My time working in a Korean company has been a roller coaster. Some days are great, and others are miserable. However, every single one of them has been educational.
I’ve been working at a desk in a field of cubicles for about two years now and, though I’m far from an expert, I do believe I’ve learned a few things about the life of a foreigner working in the lower levels of a Korean company, so I thought I’d share by offering my ten principles of working in/with a Korean corporation without going insane (in no particular order): Read more
Expat Personal Finance 101
December 18, 2008
The DOW had its biggest one-day drop in history. Banks are being nationalized to prevent their outright failure. Worldwide economies are in tatters. What does it all mean?
Well… I have no idea. All I know is that when I sent money home to pay my student loan bills last week I sent 150,000 won more than usual and it still wasn’t enough to cover my minimum payments. To be honest, though, my personal finances in general need a serious makeover. Am I making intelligent decisions in regards to my debt? How do I save money as an Expat in Korea? Should I try investing?
I didn’t know where to even start on these questions, and I was sure that if I didn’t know, then there are probably a lot of other expats in Korea in a similar boat. Thankfully the blog Investing Won recently came on the scene and when I wrote Sungwon asking if he’d be interested in doing a joint posting project, he didn’t hesitate to take me up on it.
In the following segment, I will layout some details of my financial situation that are probably fairly common to a lot of people. I’ll mention some of the strategies I’ve taken up to date. I’m going to put it all out there, and then Sungwon’s going to pick it apart. Read more
Expat 2.0; Social Networking for Expats
December 2, 2008
It used to be that being transferred to Korea or coming here to teach English, although adventurous, also meant hardship and cultural alienation. Now that Korea’s one of the most wired countries in the world (last I heard it got knocked off the top spot) and pretty much any creature comfort you could think of can be found at costco, department stores, or ebay, the lifestyle you lived back home may not be so different from your lifestyle here. Still, staying connected with family and friends from the homeland is a challenge, but there are certain Internet companies and websites out there that are blurring even these lines, and I’ve created the following list of social networking sites that ease the life of an expat. Read more
Tomatillo Grill
November 4, 2008
A *NEW* Mexican restaurant is taking Seoul by storm. With food that can please any lover of mexican food (not, “New Mexican”), visitors to Seoul’s newest international eatery won’t be disappointed.
Located next to Au Bon Pain, right outside of exit 6 of Jongak Station (Seoul) line #1, it’s not too hard to miss. Step inside the modern chic interior and be amazed at the scents coming from the kitchen–this ain’t your daddy’s typical tex-mex diner with sombreros and panchos hanging on the walls. Read more
