WARNING! Safety Instructions in English Only

Sometimes you wonder what country you actually live in.  Here is an example of it:  I just purchased a coffeemaker.  As you would expect, safety requirements are printed on a plastic bag for parents who don't know better:

 

But here is the problem - "Where's the Korean?"  I wonder if this bag was designed in the USA (or some other English speaking country), and shipped across the world without any consideration to print it for other countries.  While this information is a given, it still needs to be available because many stupid parents exist (like those who leave their kids in the car).  While stupid parents might not even read or consider the warning label, there should still be a warning sign available in their own language to lessen the chance of a kid hurting themselves.

Religious Services in English

Those who are Christians (such as myself) notice there are many churches throughout Korea.  One thing that is more difficult to find are English services.  Fortunately, there is at least one worth mentioning that is completely in English, while there is another church that provides English translation.

1.  석사감리교회 (Seoksa Methodist Church)
 San27-21, Seosa-dong, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do
Tel: 033)261-6823 C.P. 010-7151-9032

While this church is Methodist, it's more of an inter-denominational service (including many different Protestant denominations in addition to Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox) intended for foreigners and Koreans who want to speak English.  The pastor's name is Rick de Graat, but you can just call him Pastor Rick.  I personally have started attending yesterday, so I'll try to give more information on what these services are like (like whether or not they serve communion).  What I can tell you for now, is that it has a worship service and sermons based on Scripture, but as far as I know for now, no liturgy is used.

Worship Service Time
Saturday: 6 PM, located in a separate building from the main sanctuary on the 2nd Floor
Sunday: 9 AM, located in the basement underneath the main sanctuary.  Bible Study is at 11 AM

2. Bible Study at Starbucks
For the time being there is a bible study at Starbucks in Myeongdong which is geared for foreigners.   The time is at 11 AM on Sundays.  Occasionally it might not happen.  If you are interested, then please email me so I can let you know if we are having it.

Elementary Schools in Chuncheon

So if you have interest in teaching at a public school in Chuncheon, now would be a great time to get to know some of the teachers.  If you already live in Korea, build a relationship with a school you have an interest in - and the only reason I say that is simply because I know a friend who was placed in a school (but it wasn't in Chuncheon) by simply going there and asking if there were any replacements needed.  Making a resume and a business card should be prepared to give them in addition to meeting the school.  Of course, before visiting the school it's always best to try to call them.  The reason for me recommending this is because with the EPIK program, they will place you wherever they wish, and unless if you have connections, you will likely not get to a school you'd like.

So without further ado, here is a list of elementary schools you might want to try calling that are in Chuncheon.  Sorry, mine's not listed because I'm the only native teacher there.  Simply put, my school's taken.

1. 
   
   삼육초등학교 (Samyook Elementary School)
   동면
   033-241-7760
   FAX : 033-254-5760
    
2. 
   
   춘천초등학교 (Chuncheon Elementary School)
   중앙로3가 (Jungang-ro 3ga) 
   033-256-4781 
   033-251-0915 교장실
   FAX : 033-251-0914 
   
    
3. 
   
   중앙초등학교 (Jungang Elementary School)
   낙원동
   033-254-3046 
   033-251-1473 행정실

As you can see, the list of elementary schools isn't that big.  I think there is more, but it's difficult to search through the phone listings, especially when some schools are listed twice.  If anyone wants to search through Daum, Naver, or Google, be my guest so I can help post it here.

I don't plan to continue to leave out the list of middle and high schools, but I'd rather post a small list and update later, than not showing anything for the moment.

My Awesome Apartment

Some of the perks of being a foreign English teacher is getting furnished housing on top of decent pay.  That means you don't have to pay for housing with basic furniture, ever.  Sure, you will have to pitch in for utilities, but that's expected.  You could either get a small studio apartment between a mansion very nice luxury apartment.

My first apartment was bigger than a studio.  It had a bedroom, office, a kitchen, and a bathroom, everything I ever needed, but it was a little bit crowded.  The furniture included was a bed, desk, chairs, television, a microwave oven, rice cooker, and a toaster oven.  I think the rice cooker wasn't provided by the school but just left behind by the previous teacher.

Ever since I transferred to Chuncheon, I got more than what I expected.  It's a little bit ... too much - I now have more than I need, but I am not complaining.  In order to get in to the building itself, you need to get in through the monitor I myself have access to deny or allow people to enter.  I will allow access for now for you to see what my place is like.  Let us now enter through my door.

     Throughout Asian countries, it is expected to take off your shoes and leave them inside the front of the door.  Sometimes you would leave them on the floor, while other places (such as schools) have little cubbies to leave your shoes.  I myself, have three cupboards to put shoes in.  I couldn't even take a picture of all three cupboards in this passage way.  I only have three pairs of shoes - I must start a collection!

