Tag Archives: expat

South Korea, Travelinds

Culture Shock South Korea

10 June 2014

As an English teacher in South Korea, my South African brain has had to deal with major culture shock the last two years; some things more mind-blowing than others:

1. Confused borrowed etiquette. Coffee is generally served in tea cups and tea served in coffee mugs.

2. All meals must be eaten in exactly 15 minutes or less. And no talking. Also, cut your food with scissors.

3. Slurping noodles is considered rude by “traditional etiquette standards”, but is widely practiced and grating “shlurp” sounds should always be expected. Same goes for chewing with your mouth open.

4. A popped “personal space bubble” – especially on public transport where you are surrounded by countless other bodies, touching arms or shoulders is really no biggie. Oh, and don’t expect an apology if someone bumps into you.

5. Konglish e.g. SF (sci-fi movie), eye-shopping (window shopping), arbeit (part time job), apart (apartment), heart-a-beat-a (nerves/fear), fry (fried egg), fat size (clothing sizes for larger-than-Korean people)… and the list goes on.

6. Feet. DO NOT expose your toes to your students or colleagues, EVER! Wear socks, even those semi-transparent nylon socks. Unless you don’t mind the looks and whispers.

7. Elevators. DO NOT speak while inside an elevator. Just don’t. Stare only at the wall, the mirror, the floor or the ceiling.  No eye-contact is allowed.

8. Driving. Drive faster than the speed limit at all times, but break hard before every speed camera (the GPS already knows the location of all the speed cameras).  Also, hoot while the traffic light is still red to make sure the cars in front of you are ready to screech out of the starting position when the light turns green. Or just ignore red lights altogether and just drive around the pole to avoid the cameras.

9. Ajummas (old women). If you are an old woman, you may walk wherever you please, including in the middle of the road. You may also push anyone out of the way, skip queues, bump violently into any people who don’t move out of your way and always stare openly at foreigners (with your mouth wide open for better effect).

And these are only the tip of the iceberg… I haven’t even mentioned the Darth-Vader-style sun visors, the very mini skirts, the perms (from toddlers to pop stars), the rice fascination, the obsession with all things “pamous” (famous) and the skin-whitening suncream.  Come for a visit, I’m sure you’ll soon discover a whole lot more South Korean charm.

South Korea, Travelinds

Love-Hate Small Town Korea

02 June 2014

This is why I both love and hate living in a small town in South Korea:

  1. I have more chance of being hit by flying clay from a passing tractor than being hit by a car.
  2. Summer brings with it a green blanket of natural goodness, as well as the lingering smell of manure and mud.
  3. Our apartment is so small, I can clean it quite effectively by extending the broom outwards and spinning around once or twice in only three different spots.
  4. As a foreigner, I am subjected to at least three good, long, blatant, shameless, piercing stares from “friendly” locals every day.  Can you say celebrity!
  5. Birds, snakes, wild strawberries, pheasants, centipedes and ducks make my walks to and from school all the more exciting. Likewise for unplanned, unavoidable bum-sliding on the icy roads and pavements during Winter.
  6. 4-wheelers (quad bikes), electronic wheelchairs and baby tractors with trailers are all quite acceptable forms of transport on even the busiest roads in town.
  7. Walking from one end of town to the other never takes more than twenty minutes and there are sure to be at least 100 students greeting us along the way, as between us, we teach at the only elementary, middle and high school in the town.
  8. The ancient old lady collecting trash provides endless entertainment for passing pedestrians (and endless frustration for hurried motorists) as she pushes her cardboard collection trailor around town, in the middle of the road, oblivious to the traffic jams and horns blaring all around her.
  9. No matter which secret alleyway I choose to take (for exploration purposes), all ways eventually lead to the main street in town.
  10. The mandu (Korean dumpling) shop owner greets me with a friendly smile and courteous bow every single day.  Even when I don’t buy mandu from her for a couple of weeks.

Aaaaah, Korean life.

P.S. Did I mention that I have only been asked if I’m “Russian” (code for ‘lady of the night’) four times in three months. No, no I’m not Russian. Not available, sorry. This is awkward. I’m leaving now…

South Korea, Travelinds

Finally! Korean Driver’s Licence acquired.

