The Supa Dupa Fly Seoul Sista

a basic breakdown of teaching english in south korea.

2015-08-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

photo source here.the date is not really 2015, but i want this post to stay at the top. regardless of where you were born, you are qualified to work in south korea if you hold a passport from AND earned your degree in the US, Canada, South Africa, UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zeland. if you dont have a bachelors but do have two years of undergrad/associates, you can work for korea via the

what women should pack when travelling abroad

2012-01-04T20:29:00.000-08:00

these articles say it really well. http://www.gadling.com/2011/08/01/five-things-most-women-should-pack-when-traveling-to-a-foreign/ http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/21/top-fifteen-items-to-have-in-your-travel-first-aid-kit/

read it/beat it

2011-12-28T07:58:00.000-08:00

ive been working for cdi/cdl since i came to korea in feb 2007. overall i like it. this video is from a former fellow cdi-er. he made a video with the kids doing a parody of mj's "beat it." i ABSOLUTELY LOVE this video, im sure you will too. if you teach in korea, you'll get the jokes in it and love it just as much as i do.

graduate schools with diversity scholarships

2011-12-21T19:18:00.000-08:00

one of these days, im going for the masters in linguistics or esl. This wasnt my plan, but i have fallen in love with esl. i want to learn all i can and be the best i can in this field and in the classroom. So, here is a list of links for schools that offer nearly free grad school for students of color. ---------------------------------------------------------info pulled from old discussion

celta and celtyl

2011-12-20T19:20:00.000-08:00

if like me, you have decided esl is your career, you may want to get certifications in celta and celtyl. They are not a requirements in south korea, but will definitely assist in getting a university job and i very confidently say they WILL make you a better teacher. Though not crucial for jobs in soko, they ARE for teaching esl anywhere else in the world. celta is certification for english

bssk sexies

2011-12-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

a couple of the brothers from bssk started a new group "bssk sexies," to discuss love, sex, and dating in korea. check it out here. Even cooler than that is they have started a project, doing interviews with brothers and sisters is soko. how very fantastic! listen online at http://www.bsskradio.com/

getting a credit card

2011-11-28T19:42:00.000-08:00

with thanks to sister Janeen from bssk: In looking through the documents sections, I didn't find any regarding Finances or the sort. I wanted to provide anyone who wanted the info for a credit card. If you are interested in getting a Lotte Card or Citibank card, I have a friend, Carl, who works for them and is really helpful ( I still call him with questions) and I think he works on commission so

2011-11-26T20:07:00.000-08:00

my friend runs H&J Recruiting 031-388-8807, doublehh@ymail.com. the guy's name is derrick. please use them. that is all.

2011-10-28T19:33:00.001-07:00

here is a great blog post about where to buy halloween costumes in seoul.

if you have Masters with focus in TESL/TEFL

2011-08-15T18:58:00.000-07:00

i got this email from woman at georgetown u who ran across my blog. wanted to share the info. link and more info here: http://elf.georgetown.edu/ I'd like to spread the word about this great opportunity for ESL teachers, especially those of color. I work in recruitment and selection for this U.S. Department of State-sponsored program in the EL Fellow Program. Eligibility requirements include:

hair care

2011-08-13T03:21:00.000-07:00

photo source here. lots of sisters wonde what they're going to do with their hair when they come to south korea. my friend zakiyyah who is fabulously natural uses aloe gel for her twist outs. you can buy it and a huge variety of other products from iherb.com. they ship to korea for like $8 or so. for other hair advice, please click here for the bssk doc about hair places in soko. and click here

call home

2011-06-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

call the united states from your cell phone and get charged local rates. ive been using this number for years and it's not failed me yet. thanks,eslcafe. i dont know how/if it works for other countries, but if you have a k-friend, check out their website http://www.1688-5959.co.kr/2.htm from your cell phone, dial 1688-4949. After you dial the number and hear the recording start, you want to

Where I Come From

2011-03-12T17:24:00.000-08:00

with thanks to steve for the links.a story about a Korean man raised by a Black family in LA. http://iamkoream.com/where-i-come-from/ http://iamkoream.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/F-Emile-0211-PP-Dad.jpg

a new gig for supa fly

2010-08-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

b/c of lots of luck (and mad thanks to a good friend who put in a good word for me), i got a job w/cdi april in sanbon. this is quite different than regular cdi curriculum and nothing like the middle school memory classes which are my favorite to teach, but who doesnt love working with the little ones?! they're smart and adorable and i cant wait to get into the classroom^^ And once again, here's

paperwork is done, son!

