Contrary to getting wisdom teeth taken out in the U.S., things are done a little differently in Korea. For example, I only have one wisdom tooth left in my mouth because I’ve had three previously removed over the course of several months. I have never had to be put under for any of the procedures. Each only took between 5 - 10 minutes, and I only needed to have stitches one time. My situation sounds odd, doesn’t it? Usually, we are used to having them out in one go, but I think that the process I went through is much better than conventional procedures in America.
Read MoreTeachers Share their Experiences While Living Abroad!
Tags: ex-pat life in Korea, life in Korea, dentist, Health in Korea, Healthcare, expat, health, wisdom tooth extraction, dental insurance, teeth
5 Essential Tools to Make Your Life Easier While Teaching in Korea
Posted on Tue, Jan 16, 2018 @ 04:52 PM
Traveling to a new country can be challenging and hard. Now imagine navigating with language barriers and a culture different from your own. Living and teaching in Korea is a unique experience that requires the right mindset and an understanding that things can go often not the way you expected.
From experience, any person living in Korea will tell you to prepare yourself mentally and do research. Reading blogs and tourism sites about what are must-have apps and must-see things to do will help prepare you for life in the Korea. However, having lived in Korea for a few years now, I thought it would be a good idea to write a blog about five essential tools, that you may not find during your research, that will make your life a lot easier during your time abroad.
Read MoreTags: things to do before leaving korea, ex-pat life in Korea, things to do, life in Korea, Navigating Korea, travel, tmoney, essential things for Korea, kakaotalk, navermaps, tourism hotline
How To Celebrate and Socialize with Your Fellow Teachers at ChungDahm
Posted on Wed, Jan 03, 2018 @ 12:38 PM
Living and teaching in Korea is all about what you make of it and who you spend your time with and events at work are a great way to create memories when you are far away from home.
At Chungdahm Learning you have the opportunity to work with people from all over the world, so it is possible to challenge yourself to experience new things, cultures and grow as an individual. Being able to socialize with people from diverse backgrounds has been my favorite part of teaching abroad, so I recommend you do your best to plan events within your academy where you can build bonds with your fellow teachers outside of the classroom. In this blog I will talk about some of the events my fellow teachers and I have done at ChungDahm's Songpa branch.
Read MoreTags: co-worker, Teach Abroad, ex-pat life in Korea, events in Korea, Activities to do in Korea, Holidays in South Korea, chungdahm, chungdahm learning, christmas in Korea, events, work events
The scariest thought some people have before they move abroad and begin teaching in Korea is isolation. Often foreigners worry about how they will fit into the Korean community and be accepted by their fellow co-workers. It is daunting to think about situations where you may run into communication issues or cultural misunderstandings. However, don't let the fear of the unknown stop you. The best part of living and teaching in Korea is having these moments, that allow you to grow and have an amazing experience. Below I will go into detail about the Korean culture, along with ways that you overcome your fear of being along in a foreign land and in turn become embraced by the Korean community.
Read MoreTags: things to do in Korea, English teacher in Korea, ex-pat life in Korea, expat, benefits of living in Korea, Korea friends, korean community, community, member
Umbrellas backwards, sopping wet pants and muggy gumboots...are what you can expect from Korea's Monsoon season. Monsoon season has begun in Korea, and the sudden downpour of an insane amount of rain, can have anyone swimming home. Although monsoon may not be my favorite season in Korea, it doesn't me you need to stay inside your apartment all day waiting for the sun to come out. In this blog I will talk about not only ways to make sure you are prepared for monsoon season, but also some activities you can do during your time teaching in Korea.
Read MoreTags: English teachers in Korea, ex-pat life in Korea, Activities to do in Korea, monsoon, monsoon season in korea, rainy days, typhoon, Korea seasons
Top Korean Phrases you Should Learn Prior to Teaching in Korea
Posted on Sun, Jun 18, 2017 @ 12:00 PM
Korean is a unique language that plays a big part in Korean culture. While knowing Korean isn't required to teach for ChungDahm, as all the classes are taught in English, any current teacher would tell you to learn the Korean alphabet and some of the key Korean phrases prior to your arrival. Knowing how to read the language and say key phrases will help you immensely with things like directions or reading a menu. In this blog I will introduce you to 10 Korean phrases that you should try to learn prior to arriving to Korea to help you during your first days abroad.
Read MoreTags: korean phrases, ex-pat life in Korea, Korean language, life in Korea, What to do Korea, learn korean, study korean, phrases, what to do before Korea
Arriving in a new country can be really overwhelming. There are many things that need to be done quickly upon your arrival! Your head will soon be spinning, without knowing what to expect and how to go about it. Everyone coming to teach in Korea can better prepare for the time ahead by doing a little bit of research, and having a few conversations with foreigners. By doing this you can feel relaxed and be assured that your transition to life in Korea, will run smoothly.
Read MoreTags: ex-pat life in Korea, life in Korea, learning Korean, teach in Korea, arriving in korea, what to do after, Meetup, new teacher
Top 3 Skills I Gained from Living and Teaching Abroad in Korea
Posted on Tue, Dec 08, 2015 @ 02:30 PM
The general idea when you set on a journey abroad, specifically to teach ESL, the perception is that you are giving up your career and life goals to enjoy a few years traveling. What most people don't know, is that this is not the case at all. It really depends on the individual and how they choose to spend those years. However, no matter what any book or resentful person tells you - traveling is an invaluable experience that will change your mind and attitude in ways that will shape your outlook and lust for life.
Read MoreTags: Teach Abroad, ex-pat life in Korea, teach in Korea, benefits of ESL
Last week I wrote about why I think Korea is amazing, and this week I have even more reasons to share with you.
Tags: trend in korea, facts about Korea, a year in Korea, eating in Korea, ex-pat life in Korea, drinking, cultural differences, having fun in korea, Activities to do in Korea, outdoor activities, Nightlife in Korea, Korean society
Oh, and one more thing about Korea. *The Arrival Store Advice*
Posted on Wed, Jul 03, 2013 @ 03:00 PM
Tags: packing, moving to Korea, teaching in Korea, a year in Korea, things to think about before coming out to korea, ex-pat life in Korea, advice, arriving in korea, abroad, appliances in Korea, appliances, the arrival store