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Most Popular posts of 2014

The Most Popular posts of 2014: It’s always hard to predict what the reader wants to know. These posts hit a common nerve and you were interested in reading this. Here are the Top 10 most popular posts of 2014 (so far), and we don’t plan to stop posting more of these any time soon… Did you miss any of them? Which one was your favorite?

10. Arriving in Korea

You’ve waited weeks for this moment, perhaps even months. You have landed at Incheon Airport, and you’ve been told how to get out of the airport (take a bus into Seoul, look for someone holding your name when you come out of baggage claim, etc). But you probably have no idea what comes next, right?

Here’s how to make your first weeks after arriving in Korea a little less stressful.

 

9. The ultimate checklist

It’s crunch time, and you’re preparing to actually GO ABROAD! It probably feels like everything is happening way too fast… and truth be told, it probably is. With that in mind, here’s the ultimate checklist to help ensure that you have everything covered…

 

8. Weird facts about North Korea

According to Kim Jong-Il’s biography, he was born under a double rainbow as a new star appeared. He  started to walk at 3 weeks old, and claimed to be able to control the weather by his moods. What are some other weird facts you’ve heard about North Korea?

 

7. Weird places in Korea

Yes, we know about all the must-do’s in Korea.. But how about the weird, the different, the unusual places in Korea…?

 

6. Useful websites in Korea

Are you new to Korea? Have you been here for a few years? Either way, we’ve found these useful websites in Korea to be super helpful in planning nights out, weekends away, or exotic trips out of the country.  We hope this list will assist you as you create memories overseas!

 

5. What I wish I knew before coming to Korea

What I knew of the world changed during my first few days, weeks, and months in Korea. I did my research, but there were a few things that I missed. This is what I wish I knew before arriving in Korea.

 

4. Living cost in Korea

So you’re coming to Korea, and you’ll be earning around 2.0 – 2.1m KRW (average starting salary for a 1st year teacher). You’re probably wondering what your living costs in South Korea will look like, right? How much can you save? How much can you send home to pay off student loans? How much will you have in your pocket to spend on traveling?

 

3. Returning home after being abroad

Reverse culture shock, according to Investopia:

“The shock suffered by some people when they return home after a number of years overseas. This can result in unexpected difficulty in readjusting to the culture and values of the home country, now that the previously familiar has become unfamiliar.”

You just returned from a place that is very different. The language, the customs, the way of living… and now you’re “home.” But if it’s “home,” then how come I feel so… out of place?

 

2. Learn to read Korean

Did you know that you could Learn to read Korean in less than an hour?! This picture is famous for being a good way to learn to read Korean, in just 15 minutes… (Took some of us closer to an hour), but imagine spending 1 hour – and being able to save so much more time in the future, by being able to read!

 

And the most popular post of 2014:

 

1. What not to say to an expat

I’ve been gone for a while, and I know you don’t fully understand the ways that I’ve changed. So, to every expat-friend-and-family-member-ever. Here’s what NOT to say to an expat.

 

What topic will be more popular then this one? Let us know, and we might just write about that next!

 

Korea-Expat-Video-Channels

6 Awesome Korea Expat Video Channels

Last year, Alexa Hart from Atlas Sliced released a great YouTube video highlighting six awesome Korea expat video channels. Together they give a great insight into the many amazing (and at times, very strange) aspects of life in Korea! Check out her video and once you are done, be sure to visit the video channels that we ever-so-kindly broke out for you below!

[Update] The original video posted by Alexa Hart from Atlas Sliced is no longer available – but you can still check out the channels linked below!]

Here are the 6 Korea Expat Video Channels that Alexa mentions:

Backpacking Travel TV

  • Samuel and Audrey are the faces behind Backpacking Travel TV, a food, cultural & travel channel. Their videos will take you around Korea (and the world!) through culture, food and humor. Topics include visiting markets and temples, eating street food, traveling by train, and their daily quirky adventures.

Eat Your Kimchi

  • You can’t live in Korea without watching the uber famous Eatyourkimchi duo, Simon & Martina. They make high-end videos about K-pop, Korean Food, Traveling in Korea, Korean Indie Music, and much more.

ExpatKerri

  • Kerri posts great weekly videos about travel, expat life, and all things Korea!

Semipermanent

  • Part travel show, part cultural documentary, this series shares the stories of interesting expats while showing the city through their eyes. One to watch!

QiRanger

  • Long-time expert expat, Steve Miller (QiRanger) releases popular travel videos and video blogs about travel and Korea. Great, engaging videos on a number of awesome topics including new Korean beers and Korean pizza vending machines.

Michael Aronson

  • Awesome parodies and songs from this former New Yorker and now honorary Seoul citizen. He writes songs, make music videos, and talks about Korea! Don’t miss these!

