Maybe five days ago or so I signed the contract for my new house! Hooooraaaay!
It's in Gangnam, so it's closer to my school. It's also an apartment building, so the 관리비 (base fee in your monthly utility bill that covers security and maintenance) is less than what it would be in an officetel. A lot of the officetel-style buildings had their 관리비 between 80,000 and 120,000 won!! That's just too much for me. I'm not making mad dollahs or anything so sweet yet. Especially when you consider that it's a little tough to find a place in Gangnam for less than 600,000 won a month. And that really isn't bad at all, but you're looking at older, very tiny, one room living spaces for that price. For an officetel it's around 800,000, I've found.
I will live by Gangnam Station, so that area isn't bad. I wanted to live around Seolleung Station because it's ridiculously close to my school and also faster to get to other places around Seoul, but on one side of Seolleung Station is Daechi-dong. And you can't find a nice place for 900,000 won or less (total with rent and 관리비) in Daechi-dong. Sooo, I put my tail between my legs and looked elsewhere.
My new place isn't bad at all, though. It's a lot smaller than where I'm living now, and the view isn't very good, but it will do. Although... The bathroom concerns me. I remember writing about it in an email to my grandfolks, haha. You can use the toilet, and you can use the sink. That is what there is room for.
I'll start moving in next week, so I'll have to take a picture of it and post it. I think this is going to be a true test of how high-maintenance I am.
So why did I do it?! Why did I pick the place with the tiny bathroom and the tiny, yippy dog living across from me? Becaaaaause...it has a closet. Well, it has a really tiny room with a wardrobe in it that can hold, like, six or seven jackets. Or dresses if that's what you have more of. But I don't. So several of my jackets will go in this petite wardrobe. However, the most important thing about this wardrobe is that it can be moved OUT. Out of the tiny room! And you know what that leaves me with? An art space.
It has windows on two of the four walls, and an actual door. So even if I'm using turpentine in the summer, I can set up a fan, open the windows, and not have my entire apartment dishing out headaches. It means I can tape paper to the wall and draw to my hearts content in my own little isolated corner of the world.
And that is why I did it.
I actually wouldn't have even thought of it if my boyfriend weren't there with me. It was his brilliant idea to move the stupidly tiny wardrobe out. I thought the thing was stuck in there. Poor guy went around with me to house after house after house, and sometimes until quite late. I'm so, so thankful for his help as well as the help of my family and friends who were all so supportive.
Ah. ** There is one thing I'd like to add. I don't know if this is a Gangnam thing, or an everywhere thing, but you don't need the full deposit when you sign the contract. Just 10%. So, since my deposit is 10,000,000 won, I only needed to pay 1,000,000 won when I signed the contract. The rest, plus one month rent, is then paid when moving in. So when I move in next week, I'll pay 9,700,000 won.
Therefore, I would advice any of you house-hunters to check in with the realtor you're using and see when the full amount is due. It could mean the difference between getting the house you want and being too late!
직방
Also, here's the website version of the mobile app I used to find places up for rent. I spent way too much time on this thing, but it's helpful. If you know Korean... Unfortunately there is no English version, but it's still very easy to use. You can look by type of house, deposit and rent parameters, location... Everything. And it tells you when the house was listed, too, along with what appliances are inside. I, for one, refused to consider one that lacks a washing machine. But that's up to you~
I feel like I've been plugging this app so much I should be getting paid.
Anywho, feel free to ask me questions, as always :)
xoxox
Showing posts with label Cost of Living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cost of Living. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
New Year, New Place
Happy New Year, everyone!! I hope you've enjoyed January so far~
Also, it's very strange that we've had such a mild winter. I mean, I know it's only January, but we haven't really had any snow. It hasn't been nearly as cold as it was last year, either. But who's complaining? Not this girl!
You know, I was really excited to go to the south this time because Detroit was about the same temperature as Korea last time. But. The weather... It got so bad!! What is happening to the Midwest?! Can't I just go someplace nice and around 50-55 degrees?
