|
United States12125 Posts
On January 19 2011 13:13 Navi wrote:
to OP, there are some asshole adults that might (silently) discriminate if you advertised that you were japanese to them, mostly old fogeys that you probably won't meet though. young people are fine.
All right, that's what I figured.
On January 19 2011 13:13 Navi wrote:
food there is super cheap in general omfg. the school cafeterias at most places sell delicious meals for under like 3 bucks (a pretty big variety, and cooked shin-ramen for 1 dollar lool). just don't expect to eat beef because that shit is expensive. eat up all the t-bone steaks or w/e u like back in the states while u can because it is ridiculous in korea. eating outside in little street vendor shops is the best though, relatively healthy food (for being bought out) that's delicious n cheap.
I'm excited for food! I'm not too worried because I don't get much steak at my school anyway, so that won't be a problem. I do LOVE ramen though. 
On January 19 2011 13:13 Navi wrote:
brand names like polo, raulph lauren, and w/e are really expensive, but everything else is pretty cheap (korean society is pretty vain in general, like "he who wears better clothes is better" ish kinda thing, so you might wanna bring a polo or two for your nights out).
So basically... American brands? I wanna get some Korean clothes, if that's even possible, but I think I dress fairly nicely.
On January 19 2011 13:13 Navi wrote:
borrowing a roomie's acc for sc2 would probably be the easiest way, you can ask blizzard customer support before you go to korea / when you are in korea, see what you can get done. THey do require a SSN kinda thing for most games in korea, but I don't know about that too well from a foreigner's point of view. (btw sc2 ladder in korea wayyy harsher than US, its not even funny lol. you might get dropped down to silver @_@)
:3 I hope I don't get totally raped on ladder... I'm a mere NA diamond. Which probably does = KR silver. I'll probably borrow a roomie or future friend's acc. We'll see.
On January 19 2011 13:13 Navi wrote:
if you like snow and don't mind cold weather, fall (it will transition from hot/warm -> cold)
if you prefer the warm/ don't mind heat, spring (start cool -> hot)
i prefer fall myself, but they're both great.
Well. I'm already in Colorado, so I'm not sure if it gets colder then here. But I do like the autumn to winter progression.
On January 19 2011 13:13 Navi wrote:
clubs are everywhere, you're gonna have a fun time lol. drinking age is 20 (in korean age) so most college students are of drinking age when they arrive there (late 18/19 US). don't worry too much about walking into a gay club, i don't think that'll be the problem you run into lol. i would start out by coming with a guy friend who knows his way around, he'll teach you how to mosey around
Yayyy legal drinking age! Sounds like a good plan, wingman possibly? Cool, cool.
On January 19 2011 13:13 Navi wrote:
if you get a basic grasp of korean before you go, it will make ur life that much easier. i would try to make the effort to get basic korean down (they have signs up for where bathrooms n shit are in english too, so that isn't really the issue, but you'll get a lot more respect and your life in general will be a lot easier if you can do some basic chatting in both languages). you can make "friends" while speaking english only, but they will be mostly jerk-offs who will try to use you to learn english better lol. if you make an effort to learn some korean and practice around with some people you meet, i'm sure you'll meet some great people
Well I know very basic Korean, hello, goodbye, thank you, I love you. 
I'll work on expanding my Korean.
Thank you very much for your reply!
|
NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
- Shopping-wise, are things in Korea expensive? (like clothes, hygenics, and other dorm necessities.)
Another tip is to check if you can find domestic versions of imported products. Things like pasta sauce, certain snack foods etc have Korean equivalents which don't taste that different (or different at all) and cost you a few thousand won less.
For buying fresh fruits and veggies (some of the most expensive items in the local supermarkets) the open air market stalls manned by ajjushis and ajjumas usually give the best deals. You are also way more likely to get free items thrown in as service.
Oh and for transport don't forget to buy a T-Money card (I've found it's easier to just buy one of those keychain style ones from Family Mart or GS25 and stick it on your phone.) It'll save you a decent amount on the already cheap public transport fares.
Clothing can be pricey if you're looking for labels, but the best deals are online via using Gmarket and Interpark. Both have English language sign ups too. I've had friends who got service for making larger orders even if it was only their first time ordering from a particular seller. There are also many temporary clothing stores offering reduced rates if you just need something cheap to see you through a couple of months. They usually spring up in market areas like Namdaemun or popular shopping areas like Myeongdong and Hongdae. Student areas definitely provide the best range of affordable deals for everything from clothing to food.
|
- As an Asian of a different descent, will I blend in and be fairly ignored, or will people show any sort of disdain, because I am Japanese and not Korean?
Some of the OLDER generation MIGHT have a little angst towards japanese still, but in general you won't really see much of it. Get in a debate about Dokdo or WW2 or something, though and you're in for it haha.
- I've asked the KU representative about the Starcraft scene at KU, and he told me it's pretty big. So, will I be able to play SC2 on some kind of foreigner SSN, or student visa, or will I have to play on a KR client with a roommate's account?
You can play on your foreigner SSN but you need to play on the Korean servers. I'm sure anyone here or I can help walk you through it.
- How are girls at Korea universities, and will American tactics of getting girls' numbers and such be offensive?
Honestly Korean girls are not really approached the way us americans approach girls. So alot of them see it as a refreshing change of pace vs. the usual (소개팅[sogaeting] through friends). I'm sure if you go under the guise of learning Korean or wanting to ask some questions, girls will be pretty receptive. Korean girls usually enjoy drinking, but don't be surprised if alot of them shy away from other nightlife (clubs).
- Shopping-wise, are things in Korea expensive? (like clothes, hygenics, and other dorm necessities.)
Clothes, no, name-brand clothes, though, yes.
Keep an eye out for a place called DAISO (they're quite common), amazing dollar-store-ish place that has everything you would need.
- How's the weather in Sejong in the fall/spring semester?
BEAUTIFUL, those two seasons are amazing and like something out of a movie.
The other two seasons tho are balls and are like out of a horror movie.
- I heard that the nightclub scene is bumpin', are there any age restrictions I should know about, or gay clubs I might accidentally walk into? Would I get slapped if I were to start grinding with a girl? Anything else to do on the weekends or in my free time?
You will probably be carded (they've really stepped it up these days). Head to 홍대(hongdae) and you can find alot of no-cover, or foreigner-free clubs.
I actually run a website here:
http://www.aroundseoul.com
Check it out there's tons of places to go there.
All the gay clubs are in 이태원(Itaewon). I generally stay away from there, but head there for good buffallo wings and football games.
Any other tips or info about Korean culture and Korea itself would be extremely grand.
I'm already mega-hyped about the possibility of studying and visiting Korea, and further discussion might just drive me crazy. :D
If you like people and busyness, you'll like it.
My number one tip for people coming over, INVEST IN A SCOOTER OR MOTORCYCLE
You can get them dirt cheap (free ~ $1000) and they'll let you see alot more than you ever would sticking to the subways.
Anyway PM me if you want to know more,
gluck
-Keith
|
Korea (South)1897 Posts
Whatever yoonyoon wrote is right on the money.
I am a KU grad and my wife is too (Law) and I was on the rugby pro team there, but we were at the Anam campus, so where you are going is the country side, but it should be fun and I dont' think nowadays you'll have any issues and also I'm sure you can come to seoul to participate in the Ko-yo-Jun (the annual Korea University and Yonsei univeristy games);
there is an old saying in Korea, that there are 3 races, male, female and female at KU, meaning that traditionally, only the ugly really nerdy girls went to KU, but I'd like to think that its not the case anymore ^^
Anyways, it will be a great experience if everything is covered!
Cheers
|
United States12125 Posts
On January 19 2011 16:00 NeverGG wrote:
- Shopping-wise, are things in Korea expensive? (like clothes, hygenics, and other dorm necessities.)
Another tip is to check if you can find domestic versions of imported products. Things like pasta sauce, certain snack foods etc have Korean equivalents which don't taste that different (or different at all) and cost you a few thousand won less.
