The other day I had time to kill, so I went to a Korean sauna. The one I went to was a little pricey ($15, whereas typically they cost $4-$7), but when you hear what I got for it, you'll agree it was worth it.
They gave me a thin robe and sent me into a big cone-shaped stone room that was extremely hot (as I know saunas should be, but I felt like my nostrils and lungs were literally burning). It had a reed mat floor and as I came in through the tiny door they handed me a burlap sack to sit on. I could only stand being in there for about 10 minutes. I thought I was going to suffocate.
When I came out, a tiny woman (not a midget, just a Korean woman) led me to a floormat where I laid down on my back and she placed a cold wet towel on my face. I laid there for a good 20 minutes. I thought my sauna experience was over. But no, the woman got me up and had me go back into the stone cone again. I lasted another 10 minutes, and when I came out, she led me to the shower room. I showered off and started to leave the room. The woman stopped me and pointed me in the direction of three huge jacuzzis. The first was all bubbly: a warm ginseng bath. The second: a warm green tea bath. The third: a cold 'calcon' bath with a bucket of cucumbers floating in water next to it. Not sure what the cucumbers were for, but the bath felt good. In between each bath, I showered off. After the third shower, another naked Korean lady led me into ANOTHER sauna adjacent to the shower room. This one was smaller and not cone-shaped, and the tile walls were sizzling hot. I stayed in about 5 minutes, then headed out for my last shower, where I washed up and scrubbed my feet with a pumice stone lent to me by a different little woman.
After it was all over, I exited the shower room, where a lady toweled me off (ALL of me) impersonally and wrapped my head, sending me back to my locker. Then as I was dressing at my locker, another woman stopped me and pulled me over to the powder room, where they had all manner of hair products, lotions, oils, brushes, q-tips, you name it.
The whole experience lasted over 2 hours. I'd say that was money well spent.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
I've got Seoululite...bad.
Some notes on Seoul:
Traffic laws exist for everyone but motorcycles. They can drive wherever and whenever they want. I don't even think they LOOK at traffic lights. They drive on the sidewalk, the crosswalks, the gutters. If I die here, it will be because I got run over by a motorcycle.
The fashion here is soooooo cool. It's totally 80's, but good 80's. The women are gorgeous. I mean seriously gorgeous. If I had a man, I wouldn't bring him here. Most of the western women I've spoken with here agree that we all feel like dogs compared to the Korean women. We are in luck, though! The men are stunning as well...eye candy everywhere. And these guys know how to dress! They look incredible in their spiffy suits, and they are NOT afraid to wear pink. I swear, one in 10 guys wears pink. The other day I saw a guy wearing a pink t-shirt with a bedazzled rhinestone heart just below his left shoulder. Surprisingly, it did not detract a bit from his beauty. The guys here spend more time doing their hair than all Korean women and even French men combined. I've never seen so much hair product per male capita.
Two things that are not rude from a Korean standpoint but are from mine: staring and knocking people down without a backward glance. I've learned to ignore the staring (had plenty of that in Mexico), but being pushed around with no apology is taking some time to get used to.
Update on my living situation: Hopefully I move into my new apartment on Thursday. It's an officetel (small studio) not too terribly far from my work. I've opted for no bed. Going to do it Korean style, with a padded mat on the floor. That'll leave me more space and be good for my back.
I'm at a hotel now (paid for by my company), but I spent the last week couchsurfing (check out www.couchsurfing.com). Mad props, Justin, for suggesting that site to me many months ago. I've had fantastic experiences! Best one: staying with Natascha, and Austrian, in her hotel room on the 20th floor of a luxury hotel in a business district of Seoul for 3 nights. It couldn't get any more posh than that.
I officially start Korean lessons in November, but am trying to learn the Hangul alphabet on my own now. I'd like to start Taekwondo as well, but won't do that til after a couple of months. I found a yoga school, but it's not cheap, and the teacher can't compare to the awesome ones at Yoga East in Louisville. I was so spoiled there!
Traffic laws exist for everyone but motorcycles. They can drive wherever and whenever they want. I don't even think they LOOK at traffic lights. They drive on the sidewalk, the crosswalks, the gutters. If I die here, it will be because I got run over by a motorcycle.
