In Korea, I feel like I'm able to live and afford a better lifestyle than I had back home (in the U.S.) because the cost of living is very cheap here! In this article I'll break down some of the biggest costs and the price difference between Korea and the U.S. I've lived in Busan for over a year, so some of this information might not be accurate for other locations - for example I've heard Seoul is a little bit more expensive.
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach English overseas, things to do in Korea, things to do on the weekend, busan, Beaches in Korea, cost of living
My favorite season has arrived! It is finally Summer in Korea! The season is short-lived in Northern Asia, as Winters are long and seasonal changes occur frequently. Catching some days in the sun is imperative to surviving Korea’s long brutal Winter months.
Read MoreTags: things to do in Korea, summer in korea, things to do, Foreigner bars, Relaxing in Korea, mud festival, Beaches in Korea, Festivals in Korea, adventure, top places to travel in Korea, summer, swimming
One of the longest breaks you will have as a ChungDahm teacher is during the Korean holiday of Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving). The other major holiday would be Seollnal (Lunar New Years). Whenever these holidays approach, I always take the time to leave the city. In times past, I’ve visited Malaysia, Manila, and Busan. We have had teachers visit Hong Kong and Thailand during this long vacation too. This year, I decided to take time and go to a place that I had been to before but never got a really chance to explore. This place I decided to go back to was Jeju.
Read MoreTags: things to do on Jeju, visit Jeju, things to do in Korea, vacation spot in Korea, Vacations in Korea, vacation, vacation destinations, Jeju Island, hiking, Chuseok, hiking in korea, island of Jeju, Beaches in Korea, hiking in south Korea
Summers in Korea are quite active! People are outside and using the long days to fit in as many activities as possible. Luckily, this summer Busan has not experienced a heavy rainy season, often called monsoon season. So I have had many opportunities to do outdoor activities after work or on the weekends, without fear of getting rained out. The best part about many of the outdoor things you can do while teaching in Korea is that they are free!
Read MoreTags: summer in korea, camping, busan, hiking in korea, Beaches in Korea
Korea does not come to mind, when I think of white sand beaches and blue sunny skies. However, with a little bit of digging during my time teaching in Korea, I discovered that Korea does indeed have white sand beaches and places that have a beach culture. Coming from South Africa myself I decided to search for a piece of Summer paradise by traveling and experiencing various places in Korea. Over the years, I fell in love with a few beaches in Korea that are situated in various provinces all over the country and have come to choose my favorite beaches according to my mood and vibe I would like to enjoy during a weekend getaway.
Read MoreTags: things to do in Korea, summer in korea, mudfest in korea, daechon, Trips in Korea, Jeju Island, things to see in korea, getaway, Gangwondo, busan, Tongyeong, Beaches in Korea, teach and travel,, weekend travel
The ITU World Triathlon Championships was held this past weekend in Tongyeong. Every year,Olympic triathletes and professional athletes travel to South Korea to race in the beautiful city with scenic views. A friend of mine was racing in the event and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to experience a region of Korea I haven’t ventured to before.
Tags: Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach in Asia, teaching in Korea, Activities to do in Korea, sports in Korea, Tongyeong, Hotels, Beaches in Korea, Transportation in Korea
One of the greatest things about teaching and living abroad is traveling. Korea is one of the easiest countries to travel around. With some of the most efficient transport systems in the world, you can visit great cities and experience awesome weekend getaways conveniently.
Tags: Teach English in Korea, Teach in Asia, teaching in Korea, things to do in Korea, Trips in Korea, busan, Activities to do in Korea, Haeundae, Gwangali, Beaches in Korea
Thanks to the welcomed influx of extra cash from Chungdahm summer intensives, I’ve been enjoying a bit of a travel binge as of late. And by travel binge I mean I’ve ventured out of the city the past two weekends, but hey I never said I was the next Anthony Bourdain. Anyway, this past weekend I headed out to Boryeong (yes, the Mud Fest place) to celebrate my friend’s upcoming nuptials, and what better way to celebrate than by packing 13 dudes into a pension house? Nothing like a nice bro-fest to really make you miss your fiancé! But all hilarious joking aside, kicking back at a pension house is one of the best ways to spend a weekend here in South Korea.
The concept of the pension house is not a type of lodging that is exactly common in the United States, but here they are quite prevalent. The pension house is an excellent compromise for the pampered vacationer and the avid outdoorsman, providing a happy medium with a roof over your head but without the frills of an actual hotel. Essentially, it is like renting a partially furnished house for the weekend.
Tags: teaching in Korea, Activities to do in Korea, Beaches in Korea, Weekend activities in Korea
Much like in my past life at university when I was sucked into the “Elon bubble,” all too often I find myself stuck in the pleasant and comforting confines of the “Daejeon bubble.” But sometimes I feel like I am in an old Southwest Airlines commercial and I just need to get away. With Chuseok offering the first three-day break of my Chungdahm career, I felt I needed to seize the chance to get out of Dodge so to speak. So a couple of friends and I took a well-deserved trip to Busan to soak up some rays and take in the sights of Korea’s most famous beach city.
Tags: food in Korea, busan, Activities to do in Korea, Beaches in Korea
Gangwondo Province surprised me. After living in Korea for three years I thought I had seen it all. Gangwondo was very different to the usual countryside hills and rice paddy plains. It was mountainous and green, and had a surprisingly different farming atmosphere. Instead of rice, there was copious amounts of potatoes, and instead of bulgogi, there was delicious octopus stir-fry. I enjoyed seeing the rocky mountain tops and the sea below while driving on a winding mountain pass. Not only is the province beautiful, but it is also rich with lots of adventurous activities. Hiking, beaches, temple stays, white river rafting, winter skiing, and casinos!
Tags: teaching in Korea, seoul, Trips in Korea, getaway, hiking, Gangwondo, rental car, Activities to do in Korea, Beaches in Korea