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[Six] A friend to talk with

Hello readers,



I’m sorry it’s been so long since my last entry. School has been hectic and it still is. However, after reading an inspiring blog entry by Kyung Eun, I could not resist. I had to interrupt my studies and write this blog entry.


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Kyung Eun is one of the co-hosts of a Japanese podcast I listen to. I am currently learning Japanese and I listen to this Japanese podcast online at www.languagecast.net. It’s a site where you can find language podcasts for Japanese, Chinese, English, and more. The particular one I listen to is the 왕초보 일본어 레슨- the Japanese lesson for beginners. A Japanese girl named Satoko teaches the Korean girl, Kyung Eun each week with new phrases and Japanese vocabulary. The recordings are all uploaded and they have started Season II with Kyung Eun and a Japanese guy. The format is different from Season I in that Season II it is with different people and more like a conversation than a lesson.


I am going on a bit of a tangent here, but anyways. If you speak Korean and would like to learn any of the foreign languages mentioned above, you should definitely check it out. Also, if you are advanced learner in any of those languages, they also have talk show podcasts where the whole podcast is conducted in that specific language (without any Korean).


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Anyways, in Kyung Eun’s blog, she has so many recordings-from the Japanese podcasts to Korean language videos that help foreigners learn Korean (Youtube: Korean language class 101).


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She also has entries about her thoughts on life and her memories. The most recent one under the category “Podcast- 나의 이야기”is about 말동무 (mal-dong-moo) or 말벗 (mal-burrtd). My Korean-Korean YBM dictionary tells me that it means “서로 같이 이야기할 만한 사람”. Translated, it means “a conversational partner; a friend to talk with”.



Our interests may be different
We may act differently
We might have a different style
but, nevertheless
someone who can understand me:
a friend.
(credits to: Ddalki www.cyworld.com/ddalki0802)

As I was listening to Kyung Eun’s entry, I found that I could totally relate (공감) to what she was saying about a 말동무. She mentioned how sometimes we can’t share everything openly and honestly with our friends or families because they have a certain perception of who we are. We want to open up and share our deepest secrets, but we can become timid and scared that they might suddenly change their opinion about us.


“Oh, I thought she was…”


“That’s interesting… Never knew that about you.”


I guess if our friends and family really love and care for us, we should not be afraid of those things. But, nevertheless, I think it’s true that we all share those fears at times.


So if not our close ones, who can be a 말동무 for us then? Kyung Eun mentions in her blog entry that blog readers are like a 말동무 for bloggers. In many ways, I agree with that. I think one of the reasons why bloggers blog is because they can be free to write without any critics. No professors who are going to bug you about poor grammar. No one to say, “How come you were not studying and writing on this blog? “ :)
So I guess, this article is to thank my readers for being a good 말동무. Thanks for allowing me to share a bit about Korea and myself through this blog. I will try my best to be as free as I can and give you a rich understanding of Korea and Korean language.


오늘도 좋은 하루 되세요. Hope you have a nice day! :)

-sunflowerchocolate-

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What are you doing Saturday night?
Dancing / Drinking / Reading with me?


Hot Dog Catalogue Release Party at Basement in PNU.

Come see what they did with my photos.

On Being Green With Envy at Childless Couples…


Apologies for not having a post up since Monday everyone, but for some reason my daughters have been running around until late every night this week, demanding to climb up me to do back-flips, or that I help them build Lego houses. Yesterday, I vaguely recall, I even fell asleep on the lounge floor while watching them…and they proceeded to use the side of my head to put their Lego bricks on.

This morning though, my eldest one thrust the above into my pockmarked face while I was drinking the first of many coffees, loudly exclaiming “Chorok-sek (green) one YOO Daddy! A toast please!”. I decided to forgive her.

I’ll do my best to have one ready by tomorrow. Post I mean. Meanwhile, here is an example of the budding artist’s work from July if you’re curious, and also a brief examination of the gender stereotypes in a popular Korean children’s song if you can’t wait until tomorrow for that sort of thing. But be warned: I wear rather less clothes in Korean summers…

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Posted in Admin, Announcements, Child Raising in Korea
  

 

Question from a reader: utility bills

A reader named S.Y. writes in:
I'm thinking of going to korea and was just curious about what your monthly utilities (internet/electricty/gas) end up being.

For most teachers, utilities will comprise a pretty small portion of the money leaving your bank account. The set up on how to pay them depends on the school - some schools will automatically pay your bills and deduct the amounts from your paycheck. Others will take a hands-off role, and the bills will come to you.

Although the exact amount of a utility bill obviously varies with usage, you can expect the following (assuming one-person, smallish-sized housing as is typical for apartments provided by schools):

Electric: 15,000 - 20,000 won / month (peak: 30,000 / month)
Water: 10,000 - 20,000 won / month (peak: 25,000 / month)
Gas: (if you have a gas stove / heating) 10,000 - 20,000 won / month during summer; 40,000 - 60,000 won / month during winter.
Internet: 15,000 - 25,000 / month
Cell phones are tricky to predict. Budget 50,000 won a month to start, whether you have a monthly plan or go pre-paid. Tailor according to your plan or needs.

Rough grand total for winter (assuming middle-of-the-road averages): 152,500 won / month
Rough grand total for summer (assuming middle-of-the-road averages): 112,500 won / month

Other monthly things to consider are groceries, partying / drinking, snacks, entertainment, and so on. I touched on budgets in a previous post, so that's worth checking out as well. It's worth mentioning that if your employer pay your bills on your behalf, ask for an itemized list if anything seems abnormally high.

Finally, your utilities don't usually require a deposit - and they'll be turned on from the moment you move in. The only exception I've seen / heard after 1 1/2+ years is an internet company in the Gangnam area. They wanted a deposit of 60,000 won, which I think was used to secure the router.

Any questions about Korea, life in Korea, or life as a teacher? Feel free to send an e-mail at chrisinsouthkorea AT gmail DOT com. I'll respond personally - but if your question might help other readers I'll ask to post here as well.

Creative Commons License © Chris Backe - 2009

 

Please ignore once more

Again sorry about this! I'm in the midst of trying to switch from blogger to wordpress and having a few teething problems. NORMAL SERVICE SHOULD BE RESUMED SHORTLY.

Please ignore once more

Again sorry about this! I’m in the midst of trying to switch from blogger to wordpress and having a few teething problems. NORMAL SERVICE SHOULD BE RESUMED SHORTLY.

2S2's next meeting - want to see some snowboarding?

Roboseyo's 2S2 is meeting up this weekend (second Saturday at 2pm, thus '2S2') - this month's activity: going to the Snowboarding Event in Gwangwhamun plaza. The stuff they've already set up looks great, so meet up at the Twosome Place Cafe near Anguk Station (line 3, exit 1) at 2pm.

Remember you'll be outside, so bring your hat, gloves, scarf, hand warmers, and so on.

For more information about 2S2, check out the Facebook page or new blog dedicated to the group.

I'll be there for part of it, and will definitely be checking out the snowboarding event - various events will be held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - see this post for more details.

Creative Commons License © Chris Backe - 2009

Watching the Dow Jones drop from Korea

On my way to work this morning, a minivan pulled out in front of me in East Windsor with the Web site, www.kimchius.com, on the back window. On the site, you can purchase a Dimchae standing kimchi refrigerator for only $2499.99. A savings of almost $200! Oh, and I also found this:



My mouth is watering.

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I have also just found a Web site where I can listen to Korean radio broadcasts and even watch Korean television live. As I watched the MBN (listed as "NBN" on the Web site) broadcast, I saw the Dow Jones was down 90 points. On other "channels," gray screens and color bars hummed since it was 14 hours ahead there, nearing 1 a.m. All I can say is, this is so cool.

This Web site also has pages for radio and TV broadcasts from Japan, Thailand, China, even Denmark, the Czech Republic and Israel. I watched a program last night from the Republic of Congo, a religious show where people in robes sang in front of a very poor green screen, like something from late 80's cable access.

Korean radio and television feeds.

—John Dunphy

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