Abundance Aid: Taxi Tips

It really isn't that difficult, but taking a taxi in Seoul or around other parts in Korea can be some what of a challenge the first few times. Even though there is a sticker on the side of the window that says "translation", you know it is quicker to speak it yourself. After you have figured it out taking a taxi around becomes a great option. However, there are times you are left with interesting experiences. Here for you are some stories people have had and also some links to sites that could be of use to others.

1. The View From Over Here: The most fun that I have had in a taxi is the conversations, in English, with the drivers. Usually it is a hacked up conversation that recycles itself on the same themes. Check out her post to get a clearer idea.

2. F5 Waeg: A veteran of life in Korea and certainly one with many stories. Here we hear the tail of his time trying to get to a mart to get beer, during the snowy times of winter. This time the ride included a rant, which can happen. Go see the post for the fun story.

3. Xweing Away in Korea: Who would have guessed that you can utilize a taxi as a way of taking tours around Jeju Island? Well she did just that and you can read about what the day would be like.

4. Jan is Cooking: Just one I found through Google, but definitely gives some great resources on the options one has with transportation in Korea, especially if you need to lug around a lot with you.

5. Seoulistic: Unfortunately, some taxi drivers are not as honest as others. So a guide should be out there to help the traveler not get ripped off while getting around Korea. This post gives you some tips such as, fake you know Korean and look at a map first before you go.

6. CnnGo: Just in case you still don't have a complete guide to riding the taxis in Seoul, here is another one. Who would have guessed there were so many types of taxis here!

I for one find taking a taxi a great convenience here, even when the prices rise. Do you have any fun or not-so-fun taxi stories?

Abundance Aid: Banking in Korea

Sometimes we need a little extra encouragement or help when banking in Korea. Usually your school sets up an account for you when you first get here, but then what do you do when you need to send money home? Well here are some links to bloggers who worked out their banking troubles and shared about it. Enjoy.

1. Beyond the Boerewors Curtain: Maybe you find yourself wanting to open a bank account at a different one. Then this post might be of some help with details and great tips.

2. Lee's Korea Blog: Perhaps you didn't know this but some banks in Korea have a place to turn your coins into cash. Scroll down to the end of this post and you can see some information on how to do this.

3. My Life! Teaching in a Korean University: Maybe just letting your money sit in the bank isn't enough. Investing your money helps make it grow. But how can you do that in Korea? She shares a link on how she is getting this done.

4. Buhay sa Korea: When all else seems lost wouldn't an actual guide put together by Korean professionals be helpful? Well there is one! The "Financial Transactions Guide for Foreigners" is available and can help you get the nitty gritty details you might need. Check the post for the link.

As for myself, I find banking in Korea to be quite easy except for the fact that banks close at 4:30. I usually have to get off work early just to get some in-house banking done. Some bills also require you to pay them when the bank is open, as is with the OCR bill. Anyways, take a number and you'll be ready!

Abundance Aid: Ondol Time

One of the first things you learn when moving to Korea is how to heat your house during the winter. For practically everyone this means using the ondol system built into your floor. Somewhere along your wall is a switch that controls the temperature and timing. But not all houses are alike and the same goes with the ondol system. Having lived in 4 different places already, I can tell you I have had 4 different kinds of ondol switches to deal with. Thankfully they all did the same thing, which is heat up your floor. Today I will take you to people's amusement with the ondol and how it has kept their life cozy during Korea's cold season.

1. Bathhouse Ballads: In this amusing post you get to hear how the Korean heating system can often lead your body to getting dried out. Tips are given on how to keep your home from turning into a dry place. Take a look at the post to find out more.

2. Grrl Traveler: Not a blogger linked on this site but I thought it would be useful for those who want to know how to heat themselves in other ways. Like those hand warmer things.

3. On Becoming a Good Korean (Feminist) Wife: This is a great post because it features her pets enjoying the benefits of the ondol. I bet it is paradise for them.

As great as the ondol is, one of the unfortunate aspects is how much your utility bill shoots up. In that case you have to be sometimes selective about your use of the thing, which could leave you freezing one night and burning up the next.

Abundance Aid: Visiting the Doctor

Whether it happens to you in your first week in Korea or not until your 12th month it is inevitable  that you will get sick living here. This is especially true being a teacher and being around the not-so clean habits of young students. (Not covering their mouth when they sneeze or cough and not washing their hands after a trip to the bathroom.) So it is that you will find yourself at a local doctor's office or hospital visiting someone who you hope speaks English. Today's Abundance Aid post takes you into Kbloggers experience with visiting the doctor in Korea (for various reasons) and the wisdom that they can pass on.

