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Published: November 6th 2011
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10 weeks left. I arrived in Korea in August 2010. I was supposed to leave in August 2011 but my work extended one month and then I asked to extend four more - leading to a 1.5 year stay in South Korea - August 2010 to January 2012. This has been my longest job so far and time living in a foreign country and to be honest I never thought I'd be here. Some people make a very conscious decision to come to Korea, some I feel are running away from something or don't fit in or can't find a job back home. Many are adventurous people who have a kiwi attitude of: "she'll be right", meaning no worries or if you're a fan of the Lion King "hakuna matata". I, myself, am the first to admit I didn't really want to come to Korea but instead was lead by my love for someone else. Well, I'm here now, he's not and I'm having a damn good time. I feel I have changed 180 degrees from when I first arrived and have met some of the most amazing people in my life and had the best experiences and challenges of my
life. Some of the highlights of this fantastic journey are below:
1. Teaching Kids - although tedious and difficult at times, it is usually a blast and I often feel I am actually helping them better understand Western culture and English. My one hope is that I can eliminate Konglish words such as "finishe-eed" and teach them to appreciate the joys of sarcasm.
2. Korean entertainment. Korea is a 24/7 kinda place. It doesn't stop unless you count the Coffee shops that are closed at 10am?! You can cheaply eat meat, drink soju and beers and sing the night away in a Noraebang for next to nothing. I also recomend sitting outside the Family Mart or GS 25 and drinking a beer with friends.
3. Jimjibangs. It took me 3 months to get up the nerve to get naked and bathe with my girl friends but these places are fantastic in the wintertime and when you need a cheap place to stay over in town. You shower first, then hop in the various pools to relax. You can also go into Saunas and steam rooms and have ladies massage and rub you down. This is one of
the reasons Koreans are rumoured to have such great skin! I recommend Dragon Hill Spa by Yongsan station in Seoul.
3. Temples and Hiking: There are some really beautiful and old Buddhist temples in Korea - the only vestiges of history that weren't wiped out during the Korean War it seems. I recommend Gyeongbukgong in Seoul and also the Fortress in Cheongju is great if you want a hike combined with history. Hiking wise, Seoraksan is a joy in the Fall and there is also Bukansan in Seoul, from which you get a view of the city. I love that it's also customary to eat Pajeon (Korean pancake) and drink Makoli while Hiking. I swear the first thing Koreans think of when setting off for a hike is if their clothes are colour coordinated then if they have pickles and kimchi!
4. the Boryeong Mud Festival! It takes place around August and people flock to this place to cover themselves in therapeutic mud, mud fight, slide etc and bathe in the sea and party to rock music. I had the best time here with my friends!
5. Jisan - Again. Rock Festival. Great people, great music! Also
Global Gathering Electronic music fest.
6. National Braai Day in Seoul. I am lucky enough to have many lovely South African friends here so was invited to the National BBQ day were we just drank and bbq's by the river for hours.
7. Busan - a great city sandwiched between the forest clad mountains and the seaside. I have visited here twice with different groups of friends. Most recently for the Fireworks festival in which teams from different countries compete to make the best fireworks. Before we visited the fish market and chose fish which was cut up and served to us raw with a variety of condiments 15minutes later.
8. Hongdae. This area of Seoul is known to many a foreigner by night for the best clubs and bars. It is also home to a great craft market on Sunday and my personal little gem - the Numero uno cafe in Korea with the best Barrista who I get to make my flat whites. There are some galleries there too and you can't beat drinking in the park in summer, while in the background drum circles beat out a rhythm and rapping drop some beats. I'll
also never forget the time my friends and I were in our animal onesies and started impromptu singing and a crowd gathered, mistaking us for a musical act.
9. Baseball. I am not a big baseball fan. 1 - I have the attention span of a chihuahua and 2 - I prefer soccer, but it is worth it just to see how into it the Koreans get and how much it means to them. Just like watching a soccer game in Argentina. To know the people you have to see them at their national sport.
10. Would have to be chill weekends with amazing people. I enjoy just hoping on a bus or subway sometimes and heading to Cheongju or Chunchon or Busan and hanging with a different crew and just spending time hanging out, doing something new or nothing much at all.
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