Names and dates in Korea
NAMES
Asian countries tend to write the surname (family - known as 'castle' in Korean) first, and your first (given, Christian) name last. Therefore, Marilyn Munroe would be known as Munroe Marilyn. Similarly, Peter Pan would be known as Pan Peter.
It is not usual to call people by their first name unless they are family, often not even then, or you might call someone by their first name if the person is younger than yourself. A younger person would be most unwilling to call you by your given name. It's alway Mr. Pan, Mrs. Munroe, or Miss Munrow.
The correct and form of address for a Korean teacher is "Teacher". This is seen as an honorific and the polite way to address a teacher. Hence if you are a teacher, you will probably be known as "Teacher" ... until you can convince your students otherwise.
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DATES
As you may have noticed different areas of the world write the date in different ways.
For example: -
USA: - 01 - 30 - 2018 (month, day, year)
UK: - 30 - 01 - 2018 (day, month, year)
Asia - 2018 - 01 - 30 (year, month, day)
Korea follows the Asian system of writing the date.
Which translation apps to use
The truth is there is not any one app that is totally perfect.
Of course, Google Translate and Baidu are the usual go-to's. They now also have that ability for you to take a photo, highlight the Korean in your photo using your finger, and translate what is written. Google Translate's can, using the camera tool in the app, translate from a photo you take of the writing, or you can hover your phone over the Korean and it will translate as you look at it ... live (it takes some getting used to!). Sounds awesome, huh? Well... it sometimes makes sense ;-) The trick is to only put in a few key words at a time. There is also an option to translate speech as you talk to someone... with some interesting results! :-)
(FYI - your new students in school will also use this a fair bit when they first arrive).
Also... Naver, Papago, and Léa Knows.
Of course, Google Translate and Baidu are the usual go-to's. They now also have that ability for you to take a photo, highlight the Korean in your photo using your finger, and translate what is written. Google Translate's can, using the camera tool in the app, translate from a photo you take of the writing, or you can hover your phone over the Korean and it will translate as you look at it ... live (it takes some getting used to!). Sounds awesome, huh? Well... it sometimes makes sense ;-) The trick is to only put in a few key words at a time. There is also an option to translate speech as you talk to someone... with some interesting results! :-)
(FYI - your new students in school will also use this a fair bit when they first arrive).
Also... Naver, Papago, and Léa Knows.
Free online Basic Korean lessons
This is just to get you started. The JEINS group - who run the GEC - offer free Korean lessons at the language centre in the GEC. All are welcome. However, they take place in the evenings and you maybe will have evening duties if you are a house parent or a Don. But...
You might have a few spare moments when you first get here. You might be waiting for your next flight. Why not check out sites such as this one - ROCKET LANGUAGES - KOREAN LESSONS - and learn a few keywords and phrases?
There are many topics to have a go at (e.g. medical emergency phrases under HEALTH IN KOREAN; NUMBERS in KOREAN)
This site has the option for you to hear the Korean being spoken, and an option for you to record yourself to check your own pronunciation.
OR... if you are a little bit keener, and more studious, and perhaps have a little extra time on your hands, why not try signing up for something like this?
Korean Digital Academy
Part of the fun and life experience of living abroad is learning the host country language. And Koreans truly love it when we try to speak Korean. Give it a go!
You might have a few spare moments when you first get here. You might be waiting for your next flight. Why not check out sites such as this one - ROCKET LANGUAGES - KOREAN LESSONS - and learn a few keywords and phrases?
There are many topics to have a go at (e.g. medical emergency phrases under HEALTH IN KOREAN; NUMBERS in KOREAN)
This site has the option for you to hear the Korean being spoken, and an option for you to record yourself to check your own pronunciation.
OR... if you are a little bit keener, and more studious, and perhaps have a little extra time on your hands, why not try signing up for something like this?
Korean Digital Academy
Part of the fun and life experience of living abroad is learning the host country language. And Koreans truly love it when we try to speak Korean. Give it a go!
An incredible resource
This is a visual dictionary (in English, Korean and Mandarin), that has pictures of very common items and has the translations in the three languages along side the pictures. Look at the examples below. You are encouraged to get your own copy and either bring it with you, or order it when you get here.
Buy it HERE - http://pep.winclc.com/en/ProductDetails.aspx?id=3200
or search for it at this address - http://pep.winclc.com/en/pep.winclc.com/en/
Buy it HERE - http://pep.winclc.com/en/ProductDetails.aspx?id=3200
or search for it at this address - http://pep.winclc.com/en/pep.winclc.com/en/
Millipedes of Jeju
https://www.flickr.com/photos/waxhead/albums/72157685942806255
You may have read about these when researching your new home. Rest assured they do exist, they do sting, and it is uncomfortable if you do get bitten.
However, the place isn't generally crawling with them as you may be imagining. They are quite shy creatures and only bite when they perceive themselves to be in danger (and as they nearly always perceive this, they bite first, and think about it later!).
They can pop up in your house at times as they might crawl in through the drains. There are things you can do to minimise this. Ask around! (It involves some mesh or steel wool and some creative blocking-not-blocking.)
Also, ask the local pharmacies for this powder. It apparently helps you to keep them away. Put it around the house or any external facing entrance (your front door for example), and windows.
FYI - This is a pesticide. Watch out for pets and small children ingesting this. The active ingredients are propoxur (carbamate) and cyfluthrin (pyrethroid).
You are more likely to come across them while on a hike or wandering through one of the many forests here. The main thing is to carry antihistamine around with you at all times... just in case! (Bring it with you - it's not easily available here on Jeju).
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET STUNG (as advised by the BHA Head Nurse)
Control Swelling
• Ice the area.
• If you were stung on your arm or leg, elevate it.
• Remove any tight-fitting jewellery from the area of the sting. As it swells, rings or bracelets might be difficult to remove.
Treat Symptoms
• For pain, take an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give aspirin to anyone under age 18.
• For itchiness, take an antihistamine. You can also apply calamine lotion.
Follow-Up
• It might take 2-5 days for the area to heal. Keep it clean to prevent infection.
But before you go on a killing or bug-spraying spree... take a look at this. They are apparently nature's way of keeping other annoying creepy crawlers under control.
Where to get cash locally from an ATM
Every CU and GS25 has an ATM somewhere in it. CU and GS25 are convenience stores, like a "7-11".
You can use cards from abroad and domestic here to get cash. Once you insert your card there is an option that allows you to select English as your language. Once you do that, it's easy to follow the directions to get your money. There will be a small transaction fee each time you use these ATMs (Approx 1,300 KW - Just over 1USD).
FYI - there will usually be a limit on the amount you can withdraw if you are using a foreign card at these ATMs - 100,000KW. However, it has been observed that you can withdraw several batches of 100,000KW one after the other (NB - when using ATMs at the airport, you can usually withdraw a larger limit of cash).
Also, the local branch of the NH bank also has a cash machine for NH customers. Since other nearest banks are in Moseulpo, Jeju city or Moseulpo, you probably will be using these cash machines at some point.
There is also an ATM by the Edu City Mart.
You can use cards from abroad and domestic here to get cash. Once you insert your card there is an option that allows you to select English as your language. Once you do that, it's easy to follow the directions to get your money. There will be a small transaction fee each time you use these ATMs (Approx 1,300 KW - Just over 1USD).
FYI - there will usually be a limit on the amount you can withdraw if you are using a foreign card at these ATMs - 100,000KW. However, it has been observed that you can withdraw several batches of 100,000KW one after the other (NB - when using ATMs at the airport, you can usually withdraw a larger limit of cash).
Also, the local branch of the NH bank also has a cash machine for NH customers. Since other nearest banks are in Moseulpo, Jeju city or Moseulpo, you probably will be using these cash machines at some point.
There is also an ATM by the Edu City Mart.
What other GEC schools tell their new staff
This is from the KIS newbies page. It has a good map showing some good local things to do and see, as well as in other parts of the island.
Jeju online guide/tour book
Yep! This is where you live now! Awesome, huh?! - Jeju guide book
Things you can't get here in Jeju...
Maybe you have just been in a place where certain things were easily available. It might be a challenge for you to suddenly realise that you can't get something in particular anywhere in Jeju, or is at the very least hard to find.
Here is a list of things that are known to be difficult, if not impossible, to find on Jeju.
Here is a handy chart for Korean-v-other country sizes - FYI
(http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/size.jsp)
Here is a list of things that are known to be difficult, if not impossible, to find on Jeju.
- Immodium - this is often an over-the-counter diarrhea aid. Here it is only available with a prescription from the doctor. You might want to stock up next time you travel.
- L'Oreal hair products - Products like Colour Elvive shampoo and conditioner. There are some boxes of home hair dying options on Jeju, maybe just not what you are used to using.
- Hair products for natural blondes - there is very little in the way of products for blonde hair on Jeju. Make sure you bring enough to last you till you first travel to somewhere, or get to know some of the delivery options like GMarket, TaoBao, Coupang, or Colis Expat to help you with things like this. Also read here about the Korean Private Customs number you will need to make this happen for places like Amazon, etc. ;-)
- Over-the-counter antibiotics - due to the health care system being so good here, any antibiotics and other such medicines are only dispensed via a doctor's prescription.
- Your favourite toothpaste - if you have a very particular preference for a brand or type, you should bring this with you. Stock up next time you travel.
