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SokoCat-My life in Korea Hi, I'm Cat currently living and working in South Korea. Having just finished university I was warned by my friends that 'real life' would take about a year to start. I therefore decided I would do something different, travel and see the world.

Man of the house

SOUTH KOREA | Saturday, 19 Jun 2010 | Views [869]

A lot of the Korean culture is based around Confucian traditions, the basis of which is repect for your elders and respect for men.  Having respect for your elders I have no issue with. Firstly, old people in Korea are amazing, I have no problem giving ... Read more >


What's the rush?

SOUTH KOREA | Tuesday, 15 Jun 2010 | Views [869]

This could perhaps be down to my Britishness but the fact that most Koreans do not feel the need to queue, or wait in line is a real issue for me.  At the bank, bus, train or shop it is very much a case of first come first served...and if you weren't ... Read more >


They eat Waygookens don't they?

SOUTH KOREA | Tuesday, 15 Jun 2010 | Views [863]

When you're a child one of the first lessons that you learn, along with don't lick power sockets or play in the road is that it is rude to stare. This does not, however, appear to apply if you are a westerner living in Korea. Small children and older ... Read more >


Appearences can be deceptive...

SOUTH KOREA | Tuesday, 15 Jun 2010 | Views [963]

Order food or a coffe in Korea and you will be struck by something. Specifically that if you are not too careful the food or coffee you will receive will be better dressed than you are.  For example- a pizza in Korea is so much more than a cheese and ... Read more >


Books for Asia Appeal

SOUTH KOREA | Wednesday, 24 Mar 2010 | Views [806]

I know an update is long overdue but in the meantime... Everybody remembers books from their childhood. Personally I remember reading "Where's Spot?" growing up. This book vote as part of the Asia Foundation is raising money to supply childrens ... Read more >

Tags: appeal, books, charity, help, volunteer


Orphanage teaching

SOUTH KOREA | Wednesday, 10 Feb 2010 | Views [1613]

As previously mentioned in this blog, I am becoming to increasingly dislike the fact that the main purpose of my 8 hour working day is to line the pockets of my already very well off bosses. When people come out to Korea, as I was discussing with ... Read more >


Teacher...what do people in the UK think of Korea?

SOUTH KOREA | Sunday, 31 Jan 2010 | Views [1223]

“Teacher, What do people in the UK think about Korea?” was a perfectly innocent question asked to me by one of my students when they were trying to divert my attention away from what we should have been talking about. Seeing as what we should have been ... Read more >


American English vs British English...

SOUTH KOREA | Sunday, 17 Jan 2010 | Views [3713]

British English vs American English, who is right? This is a debate I seem to have with increasing frequency at work. It usually stems from me having said something and then having to explain what I mean. Or the Americans and Canadians saying something ... Read more >


Corporate by the book teaching-Do we make a difference?

SOUTH KOREA | Sunday, 17 Jan 2010 | Views [816] | Comments [1]

I think perhaps most people who decide they are going to spend a year teaching English abroad for a year have a strange feeling of self importance. Or at least I’m pretty sure I did. When I decided to come out I was convinced in my own mind that I would ... Read more >


Culture Shock (or Doo Roo Ma Ri)

SOUTH KOREA | Sunday, 17 Jan 2010 | Views [1512]

Every Wednesday we teach “Free classes” or what some of the other teachers refer to as “Piss take classes” either way; they are not paid for, we don’t have to rush to get through the book and they are generally at a gentler pace.   My contribution ... Read more >


Sometimes you just have to stop and admire the view

SOUTH KOREA | Sunday, 10 Jan 2010 | Views [985]

I am not the fittest person in the world, nor do I enjoy voluntary exercise usually. Therefore many of my family and friends were surprised when I told them how I spent a cold Saturday in January.   After teaching all week I was going a little ... Read more >


Photo Stream

SOUTH KOREA | Sunday, 10 Jan 2010 | Views [608]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sokocat/ I have set up a flickr account so my photos can be seen in a higher resolution. I have also added descriptions underneath of what the photos are of and some futher information about their significance.


Photos: Gatbawi

SOUTH KOREA | Sunday, 10 Jan 2010 | Photo Gallery

A buddah with a hat!
See all 27 photos >>
 


Another day another temple

SOUTH KOREA | Wednesday, 6 Jan 2010 | Views [928]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haeinsa After recovering from my new years day hangover a couple of the other teachers and I decided to get out of the city and go for an adventure up to one of the most important temples in Korea. I am not pretending ... Read more >


Intensives

SOUTH KOREA | Wednesday, 6 Jan 2010 | Views [624]

I am risking life and limb by writing a blog at work, but then again I dont have a lesson until 4.30 so I have an hour an a half to kill. I am beginning to feel increasingly sorry for Korean children. Usually they go to school from around 8am until ... Read more >


A very applicable quote for 2010

SOUTH KOREA | Saturday, 2 Jan 2010 | Views [622]

 “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain ... Read more >


A Very Korean Christmas

SOUTH KOREA | Thursday, 31 Dec 2009 | Views [880]

I cannot pretend I was looking forward to spending Christmas in Korea. Being away from your family at this time of year is rough. It doesn't matter that we spend the rest of the year apart, or that by Boxing Day you are all ready to kill each other. ... Read more >


Capital Punishment...Yay or Nay?

SOUTH KOREA | Tuesday, 15 Dec 2009 | Views [725] | Comments [2]

Today we had a slight incident at school. One of my cockier students decided that he was going to refer to me as 'Baby' for the entire class. I would not stand for ANYONE to call me baby, let alone a 15 year old boy. A 15 year old boy, who for some inexplicable ... Read more >


Photos: Donghwasa

SOUTH KOREA | Sunday, 13 Dec 2009 | Photo Gallery


See all 32 photos >>
 


Climb every mountain...or use the cable car.

SOUTH KOREA | Sunday, 13 Dec 2009 | Views [1319]

It has been a while since I wrote anything, mainly because I have been working and sleeping and that is the same whatever country you do it in. Yesterday, some of the other teachers and I, decided we needed to get out of the city. Out of the noise, the ... Read more >


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