Oh well. It will be so lovely to see my parents and best friend again! I'll be in the Carolinas the last two weeks of January. It'll be interesting to see what there is in terms of entertainment and shopping/thrifting. And food! New Years diet resolution doesn't begin until AFTER I get back from the States.
This year is full of new places, it seems! This week I'll go and sign a contract with my new school in Seoul, which means finding an apartment in the city. New school, new home. Moving... I've already started to sort through my things and I've thrown out a mountain (or large desk drawer) of paper. I am a pack rat. I have been saying this to myself out loud in order to curb this behavior.
I am a little nervous about finding a place, though. The rental system here is a little bit different. You pay quite a large sum for deposit ($5,000 - $10,000) and then the usual rental fee of $500 - $800. Of course the type of apartment you have and its size dictate how much rent you pay, too. And the area. I will start looking soon. I feel that it's best to go visit the area I want to live in and see which neighborhoods I prefer. Then I'll go to a realtor and have them show me around. I actually found some helpful articles about renting in Seoul, so here's the first and the second. There's a pitch in both of them for some "helpful" what-have-you, but it costs money so I wouldn't bother. I didn't.
I'll post again after I've gone through the process. I'm curious to see if I can find a nice place with a low deposit. Paying off my student loans feels awesome, but it also means I don't have the cash lying around to pay such a huge sum. And my Macbook went and black-screened on me. Living is so expensive. At least my healthcare here is socialized- efficient and cheap.
I had to go to the hospital last week for a health check, actually. But it's very different from getting one back home. For the hospital I went to, which is seriously quite large, you go to an area and fill out part of a form. You pull a number and walk up to the counter when your number shows on the screen. The you go and get changed in the women's area, leaving your stuff in a locker. It's not a gown, either. Just a wrap-shirt. Then you proceed to go around different stations in the hallway-like area and the people at each station fill in the results on the rest of the form you started earlier. You put the form in a box near each station for the busy ones and they pull the forms when their pile runs out and call you up to that area based on when your form was put into the box. Then you hand in the form and change. Then you're done. Simple, fast, and not unpleasant. I need to call them, though, and make sure I paid.... Haha, I still hate hospitals. Took them three times to check my heart rate and get a result that didn't make them think I needed to be on hypertension medication.
It's been a busy month, this January. I'm currently halfway through teaching English Camp. Just the rest of this week and next Monday left. The first five days were monster-themed. For the last five days I'm going to do a mystery-spy theme. It's been a lot of fun :)
Anyway, I should get back to planning. I have a PowerPoint to make!
Take care, everyone! And I'll see you soon, America~ (Please ease up on the weather. xoxox)
Also, it's very strange that we've had such a mild winter. I mean, I know it's only January, but we haven't really had any snow. It hasn't been nearly as cold as it was last year, either. But who's complaining? Not this girl!
You know, I was really excited to go to the south this time because Detroit was about the same temperature as Korea last time. But. The weather... It got so bad!! What is happening to the Midwest?! Can't I just go someplace nice and around 50-55 degrees?
Oh well. It will be so lovely to see my parents and best friend again! I'll be in the Carolinas the last two weeks of January. It'll be interesting to see what there is in terms of entertainment and shopping/thrifting. And food! New Years diet resolution doesn't begin until AFTER I get back from the States.
This year is full of new places, it seems! This week I'll go and sign a contract with my new school in Seoul, which means finding an apartment in the city. New school, new home. Moving... I've already started to sort through my things and I've thrown out a mountain (or large desk drawer) of paper. I am a pack rat. I have been saying this to myself out loud in order to curb this behavior.
I am a little nervous about finding a place, though. The rental system here is a little bit different. You pay quite a large sum for deposit ($5,000 - $10,000) and then the usual rental fee of $500 - $800. Of course the type of apartment you have and its size dictate how much rent you pay, too. And the area. I will start looking soon. I feel that it's best to go visit the area I want to live in and see which neighborhoods I prefer. Then I'll go to a realtor and have them show me around. I actually found some helpful articles about renting in Seoul, so here's the first and the second. There's a pitch in both of them for some "helpful" what-have-you, but it costs money so I wouldn't bother. I didn't.
