After a round of drinking with some Korean friends, some of us foreigners were talking about the Korean dating scene. After talking about some differences between the Western and Eastern mindset, we were talking about some of the different Korean myths that surround dating and everyday life. Even though there is no proven truth to any of this, many Koreans still believe that this is important. Here are some myths that you should know about before teaching in Korea.
Read MoreTags: myths about Korea, myths, living in Korea, history of Korea, personality test, blood type, fan death, korean history
If you teach in Korea long enough, you will realize how much Koreans are proud of their culture and history and because of this they do their best to preserve their ancient wonders. As of 2016, Korea has 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites. If a location is deemed to have cultural or physical significance, the UN will help to ensure that it remains protected. The nomination process can take years and only a certain amount of locations will be designated a World Heritage site in any given year. This year, I was invited by my Korean friends to participate in the Amsa-dong Prehistoric Settlement Site.
Read MoreTags: festival, Korea, history, history of Korea, music festival, korea history
Deciding where to teach English in a foreign country can be a daunting task. When deciding where to teach, there are many pros and cons to consider. Having worked in Korea for over three years now, I have found numerous reasons why I love this country so much . Here are the top 5 reasons why you should consider teach abroad in Korea.
Read MoreTags: Korea, food in Korea, hiking, friends in Korea, history of Korea, cultural activities, Transportation in Korea, hiking in south Korea
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.
Tags: Teach English abroad, a year in Korea, things to do before leaving korea, Exercising in Korea, hiking in korea, tourist attractions in Korea, ecofriendly, history of Korea
I arrived in Korea last July as a wide eyed and somewhat bewildered Westerner who truly had no idea what she was getting herself into. I’m not sure how it’s happened, but in the last nine months I’ve gone from a frightened tourist to a resident of Korea, and now I find myself calling this place my home.
Tags: Japanese, family in korea, Buddist Temples, war, Gangnam, visit, places to see, myeongdong, history of Korea, Weekend activities in Korea
There is more to experience while living in Korea besides the night life, parties, and Korean BBQ; it’s important to learn about some of the history while teaching in Korea. Changdeokgung (‘gung’ meaning palace) is one of the most unique historical sites in Korea. Changdeokgung was built as a secondary palace to Gyeongbokgung, but later became the main palace after the Japanese invasion (1592-1598) left most of the palaces in ruins. Some say that there was no need for a second palace, but King Taejong was reluctant to live in Gyeongbokgung, the place where he seized the throne after assassinating his half brothers. Entry to the palace is regulated and more strict than the other palaces probably since it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. Neil and I went here on a beautiful sunny day and took many pictures of pavilions other historic architecture. You can observe that many of the roof tops have a similar curve at the end, like a wing spreading towards the sky. This is a sign of the highest nobility in the social heirarchy of Korea.
Tags: Korean culture, a year in Korea, tourist spots in Korea, Activities to do in Korea, palaces in Korea, history of Korea