If you have any favourite expat video channels about life in Korea or China, send us an email: [email protected].

 

Useful Websites in Korea

Are you new to Korea? Have you been here for a few years? Either way, we’ve found these useful websites in Korea to be super helpful in planning nights out, weekends away, or exotic trips out of the country.  We hope this list will assist you as you create memories overseas!

Social

English Magazines in Korea – up to date events, photography and entertainment.

Movie showtimes in cities throughout the country, all in English!

Find friends in your area – a super helpful interactive map of Facebook groups in South Korea.

Adventure Korea and WINK –  want to travel Korea AND meet people? Check these sites out!

Korean Gig Guide – Concerts & Shows in Korea – great calendar listing many of the great shows in Korea.

Transportation

Bus / Train Schedules all over Korea – so that you can choose the easiest / fastest / cheapest way to get places.

Cheap flights – want to go explore Asia? This list is an amazing resource!

Seoul Subway – an interactive Seoul subway map.

Driver’s license – Get your driver’s license in Korea

Food

Kimbab Heaven – an online menu, full of cheap Korean comfort food. It’s a little outdated, but the basics are there.

McDonalds Online – watch out for the McDonald’s delivery scooters zooming around the streets of SoKo – McD’s does delivery in Korea!

Teaching Resources

Learn to Read Korean in 30 minutes.

Lesson Plans – if you don’t know about Waygook yet, well, you should!

Shopping

Gmarket – quick finds when you need something in-country.

Expat mart – the one stop online grocery store for shopping fresh fruits, vegetables, frozen food and daily use essentials

iCompany – the place to get hold of furniture

Hummus in Korea – fresh, homemade hummus is just a click away

iHerb – they sell nutritional supplements and other healthy products

High Street Market –  offers a relaxed western style shopping experience with hard-to-find foods such as imported meats, artisanal breads, gourmet cheeses and imported beer and wine, all under one roof.

 

Can you think of any useful sites we need to add?

Let us know: [email protected] or comment below.

 

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Learn to read Korean in 15 Minutes

Learn to read Korean in 15 minutes

Did you know that you could learn to read Korean in less than an hour?!

This picture has been created by Ryan Estrada – It’s famous for being a good way to learn to read Korean, in just 15 minutes… (Took some of us closer to an hour), but imagine spending 1 hour – and being able to save so much more time in the future, by being able to read!

The written alphabet is made up of symbols that represent phonetic sounds, unlike the Chinese alphabet that uses pictures to represent thoughts or whole words. The entire Korean language is make up of only 19 vowel and consonant sounds. Though many foreigners can learn to read Korean with ease, it is difficult for English speakers to grow in fluency due to the complex grammar of the language. When you are done here, head over to the Korean Language page, and test your pronunciation…

Now get that pen and paper ready… Let’s Learn to read Korean!!!

How to Read Korea

 

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English Magazines in Korea

Various Free local English magazines in Korea.

These English magazines in Korea, provide information on the following topics:

– Things to do, Korea’s Treasures (Places to go), Events, Comprehensive Guides, Interviews and so much more!!

 

Groove Korea 

More expats turn to Groove Korea than any other publication in the country for our news analysis and extensive community, music, sports, travel and food coverage.
Groove Korea is the country’s most-read English publication, including the three daily newspapers. 

This is their online issue for November 2013:

 

Seoul Magazine

Seoul Selection is a Seoul-based book and magazine publisher. They publish SEOUL, a monthly English language magazine that provides a wealth of information for foreigners traveling and living in Seoul.

With in-depth reporting on culture and living, foreigners’ perspectives on living in Korea, an overview of Seoul events and cultural news, SEOUL magazine is an indispensable resource for those who want an insider’s viewpoint of Seoul life.

An online edition of November 2013:

 

Busan Haps

They claim:

“It’s for you. The reader. The Writer. The Photographer. And the people typing weird things in Google.”

Busan Haps Magazine is a bi-monthly print magazine featuring stories of people from all walks of life in Busan, covering news and trends in lifestyle, society and more.

If this is for you, you can find the issue of Fall 2013 here:

 

10 Magazine is more than just a magazine. In its many forms, it’s the #1 resource in Korea for expats and tourists who are desperate for information on where to go and what to do in this country.

Find their Facebook page here:

 

PIK

PIK is an online photography magazine featuring contemporary photography from established and emerging photographers living in Korea.

PIK publishes in-depth exhibitions, tips, reviews, and interviews and care- fully curated imagery, with the goal of helping to showcase lesser known but significant photographers, and bring their originality, creativity and style to a wider audience.

Find below the link to their second issue, November 2013:

 

 

Can you advise on any other English magazines in Korea worth reading?

Let us know!

[email protected]