The fashion here is soooooo cool. It's totally 80's, but good 80's. The women are gorgeous. I mean seriously gorgeous. If I had a man, I wouldn't bring him here. Most of the western women I've spoken with here agree that we all feel like dogs compared to the Korean women. We are in luck, though! The men are stunning as well...eye candy everywhere. And these guys know how to dress! They look incredible in their spiffy suits, and they are NOT afraid to wear pink. I swear, one in 10 guys wears pink. The other day I saw a guy wearing a pink t-shirt with a bedazzled rhinestone heart just below his left shoulder. Surprisingly, it did not detract a bit from his beauty. The guys here spend more time doing their hair than all Korean women and even French men combined. I've never seen so much hair product per male capita.
Two things that are not rude from a Korean standpoint but are from mine: staring and knocking people down without a backward glance. I've learned to ignore the staring (had plenty of that in Mexico), but being pushed around with no apology is taking some time to get used to.
Update on my living situation: Hopefully I move into my new apartment on Thursday. It's an officetel (small studio) not too terribly far from my work. I've opted for no bed. Going to do it Korean style, with a padded mat on the floor. That'll leave me more space and be good for my back.
I'm at a hotel now (paid for by my company), but I spent the last week couchsurfing (check out www.couchsurfing.com). Mad props, Justin, for suggesting that site to me many months ago. I've had fantastic experiences! Best one: staying with Natascha, and Austrian, in her hotel room on the 20th floor of a luxury hotel in a business district of Seoul for 3 nights. It couldn't get any more posh than that.
I officially start Korean lessons in November, but am trying to learn the Hangul alphabet on my own now. I'd like to start Taekwondo as well, but won't do that til after a couple of months. I found a yoga school, but it's not cheap, and the teacher can't compare to the awesome ones at Yoga East in Louisville. I was so spoiled there!
Friday, September 01, 2006
After three days, my job hunt ends
Great news: I got a job! I'd say three days is probably my record for finding a job. I signed a contract today at a school called YBM (don't know what that stands for), a really reputable company with schools all over the world. It's not a public school, rather it's a language institute (called a hagwan). I'll be making about $2400 a month, with many possibilities for overtime. In fact, my boss showed me another teacher's pay stub today, and after working a ton of overtime he had made $4600! I definitely won't be taking that much overtime, especially at first, but at least I know the opportunity is there if I get strapped for cash. I spoke with a teacher today who said over the past year she was able to save up $20,000. So within 6 months I should be well on my way to saving up some dough. If I stayed for a couple of years, maybe I can pay off all my student loans!
The company doesn't pay for my apartment, but pays my deposit. They'll help me find an apartment; next Thursday I meet with a man from the company who will take me to an agent to show me apartments. Typical rent here is about $350-$400/month. I can get a furnished apartment for a little more, but I'm thinking of just getting unfurnished. We'll see what kind of options I'll have next Thursday. As soon as I decide on an apartment, the company will pay my deposit and I'll move in. Then they'll send me to Japan to get my visa worked out. They'll pay for my flight there and a night in a hotel. When I want to start taking Korean classes, YBM will pay 50% of the cost. I have to start a week of training on Sept. 18th, and I start working on Oct. 1, I think. After I complete the week of training, they'll pay me $400.
The school's located in the heart of Seoul, and I'll be living about 15 minutes away by bus. I do have to work a split shift, but that's okay. It'll make me be disciplined with getting to bed on time, as my first class starts at 7! Near the school there's a gym I can join as well as a public bath house with sauna, etc., where I can go rest during my off hours. The good thing is that they rotate schedules, so I won't have to work evenings every single month. Every other month I'll have evenings off. Upon completion of a year's contract, they'll pay me an extra month's salary and pay for my ticket home.
I'm so excited and relieved to have that done!
I think that's all the info I have for now. I did some sightseeing today while I was in that area to meet my new boss. Seems like a really cool area with lots of historical sites and artsy-craftsy shops.
The company doesn't pay for my apartment, but pays my deposit. They'll help me find an apartment; next Thursday I meet with a man from the company who will take me to an agent to show me apartments. Typical rent here is about $350-$400/month. I can get a furnished apartment for a little more, but I'm thinking of just getting unfurnished. We'll see what kind of options I'll have next Thursday. As soon as I decide on an apartment, the company will pay my deposit and I'll move in. Then they'll send me to Japan to get my visa worked out. They'll pay for my flight there and a night in a hotel. When I want to start taking Korean classes, YBM will pay 50% of the cost. I have to start a week of training on Sept. 18th, and I start working on Oct. 1, I think. After I complete the week of training, they'll pay me $400.
The school's located in the heart of Seoul, and I'll be living about 15 minutes away by bus. I do have to work a split shift, but that's okay. It'll make me be disciplined with getting to bed on time, as my first class starts at 7! Near the school there's a gym I can join as well as a public bath house with sauna, etc., where I can go rest during my off hours. The good thing is that they rotate schedules, so I won't have to work evenings every single month. Every other month I'll have evenings off. Upon completion of a year's contract, they'll pay me an extra month's salary and pay for my ticket home.
I'm so excited and relieved to have that done!
I think that's all the info I have for now. I did some sightseeing today while I was in that area to meet my new boss. Seems like a really cool area with lots of historical sites and artsy-craftsy shops.
I'll never make it as a mime.
I'm starting day 4 in Korea. Finally last night I got a full night's sleep. Thank God for sleeping pills! I'm hoping I'm well on my way to conquering my jetlag.
I went out yesterday to find an ATM machine, do some grocery shopping and try to buy a cell phone. I used an online translator to get some key words down, but all of the translations were in hangeul characters. No help there! Hoping that my experience playing Charades in Spanish class over the last 2 years would help me out, I set out to brave Anyang, the Seoul suburb where Leslie lives. As it turns out, miming 'ATM Machine' is pretty easy. Miming 'prepaid cell phone,' however, is not. At least I got 2 out of my three tasks completed.
I think I've found a great job! I'm going today to check out the school and meet the Coordinator. It's located in Changno, Central Seoul, near some fantastic parks, a palace and a museum. The pay is good, there's plenty of opportunities for overtime (I could make up to $4000 if I so choose), the coordinator is Canadian (this is a good thing, because working for a Korean boss in a super-heirarchical society can be a challenge at best for stubborn outspoken Westerners like me), they offer to pay 50% of Korean classes taken by employees, there's 5 days of training, after which they give a $400 bonus, they'll pay for a Visa run to Japan, where they'll put me up in a hotel for a night, plus much more! Sounds like a great deal.
The Korean people are not as short as I thought they'd be. I'm tall here, but there are plenty of people my height. I'm not the towering giant I thought I'd be. They're super-helpful, as well. At a cell phone place yesterday, 7 of them gathered around trying to help understand my request for a prepaid phone. This one girl about my age was very outgoing, and her smile revealed poor dental hygiene. Flashing her rotten smile at me, she asked, "Me pretty?" I looked at her, confused, and she repeated, "Me beautiful?" I agreed profusely.
I went out yesterday to find an ATM machine, do some grocery shopping and try to buy a cell phone. I used an online translator to get some key words down, but all of the translations were in hangeul characters. No help there! Hoping that my experience playing Charades in Spanish class over the last 2 years would help me out, I set out to brave Anyang, the Seoul suburb where Leslie lives. As it turns out, miming 'ATM Machine' is pretty easy. Miming 'prepaid cell phone,' however, is not. At least I got 2 out of my three tasks completed.
I think I've found a great job! I'm going today to check out the school and meet the Coordinator. It's located in Changno, Central Seoul, near some fantastic parks, a palace and a museum. The pay is good, there's plenty of opportunities for overtime (I could make up to $4000 if I so choose), the coordinator is Canadian (this is a good thing, because working for a Korean boss in a super-heirarchical society can be a challenge at best for stubborn outspoken Westerners like me), they offer to pay 50% of Korean classes taken by employees, there's 5 days of training, after which they give a $400 bonus, they'll pay for a Visa run to Japan, where they'll put me up in a hotel for a night, plus much more! Sounds like a great deal.
The Korean people are not as short as I thought they'd be. I'm tall here, but there are plenty of people my height. I'm not the towering giant I thought I'd be. They're super-helpful, as well. At a cell phone place yesterday, 7 of them gathered around trying to help understand my request for a prepaid phone. This one girl about my age was very outgoing, and her smile revealed poor dental hygiene. Flashing her rotten smile at me, she asked, "Me pretty?" I looked at her, confused, and she repeated, "Me beautiful?" I agreed profusely.
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