2010-08-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

and now i wait for the right offer to come along...

how i got my criminal background check

2010-08-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

as of dec 31, 2010, korea will only take an fbi background check.it's easy, but takes about 3 months. do it here:http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htm====================================================this is how i did it while in my hometown of san diego in july 2010. Background checks are also referred to as: Criminal History Reports, Vulnerable Sector Screenings, CPIC Searches, Subject

E2 Visa Regulation Changes

2010-07-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

this is info from the footprints website. more info here and here.==================== new visa regulations regarding E2 visa effective August 31 & December .Degree documentation (for All Nationalities):Korean immigration will no longer accept original degrees after August 31, 2010. Instead, you will submit a copy of degree with Apostille (or Korean consular seal for Canadians). Alternatively you

sample apostille

2010-07-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

starting dec 31, 2010, your criminal background check has to be done via the fbi:http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htm============ ========== ========== ==========with thanks to asknow.ca, here is a sample apostille. send your letter of good conduct to the dept of state with a letter saying youre applying for an e2 visa for south korea. the apostille is supposed to have the following on it,

starting the paperwork

2010-07-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

before you take a job, you need the following.step 1: have BA degree (if you have only associates or have 2 yrs of undergrad, check talk program).step 2: regardless of where you were born, be a passport holding citizen of US, CA, UK, IR, AS, NZ, or SAstep 3: you also need the stuff listed below. get started on these things right away b/c they can take a long time. three sealed official copies of

yeah, just kidding^^

2010-07-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

ive been home about 5 weeks? i love san diego, it's beautiful here. i love being with my family, i love hanging out with my friends here, i friggin LOVE the daygo weather, i love zarapes, i love harar, i love my hometown forreal, BUUUUUUUUUUUHT im going back to korea. public school this time, if im not too late to apply. updates to come.

the end

2010-06-03T02:21:00.000-07:00

hello blogworld. Today (which is my 1,187th day living here), i am leaving korea and going back home to cali. the "why" of my leaving is a compilation of many things that i needn't bother you with. The plan for now is to go home, grad school, maybe back to korea one day b/c it was good to me. for any of my brothers & sisters that may be reading: dont listen to them, a job in korea is here for you

lapband in korea

2010-05-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

sometimes i think about surgery to help me not be such a big girl in little panties. you can get lapband here for about $8,000.00. http://www.medicalkorea.or.kr/eng/index.jsp here is a link for doctors who do this in korea http://www.medicalkorea.or.kr/eng/search/hospital_list.jsp?menuId=115 for my own reference, here is a doctor near me that i might see: http://www.wwdoctor.com/en/

my fukuoka visa run

2009-04-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

in processi have mynew e-2 visa number. so i have to leave korea, go to a korean consulate elsewhere, get the visa, and then i can return to korea and go back to work. i'll go this week or next week.the fukuoka visa run forum on daveshttp://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=21767&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=285nice directions on getting to the korean consulate from the subwayhttp://

volunteering in korea

2009-04-19T06:21:00.001-07:00

http://www.alwayshope.or.kr/when you get settled into your job, you can find yourself with a lot of free time. it's important to have hobbies here, otherwise you turn into one of the expats who smoke and drink all the time. people i know study korean, work on a masters degree, play music, read, write, knit, draw, paint, etc.i was on the hunt for Kyeong Saeng Won orphanage to volunteer there b/c

drank dat soju, boy.

