When I was living abroad I wasn’t sure what life would be like when I finished my contract and moved home. I planned to only live in South Korea for a year but ended up extending my contract and living in Busan for almost a year and a half. I knew there would be some reverse culture shock when I moved home but I was really surprised by what I experienced and wanted to share that! In fact, one way to help with reverse culture shock is by writing down and talking about your experiences!
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, Teach English overseas, busan, life after Korea
I know what you’re thinking, “What an exciting title!” But trust me this article contains important information to help you navigate a topic that you wouldn’t normally think would be confusing. Recycling and waste disposal in South Korea is actually pretty different than in North America and other Western countries. Prior to moving to South Korea,I had no idea that there were any major differences with trash and recycling but I was very mistaken! Hopefully after reading my article you’ll feel more informed and prepared for the changes to come.
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, restaurants in korea, busan, garbage, trash in korea
Before moving to Busan, I didn’t know very much about Korean food. I did very little research and was surprised when I got there and realized that most Korean food is very meat-centric. I used to be a vegetarian and have never been a really big fan of meals centered around meat (aside from burgers!). I quickly tried to find a couple restaurants where I could enjoy foods from back home, here are a couple of my favorites!
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, restaurants in korea, busan
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
Before moving to Korea, I had to decide where I wanted to apply for/live. I decided on Busan because it’s a little bit smaller than Seoul but still a big city with many things to do. I also wanted to live in Busan because it has a lot of beautiful beaches. After living in Busan for almost a year and a half I’m happy with the decision I made! Busan is a great city and I’m really glad I live here. In spring and fall, there are lots of mountains to hike around Busan, in the summer there’s always a new beach to explore and in winter there are lots of spas, shopping, and nightlife options.
Read MoreTags: Korean culture, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, moving to Korea, Teach English overseas, Teach English abroad, things to do in Korea, busan, things to do on the weekends, top places to travel in Korea
When I started teaching over a year ago, I didn't know very much about the working culture and educational culture in Korea. When I first started at iGarten, I was really surprised by the amount of workbooks and worksheets kindergarten students had to complete every month.
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, on arrival, Korean culture, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, moving to Korea, Teach English overseas, Teach English abroad, things to do in Korea, busan, iGarten
About 6 months after my boyfriend Colin and I started dating I asked him if he'd be interested in teaching abroad. I'd always wanted to live abroad and I knew he wanted to travel as well - I was so excited when he said he was open to the idea of teaching in Korea! Almost a year later we moved to Busan. I’m so thankful to Aclipse for making this all possible and finding a school where we could both teach and work the same hours. Moving overseas as a couple has a lot of perks, and I have been so thankful for this experience! Having lived in Busan for over a year, I've met lots of single people, people who started new relationships while abroad, and other couples who moved abroad together. Regardless of your relationship status, living abroad is an unforgettable experience. I'm especially grateful I was able to share these memories with Colin.
Read MoreTags: preparing to teach in Korea, on arrival, Korean culture, Teach English in Korea, Teach Abroad, moving to Korea, Teach English overseas, Teach English abroad, things to do in Korea, busan, iGarten
What’s a Chungdahm teacher to do during Chuseok 추석? Having a Monday and Tuesday off due to what is known as Korean Thanksgiving or Autumn Eve presents many great opportunities. Traveling to Busan, Korea’s 2nd most populous city, for the 4 day weekend is a great choice. Busan is located in the south-eastern province of South Gyeongsang and is a must see and bucket list item when in Korea.
Read MoreTags: things to do on the weekend, busan, Chuseok, Weekend activities in Korea, weekend travel, teaching at CDL, holiday season
Busan is the ideal summer vacation spot on the Korean peninsula. It has white sand beaches, cocktail lounges, and party districts. The weather is moderately warm and often cooler than Seoul due to the ocean breeze. Busan is positioned on the southern-most tip of Korea and is a bustling city with the second largest population.
The city is a quick train ride from anywhere, with access to the KTX bullet train. Seoul to Busan takes about 3 hours and a return-ticket costs about 103,000 KRW. There are also buses that leave regularly and are an easy mode of transport for those who cannot access the train services.
Read MoreTags: summer in korea, busan, patbingsu, traveling, weekend travel, teaching at CDL, top places to travel in Korea, summer
This year marked the 22nd annual Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in Busan and as a movie lover, I was so excited to get to experience such a massive and unique event. The purpose and beauty of BIFF is to introduce new independent films and directors. Primarily, the movies are made in Asia, and hundreds are featured each year. If you are a movie lover like me, then I highly recommend you attend this festival during your time teaching in Korea.
Read MoreTags: movie theaters in Korea, busan, movies in Korea, Festivals in Korea