I'll post again after I've gone through the process. I'm curious to see if I can find a nice place with a low deposit. Paying off my student loans feels awesome, but it also means I don't have the cash lying around to pay such a huge sum. And my Macbook went and black-screened on me. Living is so expensive. At least my healthcare here is socialized- efficient and cheap.
I had to go to the hospital last week for a health check, actually. But it's very different from getting one back home. For the hospital I went to, which is seriously quite large, you go to an area and fill out part of a form. You pull a number and walk up to the counter when your number shows on the screen. The you go and get changed in the women's area, leaving your stuff in a locker. It's not a gown, either. Just a wrap-shirt. Then you proceed to go around different stations in the hallway-like area and the people at each station fill in the results on the rest of the form you started earlier. You put the form in a box near each station for the busy ones and they pull the forms when their pile runs out and call you up to that area based on when your form was put into the box. Then you hand in the form and change. Then you're done. Simple, fast, and not unpleasant. I need to call them, though, and make sure I paid.... Haha, I still hate hospitals. Took them three times to check my heart rate and get a result that didn't make them think I needed to be on hypertension medication.
It's been a busy month, this January. I'm currently halfway through teaching English Camp. Just the rest of this week and next Monday left. The first five days were monster-themed. For the last five days I'm going to do a mystery-spy theme. It's been a lot of fun :)
Anyway, I should get back to planning. I have a PowerPoint to make!
Take care, everyone! And I'll see you soon, America~ (Please ease up on the weather. xoxox)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Studying Korean
I think I may review what I learn on here, in order to further my practice and overall learning. Also, that way everyone can study with me!! FUN, RIGHT?! ;) Yes.
So today. TODAY! This is my first day at Sogang University. I am signed up for their evening classes which take place three days a week (MonTuesThurs) for two hours each session. The course runs 10 weeks for a total of 60 hours. It is different from what I would expect out of an evening class, though. Unlike my assumption, the evening course is not accelerated. You learn half the material that the regular class does. Yes, you only meet for half the time, so it seems fair, but it means you will need to be in school longer if you plan on taking Korean courses for a while. At Sogang, the regular courses learn book A in the first half of the semester, and book B in the second half. The evening courses only learn book A in the fall and spring courses. To learn book B, you need to enroll in the winter or summer semesters.
Still, though, when you sit back and think about it from a logical point of view, there is a day job to do. People only take evening classes (another assumption) because they have work or other things during the day. So it's good that it's not accelerated, because otherwise the students might not be able to keep up...
Anywho. Today... I have not bought my book or paid my tuition. I know the building my class will be held in, but I do not know the room number or the floor. I am going straight to the university after work today to try and get all of that sorted. They are prompt with their responses, but I felt that I needed to make sure to contact them with the question first. Like, "How do I pay my tuition?" Then, I received an email with a box of options to choose one from. Their program is supposed to be quite outstanding, though. While other schools focus on grammar, and what I would consider test-oriented nuances, Sogang focuses on speaking and communication (instead of it only being 25% of the curriculum). It is why I chose Sogang University.
But let's have a look, shall we?
Which schools offer Korean language courses? Where are they located? How often and for how long do they meet? What does it cost? Here are the stats for two universities in Seoul:
( For more locations, please click here. There is a list of universities that offer Korean courses throughout Korea, including Incheon, Busan, Daejeon, Daegu, Ulsan, Gwanju, and alllll of those other places! Prices outside of Seoul are cheaper, although class sizes may be larger.)
*Example: Kyungbook National University in Daegu offers a class that meets during the same days, for the same hours, but it costs 1,200,000 won. The average class size only jumps to 15.
Sogang University (서강대학교)
- Located in Seoul between line 2 (Sinchon or Ewha Women's Uni stops) and line 6 (Daeheung stop).