I for one have never had an unpleasant experience at a doctor's office here in Korea, and found both the price and service to be quite satisfactory.

1. Plate Full of Onions: If your nervous about going to the doctor your first time in Korea, well don't be. Here one of the authors had the sniffles and got out just fine. They also highlight one of the interesting things of getting a doctor's visit and that is the pill packs you get. Check out the post to get a better idea.

2. Biz and Steve: Although the two have returned home and finished their journey in Korea their posts are still valuable. When it is cold and flu season in Korea there are some cultural remedies that you can use to thwart getting sick. Here they explore a citrus example to try and stay healthy.

3. Seoul Searching: Here we have a tail of a Kblogger spending some time at a hospital. I actually visited her while she was there and would say that the "normal" accommodations are like being shacked up in a dorm room, but with old-sick people. It seemed pleasant enough with privacy curtains to give a bit of comfort. Take a look at her post to get a more real understanding of what it is like.

4. Karori to Korea: Another set of folks almost on their way out of Korea, but do have a doctor tale to tell. Again we see how it is a simple operation to go to the doctor and get your pills.

5. Kiwi Wonju Blogger: There are times when western medicine isn't so cutting edge, and one would rather try their hand at oriental medicine. Thankfully, Korea is abound with oriental medicine clinics. After having some muscle pain he decided to try his hand at one of these clinics, to find himself having a unique experience including acupuncture and other things. Check it out!

Whether we like it or not someday we will get sick in Korea (knock on wood) and we could try and stick it out, but the best thing is to see a doctor. I hope these posts give you some insight into what it is like in Korea, and also that it isn't such a big deal.

Abundance Aid: Coffee Machines and Shopping

As a blogger in Korea you want to not only share your daily life but also give advice on how you tackle everyday things. Today's "Abundance Aid" post will show you how some bloggers shared their tips on working through several average aspects of Korean life.

1. Mountain and Field: In this post, she shows us a typical coffee machine that you find in restaurants. In the west having a dessert option on the menu is very common, but in Korea there is practically no such thing at restaurants here. Except of course "western style" restaurants. Instead of a dessert menu I think Korean folks get by with something sweet after dinner by having tea or coffee. Actually, at many restaurants I have been to they sometimes give you a small cup of traditional tea after the meal. The standard, though seems to be a coffee machine at the entrance area of the restaurant. Check out her post, where she tells a few secrets and how-to's of this great machine.
2. The View From Over Here: Who would have thought that shopping at a supermarket would be so complicated? Globalization should make things easier right? Well shopping at Korean supermarkets can be very mesmerizing. Not only are they usually crowded but there are employees giving out free samples, meat sellers yelling at the top of their lungs and sales like "2+1" that for the first time shopper can make you dizzy. Thankfully her post can give us some insight on all this and a few tips on getting around Korean supermarkets.

3. Talking to Myself: Sometimes shopping can also bring happy surprises. In this post he highlights how when you go to a mini-convenience store and buy one thing you sometimes leave with more than you expected.

As you can see, as time passes during our journey here in Korea, we figure out things little by little. If you are a blogger in Korea I would suggest giving us a few posts about the little things in life that you figured out. I know I could think of some for my blog.

Abundance Aid: Everything Must Go!

As people finish their contracts and pack up they realize they have a lot left over to sell or get rid of. The question then comes up of where can I sell my stuff? It would be fun to have a garage sale but unless you actually live on a street in Korea with garages then you are out of luck. Otherwise, people either give their stuff away to friends, leave it for the next person or dump it at the edge of their building.

Thanks to several websites and online services there are places to go to sell your stuff online. The following is a list of where you can go to sell your stuff.

Where to Buy / Sell:

1. Facebook Marketplace: Unless you quit facebook or deny it exits their Marketplace area is great to find something you are looking for or list your item. I have sold a few things on there and the whole process is quite easy and manageable.
2. Seoul Craigslist: The next major place to go is Craigslist, which can be good and also a source for oddball pleasure. I would err on the side of caution when using Craigslist.
3. HiExpat Marketplace: Although I haven't used their site to buy or sell anything this area of it looks very organized and diverse. 
4. Waygook.org: This is a great site that is kicking Dave's ESLs butt. They have a section where people can list items.

Those are the major ones I can think of and that I would use if I were going to sell or buy something when I need to. For now, let's see what people have up for sale:

• Don't know what to do with your life then maybe this seller has the solution for you:

• I know there are a lot of people out there who enjoy snorkeling when on vacation at some island nation. Maybe they need some flippers: