So, my work visa is up on the 30th. And I've not seen much outside Seoul - admittedly there isn't much in this country apart from Seoul and Samsung, but I thought it might be nice to see some of what there is. So I need a visa extension. No problem you would think - tourists get 90 days on entry here. Well you would be wrong - big problem. If you've been working, thats it, you have to go, you cant hang around and spend money in their country for a week or two. Apparently theyre terrified of people working illegally - but did someone not spot that I could have entered the country on a tourist visa and worked illegally anyway - they would have never known?
OK, well if they dont want me to see their country, i dont wanna see it, so there. I can go to China, which is cheaper and cooler. So i hatch a plot to get the ferry over there on the 30th with another teacher. Just a small matter of a visa, and its the olympics so there are lots of foreigners there so no problem right? wrong. china isn't issuing visas right now. the country is closed for the Olympics, and its gonna open too late for me. And when it does, visas issued in Seoul will need you to show the authorities your Alien Registration Card. But I am an unregistered alien, as I am here for less than 90 days. even more brilliantly, they will require you to have 6 months remaining on your ARC. which means you can only apply for a visa too early on in your contract for it to be usable by the end. at the point someone might want to apply for a visa, their ARC will be almost used up.
So, it now looks like Japan or Taiwan. Mention of Japan usually brings looks of horror from Yanks - who whisper in hushed tones 'it is as expensive as London.' Taiwan? well, i can scab free accomodation from Guest hopefully.
Thursday, 14 August 2008
Monday, 28 July 2008
Korean Surreality
OK, so I am doing some tourist stuff in Seoul on a Sunday evening. I am walking alongside a stream that has recently been 'beautified.' either side of me are huge bank buildings. around me, hundreds of people splashing in the water. The path comes to an end and I am greeted by a waterfall and a giant statue. on first glances it appears to be a giant angry red phallus. Closer inspection reveals it to be a giant red angry corkscrew type thing. that was a relief.
by the phallus corkscrew there appears to be someone making some sort of passionate speech. hundreds of people are sat down, listening and cheering at times. some fly flags depicting korea. all of them hold candles in disposable polystyrene cups. i sit down to watch for a while, and some guy wants to hand me a candle/cup. i ask him what it is for - he tells me in broken english, 'it is about being your own best friend.' - great, something quasi religious/cultish/nationalist. but they have nice songs. anyway, i decide to walk on. i turn a corner to be greeted by 200 or so police, decked out in full riot gear and lined up. luckily they are sat down and seem to be chilling out, so i walk past, resisting the temptation to take a photo.
pretty hungry, so I stop by Lotteria for a squid burger, chips and coke. this is later followed by a coffee from 'Sweet Buns.' Incidentally, the top stationery brand here is 'Morning Glory' - must buy some and post them home.
I miss the normality of eating ice cream and singing karaoke in a small room at 4am. Doubtless next weekend will bring that back.
by the phallus corkscrew there appears to be someone making some sort of passionate speech. hundreds of people are sat down, listening and cheering at times. some fly flags depicting korea. all of them hold candles in disposable polystyrene cups. i sit down to watch for a while, and some guy wants to hand me a candle/cup. i ask him what it is for - he tells me in broken english, 'it is about being your own best friend.' - great, something quasi religious/cultish/nationalist. but they have nice songs. anyway, i decide to walk on. i turn a corner to be greeted by 200 or so police, decked out in full riot gear and lined up. luckily they are sat down and seem to be chilling out, so i walk past, resisting the temptation to take a photo.
pretty hungry, so I stop by Lotteria for a squid burger, chips and coke. this is later followed by a coffee from 'Sweet Buns.' Incidentally, the top stationery brand here is 'Morning Glory' - must buy some and post them home.
I miss the normality of eating ice cream and singing karaoke in a small room at 4am. Doubtless next weekend will bring that back.
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Not very good at this blogging business. Doesnt feel very natural, bit like keeping a diary, which was something that never really appealed to me.
Its raining here, which is probably down to it being rainy season. The Koreans manage to combine rainy season with hot season, which makes it a pretty silly place to my mind.
Apparently Seoul is the 5th most expensive place for expats. I can sorta see why - Western foods and drinks are not so cheap and certain items like fruit and carrots seem pretty expensive. also, land and rent is very expensive. however, as my flat is paid for and i like korean food, i reckon for me it is pretty cheap here. just have to avoid the Rice Krispies - at $17 a packet, they would be an expensive habit. But hey, a pint of beer is $2.50, so just replace Rice Krispies with beer.
Think the Koreans need to try to be more original. They love two things - working very hard and copying things, neither of which are conducive to originality. I think I work hard when I do 8hours in a day, but some of my kids are in classes from 9am-9pm, followed by homework, and this is at their holidays. Also,all the cars are grey, white, silver or black. and i mean all of them
Its raining here, which is probably down to it being rainy season. The Koreans manage to combine rainy season with hot season, which makes it a pretty silly place to my mind.