I love my huge living area!  It has a television plus two other things I didn't have before ~ speakers and a couch.  The entertainment center below is also a nice added bonus - so make that three.

Behind the living area is my kitchen, and a very nice one might I add.  It has so many cupboards, I don't know what to do with them.  That's the one common theme of this apartment, there are so many hidden compartments, I might as well build a secret passageway!  See those mirrors? Those are also storage compartments.  I should add that I have a built-in kimchi fridge, built-in wine cooler, and a rare treat for South Korea, an electronic dishwasher!

This is my office from different angles.  Since I don't have a panoramic camera, this will have to do.  Again, this place is about storage - three cupboards to put books and other things in.

Here is a spare room I don't know what to do with, and to your left a spare shower room let's take a look inside.

Yup, this is a "spare" shower room, but unavailable to use because junk was setup in here before I even came here.

Here is a spare bedroom that I also don't know what to do with.  I guess I need to get some mats for friends to sleep over.

Here is a passageway to a closet to your left and the second bathroom to your right.

Finally, here is my bedroom, with some closets (of course to the right), because the theme of this place is to have as much storage as possible.

The pictures are a highlight of what my place is like.  Thanks for visiting! ^^

Jacob's Station Cafe

Image taken from Daum maps

Coffee shops are everywhere in Korea. Some are small, some are bigger. While foreigners like myself like to hang out at Starbucks Coffee or Tom and Tom's Coffee, this is a sophisticated one that is right outside the city - this one is one of the best.  This is the place to go during the night-time because you would be able to see the city at a great view with the entire city lit up.

You can't get there by city bus, you would have to take a taxi.  Tell them to go to Gubongsan and Jacob's Station Cafe.  If they don't know how to get there, tell them to go to Saratoni, which is an upscale super-expensive restaurant.  Jacob's Station is about a minute before Saratoni, so just tell the taxi driver to let you off early.  Otherwise, if you get off at the restaurant, you can go downhill a few minutes by foot.

찜질방 - Jjim Jil Bang

If you live in Korea, you must experience a Jjim Jil Bang at least a few times. My video posted was during a time I slept in Chuncheon before officially living here, and also before I had a Flip Video Camera, which is not the best quality. Coming in for the first time might be a shock for people who are shy about being showering around a bunch of strangers.

Why would people sleep in a place that is not too comfortable? For one, it has many rooms and activities in one location 1) Shower Room, 2) Sauna, 3) PC Bang / Arcade, 4) Exercise Area, 5) Massage, 6) Restaurant, and 7) Sleeping. It also is a way for Koreans to interact closely which is just part of their culture. To miss out on it, would be avoiding to see a key part of what Korea is. For my personal reasons, it was a cheap place to stay, and a way to motivate me to learn to sleep in an uncomfortable environment.

Watch my video to get a glimpse of what one Jjim Jil Bang is like in Chuncheon. If you specifically want this Jjim Jil Bang, the name is:

"Jasujung Bool Sauna (Hangeul: 자수정 불사우나). This place is ₩8,000 per night. The lobby will give customers a pair of night clothes. This place includes blankets to rent, but must be done so before 12:30AM (otherwise, the shop will be closed). This place also includes an indoor PC Bang, an exercise room, and a restaurant.

Tell the taxi driver the name of the jjim jil bang, but if necessary tell him the address is Yagsa-dong (Hangeul: 약사동) 150-10."

- Taken from WikiTravel - however, I wrote that section.

Solar System Model

This is perhaps one of my favorite lessons.  This is one of my last lessons at my rural school in Hwacheon County, about a month before I transferred to Chuncheon.  Normally, what is done in teaching at public schools is using curriculum which is made by the government, which limits what I want to teach, and gives me such a short amount of time.  The beauty with "camps" (which isn't necessarily camp, but more like a Summer School or English Vacation School) is that you are more free to use your creativity and have more free reign what you want to teach.

These solar system models were designed to be used in the classrooms to be hung from the ceiling so that other Korean teachers can teach them the names and order of the planets.  This was also intended as a farewell gift, so that I could be remembered.

While this is one of my last lessons at this school, this is only the beginning of teaching here in Korea.

If you want to use this lesson plan, I used this to guide me on how to make it:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/astronomy/solarsystemmodel/

And I should mention, I used images for the planets and the Sun from here.  Although, it is worth mentioning, you should copy the images and paste them in a word processor, and re-size them accordingly.  I don't want to be too specific, I'd rather have you figure out the rest on your own to use your creativity.  This is a lot of prep work so that the students can finish it in a decent amount of time.  Even then, it took 2 class periods to finish it, but it was worth it.