These days it is so cold in Seoul! It’s mid-winter and the outdoor activities are limited. If you are an active and adventurous person like myself, then you’ll be happy to know that there is an indoor game and sports experience spot right outside of Seoul. The place is called Sports Monster. It is located at one of Korea’s largest shopping malls Hannam’s Starfield, which is about an hour and a half away from Gangnam by bus. It is significantly faster if you go by car or taxi. There isn’t a direct subway line that goes out to Hannam. So, I suggest planning a trip out there in advance to account for the transportation time it takes to get there.
Read MoreTeachers Share their Experiences While Living Abroad!
Tags: Games, teaching in Korea, things to see in korea, Exercising in Korea, things to do on the weekends, outdoor activities, Weekend activities in Korea, living in South Korea
Uprooting your life, whether to a neighboring state, or internationally, and trusting it’s the right move, is never easy. There’s money to be saved, perhaps for that overpriced U-Haul, or in our case, for a flight to Seoul. There’s goodbyes to be had, some easier than others, even if they are just temporary. Luckily, a few are permanent - I’m sure you have your own list of culprits. We all do.
Read MoreTags: Korean culture, benefits of living in Korea, living in South Korea, korea history
Coming to Korea was the best decision to learn about who I am and what I like. Not only has Korea allowed me to travel to a new country but it has allowed me to live a life I never knew I would have let alone enjoy. I have always had a dream to travel the world, especially experiencing the sensations of Asian countries. Korea has allowed me to start that dream by starting a new life doing something I wasn’t sure I would enjoy - but being pleasantly surprised to enjoy it thoroughly.
Read MoreTags: Korean countryside, working in korea, living in South Korea, teaching at CDL, gumi
Small City Livin’: Transition and Community
Applying, Traveling, Training, Teaching and my First Impressions of Jeonju
Ideas, research, Skype calls, interviews, questions, doubts, decisions - all of these went into what would eventually end up being my first time traveling to Asia, specifically South Korea. My experience was a bit different, as for many people this process is generally started anywhere from six months to several years before the culminating move to Korea happens. I began my TEFL course in August, not having a clue what exactly I wanted to do with it, had the idea to go to Korea in October and was leaving the country by the end of January! A hectic ride during that time, however, the biggest thing that enabled this fast-paced life change was the organization from Aclipse.
Read MoreTags: . jeonju, working in korea, living in South Korea, teaching at CDL
Brian's Trip to the Dental Clinic for Bonded Retainers and Cleaning
Posted on Thu, Jun 07, 2018 @ 12:00 PM
Dental care in Korea is commonly of a high standard and very affordable with or without insurance. A typical cleaning and scaling costs about $60 (CAD) compared to $145 (CAD) back home in Toronto. The costs will be even cheaper if you are covered by the National Health Insurance Plan. I will guide you through my experience of successful dental treatments done in Korea.
Read MoreTags: living in Seoul, dentist, Healthcare, living in South Korea, dental insurance, retainers
Get to know Korean Soups and Stews with Chungdahm Teacher, Brian Lee
Posted on Thu, May 17, 2018 @ 12:00 PM
The foundation and staple of Korea’s diet has always been soups and stews. Soup dishes in Korean cuisine are referred to as Guk (국), also sometimes known as tang (탕) because of the added meat. Korean stews or Jjigae (찌개) come in a bevy of varieties and flavours to suit anybody’s personal taste preferences. I will review some of my favourite soups and stews that all ChungDahm teachers must try while having a great year teaching and living in Korea.
Read MoreTags: living in Seoul, eating healthy in Korea, living in South Korea, Korean food
A great place to visit on your day off from teaching is the Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul. One can make a whole day of places to see and things to do due there. It is conveniently located in between Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine. Recently, I had a memorable day visiting Bukchon Hanok Village and found it a must go to location for three main reasons.
Read MoreTags: living in Seoul, bukchon hanok village, cultural activities, hanbok, living in South Korea, korean traditional village
Now that it's 2018, it also means it's officially tax season. Korean tax filing occurs in the month of January and it usually happens quickly. As an expat it can be a rather overwhelming experience, if you are under-prepared and ill-informed. Koreans let you know things at the last minute and expect you to file taxes as quickly as possible. It’s just the nature of their culture, so it is better to be organized in advance, instead of being caught off-guard.
Here are the top 3 things you need to know about doing your taxes while teaching in Korea.
Read MoreTags: living in South Korea, chungdahm, chungdahm learning, Korean taxes, paying taxes in Korea, tax, employee
ChungDahm Teacher Answers Top Questions About Teaching in Korea Part 2
Posted on Fri, Apr 21, 2017 @ 02:06 PM
Hopefully you enjoyed the first part of my blog ChungDahm Teacher Asks Top Questions About Teaching in Korea. Today I will answer some of the other popular questions that I have been asked by candidates who are interested in teaching in Korea for ChungDahm.
Read MoreTags: living in Korea, living in Seoul, teaching at Chungdahm, living in South Korea, chungdahm, chungdahm learning
Living in Korea has been an amazing experience and there is nothing in the world that I would change it for. It has been during these years that I have become independent, as it was the first time that I have lived outside of my parents' house. One of the adjustments that I had to learn, and you will as well when you are teaching in Korea, is learning how to operate your apartment. This blog will introduce you to some residential Korean customs and teach you how to utilize many of the appliances that you will have in your Korean apartment.
Read MoreTags: housing in Korea, living in Korea, living in Seoul, appliances in Korea, appliances, recycling in korea, living in South Korea, chungdahm learning