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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…
Posted in Admin, Announcements, Child Raising in Korea
Question from a reader: utility bills
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.
Exploring Masan
Please ignore once more
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?
Watching the Dow Jones drop from Korea
My mouth is watering.
*
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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