Things I like about Korea:
(In no particular order)
Mandoo/Mandu a very yummy street food, its basically a kind of dumpling and you can get various kinds like Kimchi or Goggi (meat). I like the meat one, it has minced up meat, some veges like spring onion and some noodles in it. Very tasty and you can get it cooked all different ways, steamed, fried, deep fried or even in a soup. All are very delicious, its my favourite Korean food.
Internet its soooooo much faster over here than it is in New Zealand. New Zealand for some reason has third world Internet. I am going to get very frustrated when I go back home and have to actually wait to view something.
Gmarket online shopping market, its basically a lot of different sellers all on one site (recently bought by eBay). They have everything you could ever want, its really cheap and it usually ships in a few days. Sometimes you can even get things the next day. If you are from New Zealand and know what the postal system is like you will appreciate that fact.
Things I dislike about Korea:
(Again in no particular order)
Elevator Etiquette for some reason Korean people are in such a rush to get on the elevator that they don't wait for everyone to get out of it first. I mean really people its not going to go any quicker just because you get on it a few seconds faster.
Spitting Koreans spit on the sidewalk, its common practice for them but its not really very nice if you are not used to it.
The mobile phone system its really hard for a foreigner on an e2 visa to get a contract phone and their prepaid method is not much better. With PPS which is their equivalent to prepaid you have to put money on it every month and if you don't for a while eventually it stops receiving calls and texts - why when the other person is paying for it?
Formerly 'Kiwigirl in Suwon, South Korea'
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Suwon Immigration Office (Gyeonggi-do)
The Suwon Immigration Office in Gyeonggi-do covers the areas of:
Gunpo, Uiwang, Suwon, Yongin, Osan, Icheon, Anseong, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, Gwangju, Yangpyeonggun, Yeojugun
If you are a resident in one of these areas then this is the immigration office that you will need to visit.
The Address of Suwon Immigration Office is:
1012-6, Yeong-tong dong, Yeong-tong gu, Suwon
Directions to Suwon Immigration Office:
The Suwon Immigration is located beside Bandal Park in Yeong-tong. Please note it is nowhere near any of the train stations so if you get the subway in you will need to get a bus over to Yeong-tong from the station.
From Suwon station (outside AK Plaza go to the bus stop on the right as you come out of the station) take bus 5, 7, 7-2, 9, 310 or 900. Get off at 'Yeongiljung' (about 12 stops or so) start walking in the direction of the bus that you just got off for a couple of minutes and you will see Yeong-il Middle School (its a really big school so you can't miss it). Walk in the direction so that you go around the back of the school. The immigration office is to the left of the Culture Centre(?) beside Bandal Park.
Further Information:
If you need any information about documents, visas or directions you should call 1345, This is the Immigration office helpline for all immigration offices in Korea and they have various languages available.
Process once you are at the Immigration Office:
(For re-newing your E-2 Visa)
1. Go to the 'Resident' Section of the first floor (its the biggest area)
2. As soon as you arrive, get a queue number (ticket) from the dispenser
3. Get an application form if you don't already have one, at the top tick 'Extension of Sojourn Period', and fill it out while you are waiting
4. Buy your 'Revenue Stamps', they cost 10,000KRW per stamp and you will need three (this is why you have to bring 30,000KRW with you). At Suwon Immigration Office you can buy them from the small desk located behind the waiting area for the 'Resident' section.
5. When you ticket number finally comes up on the TV screen go to the desk that is showing your number and present all of your documentation.
Note: You will most probably need a copy of your school’s business registration ID number. It will be a copy of a form in Korean that your school should provide you with. This is what my school did not give me the first time around, they then gave me two pieces of paper. Not sure what they were exactly as it was all in Korean but this is why its a good idea to make sure you or your manager rings the hot line number 1345 to ensure that you have everything before you go.
Further Note: Take a book with you - I made a decent start on 'The Girl who Played with Fire' during my wait.