2009-04-18T20:56:00.000-07:00

soju is the local hard liquor of choice in south korea. it's really cheap, like a dollar for a full bottle. people drink it in shots or mixed with juice, making a soju cocktail. i think it tastes like a smoother version of vodka. this is a video made by my good friend elliott, a beautifully ignorant tribute to soju.

zhaleh

2009-04-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

this is my beautiful friend zhaleh. she is an esl teacher in south korea who works with adults. she wrote this "funny things people said" on her myspace. pretty exemplary of the funny conversations we sometimes have with people here in korea.~supaflyTuesday, September 23, 2008funny things that people have said to me this month dominican guy in the club: ayyyy, mamita, u have the disease! me:

i love ice cream

2009-04-04T23:29:00.001-07:00

from the blog seoulitary confinement, read about the delicious ice cream: The Black Crunch Bar. ive had it, pretty tasty. in fact, im going to go to gs mart so i can buy and eat one right now. ah-saaah!

movies

2009-04-03T00:43:00.000-07:00

update 09/2010: http://global.seoul.go.kr/webzine/july/sub09.html============================================= you can watch korean movies with english subtitles at some theatres in seoul, discussed here on daves. i believe the theatre in yongsan also has subtitles, catering to the military population. for my own personal reference, since i live close to gangnam: For Cinus Gangnam (Cinus G), go

got my Criminal Background Check

2009-04-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

don't read this post unless youre bored. it's old and no longer relevant. starting dec 31, 2010, your criminal background check has to be done via the fbi, so go to this website and get your paperwork started: http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htm ==============================================i started this process 3/10/09. during this process, my visa expired, my extention expired, and my

02-1330

2009-03-30T04:10:00.000-07:00

cut and paste from this article:You're in the middle of an enjoyable tour when you can't find the tourist destination looking for. After walking around for an hour with no luck, you decide to find a PC cafe to surf and find the info you need, but only after tediously sifting through an incredible amount of completely useless info. In the meantime, you've wasted touring time.waste no more. With

break out

2009-03-28T23:37:00.000-07:00

what a great quote. i pulled it from this girl's blog. "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."- Mark Twain

how to get started

2009-03-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

march 17, 2009Hey S...,I ran into someone over the weekend who's looking into teaching english abroad. She mentioned doing it in China but she didn't know about S. Korea, Thailand, and all the other places she could go (and that's just in Asia). I told her I was very, very well connected in this area because I know you and you know everyone (who really matters).So, could I ask for a favor. Could

student loans

2009-03-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

a friend of mine asked me a student loan question. maybe you're wanting to put off paying them for a while (paying off credit card bills first, maybe you got a the brains to invest and make your money grow bigger than the 3% insterest loans charge, whatever). btw, if youre a fresh graduate: consolidate your student loans. google "consolidate" and do it. it locks the interest rate to about 3% for

jamsil

2009-02-24T00:06:00.000-08:00

blogworld, ive moved. i now live and work in seoul, by jamsil. CDI has opened a new location and have pulled veteran instructors from different branches to start up this new one. ive nothing to say about it... things were feeling monotonous at pyeongchon, so it's nice to have change. the bathroom at my old place was much prettier :(

two years later

2009-02-10T07:54:00.000-08:00

wow blogworld. ive been here two years! holy cheese and crackers! people email me or leave comments asking me to post more often, and im incredibly flattered! thing is: i write when i have something that may be useful relating living/working here. very little to no commentary on anything else. i DO answer most emails, often posting them here. i still live and work in pyeongchon. my key money

public schools

2009-01-02T20:46:00.000-08:00

i work for an esl hogwan/academy. that is a school where kids go after their day in public school. there are all kinds of academies here: math, science, art, etc. Hogwons are individually owned, the horror stories you may hear about a school could be for just that one particular school so dont avoid all of them if you hear one bad experience. below is some stuff fm the discussion board on

yeah...

2008-11-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

it's around 8am or so. im on my way to the internet cafe, sporting jeans, a grey hoodie, funny black glasses and my backpack. an adjosshi (elder korean male) sporting a suit sees me in his peripheral vision and walks up to me, asking,"American?""Yes," I respond, respectfully, quietly."Did you vote?" he asks, leaning in, his eyes wide."Yes," I answer, not inexplicably feeling nervous... you run

lil' picker upper

2008-10-31T20:04:00.000-07:00

romare bearden, btw-->i went through a blue 6 month or so period. i was just in the world of hater-ation, annoyed with everything and everybody, feeling underrepresented, unappreciated, undervalued, by everyone, and i mean everyone: people in korea, people back home, people ive met/connected with anywhere ive ever been in my life. i withdrew from friends feeling like i had nothing or no one and

my man is going to do it, i just know it.

2008-10-02T16:10:00.000-07:00

useful websites

2008-09-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

from eslcafe member polonius.Shoppinghttp://global.gmarket.co.kr/http://www.iikea.co.kr/http://www.ikeakorea.biz/http://www.whatthebook.com/http://www.ezshopkorea.com/(Organic stuff) http://www.healgreen.com/http://www.rodeoave.co.kr/brand_home.phphttp://www.auction.co.kr/(Used)http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewforum.php?f=6&sid=af03b04e04935ac584d1617889c65e7b(Used) http://

goshiwon

2008-09-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.cocoresidence.com/

korea "cribs"

2008-09-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

lmao fo real!

sorry, i was having a crappy day.

2008-08-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

dude... im getting so annoyed w/people telling me i should go work for a public school!!! ie Jo-Anna from this blog who left me a comment: When I was applying to jobs in Korea, I thought it was really sketch that CDI doesn't offer health insurance. If you are working full time, I don't see how it is possible for them not to offer it. I feel as if someone should be complaining to labor board about

health insurance

2008-08-24T04:25:00.000-07:00

it's illegal for your employer to not provide health insurance. i dont know how my job doesnt provide it, something about b/c we're contract workers. anyways, i didnt want to fight them about it, so i went to global village to ask about getting health insurance on my own.they called around and told me that i can register for korean national health insurance as "self employed" but that i'd have to

taxis

2008-08-23T21:31:00.000-07:00

taking taxis is common here... well, it really feels common in comparison to daygo, back home you only see taxis in the gaslamp area on weekend nights. <--deluxe taxi South Korea has three types of taxis. ordinary, deluxe, and taxis for differently-abled. the “ordinary” taxis are yellow or green or white, the cap on top will vary in color as well. i think a blue cap means that the cab is company

no degree

2008-07-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

quick update: teach with 2 years of undergrad.http://www.talk.go.kr/==========================the laws are changing soon, you wont need a degree to teach english in korea. discussion on esl cafe.Update: From the APC website: *Update on degree requirements:As of September, 2008 some provinces in Korea have arranged for an exception to the education requirements for the E-2 visa. Due to very

global village center

2008-07-16T16:47:00.001-07:00

i dropped into the global village center in itaewon yesterday. it's next to the international clinic.i was greeted with a super friendly hello, like the girl got up out of her chair and smiled big and cheered, "hello!" from across the room. :)they had free internet access and some english books (fiction & non fiction) to loan, also for free.they offer a lot of services for foreigners: help get a

just in case

2008-07-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

here in korea, i dont go around saying im a proud american, but i do say southern cali is my home and i do miss it sometimes.i dont know much about the american military, but i do know that if north korea goes crazy and invades south korea, the american military here will come find and save me b/c im american. well, they're supposed to, anyway, so long as youre registered with the american

boryeong mud festival

2008-07-10T05:26:00.000-07:00

in case anyone was wondering what's going on in south korea, that would be the Boryeong mud festival this coming weekend. and in case anyone was wondering if the Supa Dupa Fly Seoul Sista would be going, that answer would be Hell No.

hair

2008-07-09T00:03:00.000-07:00

the number one question i get from sistas in cyberspace:where can i get my hair done?discussions going on on facebook and myspace.this was never a question i had before coming here b/c i had locks at the time, and later sported a twa. for years now, my regimen consists solely of conditioner and baby lotion.my hair history is different from most, perhaps. my father is black, my mother is philipino