- Exact address: 35 Baekbeom-ro Mapo-gu, Seoul
- Evening course fee: 640,000 won
- Classes meet three times a week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 6.50pm to 8.40pm and continue for ten weeks (60 hours total)
- Regular course fee: 1,515,000 won
- Classes meet five days a week from Monday to Friday, and run from 9.00am to 1.00pm (200 hours total)
- Average class size: 12 students
*Sogang does have other course options. Please visit their website to learn more.
Yonsei University (연세대학교)
- Located in Seoul by line 2 (Sinchon stop)
- Exact address: 134 Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
- Evening course fee: 750,000 won
- Classes meet three times a week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 6.30pm to 9.00pm and continue for ten weeks (90 hours total)
- Regular course fee: 1,616,000 won
- Classes meet five days a week from Monday to Friday, and run from 9.00am to 1.00pm (200 hours total)
- Average class size: 12
*Yonsei does have other course options. Please visit their website to learn more.
A third university in Seoul that I must mention is Seoul National University. The stats are essentially the same. I'm sure you could guess just by looking at the above two. But. Here is their link!
So look around if you're interested! Regular course programs are also grounds for a VISA, so if you just want to study and get away from wherever you are for a while, then maybe this is for you!
I'm off!
Take care, everyone!
So today. TODAY! This is my first day at Sogang University. I am signed up for their evening classes which take place three days a week (MonTuesThurs) for two hours each session. The course runs 10 weeks for a total of 60 hours. It is different from what I would expect out of an evening class, though. Unlike my assumption, the evening course is not accelerated. You learn half the material that the regular class does. Yes, you only meet for half the time, so it seems fair, but it means you will need to be in school longer if you plan on taking Korean courses for a while. At Sogang, the regular courses learn book A in the first half of the semester, and book B in the second half. The evening courses only learn book A in the fall and spring courses. To learn book B, you need to enroll in the winter or summer semesters.
Still, though, when you sit back and think about it from a logical point of view, there is a day job to do. People only take evening classes (another assumption) because they have work or other things during the day. So it's good that it's not accelerated, because otherwise the students might not be able to keep up...
Anywho. Today... I have not bought my book or paid my tuition. I know the building my class will be held in, but I do not know the room number or the floor. I am going straight to the university after work today to try and get all of that sorted. They are prompt with their responses, but I felt that I needed to make sure to contact them with the question first. Like, "How do I pay my tuition?" Then, I received an email with a box of options to choose one from. Their program is supposed to be quite outstanding, though. While other schools focus on grammar, and what I would consider test-oriented nuances, Sogang focuses on speaking and communication (instead of it only being 25% of the curriculum). It is why I chose Sogang University.
But let's have a look, shall we?
Which schools offer Korean language courses? Where are they located? How often and for how long do they meet? What does it cost? Here are the stats for two universities in Seoul:
( For more locations, please click here. There is a list of universities that offer Korean courses throughout Korea, including Incheon, Busan, Daejeon, Daegu, Ulsan, Gwanju, and alllll of those other places! Prices outside of Seoul are cheaper, although class sizes may be larger.)
*Example: Kyungbook National University in Daegu offers a class that meets during the same days, for the same hours, but it costs 1,200,000 won. The average class size only jumps to 15.
Sogang University (서강대학교)
- Located in Seoul between line 2 (Sinchon or Ewha Women's Uni stops) and line 6 (Daeheung stop).
- Exact address: 35 Baekbeom-ro Mapo-gu, Seoul
- Evening course fee: 640,000 won
- Classes meet three times a week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 6.50pm to 8.40pm and continue for ten weeks (60 hours total)
- Regular course fee: 1,515,000 won
- Classes meet five days a week from Monday to Friday, and run from 9.00am to 1.00pm (200 hours total)
- Average class size: 12 students
*Sogang does have other course options. Please visit their website to learn more.
Yonsei University (연세대학교)
- Located in Seoul by line 2 (Sinchon stop)
- Exact address: 134 Sinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
- Evening course fee: 750,000 won
- Classes meet three times a week on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 6.30pm to 9.00pm and continue for ten weeks (90 hours total)
- Regular course fee: 1,616,000 won
- Classes meet five days a week from Monday to Friday, and run from 9.00am to 1.00pm (200 hours total)
- Average class size: 12
*Yonsei does have other course options. Please visit their website to learn more.
