Bath houses can be found in practically every city or town. Some are more elaborate than others. Imagine spending an afternoon or longer, soaking in baths of every temperature and having a waterfall spill on your back from a stone turtle statue. Some are blended with ginseng, jasmine, or volcanic mud. Then it's great to put on a pyjama outfit and nap in a dark room on a floor mat. Supposedly there's a healthy sequence for maximum health benefits which I partially learned while I was there. I swear I could feel those yukky junk food toxins escaping from my pores.
Every university neighbourhood has a bunch of drinking holes where you can meet up with some form of an artist subculture. Around Pusan National University they tended to be scuptors, while in the southern tip of the city, I came accross a dingy jazz bar, oozing with atmosphere, where a bunch of actors would hang out. It's good to hear things from the perspective of the margins of society.
You tend meet a lot of fellow English teacher / traveller people, especially since you all stand out in public. Bonding is fast since small talk is minimal. Everyone seems to have stories to tell, along with the traveller's bug, and you are always swapping similar experiences.
The basic motions of functional life in every culture I know of are very routine. Going into a shop to buy something is dead easy whether you know the language or not. Put down the merchandise, present the money, collect your change. Using a bank machine is the same as anywhere else. Be thankful of having Engish as your first language, something I underestimated before leaving.
The Korean script (hangul) is one of the most phonetically accurate systems in the world. It takes a weekend to learn, although the grammar structure is much more difficult. Consider learning the language as a step-by-step hobby like learning how to juggle or tap dance or something. After my first six months in the country, there was no personal thrill so great than having a simple conversation with a waitress, some Joe on the street or someone in a corner store, entirely in an Asian language with a completely different word order. Every week learn something new, be it a grammar structure or vocabulary, and have fun experimenting with it.
These are just a few of many pieces of advice I can tell you to make your stay in Korea more enjoyable. Don't hesitate to give me a shout at d_brandreth@hotmail.com with any questions you may have.
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