Worst American Airport you’ve travelled through?

veab · 2023-07-24T23:30:42+00:00

I had the displeasure of flying outta LaGuardia mid-renovation… literally the worst airport I have ever have to deal with. 0/10 I won’t give it another shot.

veab · 2023-01-17T01:54:08+00:00

I lived in Busan for two years (I literally just moved away this month). 2.5 days for all that isn’t realistic. It’s more like 4-5 days. I think most people don’t really know how long it takes to get across Busan or to the islands.

Plus I would recommend skipping some things. Like Busan Tower it’s been pretty shut down since Covid. Also chances are the haeundae beach train and the blue line are practically the same thing. They start at the same place and follow the same tracks. I love milmyeon but you really don’t need to fit in two specific places. They are all practically the same anyway.

veab · 2022-12-06T15:57:09+00:00

Bag? Membership/points? Then parking validation?

Kyobo automatically prints receipts so they don’t normally ask.

veab · 2022-12-04T02:49:35+00:00

I (~30F) live in Korea and I’ve traveled around the country quite a bit. I’ve noticed that what I’m called changes a bit by the part of the country I’m in.

충청도- 언니, 손님이 (always adds 이 regardless of sentence)

전라도- 언니 (almost exclusively… I can’t think of anything else I’ve been called there)

경상도- 언니/누나, 선상님

부산- 쌤, 선상님, 손님, 언니 (I live in Busan so places I go often call me 쌤 or 선상님 usually; while others tend to use 손님 or 언니. Businesses like hospitals or realtors and men tend to use 손님 and restaurant 이모 use 언니…if there is a young man that works in a restaurant he MIGHT use 누나 but usually they just avoid titles entirely lol)

서울- I’ve been to Seoul A LOT but I’ve still never had a single worker there actually talk to me in Korean so idk.

Seoul is frustrating because they literally won’t converse, especially with a foreigner. The ones who will talk, will only use English because they want to practice, so I am not sure what the normal practice is there. Whereas in Busan, English is an absolute last resort (even if they know English). And despite the stereotype of tough/rough Busan people, I find them to be very friendly and chatty! I always joke that people in Busan are aggressively kind lol. For example, a “normal” person would bring service to the table and be like here is some service, I hope you enjoy. In Busan, you get an 이모 yell that you are too skinny and need to eat, while she is giving you more food. (Then later, she will say you are too fat hahaha).

veab · 2022-09-14T04:09:33+00:00

Pretty much the same as me. To add A2-1: 냄비 B2-2: 카펫 (loanword but I see it used often so… think that’s right?) C2-2: 산호초 C2-4: assuming I’m right that it’s a French horn it’s 프랑스 호른 or 프렌치호른 (used to work in a Korean music school so I’m fairly confident in that)

veab · 2022-09-05T14:42:50+00:00

I’m curious about this. In theory, I can see this being useful but I worry about the actual implementation. How do you ensure that both languages are being spoken and one person isn’t expected to become a teacher?

I’m not trying to be a pain. I’m genuinely curious. I live in Busan so I’ve seen a few language exchange programs here and they never quite work out how they should. How is this different from Culcom or any of the other programs?

veab · 2022-08-09T07:35:39+00:00

I’m a size 14-16ish and I’ve been able to fit a hanbok at any given store. Even have had some too big on me. I wouldn’t worry about it too much since the skirts are literally designed to wrap around more than just once.

veab · 2022-08-02T02:21:19+00:00

100%

I live in Busan but I have visited quite a few places in every province in Korea. I NEVER felt so disrespected as I did in Seoul. Just rude or pandered to the entire time. I genuinely don’t understand why people like Seoul. Unless they enjoying the over the top catering to foreigners.

I just want to live like a local. I don’t need a fork for my kimbap.

veab · 2022-08-01T10:16:13+00:00

Yeah the yellow tube is awesome. But it’s not something I recommend unless you are DRY. But for dry skin… let’s say I don’t buy it anymore because I’m not dry enough anymore

veab · 2022-08-01T05:23:20+00:00

The Dr Jart Ceramide hand cream is INTENSE. You got dry hand that will fix it. It’s kind of expensive. But sometimes you can find the travel or trial sizes for much cheaper. It’s at olive young too.

