cell phone/personal goods/dating

----- Original Message ----
To: i_teach_esl@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, June 4, 2007 9:48:55 AM
Subject: blog
Hi! My name is xxx and I am a sista from NC living in VA for now, I will be in Korea in July Gwangmyung is where I will be!

I saw your blog site and I loved it! I still had some questions though. I wanted to know how you make get phone calls home? What to do about cellphone? Also what about paying US taxes?

I was thinking about shipping some personal goods like my rice cooker, toaster oven ,pots pans iron, boom box. Also hair stuff like dryer,(the hooded kind) and my favorite brand of hair care products etc. Will dvds from korea play on my laptop?

So what is the dating scene like? Any tips or suggestions for me?

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Gwangmyung is where I will be! cool! i have no idea where that is in relation to anyang (where i am), but not far, im sure. is it in seoul? i'll come meet you for lunch.

I saw your blog site and I loved it! I still had some questions though. I wanted to know how you make get phone calls home? What to do about cellphone? thank ya! phone calls home: i use a phone card. if you have a computer, along with a headset/microphone thingy, you can make calls for free. ive not done it (i dont have my own computer) but a homegirl of mine from canada called home via her laptop using msn. all for free. for the cell phone, i wrote about it here, basically i bought a phone from a woman who'd just left korea. when i got here, i had it activated. i dont have a plan, i use phone cards for local minutes as well as long distance.

Also what about paying US taxes? no idea. if/when i find out, i'll get back to you. in the meanwhile, maybe check wikigalbijim or eslcafe.

I was thinking about shipping some personal goods like my rice cooker, toaster oven ,pots pans iron, boom box. i dont think i'd bother to bring electronic personal goods that cant run on batteries. the plugs are different here, and tho you can buy a converter if you have the time and money and patience; those first few weeks in korea were challenging enough without that, for me anyway. what school will you be working for? can they provide a rice cooker, toaster oven, etc for you? you really oughtn't bring your iron, pots, pans... your luggage will weigh a ton and you can only bring so much with you. check with the airline. i had a two suitcase limit, 70 lbs each.

boom box do you have an mp3 player? much smaller and holds all your music for you. if you really want to bring it, check that it can run on batteries.

Also hair stuff like dryer,(the hooded kind) and my favorite brand of hair care products etc. these things, yes DO bring. maybe pack a box for someone to send to you when you get here. there are some black hair salons around, but it seems as if every sister ive talked to misses their own stuff from back home.

Will dvds from korea play on my laptop? uhm, i think you can only reset a computer 3 or 4 times before it locks in to which region dvd it'll play. i believe here the dvds are region 1? check wikigalbi or eslcafe tech forum. i went to yongson electronic market and bought the cheapest region free dvd player i could find. 30USD, it'll play anything.

So what is the dating scene like? Any tips or suggestions for me? i have a preference for black men. not that i wouldn't date a korean or anyone non black, but ive made no efforts to do so here, and none have made efforts towards me... or if they did, i didnt know it. there is a sizable african population here and if you just want a lay, it can be had quite easily. this is tricky, however, b/c it seems as though all the africans know each other. if you dated Tom one week, Harry the next, and then start looking at Dick, you may come off as the slut from america. it's up to you. not that im any expert, but i really doubt one would find a soul mate here. bring your vibrator/butterfly/whathaveyou. batteries can be bought on every street corner.

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----- Original Message ----
From: ti
To: i_teach_esl@yahoo.co
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 10:32:57 PM
Subject: Re: blog
thanks for the info I have been in Korea for a week now and its one interesting confusing place! I am very lucky though my co teacher and school are taking great care of me. I am working at a public elementry school in Hwasung, my biggest frustration is that I can't seem to find a atm to get money! I finally signed with KB bank for banking and they do wire transfers.

So what do you think of Daves esl, somethings good somethings bad. I understand that I have been here only a week, but so far Koreans have been great to me. I seem to be the only English teacher around which seems hard to accept, its not like I am in the country but then again maybe so, Thank goodness Suwon is close by!
Thanks
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From: english teacher i_teach_esl@yahoo.com

date: Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:54:29

hi glad to hear things are going ok. it only gets easier. are you still having problems with getting money? do let me know if you need anything at all. my number is 010-5804-4742

as for daves: meh. lots of negative people, but i try to keep in mind that they are all white people, leaving their space of priviledge for the first time, and taking things extra hard now that they are in a place where being white doesnt give them the superiority that they're used to.

i like my life here, but i always try to keep a positive attitude. :)

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----- Original Message ----

From: >To: i_teach_esl@yahoo.com

Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 2:51:56 PM

Subject: Re: blog

Thanks for the offer! I am cool now I finally got my settlement money and partical pay on friday!
So I will have to make sure that it last until next month! Although I seem to be going through money like water latley. I totally agree with you about the daves thing! People have been great to me so far. After going to Seoul I am happy I did not choose to live and teach there... too much of everything for my taste kinda like being in NYC.

Things are looking good I am making Korean friends and I have made some friends with a few military guys. I already have friends who are married who live in Yongsan Seoul. A sista can't complain! I just wish I could find a pool, gym, massage and sauna!

My school is great so far, it would be nice to be home right now or doing something other than waiting for the clock to tick but its cool it could be worse and no stress!
Have a good week and here is my cell 010.....
We should try and go to dinner one weekend.