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Learning Survival Korean (Part II)

Filed under Just Show Me Pictures!, Korea by MyCrazyKimchi on February 6, 2010 at 9:50 pm {no comments}

Hangul Chart

Note: Apologies to readers- I’m still in the shuffle learning about my new blog site, so this post was accidentally released before my final edit. I’ve since updated it. Enjoy and thanks for reading!

This week:

Countdown to Korea, my Self-Taught Language Lessons and an update on my Speed Learning
The countdown to my Korea launch date has officially begun so roughly put,… I’m trying to speed learn Korean. My learning obstacle? I’m kinda vacillating between a silent freak out and a scattered panic. A few weeks ago, I started my search for the Cinderella’s glass slipper of grammar books that would ultimately teach me Korean in the simplest (more…)

A Gap Year: The Advantages of Taking One (Part I)

Filed under GAP YEAR TRAVEL by Christine Ka'aloa on January 17, 2010 at 9:54 am {no comments}

Taking a gap year to pursue one’s dreams to travel (via moving abroad), during what may seem like a crucial period in one’s professional career, may seem… stupid, irresponsible, escapist. But that’s only if your goal is sustaining a fun ride.

Following dreams are great but finding ways to bridge them to a future is even better.
Committing your life to a gap year of travel or living/working abroad can be a solid investment, moving both life and career …forward. No offense to travelers who have playful travel as their goal, but I have absolutely no intention of squandering a year (perhaps longer) to a hostel partying circuit. As I near 40, my playfulness seeks moderation and I must to weigh the risks of my dreams with building a nest egg for my future. Perhaps this takes all the fun out of serendipity. However, with age you find serendipity is only improved when matched with a bit of practical planning.

Each action must move me forward with well-timed efficiency.

Traveling and exploring a new culture IS moving forward.
Living, working and navigating in a new country offers a wealth of learning. It provides 1) free schooling, 2) work experience and 3) new skills that can be applied to a career or profession. This actually saves me time, years of schooling, education fees and job hunting.

The advantages of living abroad are obvious:
1. Live and work in a foreign country*
2. Learn about a new culture.
3. Learn a foreign language.
4. Better travel access to neighboring countries.
5. Develop a hobby/ talent or take up new ones (photography, writing, martial arts,…).
6. Re-discover yourself.
7. Gain clarity about your needs/wants for a life through a different perspective.
8. Live a quality of life you’ve always sought.

In outlining a plan to develop my own personal/professional toolkit, here are some considerations I aimed for in choosing my country:

• Interest in Asia
• Learn a new language *potential career asset
• Strong business models in media or technology
• Has a television & film industry *my industry– just dreaming…
• Is partially “developing” and “developed” *I’d like to experience a bit of both
• Medical tourism *I’m tired of paying expensive monthly bills for health care
• Affordable living

At first glance, these aims may seem overly ambitious. It casts a large scope of what could be if I applied myself and it shows me that living and working in Korea might offer me more than I thought.
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Next: A Gap Year: Teaching English in Korea Part II >>

Getting my International Driver’s Permit

Filed under Travel Tips (by Country), Trip Planning by Christine Ka'aloa on December 28, 2009 at 1:10 am {4 comments}

IDP
So my moving date and work visa for South Korea are still pending– a bit nerve-wracking at this point. There’s nothing more irritating than the notion of receiving a last-minute notice to book your ticket and move across the globe to a country, where you’re uncertain as to what you should expect in familiarity or a lack thereof.

In a way, I’m not quite sure how to pack for relocation abroad or for a move to South Korea. I have read that certain products are hard to find- i.e. tampons, deodorant, larger sized shoes and clothing, etc…. While I assume that most food and product concerns can be dealt with or worked around if I ever find myself without; the inability to fit shoe/clothing sizes there, can’t be “worked around”. Also, I have questions about where to base my credit cards, ATM accounts and a handful of other questions regarding official documents I may need besides a working visa. Ugh. Well, maybe like most things, you just have to trust your traveler’s sense and wing it…

One thing I can cross of my list is my International Driver’s Permit (aka a ‘license’).

How to get your international driver’s license:

The process took me all of 15 minutes to complete last week at my local AAA. Woo hoo…I feel like I just became of legal car (more…)

Planning my first solo trip

Filed under SOLO TRAVEL, Trip Planning by Christine Ka'aloa on November 2, 2009 at 5:20 pm {no comments}

Continued from Planning an Itinerary as a Beginner Solo Traveler

I’m freaking out and don’t know where to begin planning my trip. Before anything else, I need to plan a master route. To have a route, is to trick my brain into not feeling so overwhelmed. It needs a leash to keep it from spazzing, guidelines to follow so it won’t feel lost. So let’s start…

1. Create a game plan.

Facts:

Arrival/ departure city: Bangkok
Duration: 2.5 weeks.

I need an outline to follow, a route. Once I arrive in Thailand, I’ll think to myself , “Oh, it’s not so scary afterall…” and I can always change my direction. But for now, I must choose … north, south, east, west?

(more…)

Planning an Itinerary for the first-time Solo Traveler

Filed under SOLO TRAVEL, Trip Planning by Christine Ka'aloa on November 2, 2009 at 9:56 am {one comment}

*REvised version*
by Christine Ka’aloa

Boo! It’s Halloween and the perfect time to talk about the SCARY of planning my itinerary for my entirely solo trip to Thailand.

My Pre-flight Jitters
I leave for Thailand in a day and my solo fears are now starting to sink in! I’m filled with all sorts mixed emotions and self-doubts that aim to sabotage my confidence. When friends ask me whether I’m excited about my trip, I feel numb. Frankly, I wish I did not have so much time to think about it, but I do.

Planning Woes for the Soloist

When I said earlier that my friend, Regina, does not use guidebooks when she travels, I’ll let you in on a little secret… I haven’t really either. I buy them for the “in case” I want to open them. But only until last year when I was (more…)