Summer Intensives

During every summer and winter break for students in Korea, academies of all types like to offer intensive classes. These classes are a way for the students to get ahead, catch up, or even to try out different academies without a long term commitment. As a foreigner, I sympathize for these kids since they are in academies literally all day everyday after school. Going to these academies double time during their vacation is probably the last thing they would ever want. However, as a post-grad trying to pay back loans, this is a great way for me to earn some extra cash for the month.

The downside of intensives is that most of the classes begin at 10:00AM. That may not sound bad to any one who works a regular job for a living, but it's horrible for someone who's pretty much a vampire. As a Chungdahm teacher, sometimes I feel like one. The only daylight I see is on my walk to school. Otherwise, I spend most of my waking hours indoors or at night. Going along with that, I remember my past three intensives waking up in the middle of the night because of nightmares of being late or missing intensives.

The upside to this is not only the extra pay, as mentioned above, but also that it only lasts a month. Since some intensive classes are up to three times a week, it's surprising how big the next paycheck comes out to be!

This summer, I'm teaching an extensive reading workshop for the lowest level. We read short stories together and check reading comprehension. Although it can be tough early in the morning, it's a more personal way to get to know and teach the students than a normal class. Since most of these intensive classes tend to be smaller than the regular 4PM to 10PM classes that last 13 weeks, I feel like I can connect with these students in a much more personal level in three hours a day for three times a week for a month.

Teaching intensives is not mandatory, but it's a great way for me to save some extra money for my last few months left in Korea.

What will you do this summer?

Farmer's market

Middle school exams are coming up, which means more time to explore my town.


I have been eying street signs to the Agro Fishery market in my town for a while, but never found the time for it. Well this past weekend, I decided to actually go see what it was all about.


This market consists of two huge warehouses that sell vegetables, fruits, and seafood (hence, Agro fishery). The vegetables and fruits are grown by farmers all over the country and the seafood is fresh from the waters of Korea. The cool thing about this market is that the produce is significantly cheaper than the ones found in E-mart or Homeplus (the Wal-Mart of Korea).

Here is the vegetable section:

There are rows and rows of vendors that sell the same vegetables. A bag of twenty onions is priced at 5000won and veggies such as mushrooms, bell peppers, and potatoes are sold for under 3000won for a whole mountain of them!

Although they all sell the same produce, some will give you a discount, while others will give you some extra on the side.

The fruit section:

The fruits were so fresh that I wanted to buy out the whole market!

Doesn't this make you drool?

Now onto the fish market. There are some weird sea creatures Koreans love to eat, but you know what they say, don't judge until you try it!

Crabs on crabs on crabs (and lobsters)

Almost all the vendors were selling stingray. There are rows and rows of stingray displayed throughout the fish section, which makes you only think of how Steve Irwin died. They even have raw stingray cut up for you to try!

Markets may seem like hidden gems, but they are actually very common and dispersed throughout Korea. Next time you decide to wander around your town, ask the locals where the nearest "Shi-Jang" is!

Things to bring from home...

I have many friends coming to Korea this upcoming year. Whether it is to visit or to teach a year in Korea, I have made a list of essential things for them to bring:

Bedsheets: This applies more to those who want to teach or stay long term in Korea. Now, you CAN find bedsheets of all sizes in Korea, but you have to know that they are rather expensive and the fabric is rough. If you're lucky, you can find sheets on sale at HomePlus (Korean version of Wal-Mart). The down-side is that they will have tacky designs on them or easily pick up lint after one wash. I found that the Arrival Store is expensive, too. Some schools might provide your apartment with a bedsheet, but it wouldn't hurt to have an extra one. Since dryers are not common here, it could take days for them to dry. I know without a doubt you can make a trip to Target, Wal-Mart, or even TJ Maxx in America and buy good quality bedsheets for under $20. Oh, and if you're wondering about the size, most apartments come with single size beds.

Medicine: There are pharmacies everywhere you go in Korea. However, I also noticed that Korean pharmacies love to prescribe Tylenol and antibiotics for anything you can think of. It's a good idea to bring essential medicine like:

• Pepto Bismol: Food in Korea is delicious, but it takes some getting used to. It's common that many people do not see solid poop for at least a month after they arrive here.
• Ibuprofin: Don't expect to find containers of Aleve or Tylenol here. Tylenol has to be prescribed and the meds in Korea are a bit stronger than America.
• Allergy meds: If you have allergies, you might want to bring a bottle of Zyrtec or any of that sort. Although my allergies haven't flared up as bad here, it's better to have some than suffer in the spring time.
• Vitamins: If you're a vitamin person, bring some with you. They're overly expensive here. 

Don't worry about birth control, since you can buy it over the counter here. Just make sure to get your doctor to find an equivalent of yours that is available in Korea. He/She should have a list. 

Makeup: Ok, so this does not apply to those with fair skin. But for those of us on the darker side, it's pretty much impossible to find foundation/powder. Korean girls love to look as white as they can. Depending on how much you use, buy a good amount before you arrive. You can find anything for your skin here, EXCEPT for darker makeup.