Apparently Seoul is the 5th most expensive place for expats. I can sorta see why - Western foods and drinks are not so cheap and certain items like fruit and carrots seem pretty expensive. also, land and rent is very expensive. however, as my flat is paid for and i like korean food, i reckon for me it is pretty cheap here. just have to avoid the Rice Krispies - at $17 a packet, they would be an expensive habit. But hey, a pint of beer is $2.50, so just replace Rice Krispies with beer.
Think the Koreans need to try to be more original. They love two things - working very hard and copying things, neither of which are conducive to originality. I think I work hard when I do 8hours in a day, but some of my kids are in classes from 9am-9pm, followed by homework, and this is at their holidays. Also,all the cars are grey, white, silver or black. and i mean all of them
Friday, 11 July 2008
Working...quite hard. A surprising variety of kids, from one who is 15 and can write better english essays than most 18yr old english people to those who can barely string a coherent sentence together yet might be even older.
Eating out most meals - it is very cheap here, whereas supermarkets seem quite expensive and only stock ingredients useful in Asian cooking. Would give quite a bit now for a proper cup of tea... none here, except for 'rice tea.' - which is about as appealing to the Englishman as it sounds. On the plus side, the food is great - lots of good fresh food with lots of veg. Koreans seem to think some stuff is spicy, but it doesnt seem too spicy to me. I even quite like Kimchi (the pickled vegetables served liberally at almost every meal).
been to the bath house a couple of times - unlike in England where it might be a byword for sleaze, it seems a key institution here. Alternating between the cold bath (24C) and the warm and hot ones (40-45C) is very pleasant. they also have a selection of saunas, one usually at 50C, the other at 70C - managed to get into that one at the second time of trying, was glad i did as i felt good afterwards.
least favourite part of korea - working on saturdays.
Eating out most meals - it is very cheap here, whereas supermarkets seem quite expensive and only stock ingredients useful in Asian cooking. Would give quite a bit now for a proper cup of tea... none here, except for 'rice tea.' - which is about as appealing to the Englishman as it sounds. On the plus side, the food is great - lots of good fresh food with lots of veg. Koreans seem to think some stuff is spicy, but it doesnt seem too spicy to me. I even quite like Kimchi (the pickled vegetables served liberally at almost every meal).
been to the bath house a couple of times - unlike in England where it might be a byword for sleaze, it seems a key institution here. Alternating between the cold bath (24C) and the warm and hot ones (40-45C) is very pleasant. they also have a selection of saunas, one usually at 50C, the other at 70C - managed to get into that one at the second time of trying, was glad i did as i felt good afterwards.
least favourite part of korea - working on saturdays.
Sunday, 6 July 2008
Seoul
Suggested improvements to Seoul:
1. More signs in English, or even just in a alphabet i dont have to spend 10 minutes interpreting would be nice.
2. The dangling handle things on the subway seem very low, and they keep on bashing me in the face. Making them higher would be nice.
3. Seoulians to work fewer hours in their hi tech factories - so many seem to look knackered.
4. Thats it for now.
Everything seems incredibly different here - I knew it would be, but it is still a shock at first - less English is spoken and the outlook of people is less western than anywhere else I have been, even Thailand. Also, we know Samsung as an electronics manufacturer. But here they build flats, run hospitals, build ships and trains and pretty much anything else you care to mention. Same with Hyundai, LG etc - LG seem to run convenience stores, internet cafes, manufacture soap powder. And need a new shirt? You can get it in the Hyundai department store.
Going out goes on all night here - start at 11pm, stay out until 6ish and catch a subway home when it reopens. Also, taxis very cheap compared to London.
Overall, its good. In a good but slightly weird way.
1. More signs in English, or even just in a alphabet i dont have to spend 10 minutes interpreting would be nice.
2. The dangling handle things on the subway seem very low, and they keep on bashing me in the face. Making them higher would be nice.
3. Seoulians to work fewer hours in their hi tech factories - so many seem to look knackered.
4. Thats it for now.
Everything seems incredibly different here - I knew it would be, but it is still a shock at first - less English is spoken and the outlook of people is less western than anywhere else I have been, even Thailand. Also, we know Samsung as an electronics manufacturer. But here they build flats, run hospitals, build ships and trains and pretty much anything else you care to mention. Same with Hyundai, LG etc - LG seem to run convenience stores, internet cafes, manufacture soap powder. And need a new shirt? You can get it in the Hyundai department store.
Going out goes on all night here - start at 11pm, stay out until 6ish and catch a subway home when it reopens. Also, taxis very cheap compared to London.
Overall, its good. In a good but slightly weird way.
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Buying Small Things
You can get really small towels, and really small bottles of shaving foam. They're really useful for big journeys. But seem to have disproportionately high price tags.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