Fan Death

2008-07-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

direct link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXmoWMHFLaE please go to youtube and comment on my friends video^^

housing

2008-07-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

what will your place look like? think smallish. lots of people post photos of their place, so do a google image search for officetel, or korea apartment. here are pictures of an officetel bedroom and bathroom. officetels are one big room and a bathroom. so, first two shots are of the same room, and then the bathroom... yeah... more info here. and watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

where to be

2008-06-30T18:04:00.001-07:00

before you take a job, you should ask which subway stop you'll be living closest to. i live in pyeongchon, off the blue line 4 towards oido (bottom middle left of the map, ignore the red arrow). i love where i live, but it can be hard b/c it sure is easier to socialize when you live in/close to seoul. im a 45 min subway ride south of itaewon. if i go out to a bar or club, or run late hanging out

fan death

2008-06-29T04:30:00.000-07:00

i dont know how to upload videos on blogger... so, click this link to watch a video my friend madeabout the dangers of fan death.

anyang, pyeonchon

2008-06-28T00:51:00.000-07:00

i live in anyang, in pyeongchon. it's 45 min south of itaewon on the subway. as of this writing (500 plus days of living in south korea/pyeongchon) ive done no site seeing here. yeah, im lame. there's no point to this post, i jsut wanted to put up those links in case i want to find them again.

book: korea w/blk perspective

2008-06-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

just helping out a friend, promoting. check his blog for updates. ~Supa Fly.============================================== Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 8:11:43 AMSubject: It's Christoph from DC. Be included in a new book.Hey,It’s Christoph from DC! I am contacting you to let you know that I am in the arduous process of writing a book. This book will pretty much be the first of its kind. The

more blogs

2008-06-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

yet another blog way better than mine, brian at http://kissmykimchi.blogspot.com/ive not been to many clubs here b/c my music tastes are not satisfied. i have been to harlem in gangnam ($20 to get in?) and kings club in itaewon. i think these two places may be where you'll see the most blk people in one place in south korea. miltary cant be caught out on the street after a certain hour, so if

well said

2008-06-21T16:51:00.000-07:00

in answer to the constant question of possibly experiencing racism/discrimination if you move to korea:"I never had any serious problems... If you can’t handle being black anywhere else in the world, I don’t see why you’d have an especially difficult time in Asia."thank you iyori. :)

described as "Davey and Goliath...meets South Park."

2008-06-15T01:29:00.001-07:00

using the computer at home, i sometimes cant access some sites. there will be a message, something like "this is not available in your country" or something. i dont have this probem at work or at the internet cafes. anyway, im home and not allowed to watch moral orel. dammit. i could really use a laugh right now. maybe i can watch... something else... i dont know. man, if youre in the mood for

costco

2008-06-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

hello blogworld. i am running out of oatmeal. my homegirl keena gave me the rest of hers before she left... *sniffle* i miss you, keena!!! anyways... im nearly out and now i dont konw what to do. i never ate oatmeal at home. but here it's like the perfect thing to eat for breakfast everyday. i must have more.i know there is oatmeal to be bought at costco in seoul, but ive only been to one of the

i wonder

2008-05-28T00:03:00.000-07:00

these red levers under my sink... what are they for? are they supposed to be turned upward or downward? upward in winter, and down in summer? or UP all the time? OR DOWN all the time? i dont know.

tips for when youre brand spankin new

2008-05-27T00:12:00.000-07:00

with thanks to seoul's own groove magazine.pronunciation: korea is so homogenous. many residents are not used to having to decipher mispronounced korean words. to avoid confusion, have a k-friend write down your request (destination, item to buy, etc) to show to taxi drivers, store owners, whatevers.atm: atms at banks are open from 8am to 10pm, they're not 24 hrs. some atms at convenience stores

question: getting hired

2008-05-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

read all the emails/questions that i get here.find more people to talk to here.----- Original Message -------From: a myspacerDate: May 22, 2008 11:31 AMGreetings,I was wondering if you had any advice about getting hired..I am working through footprints recruiting right now (have you heard anything about them). I would like to be over there by the 2nd week in August that is my goal, trying to make

