Adventure is my middle name

Things I was told about Korea before I came and if I have (so far) found them to be true or false. It's cheap to send things back to NZ  False.  My first parcel weighing 1kg cost W30 000 to send and arrived in 4 days.  The next time I brought. Korean sister missionary with me (I convinced her it was service that I really needed) and I managed to get the next slowest rate... The parcel of 3.3kg cost W40 000 and is supposed to take 2 weeks.  I wouldn't call that cheap. Everything is cheap there! False. Some things are super cheap! stationary at the MunGu is amazing.  Eg the really good quality chalk pastels that cost about $35 at home are about $5 here.  Yet washing lquid costs like W11-14 000.  Pork is a good price though not cheap.   Clothes can be cheap if you know where to look.  Chucks are cheap.  Korean food ( if you know where to go and if you can read the menu and order) is cheap, but western food is not.  I spend ...

I resisted.  I avoided.  I pointed out that the two new teachers have 3 and 6 years experience teaching in Korea.  But no. It's me. It's a measly W100 000 a month, and another 50 to spend on hospitality.   I talked to anothe member who was made Head Teacher of her school after about 4 months.  It's good to know that the expectations are similar.  But she didn't get a pay rise. On a personal note, I often wonder how people I know get promotions and leadership,opportunities... And when this happens to me I totally downplay it- they had no other options... I'm just the convenient choice... It's nothing to do with my performance.   Bet I'm not the only one who does that.

So here is the regular everyday fashion here jan cheongju as I went shopping last Saturday.  Most photos were taken I'm Home Plus which is probably the cheapest supermarket, and it also has a full department store floor.  There are 2 that I know of in Cheongju, neither that close.  The one I like vest is in Gagyoung area but the one I get to more often is in Shinae. There are lots of modest skirts , among the many many many minis. Did you know Korea as a whole has a sock fetish? This whole section is toe socks... In sensible work colours, def not for the kids or teens! Then there's the decorated little ones.  I assume the the lace and bling poke out from your shoes.  But I haven't actually seen anyone wearing them.   Look at these cute long skirts! Then there's the legging combos! The little kids and teens wear a lot of leggings under short shorts in the winter.  I hadn't seen this version before though. With the weather suddenly spring the anorak type...

I have been interested in languages but have never really learned one.  I halfhearted lay tried to learn Maori but really, I didn't take it seriously.  I tried to learn a little with apps before I came but ended up learning to read Hangul instead. It was a really good thing to do.  Many korean words are what they call Konglish... A word that makes me cringe.  I'm not sure why 'transliteration' is a better word in my eyes.  Anyway... If you can sound out words it can often be helpful.  The app I used, btw, is called Korean letters.  I liked the lite version so much I paid for the full one.  It can't have cost too much, I'm too budget to pay more than a few dollars.   Ok so here are the issues.   Many of the sounds of the korean language are smack in between the sounds we make in English.  Because of this they can be 'translated' into English in different ways and they often are.  Add to that people trying to pre-empt...