I remember my first six months in Seomyeon, Busan. I’d spend my weekends wandering around the underground shopping arcades, eating solo at a gimbap shop, and nodding politely at the same barista who never asked my name. I had all the right apps, a decent Korean level, and a cheerful attitude—but my social life was … Read more
I remember my first trip to a hospital in Busan like it was yesterday. I had a raging fever, my Korean was limited to “hello” and “thank you,” and the receptionist just stared at me as I mimed taking medicine. It was a nightmare. But after 10 years here, I’ve learned the tricks to navigate … Read more
I remember my first July in Sinchon. I thought I was prepared for summer—I had shorts, a fan, and a brave spirit. Then the 장마 (monsoon) hit. Walking to Yonsei University felt like swimming through a sauna. My shoes were soaked, my apartment smelled like a basement, and I learned the hard way that Korean … Read more
When I first moved to Gangnam, I thought I was a hotshot. Fresh off the plane from Incheon, I swaggered into a random phone shop in Sinsa-dong, pointed at a slick device, and handed over my passport. Three hours and a locked-into-a-two-year-plan later, I realized I’d paid 100,000 won for a plan that barely covered … Read more
I remember my first visit to the Gangnam Immigration Office like it was yesterday. I was a fresh-faced English teacher, clutching a stack of photocopies I was 80% sure were wrong, and I walked into a sea of people. The number system felt like a foreign language, and I was sure I’d be deported for … Read more
I’ll never forget my first week in Gangnam. I was standing in front of a convenience store with a bag of regular household trash, trying to ask the cashier where to buy a “garbage bag.” She looked at me like I was trying to smuggle contraband. Turns out, in Korea, you don’t just buy any … Read more
I’ll never forget my first month on Jeju Island. I was starving, craving a bulgogi burger, and my Korean was limited to “hello” and “thank you.” I downloaded Baemin (배민), only to be hit with a wall of Korean text and a phone verification system that refused to accept my foreign number. I nearly gave … Read more
— I remember my first week in Pyeongtaek, wandering into a local bank near Camp Humphreys, passport in hand, feeling like a lost puppy. The teller spoke no English, I spoke no Korean, and I ended up with a savings account that had a daily withdrawal limit of 500,000 won—barely enough for a month of … Read more
— I remember my first month in Ansan, staring at my bank account after paying the deposit on my one-room. Ramen was looking like a gourmet option, and the thought of eating out felt like a distant luxury. But living in Ansan, especially on Multicultural Street, is a cheat code for budget survival if you … Read more
I remember my first month in Hongdae. I had a shiny degree, a decent resume, and a burning desire to teach, write, or do *anything* that didn’t involve serving soju. I spent 40 hours a week refreshing job boards, only to get ghosted by recruiters or offered a “freelance” gig that paid in ramen. The … Read more