Gunpo, Uiwang, Suwon, Yongin, Osan, Icheon, Anseong, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, Gwangju, Yangpyeonggun, Yeojugun
If you are a resident in one of these areas then this is the immigration office that you will need to visit.
The Address of Suwon Immigration Office is:
1012-6, Yeong-tong dong, Yeong-tong gu, Suwon
(in front of Bandal Park and next to the Yeongtong Social Welfare Center)
Directions to Suwon Immigration Office:
The Suwon Immigration is located beside Bandal Park in Yeong-tong. Please note it is nowhere near any of the train stations so if you get the subway in you will need to get a bus over to Yeong-tong from the station.
From Suwon station (outside AK Plaza go to the bus stop on the right as you come out of the station) take bus 5, 7, 7-2, 9, 310 or 900. Get off at 'Yeongiljung' (about 12 stops or so) start walking in the direction of the bus that you just got off for a couple of minutes and you will see Yeong-il Middle School (its a really big school so you can't miss it). Walk in the direction so that you go around the back of the school. The immigration office is to the left of the Culture Centre(?) beside Bandal Park.
 |
| Suwon Immigration Office |
Further Information:
If you need any information about documents, visas or directions you should call 1345, This is the Immigration office helpline for all immigration offices in Korea and they have various languages available.
Process once you are at the Immigration Office:
(For re-newing your E-2 Visa)
1. Go to the 'Resident' Section of the first floor (its the biggest area)
2. As soon as you arrive, get a queue number (ticket) from the dispenser
3. Get an application form if you don't already have one, at the top tick 'Extension of Sojourn Period', and fill it out while you are waiting
4. Buy your 'Revenue Stamps', they cost 10,000KRW per stamp and you will need three (this is why you have to bring 30,000KRW with you). At Suwon Immigration Office you can buy them from the small desk located behind the waiting area for the 'Resident' section.
5. When you ticket number finally comes up on the TV screen go to the desk that is showing your number and present all of your documentation.
Note: You will most probably need a copy of your school’s business registration ID number. It will be a copy of a form in Korean that your school should provide you with. This is what my school did not give me the first time around, they then gave me two pieces of paper. Not sure what they were exactly as it was all in Korean but this is why its a good idea to make sure you or your manager rings the hot line number 1345 to ensure that you have everything before you go.
Further Note: Take a book with you - I made a decent start on 'The Girl who Played with Fire' during my wait.
My Trip to the Immigration Office
Recently I re-signed for another year teaching in Suwon, South Korea. As such I had to make a visit to the Immigration Office to renew my visa. I was re-signing at the same school so I did not have to make a visa run to another country.
It was the first time I had had to do it as my school took care of this when I first arrived. Once you have been here awhile however they need to take your fingerprints which means you have to do it yourself.
The first thing I would advise is to make sure you have the right documentation, even if your school says its correct, check for yourself. Especially if you are having to make a long trip to your local Immigration Office, you don't want to get there and not have everything in order so have to come back another day.
The second thing is to arrive early, these offices see hundreds of people every day and the line gets big quick. For me it was not too big of a deal as the Suwon Immigration Office is not too far from my school. The first time I went was just after lunch and I soon realised that I would not be able to get seen that day. I had to be at work at 4 o'clock, I spoke with a girl who had a ticket in the 400 region and they were only up to about 200 and something. It turned out to be a good thing as my school had not checked with the Immigration Office and had not given me all the documentation that they should have.
All Immigration Offices are different so you really should check with the one that you are going to visit. Any time you need information about documents, visas or directions you should call the number 1345. Its the helpline and it has English (and other language) speaking operators that can help you out. I called them to check what I needed to take with me and they were very good.
At the very least you will need:
-Your Passport
-Your Arc Card
-30,000 won
-Your original job contract and a copy of it (You keep the original and they take the copy but they want to see both)
-Application Form (You get from the Office when you get there)
Your best bet is to go as early as you can, go straight to the ticket machine and get your ticket. That way you are already in line, after that you can get the application form and fill it in while you wait. You will also need to buy stamps (that's what the 30,000 won fee is for) there will be a counter selling these close by. I got there about 9:30 the second time I went and my ticket was already about 240 something. I had to wait about 4 or 5 hours to finally get to see someone.