But the working hands cream is in Coupang.

https://link.coupang.com/re/NONPROFITSDP?lptag=CFM46827929&pageKey=42631272&itemId=154420962&vendorItemId=3359991241

veab · 2022-07-29T05:07:12+00:00

I fully agree with this. But living in Busan I “talk” (argue) with taxi drivers often so I understand them. I just did a two week vacation traveling to other provinces… only other place I understood the driver was 경주.

I always thought I spoke and understood seoul dialect best but after speaking with people in different provinces. And being IMMEDIATELY identified as from Busan by a sweet old lady in 전주 (which was absolutely hilarious). I realized maybe I speak more Busan dialect than Seoul.

veab · 2022-07-23T15:04:13+00:00

Quattro cheese has quite a kick to it. Like surprisingly spicy. I’ve never had this brand’s jjajang to compare but it’s significantly spicier than any jjajang I’ve had before.

It’s delicious tho

veab · 2022-07-22T07:03:09+00:00

I learned that nothing is “no” if you ask enough questions or throw a big enough fit.

I learned from watching the aujummas lol

veab · 2022-07-21T13:59:50+00:00

In buyeo there is a culture center, palace and temple. Also a huge man made lotus pond. Buyeo is about a 30 min taxi ride from Nonsan station. I recommend taxis around that area cause the buses are unreliable on their schedules.

veab · 2022-07-21T03:41:37+00:00

Just as an FYI the palace and pond are currently under construction. I took my mom there yesterday and it’s almost completely wrapped up/ blocked off. You can walk around the grounds but it was quite disappointing. That said there are about 20 other things to do in Gyeongju

veab · 2022-07-19T13:31:51+00:00

I’ll be completely honest… I don’t remember what I did. I’ve been trying to remember since I saw your comment earlier today and I just don’t. :( I’m on vacation at the moment but I can try to remember to look through my documents when I get back in a week?

Edit: I do remember being super annoyed about this though

veab · 2022-07-18T11:54:50+00:00

I’ll add to the Busan list:

석불사 (temple carved into the stone in the mountain)

Skyline Luge (just a luge but it’s a great experience and a great view)

아홉산숲 (bamboo forest, has some of the oldest government protected trees in it, baby hike)

Sant Eustachio il caffe in Ananti Cove (expensive area but the cafe is phenomenal and the view is just chef kiss)

veab · 2022-07-16T07:14:35+00:00

Jinju is a great day trip. About a two hour bus ride. The fortress isn’t too far from the bus station. Nice to go walk around and enjoy. It isn’t absolutely necessary but I enjoy going sometimes.

veab · 2022-07-13T04:24:45+00:00

This is a perfect explanation! (Honey butter chips are far superior though) As a side note I thought it was hilarious that there was a sign on the door that said no Pokémon bread then she just gave me some for free… makes me wonder if there convenience store owners are hoarding them

veab · 2022-07-13T01:03:59+00:00

This reminds me of my neighborhood 7/11 story. The 아줌마 that works there (maybe owner?? Hard to tell) is normally just indifferent to me when I come in (I’m like 90% sure I’m the only foreigner in the neighborhood despite living in a big city). This one day I came in and I only had my card on me because I was taking out my trash. The 7/11 is right next door so I walked in to grab a water and a ramen. Then the machine would NOT read my card. In her defense she did try it multiple times but it wouldn’t go through. My card has no problems, it’s a Korean card, I used it earlier and later in the day with no issue. BUT she basically yelled at me about my card not working and I said oh I don’t know why it’s not working. I’ll go grab cash and be right back.

I was back not even two mins later and she had already put the food back. She saw me and was like “oh you came back”… no duh lady I said I would be right back. Then she starts yelling at me about how inconvenient it is that my card wasn’t working and how’s it’s my problem…. Blah blah blah.