- Cold and Flu symptom remedies - Nyquil, Dayquil, Night Nurse, Day Nurse, Sudafed, etc... all absent from Korean pharmacies, although Theraflu has made an appearance in the Pharmacy in The Hue.
- Allergy remedies - Claritin, Clarinaise, Zyrtec, etc... not available.
- Bicycle pumps that can be taken on rides with you - You can get some tyre pumps that you can leave in your house, but they can't be easily taken on a bike ride. Bring a tyre pump you can carry with you on your bike ride!
- Tampons - Ladies... sanitary pads a-plenty! Tampons not so much. If pads aren't your thing, then bring a ton with you, or at least enough to last you till you next travel and you can stock up or try to find them on GMarket or Coupang.
- Women's clothing beyond a size around a UK 10-12/US 8-10 - If you are of slightly larger than Korean size it will be challenging to get clothing here. However, there are online options that deliver here, or you can bring a bunch of stuff with you. Also check out the "SHOPPING" page on this blog site for ideas on other options too.
- Women's shoes beyond a size 7 US/Size 5 UK/Korea 245 - yes... either bring lots with you (Shoes for ALL FOUR SEASONS) or know your shoe size in certain stores or by certain brands and order online.
Here is a handy chart for Korean-v-other country sizes - FYI
(http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/size.jsp)
... and here are some more detailed show size conversion charts... Click on the pics for a larger clearer view.
(https://www.kooding.com/Size-Chart-Shoes.html)
DHL online shipping
If you need to ship something via DHL, you can now do this online. You can arrange for a time for pick up, and they will come to where you are to get your package. This is particularly useful for passports, documents etc...
Follow this link; look in the column on the right hand side of the page, and you will see a link to SHIP ONLINE. Click it and choose your options ;-)
http://www.dhl.co.kr/en.html
Follow this link; look in the column on the right hand side of the page, and you will see a link to SHIP ONLINE. Click it and choose your options ;-)
http://www.dhl.co.kr/en.html
Tailoring services - for small needs (alterations, etc.)
Do you have something that doesn't fit that needs altering? Do you have some pants that are too long and need taking up? Do you need help?
If you don't have a sewing machine, or are not gifted in the craft of sewing by hand, and you don't know anyone in the GEC who can help, then maybe this will.
There is a little tailoring service inside the Seogwipo E-Mart just at the top of the escalator to the second floor car park. (There maybe one in the Jeju City E-Mart too).
If you don't have a sewing machine, or are not gifted in the craft of sewing by hand, and you don't know anyone in the GEC who can help, then maybe this will.
There is a little tailoring service inside the Seogwipo E-Mart just at the top of the escalator to the second floor car park. (There maybe one in the Jeju City E-Mart too).
You take what you need altering to the little shop, and you have to leave it/them there and pick it up in a couple of days' time. Prices vary according to what you need doing to your garment. The sweet old couple who run this service do not speak English, but it's amazing what a translation app, a calculator, a good attitude, some pantomiming, and a smile will get accomplished!
For example: - taking up the hem on a pair of pants - take a pair of pants that are the right length with you and hold them up together with the pants you need hemming, and see that sweet lady understand immediately what needs doing! It costs 5,000 KW to have this done (approx. 5 USD), and is usually done within a couple of days. Speaking from experience, the end result was top notch.
Need some help with getting things done? There is help!!
https://www.gowonderfully.com/service
Need your dishwasher fixing? Give them a call and they'll sort someone out to come to your place to fix it!
Do you need to figure out trains from Seoul to other places? Do you fancy the TransSiberian Railway? Give them a call!
Do you need some help with making something happen? Give them a call!
"Wonderful" is your personal assistant so it's like having a secretary or new best friend. Their team is fully bilingual in both Korean and English. They can assist via chat messaging with making appointments, reservations, ordering items, providing troubleshooting for products and services we arrange, travel booking, and even getting tickets for the hottest concerts and events. Wonderful can also assist with more complicated research and administrative tasks. Their goal is to provide you with ease of mind and ultimate convenience.
A game changer!
Need your dishwasher fixing? Give them a call and they'll sort someone out to come to your place to fix it!
Do you need to figure out trains from Seoul to other places? Do you fancy the TransSiberian Railway? Give them a call!
Do you need some help with making something happen? Give them a call!
"Wonderful" is your personal assistant so it's like having a secretary or new best friend. Their team is fully bilingual in both Korean and English. They can assist via chat messaging with making appointments, reservations, ordering items, providing troubleshooting for products and services we arrange, travel booking, and even getting tickets for the hottest concerts and events. Wonderful can also assist with more complicated research and administrative tasks. Their goal is to provide you with ease of mind and ultimate convenience.
A game changer!