blacktravels.com

2008-05-18T05:14:00.001-07:00

interesting website that i havent really looked at yet: http://www.blacktravels.com/

couchsurfing

2008-05-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

i joined couchsurfing.com. couch surfing is letting travelers stay with you for x number of days and perhaps the host can show them around the town. i just think it's a really great concept, and i want to support it. i joined the black travelers group, and a couple others for women and esl teachers. i dont think i would use it, tho, to stay at someone else's house... the older i get, the

other black folks in south korea

2008-05-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

update 2009: the facebook group is the most active. use it, get other perspectives. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_25747883752 the myspace group i started way back when is around 100 members, and active, albeit lightly so. there are groups also on blackplanet, yahoo, and facebook. if you know where in korea you're going to be, maybe you could search around the profiles of people who

blackexpat.com

2008-05-01T22:21:00.001-07:00

the website is almost up and running, i was able to register today! so... you go do it too. ~supa fly

maybe i should make an FAQ

2008-04-26T09:22:00.000-07:00

a question from cyberspace, read it here.read all the emails/questions that i get here.find more people to talk to here.

baseball

2008-04-18T09:35:00.001-07:00

you know what's super fun to do here in korea? go to a baseball game.let neesa tell you all about it.

korean boys are cute

2008-04-10T09:52:00.001-07:00

<---click to enlarge i went out with some friends a couple weekends ago and oh my god, this place just had the cutest korean boys i've ever seen. these two were the waiters, i dont remember their names but oh wow they were super cute. read a little bit about it on my homegirls Kisha's blog.click to enlarge---> and damn, why she got to post the photos where i'm looking all confused and lost? b/c

calling korea

2008-04-02T21:57:00.000-07:00

somebody in the states asked for my phone number, which i gave to them, then he asked me how to dial it. i didnt know. been here a year, and i had no idea! well, no one from home has ever called me either. anyway, i looked it up:http://www.howtocallabroad.com/south-korea/

student artwork

2008-03-18T09:48:00.000-07:00

kanisha from my memory tera class drew this on the board last week.a rather close likeness, really!

what is cdi like?

2008-03-12T23:01:00.000-07:00

read all the emails/questions that i get here.find more people to talk to here.Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 5:24:22 AMSubject: Question about Teaching with CDI in KoreaHi! My name is T and I love your blog. It actually encouraged me a lot despite all the negative comments I read on Dave's ESL Forum about being black and living/working in Korea. hi t. thank you, expat jane's interview did the

my cat calendar

2008-03-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

dear readers, if you have friends abroad, send them mail. even if it's just a postcard saying hi. getting mail from home is so awesome. one time a girlfriend sent me some bit o honey, it was the most wonderful thing to find in my mailbox. for xmas, my homegirl cheryl sent me some gifts, including a cat desk calendar (i really miss my cats). not the kind of thing i'd have as decor in my home, but

a year plus later

2008-03-10T10:02:00.000-07:00

ive gotten many a request for an update, wow, i feel like a celebrity!! i do keep another blog about some minor everyday shizz, in the form of the emails i send to my parents, if you're just really dying to know more about me. stalkers.in february i finished my one year contract at cdi. i saw 3 runners (teachers who stop showing up to work w/no notice, usually they leave the country & go back

yes, i complain about the cold, A LOT.

2008-02-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

the thing i wish i bought the second i got here-->i have them now, and i friggin love them.my homegirl emailed me, she's thinking about coming to korea, and told me she appreciates how i say a lot of neutral things and positive things about my experience here. thass cool. i do get the blues here, guys, real bad, but i make efforts not to write it here, b/c really dont we all get the blues,

relax. have a drink.

