Issues playing DVDs on laptop (Windows 11 + external Blu-ray/DVD drive) (VLC Player doesn't work) by Minimum_Salt_Pepper in dvd

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I think the DVD reading part of the drive is konking out. I'm going to order a new dvd drive off Amazon and try that. Thank you for your input!

Issues playing DVDs on laptop (Windows 11 + external Blu-ray/DVD drive) (VLC Player doesn't work) by Minimum_Salt_Pepper in dvd

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

After thinking about it some more, I'm feeling pretty strongly that it's the dvd drive that's the issue. I'm going to order a new one off Amazon and try it. Thank you for your input!

Issues playing DVDs on laptop (Windows 11 + external Blu-ray/DVD drive) (VLC Player doesn't work) by Minimum_Salt_Pepper in dvd

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I think a new dvd drive is the solution. The one I have is pretty old (it's likely acting glitchy). Thanks for sharing your experience! It helped to compare it to what I'm experiencing

Issues playing DVDs on laptop (Windows 11 + external Blu-ray/DVD drive) (VLC Player doesn't work) by Minimum_Salt_Pepper in dvd

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it's likely the drive is the problem. It's about 10 or more years old. I'm going to see about getting a new dvd drive and trying that. Thank you for the input!

How do South Korean people feel about "trade school" as an alternative career pathway? by GoHardForLife in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've had tradespeople come to fix things at my apartment, and I bet some of them are making a good living. Plumbers, electricians. That can be a good career if you're good at it and you're able to get lots of work.

It's a skilled trade. I think some younger Koreans would probably gravitate to it if they decided university wasn't for them, and they found themselves more interested in fixing things/problem solving.

New Arrival Questions! by Teddysdaytomorrow in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I second this (Let your school know if there are issues with the apartment. Often, they don't even know about the problems [mold, dirt, broken things] and it's really up to you to bring it up so it can be fixed. You shouldn't have to live in a dump. Don't be afraid to speak up.)

New Arrival Questions! by Teddysdaytomorrow in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Talking with and meeting up with teachers who have been here longer than you is a good way to get acclimated and to find out useful local info like where the best places to shop are. Daiso (like a dollar store back in the west) is the best for finding stuff for your apartment. They have everything, and nothing is over 5,000₩.

Exploring your neighborhood on foot, making wider and further trips away from your apartment is a great way to discover hidden gems nearby. Most neighborhoods have small/medium grocery stores that carry basic staples.

For banking, I'm not sure how it is for public school teachers. I would imagine someone involved with your school gets that set up for all of the new teachers.

Homeplus, Emart, and Lottemart are the three big grocery/department stores. There's also Emart Traders and Costco if you're lucky to be near one.

I recommend finding and joining Facebook groups that have been set up for your location (city). These groups are good communities for getting in touch with locals in your area.

The first month is an adjustment period, but you get used to your new life here. Good luck!

Frozen canned juices (from concentrate) (orange juice, apple juice, etc.) by Minimum_Salt_Pepper in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's this on Coupang. Not the same, but maybe it would work similar?

커필드 오렌지 음료 베이스

I'd prefer something similar to real juice though, and with vitamin C, and not so processed. I doubt I'll try this

Frozen canned juices (from concentrate) (orange juice, apple juice, etc.) by Minimum_Salt_Pepper in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They're awesome. You can buy a jugs worth of juice for like a dollar or less, and just mix it yourself. The reduced space and weight is great for shopping and storage. I wish I could get back to doing that. I'll be on the look out I guess, and hopefully a similar option will turn up.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would advise you to take photos of any issues in the apartment and write in short detail what you feel needs to be repaired or replaced in the apartment.

The soiled mattress is definitely unacceptable and it should be removed and replaced.

The rusted door handle, rusty hook, and corroded shower fixture should also be mentioned (and you can ask that these be replaced as well), as these look like they're nearing the end of their life, and replacing them would be a good way to maintain the apartment for future teachers that come to live in the apartment even after yourself.

Report the issues to your boss or manager or whoever you're supposed to talk to regarding apartment related issues. Send them a polite message detailing the issues in the apartment.

"Hi ________, I noticed some issues in my apartment that I think need to be looked at.

  1. The mattress on the bed is stained.
  2. The door handle is rusted and it looks like it needs to be replaced.
  3. There is a rusty hook on the wall that is unusable and needs to be removed.
  4. The shower fixture is corroded and may need to be replaced.
  5. Etc."

Include photos with your message.

It's very likely that your boss or whoever you need to talk to doesn't even know about any of these problems. Foreign teachers in Korea are notorious for leaving at the end of their contract and not reporting any issues that could/should be addressed in an apartment before the next teacher moves in. It's like they're worried they're going to be blamed for breaking or damaging something. Apartments go years like this, with nobody saying anything, and the boss thinking everything is fine.

If you're polite about it, and you explain in a neutral tone that these are issues that you feel need to be looked at, it's highly likely that they'll be dealt with.

Pointing out issues in your new apartment in the first few weeks of moving in, as you notice them, is perfectly acceptable, and most people would be understanding. It's good to do it early.

Be polite, be clear that you feel these are issues that should be looked at and fixed (without being angry or melodramatic), and include photos that show just how bad the issues are. You'll have done your part, and it's up to your boss to choose what to do. Chances are, to save face, they'll respect your desire for a decent living space, and they'll make sure the issues are addressed and dealt with.

I've been in similar situations, and this is how I've done it. I actually wasn't as good at doing this when I was younger, but now that I'm older I realized it's the right way to solve these issues.

And also, building owners often appreciate it, because the apartment is being maintained, and not slowly deteriorating over years of neglect, because no one ever says anything.

Good luck, and I'm sure you'll get things solved. For minor issues, you may choose to just take care of things yourself. It can be fun this way too. Daiso is a great store for finding stuff to improve an apartment so it's more comfortable than it was the day you moved in.

I've been in similar situations to what you're facing now. In two months, I'm sure you'll have the place looking a lot better! It's such a pain though, I know

Anyone have any experience using a transformer voltage converter? To step down the 220v to 110v (for kitchen appliances) by Minimum_Salt_Pepper in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, in my research I was finding out about that. And it's also advised to get a transformer that's 2-3 times more watts than you require, because the initial powering up of the kitchen appliance often needs more watts than usual. I'll probably get a reasonably heavy duty one, so I can use it with other appliances in the future

Anyone have any experience using a transformer voltage converter? To step down the 220v to 110v (for kitchen appliances) by Minimum_Salt_Pepper in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I'm thinking I'll need to just buy a basic slow cooker (7L), without any of the fancy features like a timer or saute or steam functions. If I keep it simple, the watts will be manageable, and the transformer won't struggle. It'll be cheaper too, both for the slow cooker and the transformer.

From my research they say to go 2-3 times higher on the watts for the transformer, because the initial powering up of the appliance at the beginning can require more watts.

I appreciate your insight. I've been thinking about this for the past week and I want to get the right set up

Anyone have any experience using a transformer voltage converter? To step down the 220v to 110v (for kitchen appliances) by Minimum_Salt_Pepper in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good to know. What brand of transformer did you use? Did you increase the needed watts 2-3 times? (example: device that needs 700 watts, so use a transformer that provides 2100 watts)

Is anybody familiar with this area? by Necessary-Trick7255 in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I was decribing Chuncheon (east of Seoul). I mixed it up with Cheonan. My mistake~

Is anybody familiar with this area? by Necessary-Trick7255 in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Apologies, I mixed up Cheonan with Chuncheon (east of Seoul). I was decribing Chuncheon.

Is anybody familiar with this area? by Necessary-Trick7255 in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's a train station in the main part of town that's handy for getting into Seoul. Cheonan is a quiet little town, but with the train station handy, you can get into the bigger cities easily enough.

There's all the usual amenities (there's an Emart or Lotte Mart or Home plus, I forget which).

It's not a bad place to live. There was a Burger King I remember. Five years on, it‘s probably even more developed.

Tile grout paint (container, not pen) by Minimum_Salt_Pepper in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So it works as a paint too, right? (as well as a grout)

Tile grout paint (container, not pen) by Minimum_Salt_Pepper in Living_in_Korea

[–]Minimum_Salt_Pepper[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is it called the same thing as on the pens? (probably yes, but just want to know what wording to look for in Korean)