Once you do get there if you have all your documents ready then its really quick. She checked everything was there, took my fingerprints on the digital reader they have there on the desk and then wrote a new date on the back of my ARC card. It took about 5 minutes, I was lucky that I was speaking to some other people during the epic wait and they clued me into buying the stamps - if you have not done that you have to run over and do it while they wait which would be pretty annoying.
It was the first time I had had to do it as my school took care of this when I first arrived. Once you have been here awhile however they need to take your fingerprints which means you have to do it yourself.
The first thing I would advise is to make sure you have the right documentation, even if your school says its correct, check for yourself. Especially if you are having to make a long trip to your local Immigration Office, you don't want to get there and not have everything in order so have to come back another day.
The second thing is to arrive early, these offices see hundreds of people every day and the line gets big quick. For me it was not too big of a deal as the Suwon Immigration Office is not too far from my school. The first time I went was just after lunch and I soon realised that I would not be able to get seen that day. I had to be at work at 4 o'clock, I spoke with a girl who had a ticket in the 400 region and they were only up to about 200 and something. It turned out to be a good thing as my school had not checked with the Immigration Office and had not given me all the documentation that they should have.
All Immigration Offices are different so you really should check with the one that you are going to visit. Any time you need information about documents, visas or directions you should call the number 1345. Its the helpline and it has English (and other language) speaking operators that can help you out. I called them to check what I needed to take with me and they were very good.
At the very least you will need:
-Your Passport
-Your Arc Card
-30,000 won
-Your original job contract and a copy of it (You keep the original and they take the copy but they want to see both)
-Application Form (You get from the Office when you get there)
Your best bet is to go as early as you can, go straight to the ticket machine and get your ticket. That way you are already in line, after that you can get the application form and fill it in while you wait. You will also need to buy stamps (that's what the 30,000 won fee is for) there will be a counter selling these close by. I got there about 9:30 the second time I went and my ticket was already about 240 something. I had to wait about 4 or 5 hours to finally get to see someone.
Once you do get there if you have all your documents ready then its really quick. She checked everything was there, took my fingerprints on the digital reader they have there on the desk and then wrote a new date on the back of my ARC card. It took about 5 minutes, I was lucky that I was speaking to some other people during the epic wait and they clued me into buying the stamps - if you have not done that you have to run over and do it while they wait which would be pretty annoying.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
So you want to teach English overseas....
Deciding to go to a foreign country and teach English is a big decision and should not be undertaken lightly. There are many things to consider before you take the plunge. One thing you need to decide is where in the world you are going to go - there are many places where English is still in hot demand and you will be able to find work. Each place has its pros and cons so my advise is to do your homework - decide what you want and then find the place that best meets all of your needs.
For me South Korea was the most attractive because of the benefits it offers, while some countries offer a higher pay rate like Japan and the Middle East, most jobs in South Korea will offer airfares to and from your country, paid housing and a bonus on completion of your contract. I was also interested in exploring a country that to most people is unknown. If you ask someone what they know about Korea the usual answer is - the Korean War, the separation of the North and South and that they had the Olympics there a while ago. There is of course a lot more to Korea, it is a place of rich history and interesting culture.
There are also many volunteer opportunities for teaching English which you may like to explore, this is where you get paid a very small amount to live on and you may be provided some accommodation living with a family in country. Its a great way to give back and you could have some really unique experiences.
You will also need to take into consideration the requirements for teaching in the country that you wish to go to. Most jobs will have as a minimum that you have attended an English speaking high school and that you have at least a Bachelor's degree from an English speaking university. While there are some people who have managed to get a job without a degree, it does make it much harder and it may not be a very reliable position. Another thing is whether or not to do a TESOL course. Many jobs do not require it and lots of people will say not to bother, however if you do have one it can open up other opportunities that may not be available to people who only have a degree.