Toiletries:

• Toothpaste: One thing I have noticed about Korean toothpaste is that it does not contain fluoride. It leaves your teeth with a not-clean feeling. The mint in the toothpaste is also very dull. What I'm saying is, get American toothpaste.
• Deodorant: Good quality deodorant comes from a country that sweats= America.
• Towels: This one is not a huge deal, but do bring at least ONE towel from home. Korean towels are thin and are soaked before you're even dry.

Clothing: You can find cute and cheap clothes everywhere in Korea IF you're skinny. Most Korean girls are tiny, so when the lady at the store tells you "One size fits all," she means, anywhere from XS to M. If you're on the bigger size, just know that you will be very limited.

• Pants: Like I said, if you're a girl and under size 7 you should have no problem. However, for those who are on the healthier side, stock up on those jeans. If you're a guy and have big thighs, I would also suggest you buy your pants before you arrive. You tend to sit on the floor a lot in Korea, so the chances of your crotch ripping or wearing out are high.
• Suits: Most schools don't require you to dress up, but you cannot show up to class looking like one of your students. Make sure to bring some slacks and blazers to seem more presentable.
• Shoes: If you're a girl and over size 9 or a guy over size 10, it's pretty much impossible to find cute/cool shoes. However, this doesn't mean splurge on shoes before you arrive. Because you walk everywhere in Korea, your shoes will get ruined pretty fast. From experience, I ruined a pretty expensive pair of leather boots in 2 months. 

Gum: That's right, chewing gum. Korean gum is meant to last all of ten minutes. After that, the flavor is gone and the texture of the gum turns into something so unpleasant that you want to spit it out instantly. I'm a gum chewer and I want my gum to last. It's possible to find American gum here, but I find it to be a hassle and would rather have my Costco supply of gum ready in my house.

Cell Phone: Don't hold me to this, but there is a rumor that Korean SIM cards will work on unlocked American cell phones beginning May 2012. However, it might not be this simple. I know for sure Korean phones are more compatible with companies that use CDMA phones, such as Verizon or Sprint. Plus, this is one of the most wired countries in the world, so you can have Wifi without a data plan pretty much anywhere you go. 

I'm sure there are a hundred and some things people would want to bring from back home. These are just some items that I found to be pretty convenient in Korea. There are ways to get these items here, but at a higher price or through a friend in the military.

I hope this list will help future teachers or their friends when they arrive in Korea.

Hwaseong Fortress

I lived in Suwon my first year teaching in Korea and never visited the famous Hwaseong Fortress. Correction: I thought I did, but was later told that I only climbed the surrounding walls, but not the fortress itself.

Hwaseong Fortress was built by King Jeongjo during the Chosun dynasty for his father, Prince Sado. It is located in the heart of Suwon and is very foreigner friendly. Its surrounding walls make it a great place to hike and the fortress has shows and activities for the tourists daily. At the fortress, you can see the different weapons and styles of combat.

Weapon Show

trying to steal the warrior's sword

If you want to practice your archery skills, you can hop on the Dragon Trolley to the other side of the wall for 1200won. Archery only costs about 2000won for ten arrows and any age can participate.

Dragon Trolley

As you read above, King Jeongjo built the fortress for his father. What Wikipedia doesn't tell you is that his father was mentally retarded. Because Prince Sado refused to commit suicide as his father had commanded, he was locked in a rice chest until he starved to death.

Feeling Prince Sado's pain

All in all, it is a cheap and fun way to spend an afternoon. Once you're finished, you can get some steals at the local markets or ball out at the shops around Suwon station.

stupid kids.....?

So I never thought of myself to be good with kids or ever had the patience to be in the same room with them for longer than 10 minutes.

As my 4th week of teaching is about to end, I realized that I really like elementary kids. I mean, they do get rowdy and they are a bit harder to control, but you cannot blame their eagerness to learn. They are constantly raising their hands up and trying to answer your question before you even ask it! We learned about King Tut today and these kids were just so enthusiastic about even having to act out his "mysterious death". I love them!

Now middle schoolers on the other hand... ahem. BUT!! As much as I want to hate them and yell at them, I can't help but feel sorry for them. By the time they come into my classroom at 7pm, these kids are worn out with school and other after school activities. I asked them today what time they go to sleep and when they wake up and it seems like the consensus was that they only get 5 to 6 hrs of sleep a night.

They are bogged down with midterms and tests that determine which high school they will go to. The last thing they want is to go to an after school english class and learn from a teacher who has no idea what they go through. It's a sad life. Korean parents ARE crazy. Parents work for their children's education in Korea, therefore they expect more out of them...hoping that one day their children can afford to take care of them. Kind of makes sense...right?

I hear about the suicide rates among students here in Korea and it's pretty shocking how high it's gotten.

I thought my parents were bad back in the States... I can't even imagine what these kids go through.. whew!