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 Found: Eight

I thought I would dust off the "Abundance Found" category and get one put up, as it has been a while. So here is another round of random and fun finds on the K-blogosphere that are buried in the past of expat blogs.

1. Bobster's House: Have you ever considered what an beverage from North Korea might taste like? Well step no further as here is a review of such a thing. Quite a funny story and a good read.

2. The Constant Crafter: A great blog featuring the array of crafts one can make and find in Korea. Here we see her going to the Gwangjang Market for craft supplies but also gets a sight of interesting foods. Check it out!

3. Bathhouse Ballads: Have you ever heard of "vacation fashions"? Neither have I, but after reading this post I come to understand a certain phenomena in Korea. Apparently, perms can be discounted over vacation time and students like to take advantage. Definitely a wacky post worth reading. (Along with their hair...nails are also an essential make-over.)

4. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat: Kimbop is practically a staple food in this country. You can get it cheap and when you are really hungry and on your way somewhere, it makes for a quick and easy bite. Every neighborhood has several kimbop places. After a while you tend to learn which one is your favorite. This is true for our students, and in this post we get to hear about how she learned of a good kimbop place.

Anything you read recently on the K-blogosphere that caught your attention? Do share ~

Abundance Go's: Sokcho

As you start to carve out your life in South Korea you begin to explore areas outside of your metropolitan city (example Seoul). You might find yourself at the beaches of Busan or at a historical site in Gyeongju. Well today I will show you folks who have explored Sokcho. Here you can visit the beach, but in the winter see some great snow and also a famous water spa is located in this place. Let's see what other people have done in Sokcho.

1. Kiwi Wonju Blogger: Not exactly at the shores of Sokcho, but nearby is the infamous Seoraksan mountain. A very large mountain that will challenge the best of climbers. Here you can get a glimpse of what that was like.

2. The Qi Ranger Adventures: He always has something up his sleeve and here we get quite an interesting report on Sokcho. Who would have thought that the ferries of Sokcho would have been interesting.

3. The Harrington Times: Another post featuring mostly Seoraksan, but at the end some good pics of beach fun.

4. I Got Seoul: Take a look at this lively post of a good time spent in Sokcho. It actually inspires me to return there and do some exploring!

Have you been to Sokcho? Perhaps you would like to share something special you experienced there. I for one enjoyed just seeing the ocean (or sea)... :)