How To Guides | GRRRL TRAVELER

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…)

Should you take a Gap Year? (Part I)

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

: Me at a turtle conservation in Bali

Taking a gap year to pursue one’s dreams to travel, during what may seem like a crucial period in one’s budding professional career, may seem well,… stupid.

Irresponsible.

Escapist.

Perhaps you may think I’m all the above.

I don’t agree.

Following your dreams and finding sustainable ways to bridge them to a future.

When I look at the smart side of the coin, I see that committing my life to a gap year of travel can be a solid investment. If I’m going to shoot my career (more…)

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 Interviews, SOLO TRAVEL 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…)