2008-02-01T19:51:00.000-08:00

you can also sit on the lawn furniture they have in frontof the convenience stores and drink as many, many, bored,and lonely foreigners do. not me, tho... yet.

eating when i first got here

2008-01-31T19:09:00.000-08:00

when i first got here, i was put in a nice hotel and told training starts on monday. i think i arrived on a saturday night? and i had nothing to eat, and was pretty timid about finding a place.well, i did try... i remember going into a place that looked like a restaurant, and i smiled said i wanted to eat, i made the international "eat" gesture w/putting my hand to my mouth. and the guy said, "No

fish cakes are yummy

2008-01-30T19:54:00.000-08:00

this is my new favorite thing to eat in korea. they're "fish cakes."i dont know how to ask for them, but usually you'll be walking around and you'll see a truck, or cart, or a stand set up, sometimes in front of a restaurant. they'll have these skewers in boiling water, and on these skewers are these beige strips. they dont look good, but they so are. you can take a little cup also, and drink the

my utility/maintenance bill

2008-01-28T18:30:00.000-08:00

update 04/08: please note that the korean won and the US dollar has been fluctuating lately, be sure to check current conversion rate.i dont know why my first bill was so friggin high. i guess i was stuck w/some of the last persons bill... oh, and i didnt even GET a bill the first couple of months, actually, so it looks like they charged me all at once. jerks. anyway, in an officetel, you pay a

how ise feelin right now

2008-01-01T13:58:00.000-08:00

i dont know what this is a picture of, it comes up when you do a google image search for "first anniversary." pretty hot.holy cow, here i is near 11 months later! happy new year!my contract is up in february, i'd like to go home and visit family/friends, and i definitely want to come back to teach again. probably at the same school, i like the job, i like the kids there.i have plenty of gripes

merry xmas

2007-12-25T04:23:00.000-08:00

from a rather infamous blog the metropolitician, who plugs another great blog feet man seoul:This Christmas season, the must-have item is the bear hat, courtesy of Paris Baguette. And if you are a couple, a matching pair is the way to go. This couple is the quintessential Seoul Christmas couple, since they're not only rocking the hats, but have a Christmas cake in tow, as well as a little bit of

from sarah

2007-11-13T22:47:00.000-08:00

click to enlarge and read this lovely letter from little sarah--->hey, i've been working here in korea at cdi for near 9 months now. *phew!* i have my complaints about my job, as do we all, but overall im really happy there. i love the kids, and i like teaching. i love my apartment. i LOVE my apartment. like really, i love it. i may never leave.it's coming to the end of my 3rd term and i'll say

happy choseok

2007-10-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

little charlie from one of my elementary school classes said his mother told him to bring me these song-pyeong, rice cakes with some sort of sweet bean paste inside. they're common food fare for chuseok. i didnt eat them (they're similar to philipino desserts, and i never developed the taste for them) but i kept them forever, opening the refrigerator everyday and smiling and thinking that i must

paying bills back home

2007-08-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

The only bill ive had to pay back home is my student loan. every month at payday, i go to the bank and transfer money to my account back home, then i pay everything online once the money is in the account. i have also done some online shopping w/amazon, using my home account as well (it's a atm/visa check card through my bank). other bills i was able to transfer to other names/people, or cut off

summer work

2007-05-12T20:17:00.000-07:00

if i had known about summer and winter jobs here, i might've used the opportunity to visit korea before making the big move here. these seasonal jobs all include free accomodations, paid airfare, and around 2000USD for one month of work. the quality of the job depends on the employer, of course. anyway, to all those in cyberworld who've let me know they're considering korea, maybe check out a

moving service

2007-05-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

click this and this forum on eslcafe, or here on global village about how to move: There are moving services or you can get just a bongo truck guy. But unless you speak and read Korean really well you would probably need a korean to help you get one.This guy speaks english.... seems about 40,000 to move most things:When you need a truck , Please send below items ! I will reply the price asap !

2007-05-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

oh my gosh, if you go on googleand search "cdi seoul black"my blog is the FIRST RESULT!im famous!

some africans are still enslaved and dont feel complete without a chain around their neck...