I myself did a TESOL course about a year before I came over to South Korea and I am very thankful that I did. I had no idea what I was getting myself in for and no real concept of what teaching was like, doing the course really helped me to understand what I would be doing and gave me a chance to get prepared for my time in the classroom. I looked at a lot of the courses available both online and in my country and decided that I wanted one that had at least a small part of the course taught in the classroom. That limited my options to courses run from New Zealand and I narrowed it down to two options - they both had information sessions which I attended where they tell you all about the course, what they will be covering and what you can expect to walk away with. In the end it came down to the fact that one offered a practical teaching component as part of the requirements and it also helped that the presenter was really passionate about her experiences and really good at conveying that passion.
The course I chose was run by an Australian company called Teach International ( http://www.teachinternational.com/) and it has a number of location and course options. The certificate that I did included a one week in class component scheduled around a full time working week, after 5pm and on the weekend. I was still employed at the time and would not have been able to get the time off so this worked out really well for me. There was also an online component where you had to complete a compulsory unit of grammar (a great reminder and I even learned some new things) and two elective units. The other part to the course was the practical teaching component, this was a bit harder as the company had not set up any work experience places in Wellington where I did my course. I ended up sorting out my own placement just by contacting a local English Language School, they were only too happy to help out and I really learned a lot. It was great to have that chance to get up in front of a real class and see what it was like.
I would very much recommend Teach International if you are thinking about doing a TESOL course from New Zealand or Australia. They also have some options where you can do the course in a foreign country like China or Turkey which sounds really exciting. It is a lot of money to put up but I think that it was well worth it and it can open doors when it comes to finding a really great teaching job.
Once you have decided on the country that you are going to go to you can start looking for jobs and do some research on the country. You will need to know the visa requirements for living and working there. Its a good idea to make sure you know some background information about the country that you choose as it may come up in an interview for a job. They might ask you what you know about the country or why you want to visit. If you have done your research you can let them know that you have been actively learning about their country and have your answer all prepared so that they feel like you are really interested and eager to get involved.
For me South Korea was the most attractive because of the benefits it offers, while some countries offer a higher pay rate like Japan and the Middle East, most jobs in South Korea will offer airfares to and from your country, paid housing and a bonus on completion of your contract. I was also interested in exploring a country that to most people is unknown. If you ask someone what they know about Korea the usual answer is - the Korean War, the separation of the North and South and that they had the Olympics there a while ago. There is of course a lot more to Korea, it is a place of rich history and interesting culture.
There are also many volunteer opportunities for teaching English which you may like to explore, this is where you get paid a very small amount to live on and you may be provided some accommodation living with a family in country. Its a great way to give back and you could have some really unique experiences.
You will also need to take into consideration the requirements for teaching in the country that you wish to go to. Most jobs will have as a minimum that you have attended an English speaking high school and that you have at least a Bachelor's degree from an English speaking university. While there are some people who have managed to get a job without a degree, it does make it much harder and it may not be a very reliable position. Another thing is whether or not to do a TESOL course. Many jobs do not require it and lots of people will say not to bother, however if you do have one it can open up other opportunities that may not be available to people who only have a degree.
I myself did a TESOL course about a year before I came over to South Korea and I am very thankful that I did. I had no idea what I was getting myself in for and no real concept of what teaching was like, doing the course really helped me to understand what I would be doing and gave me a chance to get prepared for my time in the classroom. I looked at a lot of the courses available both online and in my country and decided that I wanted one that had at least a small part of the course taught in the classroom. That limited my options to courses run from New Zealand and I narrowed it down to two options - they both had information sessions which I attended where they tell you all about the course, what they will be covering and what you can expect to walk away with. In the end it came down to the fact that one offered a practical teaching component as part of the requirements and it also helped that the presenter was really passionate about her experiences and really good at conveying that passion.
