The Aclipse Blog is Produced by Current Teachers in Korea!

As you might remember from last week's post, I visited a Korean hospital because of some stomach pain. Last week’s blog covered the first hour I was at the hospital. I had 2 blood tests and 2 xrays done. By having them done in Korea and not America, I saved over $300. Here is the second hour of the the incredibly affordable and efficient hospital trip.

At first glance, Korean gyms look a lot like gyms in America. But, check out the fun differences. Matching uniforms and shaking machines anyone?

The city of Busan, South Korea has it all. It is a huge city with an awesome nightlife, tons of attractions, and located right next to some of the best beaches in South Korea. Plus, the climate is a little bit warmer here than Seoul and the traffic is much less worse. In a nutshell, Busan is a slightly smaller Seoul with warmer weather and awesome beaches.

Living and teaching in Korea has been quite an experience; I’ve taken the opportunity to try many new things and I’ve grown as a teacher and an individual over the past year.  I would encourage anyone who’s ever thought about teaching, to spend a year in Korea with Chungdahm Learning.  Of the many new things I’ve gotten to experience, here is a list of the top 10 things I’m going to miss dearly.

Hongdae, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Seoul, Korea, is known for being loud and full of music. Every night you can count on the area's public spaces to be full of spontaneous and talented performers and one can not ignore the deafening beats blaring from the many clubs that line Hongdae's narrow streets. But one random night each month is reserved for a different kind of party.

One of the greatest things about becoming an ESL teacher for Chungdahm is the large amount of time you’re going to have off. Between the hours themselves, level tests, and holidays, you’re definitely going to have a good amount of time off, so you need to take advantage of it. I personally have not had to work a Wednesday in my 11 months living here. It’s been awesome. And this semester no one in my branch is working Wednesdays so we’ve made it a point to go on Wednesday adventures and enjoy the beginning stages of springtime in Korea. This past Wednesday we hiked Bugaksan, situated in the heart of Seoul, right behind Gyeongbukgong Palace. It was a great hike with a little history mixed in and some great views of the surrounding mountains and the city itself.

Well there goes my diet....As I prepared to leave Korea after teaching English at Chungdahm for over a year, I became motivated to hit the gym and watch what I eat so that I return to the United States looking fit and trim. At the beginning of this year, I made up my mind to walk to the gym/sauna every morning, work out for an hour or two, and then walk to school to teach. I devised a healthy diet consisting of three solid, healthy meals that I would prepare at home each day. It was the perfect plan....

If buffet chain restaurants were a flock of teenage girls, Seven Springs would be the Queen Bee demonstrating the supreme art of  smörgåsbord dining in Seoul, Korea.

One scary thought that crosses many minds when thinking about risks of teaching English abroad is “what happens if I become seriously ill or injured, and I cannot communicate with doctors effectively?” Well in South Korea, you’ll be fine. You’ll be more than fine, actually. The health care I received a couple weeks ago was incredibly quick, thorough, and affordable.

From time to time while teaching English in Korea, you'll most likely get cravings for non-Korean meals and snacks. Itaewon, an international neighborhood in Seoul, offers a selection of food from all over the world, including sweets that you're missing from home. Here is my list of the most suggested places for any foreigner to visit in Itaewon!