2007-04-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

thanks to nisha for passing this on. this doesnt have anything to do w/korea or esl... it is part of a 1999 documentary called 'Cry Freetown' . ive noticed a couple of nigerian men here in korea (i notice ALL them, actually, handsome lot they are), and im saddened and enraged at the same time to see how they emulate this one part, this bane of african american culture: wearing the shiniest,

mental health/pills

2007-04-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

good chunk of info on daves about mental health. i do not advise you tell anyone at your job about it if you do take meds. not that it's anything to be ashamed of, but you'll have enough questions/intrusions about you/your life without adding your mental health to it. if you can function w/out hurting/affecting others, then really, it's not anybody's business but yours.Dr. Park's Psychiatric

how i got cable tv

2007-04-20T04:05:00.000-07:00

if you need help getting cable or anything "living" related, contact global village. update 07/2011: a good number for getting cable tv: KT has a customer service number for English speakers (in seoul). You can have them come on a saturday even. ah-sahh! 02-1588-8448 ---------------------------------- i didnt have cable back home b/c it's so expensive and i was always so poor. we can add cable

i never say, "koreans are..."

2007-03-30T16:23:00.000-07:00

i was thinking about how a while back (maybe two weeks before i got here) i met a brotha online who teaches in china, and he told me to stay away from korea. he said he'd never come to korea b/c of the shitty way they treat black people in the states. i sympathize, but i dont agree.i beg of you, brotha, this type of generalization/stereotyping is what keeps us down. you may have great

be mentally free

2007-03-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

ive been thinking about how foreigners here complain about how awful koreans are, and blah blah blah. you mostly read them on forums. but that's the point of forums, a part of it anyway, so you can vent. but anyway, about this gripe that you arent free in korea...yeah, you're not. it's not your country. big deal. it's my opinion that it's white people who have trouble dealing with this; having

currency convert, tax, pension, kor/eng dictionary...

2007-03-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

wikipediacurrency convert http://www.xe.com/ucc/ KOREA tourism guide http://english.tour2korea.com/ korea airport http://kac.airport.co.kr/eng/index.jsp pension office http://www.nps4u.or.kr/eng/g-index.html tax calculator http://nts.go.kr/front/service/refer_cal/gani/refer_gani_eng.asp tax service http://www.nts.go.kr/eng/default.html korean english dictionary http://www.zkorean.com/

if you have some money and need some help

2007-03-13T00:20:00.000-07:00

LOOK AT THIS NEATO SERVICE!!! Help & Service Korea! i posted on daves looking for a cleaning person for my place as i've heard it can be quite affordable. i got a response about help&service and checked out the website, how friggin cool! house cleaning, babysitting, party assistant, and look at this for "special assistance provider:"Special Assistance Provider◇ Secures document/s from the Korean

enjoy while youre there.

2007-03-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

i read about people wanting to go home after a few weeks/months. maybe they're not as travelled.be ready. read up on korea as much as you can.check the forums. lots of negative for sure, but try to find the positive, the tips for making life easier here.

pets in korea

2007-03-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

i met a woman last night who arrived in korea three days ago. she said it was super easy to do. there's no quarantine for korea. she made sure she had all her paperwork showing the cat's current shots and such a full month before she left. she made sure the plane she was on would allow her cat to be in the cabin with her, and the disabled bathroom was big enough for her to take her cat out every

cell phone in korea

2007-03-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

update 2011: call home for local rates, click here. update 10/2008 i got a cell phone at global village, they have so much foreigner help, it's awesome. the office to get a cell phone is in seoul, off the blue line 4 City hall Station ext 10. they have plans specifically for foreigners. You'll need your arc card, passport, bank book (your bank must have your arc card info on file, not just

take a break

2007-03-09T23:59:00.000-08:00

this aint got shit to do w/korea or esl, it's just that i hadnt seen any of chapelle season three before and i couldnt stop laughing. byaaaaahh!!!!

ARC- alien registration card

2007-03-08T04:54:00.000-08:00

your arc card is your alien registration card. every foreign national staying in Korea for 91 days or more must register as a resident alien. my school sent me to the immigration office; i was to bring with me my passport, two passport sized photos, something from the school saying that i work for them, and 20K won, i think? i have no idea how much it cost... sorry, i meant to write this as soon