For buying fresh fruits and veggies (some of the most expensive items in the local supermarkets) the open air market stalls manned by ajjushis and ajjumas usually give the best deals. You are also way more likely to get free items thrown in as service.
Oh and for transport don't forget to buy a T-Money card (I've found it's easier to just buy one of those keychain style ones from Family Mart or GS25 and stick it on your phone.) It'll save you a decent amount on the already cheap public transport fares.
Clothing can be pricey if you're looking for labels, but the best deals are online via using Gmarket and Interpark. Both have English language sign ups too. I've had friends who got service for making larger orders even if it was only their first time ordering from a particular seller. There are also many temporary clothing stores offering reduced rates if you just need something cheap to see you through a couple of months. They usually spring up in market areas like Namdaemun or popular shopping areas like Myeongdong and Hongdae. Student areas definitely provide the best range of affordable deals for everything from clothing to food.
Thanks for the budgetary tips!
]
I'll keep them in mind. :D
I'll work on replies and maybe other questions later.
|
United States12125 Posts
So I've picked up my application for the study abroad program, and should be submitting it fairly soon.
I'll probably find out if I get accepted or not by March 11.
As of late, I've been watching a lot of subbed Korean variety shows, and have been picking up a LOT of Korean.
On another not, I've fallen in love with SNSD.
Do you guys know some good sites where I can learn some more Korean, or culturistics, like music I should probably know, etc?
I've been using this one site to learn a phrase a day,
http://www.linguanaut.com/english_korean.htm
but after checking with my Korean friend, some of their responses are... incorrect.
Thank you to everyone, SO MUCH, who's posted already. Kamsamnida, and sarangmida. <3
|
congrats on getting in!
as a korean-american who is more american than korean , i can tell you that you probably will stand out as an american. especially for you since you wont be fluent in the language.... and even for me, who can speak korean fluently without an accent (my aunts/cousins said i didnt have an accent when i visited last summer), just the way i talk gives me away (word choice, slang, etc).
I want to warn you though.... younger generations will probablynot have much of a problem with this for a most part (as there is plenty of cultural/pop culture exchange btw japan and korea), but some older folks still harbor dislike for the japanese for what they did to korea in WWII. i personally do not harbor any ill will towards the japanese, but i do remember my parents (especially my dad) being unhappy with me when i was in my anime obsession phase in middle school.... he stopped bothering me about it since high school, so i think he was just trying to raise me as a korean while i was still a kid... he has no problem at all with it now. I have a good friend named Aki who ive hung out with since kindergarten, but they had no problems at ALL with that.... but my grandpa still doesn't buy any japanese products (no sony tv etc) as he was personally in WWII himself... i dont/havent lived in korea, so i dont know how things would be like there regarding this issue, but i just want to let you know you may occassionally not be treated respectfully by bitter elderly folk.
|
United States12125 Posts
On March 28 2011 03:36 OMin wrote:
congrats on getting in!
as a korean-american who is more american than korean , i can tell you that you probably will stand out as an american. especially for you since you wont be fluent in the language.... and even for me, who can speak korean fluently without an accent (my aunts/cousins said i didnt have an accent when i visited last summer), just the way i talk gives me away (word choice, slang, etc).
I want to warn you though.... younger generations will probablynot have much of a problem with this for a most part (as there is plenty of cultural/pop culture exchange btw japan and korea), but some older folks still harbor dislike for the japanese for what they did to korea in WWII. i personally do not harbor any ill will towards the japanese, but i do remember my parents (especially my dad) being unhappy with me when i was in my anime obsession phase in middle school.... he stopped bothering me about it since high school, so i think he was just trying to raise me as a korean while i was still a kid... he has no problem at all with it now. I have a good friend named Aki who ive hung out with since kindergarten, but they had no problems at ALL with that.... but my grandpa still doesn't buy any japanese products (no sony tv etc) as he was personally in WWII himself... i dont/havent lived in korea, so i dont know how things would be like there regarding this issue, but i just want to let you know you may occassionally not be treated respectfully by bitter elderly folk.
That's interesting..
Kinda ironic. My Japanese grandpa fought in the Korean war.
Thanks for the tips though. :D
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT
