Leaving is always hard, but hopefully this guide will help make it easier.
Guide for Expats* leaving S. Korea
Tag: ESL teacher advice
How to deal with Homesickness
Homesickness hits everyone in different ways. For myself it's shortly after I move somewhere new. A crushing panic usually when I'm alone late at night about whether or not I've picked the right path to be on and why on Earth did I move so far away? The difference in smells and sounds usually keep [...]
Mail in Korea
When I travel I usually pop by a post office just to send a postcard for my parents. Sending postcards are quick and easy but when you live somewhere for awhile there's a good chance you're going to need to mail things other than post cards. You may need boxes and tape and EMS forms. [...]
My go-to apps for Korea
My phone is my lifeline in Korea. Before moving to South Korea I didn't have a smart phone. I got one shortly after arriving and beyond regular social media and picture apps, the below listed apps I use if not daily then very often. Getting around: KakaoBus I like Kakao bus a lot because you [...]
How to take the ITX
An update on the 2020 QR codes has been added to the end of the post. My nearest train station is Gapyeong. Gapyeong is a popular destination throughout the year for various reasons: concerts, pensions, camping, nature, and of course Nami island. I've been to Nami island in almost every season. It's lovely, a bit [...]
Rural Life
I've spent the last four years living in rural south Korea, out in the mountains. When you teach English in South Korea there is a possibility of getting a rural bonus depending on your location, but that doesn't always mean you're actually some place rural. You might still have a Starbucks, movie theater, chain restaurants [...]
Banking 101
After you get to Korea one of the things your co-teacher should help you with is setting up your bank account. Your job should do a direct deposit into your account, most schools will deposit your pay check on the 15th of the month. Setting up a bank account can be difficult enough in your [...]
Teaching English in South Korea
As I mentioned in my starting guide there's a variety of schools to teach at in South Korea and a bunch of different types. I've taught at two public schools through GEPIK and am now starting my third. Public school jobs require training of some sort. Usually it's over a weekend or shortly after arriving [...]
Packing for Korea
If you're in the midst of packing and you haven't lived somewhere else you've got a lot to think about. How long are you going to be gone? Months, a year, a couple years? Do you want this to be a permanent thing? Do you need to put your stuff in storage or donate most [...]
Teaching English in Korea: Start Here
The most common question I get is more or less How are you doing what you're doing and then how can I do that? The thing that usually deters people is money. To apply to teach English and get through the first month of teaching English in Korea requires a small nest egg. Let's break [...]