which trains to take if you can't find your way. As you navigate the long corridors, signs for each subway line don’t just give you arbitrary directions (*cough*Boston*cough*), it gives the end destination for each train and the next stop along that route. Most signs also list major (read: tourist) destinations along that route. Once in the car, the station names are clearly displayed in English and Korean on television screens as you arrive; it even tells you which side to get out on!  

Digital map with advertisement for Spiderman, which you can see in 4D here!!! I'll get to that later.

Of course, my favorite thing about the train interiors is the fact that I can actually reach the bars you’re supposed to hold onto while riding. No more standing on the tops of my toes to avoid falling over every time the train stops! Once you get out, a lot of the major station stops also have great places to shop (if you’re looking for cheap stuff that is). Ten-dollar shoes that don’t just look like something my grandma would wear? Don’t mind if I do!

My size!

One comical aspect about the subway however is the emergency videos. As you walk through the stations you’ll see containers holding gas or smoke masks that one is supposed to use in case of a fire or other emergency…though with thousands of people riding the subway at a time I don’t think a cupboard full of masks will do much. The videos are super dramatic and filled with shoddy special effects showing cartoon-esque explosions and even wounded riders. I guess they make good in-ride entertainment.

Cause ya know...if there's a fire or major disaster you'll just stop to grab a mask...

South Korean transportation in general puts American public transportation to shame (though I'm not sure that's hard to do). Taxis here are really cheap and quick (though drivers sometimes watch TV screens while they drive) and buses run like trains, leaving on the dot. Even in Yeoju where I live, a “rural” town of about 70,000 people, you can see taxis all over the place, at least in the downtown. If not, call one and it will be where ever you are in five minutes or less. My hometown in New Jersey is in one of the most densely populated areas in the United States and we don’t have anything close to that.

Though Americans are known to work hard, I feel that the transportation here reflects the insanely driven Korean work ethic. They need efficient transportation, cause they don’t have time to deal with late buses and taxis that never show. As my friend here pointed out, even though Korea only established a modern economy about 60 years ago, they built up Samsung, now the second largest electronics maker in the world, in addition to many other internationally renowned companies. This is certainly a product of their work ethic and efficiency.

In other news, I started doing some teaching today, though I’m still in the training phase. I’m still not sure how well a lot of the students understand me but I really enjoy interacting with them. My co-teacher loves to dance and is clearly very popular with his students, so I think I’m becoming popular by association (in addition to the foreigner thing). During lunch they blast K-Pop over the loud speakers, and I mean blast it. You can hear it all over the campus, even outdoors. I don’t know how the students refrain from breaking into spontaneous dance parties.

The Aparment (aka Come Visit Me Maybe)

So for my friends and family at home, this is what you'll get if you come to stay with me! As I said before, my living situation is extremely unusual. I am ridiculously lucky. I've been told by other teachers that their apartments are about the size of my living room...for anyone in Korea reading this...feel free to come hang out/ crash here whenever you want! 


I will note three drawbacks:

1) My apartment is a bit far from both the downtown and my school, so I've had to seriously start considering the option of buying a motor scooter or vespa...this would be great if I weren't aware of the fact that cab drivers watch TV while driving...no kidding. I won't just be looking both ways, but every which way.

2) The other day my co-teacher warned me that my elevator was dangerous, but I didn't really get what he meant, I thought maybe he just didn't like them (I don't either). But then today I was bringing up boxes of stuff that I bought and realized that the doors on the elevator don't have sensors!!! While trying to grab boxes they actually closed on me and didn't open after they hit me! Thankfully it didn't hurt too much, it's kind of a dinky elevator, but next time I think I'll just sweat it up the stairs.

3) I probably won't have an apartment this big or nice again...ever. 

Anyways, here it is! Starting from when you walk in:

There's a little weird little foyer when you enter.

I turned the closet in the entry way into my shoe closet.

The living room. That couch is not comfortable...at all.

Living room from the other side, the kitchen area is behind the glass.

The balcony for the living room and my room are connected.

Now you've got the 360. The hallway leads to the other two rooms.

The kitchen...come visit and I'll throw you a dinner party! I'm lucky to have a full stove and oven.

To the right behind the glass doors of the kitchen is a "second kitchen"! Really it's just some cabinets and two burners but it's crazy! Might be for cooking things with a strong aroma? Further to the left behind the glass is the washing machine but it's creepy so I didn't take a picture of it.

?

My room! It's to the right if you're facing the living room balcony, it's not in the hallway with the other two rooms.

From the other side...you can see the little hall in front of my bathroom.

 Bathroom...it's actually a sweet deal considering for most teachers in Korea the bathroom is the shower, there's no divider.

One of the other bedrooms. I'll take suggestions on what to do with it.

Second bathroom, even has a tub!