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Staying Warm in Korea
Winter in Korea is no laughing matter, even for those of us from Canada. Heating an apartment no matter the size can get extremely expensive. Not to mention, the Korean floor heating system or “ondol” can also be a bit confusing. Hopefully this guide can help you stay warm this year and keep your bills in check. Mastering the Ondol One of the hardest things to master in Korea beyond the language is the heating system. When I first arrived I had no more of an explanation than “that’s the heater” as my director showed me my apartment. It took years to fully master the ins and outs of the system. Getting it started The ondol system is both your heater and your hot water. Thus, the unit is mainly switched “hot water only” in the summer months. Before turning on your floor heating, you must make sure that the valves are open. Usually, there will be a master valve under your boiler (should always be on) and separate valves for each room. Typically these are located under your sink but could also be found in other parts of your apartment. The biggest issue with these valves is figuring out which room they belong to. Sometimes they are labelled and other times you have...
Read MoreGuide to Online Shopping 2017
A lot has changed in the time that I have been here. One of the biggest changes (and a welcomed one) is the recent ease that one can order items off the internet and have them shipped right to your door. While Korea is arguably lightyears ahead of many places with regards to domestic online shopping and their amazing taek-bae delivery system, as foreigners we often suffer when trying to order items from home. In recent years, things have changed and sites like amazon and iherb have increased in popularity. This popularity can be a doubled-edge sword as it has lead to certain “crackdowns” by customs leading to limitations on certain products purchased and extra duty on others. For the purpose of this article, we are going to take a look at how to order from overseas sites. Get Your Address Right The first thing that you should find is your proper address. This means your official address not what you or your co-worker think it is. For that, you must visit the Korea Post site and find your address and postal code. You can do so in English here. Then use that for your default address. The reason being is that for the most part this is what the postal system will use...
Read MoreUlsan: Then and Now
It was almost this time way back in 2003, when I stepped off the plane and met the recruiters who brought me to my first hogwan. It was located in Samsandong and although it has changed names a few times the school is still there. Looking back, it was an interesting time because I was a new teacher and living in an area that was not the most cosmopolitan of places at that moment. Ulsan was still primarily a...
Read MoreWe’re Back Online!
I just wanted to update everyone on the fact that we are back up and running. It was a stressful time as this has quite possibly been the worst hack that I have ever had to deal with. It cost a lot of money and took a long time to find the right people to fix the site. What Exactly Happened? To the best of my knowledge it was a perfect storm of events that caused the downfall of...
Read MoreImportant Dates for 2017
National Holidays for 2017 Seollal (설날) Jan. 27th ~ 30th One of the most important holidays of the year. Most shops and stores will be typically only closed on the 28th. The rest of the days most places like shopping centers are usually open. Traffic is problematic and should be avoided. Travel and plane tickets are usually sold out as many people are heading home for the holidays. Independance Movement Day (삼일절) Mar. 1st This marks the Declaration of Independence proclaimed...
Read MoreThe Best Places to Take a Date in Ulsan
Words and Photos by Ashley Hatcher Although Valentine’s Day is over, that doesn’t mean the romance doesn’t need to stop. You could take your date to the typical coffee shop or dinner and a movie but where’s the fun in that? I’ve compiled a list of unique ideas to take a date around Ulsan, but of course all of these activities are perfect to do with friends as well. Dog Cafe/Cat Cafe There are many around Ulsan but my personal...
Read MoreIn Memory of Dave Harvey
Dave Harvey may not be a household name in Ulsan these days, but he certainly helped create the amazing expat community that exists here today. On December 27th of 2015 Dave Harvey passed away from a rare form of cancer that had taken over his body in less than a year. He was only 37 years old. Dave was instrumental in helping the expat community become what it is today. He arrived here back in 2003 with his best...
Read MoreCreative Taekwondo
For foreigners looking to get into shape and achieve a better understanding of Korean culture and etiquette, taekwondo is your best choice. However, the biggest challenge is not just getting your black belt before you leave but finding the right “dojeong” or school. There are so many dojeongs in Ulsan, it can be a difficult choice, not to mention so few speak English. However, Creative Taekwondo has you covered. Creative Taekwondo offers classes in English for both kids and...
Read MoreAfter Ulsan: Chris Mazeroll
It is not every day that you get a chance to meet up with someone that you met while living abroad. We often lose contact with those who were a big part of the community here in Ulsan after they leave. However, when I heard that a prominent member of the Ulsan community was living now “near” where I was studying, I made the 5 1/2 hour drive out to see him. After a long drive through some of the...
Read MoreBeyond Surviving South Korea: Top 5 Tips for an Awesome Life
I’ve been living in Korea for almost 10 years and I’ve met plenty of people who were thriving, but I’ve also seen people who were just surviving, and just barely in some cases. Some of these people who were only surviving had been living here for years. Don’t let it happen to you! Create a happy life for yourself in your adopted home. Here are my top 5 tips to help you have an awesome life in South Korea....
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