A third university in Seoul that I must mention is Seoul National University. The stats are essentially the same. I'm sure you could guess just by looking at the above two. But. Here is their link!
So look around if you're interested! Regular course programs are also grounds for a VISA, so if you just want to study and get away from wherever you are for a while, then maybe this is for you!
I'm off!
Take care, everyone!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Weekend Update
Good afternoon to everyone in my time zone! I'm sure the rest of you are sleeping, about to sleep, or somewhere around there :)
Yesterday I went out to Seoul with the Bucheon girls for the Korvia welcoming party, which was in Itaewon. Before heading over to Itaewon, we swung into Hongdae for a little shopping and walking. The number of shoes I was tempted to buy was absurd! I walked away with two rings- a Vivienne Westwood (yesyesyes!) knock-off and a simple vine-like one. I'm quite pleased! Not to mention that the total for both was W8000 (a little over $7).
There was also a puppy store we went into after grabbing a bite at Dos Tacos (I wasn't hungry so I didn't eat, but the others gave it rave reviews! I'll have to eat next time!). I seriously thought my heart was going to make its way out of its place because of how adorable the puppies were! One little guy kept pressing its face into the corner of the glass and trying to eat my finger! They were so precious.
We went over to Itaewon a little early to hit a cellphone store, Olleh (Yeah, it's 'Hello' backwards!). I had originally just wanted to look at the phones and plans, but after watching a girl not from our group get a phone, and Sio get a phone, I got a phone. Haha it was really nice being at that store in Itaewon because the woman spoke wonderful English. That's one of the reasons I wanted to go to a store while we were there, but after hearing all the details I figured I should just purchase one now. I ended up going with a black iPhone 4S.
The way it works here is that the cost of the phone is divided up between each month of your contract (a 2 year contract is mandatory), and added to the bill. Unlimited data, 300 minutes, and 300 texts is the iValue Plan and costs W54000/month. Insurance is optional, but costs W4700/month. Here, the iPhone 4S is worth W814000, so insurance is definitely worth it! You do get a discount on the phone with the contract, though. I know I'm only paying about W600000 for the phone (which is still terribly expensive compared to the States!) But with the cost split up between each month, it's not that bad at all. My phone bill will end up being about W70000/month ($70ish) and that I know is cheaper than others with smart phones in the States on their own plans. So you could say that the phone is more expensive, but the service is cheaper.
My phone will be activated on Monday (tomorrow), so I've just been putting all of my contacts into it and customizing it. I did buy a case because, really, this is my first smart phone and I'm terrified of anything happening to it. I don't know if I have to talk to the woman tomorrow via my other phone, or if it's something she can do without being in contact with me... I hope it's the latter, because I will definitely be teaching during the time frame she gave me for the activation.
After getting our phones we went to the Korvia party and got to meet our recruiters! Jessie Kim (my recruiter) is probably one of the nicest and most adorable people I have ever seen. I'm so glad I got to meet her in person! We also met a few other people from Bucheon and other locations in Seoul. It was a good night!
Please feel free to comment, email, or message me if you have any further questions about cellphones, recruiters, or anything!
Till next time~
Yesterday I went out to Seoul with the Bucheon girls for the Korvia welcoming party, which was in Itaewon. Before heading over to Itaewon, we swung into Hongdae for a little shopping and walking. The number of shoes I was tempted to buy was absurd! I walked away with two rings- a Vivienne Westwood (yesyesyes!) knock-off and a simple vine-like one. I'm quite pleased! Not to mention that the total for both was W8000 (a little over $7).
There was also a puppy store we went into after grabbing a bite at Dos Tacos (I wasn't hungry so I didn't eat, but the others gave it rave reviews! I'll have to eat next time!). I seriously thought my heart was going to make its way out of its place because of how adorable the puppies were! One little guy kept pressing its face into the corner of the glass and trying to eat my finger! They were so precious.
We went over to Itaewon a little early to hit a cellphone store, Olleh (Yeah, it's 'Hello' backwards!). I had originally just wanted to look at the phones and plans, but after watching a girl not from our group get a phone, and Sio get a phone, I got a phone. Haha it was really nice being at that store in Itaewon because the woman spoke wonderful English. That's one of the reasons I wanted to go to a store while we were there, but after hearing all the details I figured I should just purchase one now. I ended up going with a black iPhone 4S.
The way it works here is that the cost of the phone is divided up between each month of your contract (a 2 year contract is mandatory), and added to the bill. Unlimited data, 300 minutes, and 300 texts is the iValue Plan and costs W54000/month. Insurance is optional, but costs W4700/month. Here, the iPhone 4S is worth W814000, so insurance is definitely worth it! You do get a discount on the phone with the contract, though. I know I'm only paying about W600000 for the phone (which is still terribly expensive compared to the States!) But with the cost split up between each month, it's not that bad at all. My phone bill will end up being about W70000/month ($70ish) and that I know is cheaper than others with smart phones in the States on their own plans. So you could say that the phone is more expensive, but the service is cheaper.
My phone will be activated on Monday (tomorrow), so I've just been putting all of my contacts into it and customizing it. I did buy a case because, really, this is my first smart phone and I'm terrified of anything happening to it. I don't know if I have to talk to the woman tomorrow via my other phone, or if it's something she can do without being in contact with me... I hope it's the latter, because I will definitely be teaching during the time frame she gave me for the activation.
After getting our phones we went to the Korvia party and got to meet our recruiters! Jessie Kim (my recruiter) is probably one of the nicest and most adorable people I have ever seen. I'm so glad I got to meet her in person! We also met a few other people from Bucheon and other locations in Seoul. It was a good night!
Please feel free to comment, email, or message me if you have any further questions about cellphones, recruiters, or anything!
Till next time~
Monday, January 23, 2012
ESL in Asia
As promised in my previous post, I will discuss English teaching opportunities in locations outside of South Korea. Native English teachers are wanted in Asia, South America, Europe, and Africa. What gets tricky is that some locations require teachers to have at least 2-3 years of teaching experience before being eligible for their public schools. Speaking to a recruiter about your qualifications and location preferences would direct you to the best options for you, personally.
Public schools are often a safer bet for guest English teachers because they are associated with and sponsored by the government. Private schools can go under without notice, and aren't always on time with their pay. Their contracts should be read more thoroughly, as well, as they may not come standard as with public schools. That being said, private schools will most often offer better pay, smaller class sizes, and increased English-speaking staff members. If you can land a job at a reputable private school, then you will most likely have smooth sailing.
Here is a chart that I put together for public school opportunities in Asia:
Keep in mind that salaries aren't the only things that very. Cost of living is also different in each country. Here is a website that allows you to see prices of groceries, housing, internet, transportation, etc for various countries, even specific cities. This way you can compare the actual amount of income that you will have left after expenses. You will be responsible for utilities, groceries, and probably transportation with a job as an ESL teacher.
If you have any questions or other topics you would like me to cover, please comment!
Ciao,
Kaitlin
Public schools are often a safer bet for guest English teachers because they are associated with and sponsored by the government. Private schools can go under without notice, and aren't always on time with their pay. Their contracts should be read more thoroughly, as well, as they may not come standard as with public schools. That being said, private schools will most often offer better pay, smaller class sizes, and increased English-speaking staff members. If you can land a job at a reputable private school, then you will most likely have smooth sailing.
Here is a chart that I put together for public school opportunities in Asia:
Keep in mind that salaries aren't the only things that very. Cost of living is also different in each country. Here is a website that allows you to see prices of groceries, housing, internet, transportation, etc for various countries, even specific cities. This way you can compare the actual amount of income that you will have left after expenses. You will be responsible for utilities, groceries, and probably transportation with a job as an ESL teacher.
If you have any questions or other topics you would like me to cover, please comment!
Ciao,
Kaitlin
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