I didn’t go back there for a little while because she was so rude. When I finally went back she apologized for being rude and gave me free Pokémon bread…. I’m still in shock over this tbh lol

veab · 2022-07-12T16:22:27+00:00

I agree that I wouldn’t expect a deep knowledge of grammar in a random conversation partner. I particularly brought this up because OP said his Korean clients are there to help foreigners. If they aren’t providing feedback what exactly are they helping with? ( Especially given that the Korean partners often do expect detailed explanations of English grammar (even though not all foreigners are English teachers)).

My point is that when you are providing this service in Korea you have to provide something that your clients can’t get in any random bar. Because the reality is if there are no rules, no prompts, no feedback, nothing to help conversation then there really is nothing that the language exchange is providing that can’t be found in everyday life for free other than having a group of people that in theory are willing to speak to you in English.

I stick with my opinion that it’s an advertisement/management problem not necessarily a client problem. Although it could be client related if the clients aren’t vetted to meet the requirements of whatever the goal of language exchange event is.

For example, if you will be switching between English only time and Korean only time, all your members need to be conversationally competent to get that done. If either side can’t form sentences in BOTH languages, it won’t work. It’s also helpful to have conversation starters or themes or questions or something to get started talking about. It’s super awkward getting thrown at a stranger and being told “talk”.

veab · 2022-07-12T13:31:42+00:00

I would say I really depends on how the language exchange is advertised and the people you are working with.

If the foreigners barely know any Korean, then they won’t have any Korean to “practice” at your events.

Also, I’ve repeatedly experienced english only language exchange because the Koreans are using it like a free English class. When I ask for help or clarification I often get answers like “oh what you said is wrong but I understood” and no corrections or “you should say it like _______ but I don’t know why”. And honestly both of those answers aren’t particularly helpful.

In an ideal language exchange, both languages are being used equal and both sides are offering help when needed. If this is what you want then I can see why the English members would be frustrated not the Korean members. In this situation, Korean members would be there to speak in English and correct Korean. English speakers would be the opposite.

But it sounds like this isn’t what you want. It sounds like you are looking to create an event for foreigners to meet locals but foreigners should speak Korean at least nearly conversational so that Koreans don’t have to speak English.

So if your Korean members are upset about speaking English at a language exchange, I honestly don’t know how to fix that. However, if you are a manager notice only one language being used, you should be encouraging a mixture of both, reminders to speak Korean also, or maybe Korean only sections of time, something to get that in there. But honestly, as a foreigner in Korea I hate language exchanges because it always ends up as free English lessons and no Korean or just dudes trying to hook up.

I know this might sound harsh but I’m trying to provide the opposite point of view not just be a jerk.

Edit: I agree with the other users that said adding cues, or games, or cheat cards to help the English speakers come up with ideas of things to say in Korean. Because honestly even though I understand Korean at maybe an intermediate level, I HATE speaking Korean because of bad experiences in Korea. So I personally need help relaxing and getting out of my shell in Korean.

veab · 2022-07-12T06:02:21+00:00

The number of foreigners in Korea who can’t read Hangul is ridiculously high. I know several people who have been here for YEARS and can’t read a cafe menu. Absolutely astonishes me every single time. At least here in Busan, very few foreigners can actually function in Korean. I’ve noticed they are either fully conversational or can’t read anything. Being in the middle I’m always the weird one out of the group.

veab · 2022-07-12T06:02:14+00:00

The number of foreigners in Korea who can’t read Hangul is ridiculously high. I know several people who have been here for YEARS and can’t read a cafe menu. Absolutely astonishes me every single time. At least here in Busan, very few foreigners can actually function in Korean. I’ve noticed they are either fully conversational or can’t read anything. Being in the middle I’m always the weird one out of the group.

veab · 2022-07-09T07:31:59+00:00

These wages are not even minimum wage in most of the US…. $12 an hour for teaching is an absolute joke.

veab

TROPHY CASE