New Arrival Information
Be kind to yourself and have grace for yourself when you first arrive in South Korea.
When you arrive in South Korea, you may find yourself scrambling to acclimate. That's ok and that is normal. You are dealing with a new language, new culture, new customs, new foods, new co-workers, and often-times a new career. Culture shock is a very real and often painful experience. Taking the time to inform yourself about the world around you will couple perfectly with having grace for yourself and others.
Be kind to yourself and have grace for yourself when you first arrive in South Korea.South of Seoul volunteers empathize deeply with your struggle.
We have also struggled through that pain as well and our mission is to help minimize the struggle as much as possible. That's why South of Seoul volunteers put together this list of blogs that each shares something we wish we had known in the first three months of our arrival in South Korea. We recommend revisiting these blogs regularly over the first three months because each time you read them something new will stand out.Is there a blog you think we should have on this list?
Information you wish you had? Please leave a comment or message us at southofseoul@gmail.com and we will add it to our list of blogs to post.
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Culture & Community, Culture Shock Tips, Education, ESL/EFL Educators Welcome Packet, International Student Welcome Packet, Medical & Health, Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health Resources, New Arrival Information, Physical & Mental Wellness, Public Health, Tips of Living Your Best Life, Tourist and Traveler Welcome Packet, USA Military Welcome Packet
The Challenge of the Language Barrier in Korea
What is a language barrier? Before we jump into the challenges of language barriers, we need to understand what a language barrier is. There are several definitions for language barriers that essentially say the same thing. For the purpose of this article we will use Google’s Oxford Languages Dictionary. According to Google’s Oxford Languages Dictionary, a language barrier is “a barrier to communication between people who are unable to speak a common language.” This is a pretty simple, standard definition of a language barrier. If you don’t speak the same…
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100 Date Night Activities Near Pyeongtaek
While researching blogs for first date night ideas we came across a blog on Down Redbud Drive which detailed 100 date ideas for couples. We looked at the list of 100 date ideas and realized that those of us who live in Pyeongtaek have almost every single one of these ideas near us! When there was a date idea that didn’t work, we subbed in another Pyeongtaek date idea to fit its place. We know you are going to love using this blog to plan your dates! If you are…
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20 Fancy Date Nights In or Near Pyeongtaek-si
Looking for a bit of romance? Then, it is time to grab your date and go on an adventure! About Pyeongtaek’s fancy date night locations The concept of the western-style “fancy date” night has begun to slowly spread across South Korea. Since this is a developing concept in rural South Korea, you want to leave space for “fancy” to have different meanings than the west. However, the space might look different. For example, the fancy dinner might not be western food, it might not have wine as an option, it…
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Time to Explore Nearly All of the Sinjeong Lake Cafes in one Blog
Over 20 Sinjeong cafes circle the lake. Here are about 15 we recommend. Sinjeong Lake is a stunning and relaxing lake park in Asan-si.
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Culture Shock Tips, Education, ESL/EFL Educators Welcome Packet, International Student Welcome Packet, Medical & Health, Physical & Mental Wellness, Public Health, Tourist and Traveler Welcome Packet, US Military and Korean Health Care
How to improve your comfort level with Healthcare in South Korea
The 2021 South of Seoul Public Health Survey found that putting effort into developing cultural competence may improve your perceptions of your own healthcare in South Korea. Let’s talk about this. Listen to the BlogCast Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast which provides accessible content through the use of AI technology. We don’t have time to read each article but we do our best to make more of our content accessible. If you would like to join our Accessibility Team apply to volunteer with South of Seoul. Please…
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15 Best Cable Cars to Try in Korea
Cable cars offer all the views with none of the hard work. The perfect way to relax for a hot minute during your busy day. Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers Facebook Group. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly Pyeongtaek international residents makes traveling in Korea easier. You are invited to share your local travel tips, cultural experiences, and travel opportunities that benefit people who live in the area or trips that originate in the Pyeongtaek area! About Cable Cars…
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Fun & Entertainment, Kids and Family, Korean Travel & Adventure, Outdoor Activities, SOS Seasonal Guide: Spring, SOS Seasonal Pyeongtaek Guide: Fall, SOS South Korean Seasonal Guide: Summer, Tourist and Traveler Welcome Packet
8 Luge Parks In South Korea
There is something weirdly freeing about zipping down a hill on a little cart. Don’t miss the chance to feel like a kid again. About Luge in South Korea Luge courses are popular in the warmer months and many will close during the cold winter months when the mountains are being used for skiing and snowboarding. You can contact 1330 to ask about when a particular luge park will be open. Ski resorts and mountain areas across the country have discovered the joy of luge parks. Each year the summer…
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Emergency Support Service, ESL/EFL Educators Welcome Packet, International Student Welcome Packet, Medical & Health, New Arrival Information, Public Health, Tips of Living Your Best Life, Tourist and Traveler Welcome Packet, USA Military Welcome Packet
Important Information about the 1330 Travel Hotline SOS Button
As some of you already know, 1330 Travel Hotline developed an app to support the international community and their daily queries about resources in South Korea. You can read more about the aid and services the app offers in South of Seoul’s recent blog. This blog will focus on one specific function of the 1330 Travel Hotline App, the SOS Button. What is the 1330 Travel Hotline SOS Button? The 1330 SOS button is channel that connects international residents and travelers to an interpreter who can assist with 119 Emergency…
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Culture & Community, Culture Shock Tips, Education, ESL/EFL Educators Welcome Packet, Health care self advocacy, International Student Welcome Packet, Medical & Health, Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health Resources, New Arrival Information, Physical & Mental Wellness, Public Health, Tourist and Traveler Welcome Packet, US Military and Korean Health Care
Healthcare in South Korea: How to Advocate for Yourself
Why is self-advocacy important? Self-advocacy is an important skill that empowers you to take control over your life decisions, such as decisions based on healthcare. Your experiences are unique to you. Therefore, YOU know what you need best and YOU should advocate for your needs when possible. However, advocating for yourself is not always easy, especially when you live in a foreign country. So, what are some ways that you can build your self-advocacy skills? Listen to the BlogCast Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast…
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A Year to Learn Korean Cooking, Education, ESL/EFL Educators Welcome Packet, International Student Welcome Packet, USA Military Welcome Packet
About Grocery Shopping in South Korea
Wondering about grocery shopping in Korea? Let’s talk about the realities of moving to a new culture and the struggles in Korea. Grocery shopping in South Korea Moving to South Korea is a shock in the kitchen!! Grocery stores are organized differently, packaged differently, taste different, and so much more. It’s likely that you are going to notice a difference in how everything cooks and tastes. It’s going to take a while to get used to all the new vegetables, fruits, meat cuts, and more. When I first arrived I…