The course I chose was run by an Australian company called Teach International ( http://www.teachinternational.com/) and it has a number of location and course options. The certificate that I did included a one week in class component scheduled around a full time working week, after 5pm and on the weekend. I was still employed at the time and would not have been able to get the time off so this worked out really well for me. There was also an online component where you had to complete a compulsory unit of grammar (a great reminder and I even learned some new things) and two elective units. The other part to the course was the practical teaching component, this was a bit harder as the company had not set up any work experience places in Wellington where I did my course. I ended up sorting out my own placement just by contacting a local English Language School, they were only too happy to help out and I really learned a lot. It was great to have that chance to get up in front of a real class and see what it was like.
I would very much recommend Teach International if you are thinking about doing a TESOL course from New Zealand or Australia. They also have some options where you can do the course in a foreign country like China or Turkey which sounds really exciting. It is a lot of money to put up but I think that it was well worth it and it can open doors when it comes to finding a really great teaching job.
Once you have decided on the country that you are going to go to you can start looking for jobs and do some research on the country. You will need to know the visa requirements for living and working there. Its a good idea to make sure you know some background information about the country that you choose as it may come up in an interview for a job. They might ask you what you know about the country or why you want to visit. If you have done your research you can let them know that you have been actively learning about their country and have your answer all prepared so that they feel like you are really interested and eager to get involved.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Suwon, South Korea
Suwon (수원) is a city about 30 kilometers south of Seoul. Its is located in the Gyeongii-do province of which is is the capital. Suwon is a major city of over one million people and 14 universities. The city is divided into four districts or gu - Gwonseon-Gu, Jangan-gu, Paldal-gu and Yeongtong-gu. In turn each of these gu are divided into smaller neighborhoods called dong.
Suwon is home to the Samsung Electronics headquarters and factory. There is an increasing number of foreigners living in Suwon and because of Samsung these are not just English teachers. You can find quite a mix of nationalities for example there are many Indians and Eastern Europeans.
Suwon is famous for Hwaseong Fortress it is the only remaining completely walled city in South Korea so it is a very popular tourist destination. Built in 1796 the wall is 5.74 kilometers long, there are four main gates and numerous other structures along the wall. Hwaseong is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Galbi is the city's most famous dish - it is marinated and grilled short rib.
Suwon is connected to Seoul and other nearby cities by the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system and numerous buses, trains and the KTX also makes some stops on services from Seoul to Busan. Suwon is on the dark blue Seoul Subway Line 1 and has numerous stations namely Sungkyunkwan University, Hwaseo, Suwon and Seryu.
Transport within Suwon is very easy to find with the green city buses being numerous, frequent and cheap. There are also many taxis available which are also reasonably priced.
All in all Suwon is a really nice city to either visit or to live. When I was originally looking for a job, while still back in New Zealand, I was only looking at Seoul. I am a very picky eater and knew that I could not go anywhere rural where the options would be more limited. Seoul as the capital is very metropolitan so I figured I would be able to find numerous amounts of western food should I not like the Korean options.
However as many of you will know it is quite hard to find a job in Seoul, not impossible but it can take a while. I turned down a few options before I took the job I have now and I am very glad I did, I was not confident in them and the job I have is really good compared to some of the horror stories I have heard. When looking at the job I figured that it was close enough to Seoul to be a reasonable trip and I was right. I often go into Seoul to go shopping or to meet up with friends.
Suwon is big enough to be have a really great city life but its also not too big. I also think that the air is a bit better out here, the first time I went to Seoul I really noticed the pollution. I don't really notice it much now but that first time I remember coming out from the Subway station into Itaewon and being very glad I lived in Suwon.
(Suwon Information Reference: Wikipedia)
Suwon is home to the Samsung Electronics headquarters and factory. There is an increasing number of foreigners living in Suwon and because of Samsung these are not just English teachers. You can find quite a mix of nationalities for example there are many Indians and Eastern Europeans.