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30 September 2013

After 18 months of procrastination, I finally put in the (small amount of) effort and voila! One times Korean driver’s licence valid for 10 years, placed in my hands by lunch time.  For all South Africans living in Korea who, like me, need a little bit of motivation to brave the Korean administrative processes alone, here’s how as of September 2013:

1. Documents to prepare:

  • 3 x passport photos (colour)
  • 1 x verification/certified letter for driver’s licence
  • Original Passport
  • Original Alien Registration Card
  • Original South African licence
  • 12,000KRW (eye test and licence fee)

2. Embassy visit:

  • The South African embassy is in Yongsan, Seoul; and in ten minutes, assisted me with a certified copy of my South African Driver’s licence, officially stamped and signed.
  • Also, the fully bilingual receptionist was extremely helpful in directing me to helplines and advising bus routes.

3. Seoul Global Center

  • This is a fantastic center for foreign visitors in general. I received professional service from everyone; including the helpline, staff and administrative assistants.
  • It’s very easy to find, on Line 1 (blue) in front of the Jonggak subway station, Exit 6.  If you’re taking a taxi, ask for “Jonggak yok” and look for Exit 6 as a reference point.  Go up to the 5th floor to the licence desk (first desk on the right).
  • Present documents, original licence and photos; sign forms and then proceed to the eye test via the subway. (The assistant gives you detailed directions, with a map).
  • Return with completed eye test (5,000KRW) and surrender South African licence.  Pay 6,000KRW and receive Korean licence.
  • NOTE: I was concerned that my address was not in Seoul or Gyeonggi-do, but this was not an issue.

Tips:

  • Try and reach the Seoul Global Center early because lunch is from 11.30a.m. to 13.00pm.  Having arrived in Seoul by 9.30am, I was lucky enough to visit the embassy, take a taxi to the center, fill out all the paperwork, take subway (2 stops) to and from eye test clinic and make it back by 11.27am to be issued my Korean licence.  Working it!
  • Passport photos can be taken at any photography studio. It cost me 7,000KRW for 4 and because I took my own photo on my USB, they gave me a discount.
  • If you are lucky enough to have someone who can help you out (e.g. your director, a trustworthy friend etc), the embassy also provides service to a proxy in possession of your licence, passport, ARC and a signed letter of permission from you to collect the copy on your behalf. You do have to visit the Seoul Global Center in person, however, to take the eye test.
  • I briskly walked (about 20 minutes) from Oksu station (orange line 3) to the South African embassy.  Be warned, the (1.5km) walk consists of steep wooden steps up to the very top of the hill and then downhill Dokseodang-ro to the embassy.  Great exercise but, do factor in the time and effort, or take a taxi.
  • NOTE: If you are not a South African Citizen, I advise phoning the Seoul Global Center for information to check details.  South Africans do not have to take any written test, but this may be different for other nationalities. 

Good to know:

  • You have up to 3 years to reclaim your South African licence from the Global Center before it is destroyed. You need your airticket, Korean licence and ARC.
  • The eye test clinic is about 200m from the Jongno5 subway exit 1. It’s a tiny door that leads up to the 2nd floor so keep your eyes open.  Be prepared for little to no English levels here.

Good luck! It’s well worth a day trip for out-of-towners!

www.crossed-flag-pins.com

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Location and contact details:

South African Embassy

  • Mon to Thurs, 8:00 to 16:45; Fri, 8:00 to 15:30; (Lunch: 12:45 ~ 13:30).
  • 104 Dokseodang-ro (Hannam-dong), Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-884
  • http://www.southafrica-embassy.or.kr/eng/embassy/contact.php
  • Nearest subway stations are Oksu (Line 3 orange) and Hannam (Jungang Line).  It is about a 20 min walk (or 5 min taxi) from Hangangjin Station (Line 6 brown).

Seoul Global Center

  • 5th Floor of Seoul Global Center Building (“Driver’s licence” desk), Jong-ro 38-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (it’s directly outside Exit 6 of Jonggak (Line 1), just walk straight about 100m and you’ll see the logo and “Seoul Global Centre”)
  • http://english.seoul.go.kr/lh/support/scof1.php
  • For information call: +82-2-2075-4130~1 (Seoul Global Center 5th floor) or 1330 (Korea’s tourist information call center) or 1588-5644 (BBB Korea)