Suwon is famous for Hwaseong Fortress it is the only remaining completely walled city in South Korea so it is a very popular tourist destination. Built in 1796 the wall is 5.74 kilometers long, there are four main gates and numerous other structures along the wall. Hwaseong is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Galbi is the city's most famous dish - it is marinated and grilled short rib.
Suwon is connected to Seoul and other nearby cities by the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system and numerous buses, trains and the KTX also makes some stops on services from Seoul to Busan. Suwon is on the dark blue Seoul Subway Line 1 and has numerous stations namely Sungkyunkwan University, Hwaseo, Suwon and Seryu.
Transport within Suwon is very easy to find with the green city buses being numerous, frequent and cheap. There are also many taxis available which are also reasonably priced.
All in all Suwon is a really nice city to either visit or to live. When I was originally looking for a job, while still back in New Zealand, I was only looking at Seoul. I am a very picky eater and knew that I could not go anywhere rural where the options would be more limited. Seoul as the capital is very metropolitan so I figured I would be able to find numerous amounts of western food should I not like the Korean options.
However as many of you will know it is quite hard to find a job in Seoul, not impossible but it can take a while. I turned down a few options before I took the job I have now and I am very glad I did, I was not confident in them and the job I have is really good compared to some of the horror stories I have heard. When looking at the job I figured that it was close enough to Seoul to be a reasonable trip and I was right. I often go into Seoul to go shopping or to meet up with friends.
Suwon is big enough to be have a really great city life but its also not too big. I also think that the air is a bit better out here, the first time I went to Seoul I really noticed the pollution. I don't really notice it much now but that first time I remember coming out from the Subway station into Itaewon and being very glad I lived in Suwon.
(Suwon Information Reference: Wikipedia)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Introduction
Hi my name is Amy and I am living and working as an English teacher in Suwon, South Korea. I am originally from New Zealand and I have been in Korea for about one year now. I am just in the process of re-signing my contract to stay for another year. I thought that while I was here it would be good to keep a record of what I have seen and done and maybe even put up some useful tips for anyone new to Korea or even those just thinking of coming over.
I have not done a lot and I still have heaps to learn but I found that it was hard for me to learn these things when I first got here so I am hoping that I can help out some first timers. It can be really daunting in a new country - the different culture, the different language and just general 'newbie' feelings that come with such a huge change.
When I first got here I thought that I would be one of many foreigners at the school and it would be easy to make friends with all the other expats. I soon found out that I was the only foreigner at my school - while I work for a huge company with lots of branches in and around Seoul my school is a bit smaller and so far only needs one native teacher.
Suwon is a pretty big city, especially on the scale of New Zealand. Its connected to Seoul by the Subway and regular buses so transportation is relatively easy. There are apparently quite a few expats here in Suwon but I have not really had a chance to meet many people yet. I am hoping that as I get more adventurous I will be able to meet some new people from around my area.
My New Year's resolution was to get out and do more stuff (also to give up caffeine - I'm a bit addicted to energy drinks). So hopefully this blog will be the start of something new and positive.
More Soon
Amy
I have not done a lot and I still have heaps to learn but I found that it was hard for me to learn these things when I first got here so I am hoping that I can help out some first timers. It can be really daunting in a new country - the different culture, the different language and just general 'newbie' feelings that come with such a huge change.
When I first got here I thought that I would be one of many foreigners at the school and it would be easy to make friends with all the other expats. I soon found out that I was the only foreigner at my school - while I work for a huge company with lots of branches in and around Seoul my school is a bit smaller and so far only needs one native teacher.
Suwon is a pretty big city, especially on the scale of New Zealand. Its connected to Seoul by the Subway and regular buses so transportation is relatively easy. There are apparently quite a few expats here in Suwon but I have not really had a chance to meet many people yet. I am hoping that as I get more adventurous I will be able to meet some new people from around my area.
My New Year's resolution was to get out and do more stuff (also to give up caffeine - I'm a bit addicted to energy drinks). So hopefully this blog will be the start of something new and positive.
More Soon
Amy
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