The Packing Begins...

Eep! That's quite a scary sight, isn't it? This is my idea of packing - pile everything you're planning on bringing on top of your suitcases and hope that it all magically  organizes itself neatly inside before your departure. 

Yup. Wistful thinking, that's me! 

Teaching English Abroad in South Korea: Tips, Tricks, and Trouble!

(Photo by Michelle C.)

In approximately one month, my best friend and I will heading off to South Korea to teach English at a hagwon just outside of Seoul and we are very excited to get this first leg of our journey going! 

Well, I'm sure we will feel more excited, anyway, once the after effects from all the stress, stress, and more stressss have finally worn off. 

Don't know what I'm talking about? If you are planning on teaching English abroad, I'm sure you soon will. 

It may not seem like the paperwork required for an E2 visa is such a big deal at first--and we certainly had no idea. But don't be fooled by the simple requirements...time is your enemy here! I hope you are doing your research and are more prepared than we were but if you still have no idea what you are getting into let me give you some tips and tricks so that you can avoid all of the trouble we went through! 

Drama Tourism: Ilsan Lake Park (일산호수공원)

Ilsan Lake Park (일산호수공원) 

INFORMATION GATHERED FROM [HERE]

AS SEEN IN: 

Rooftop Prince

CONTACT:
1330 tt call center: +82-31-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)


For more info: +82-31-906-4557 (Korean)

ADDRESS: 

Gyeonggi-do Goyang-si Ilsandong-gu Janghang2-dong 906
(경기 고양시 일산동구 장항동 906)

Approx. 1 hour 45 min. (by bus) from Bundang-gu

DIRECTIONS: 

Jeongbalsan Station (Subway Line 3), Exit 1 or 2.
Walk along Jungangro-1261 beon-gil Street or Jungangro-1275 beon-gil Street for 10min.

Drama Tourism: Rooftop Prince House

Rooftop Prince House

INFORMATION GATHERED FROM [HERE]

AS SEEN IN: 

Rooftop Prince

ADDRESS: 

Songwol Dong, Joong Gu-Seoul
(송월동, 종로구)

Approx. 1 hour (by bus) from Bundang-gu

DIRECTIONS: 

Near: Seodaemun Station, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital and Gyeonghwi Palace

Drama Tourism: Seoul Color Park (서울 색공원)

Seoul Color Park (서울 색공원)

INFORMATION GATHERED FROM [HERE]

AS SEEN IN: 

City Hunter

ADDRESS: 

330, Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 
서울 영등포구 여의도동 330번지

Approx. 1 hour 25 min. (by bus) from Bundang-gu

CONTACT INFO: 

1330 tt call center: +82-2-1330 
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

For more info: +82-2-3780-0561~5

DIRECTIONS: 

Yeouinaru Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 2 or 3.

Drama Tourism: Buamdong (부암동)

Buamdong (부암동)

INFORMATION GATHERED FROM [HERE]

AS SEEN IN: 

City Hunter, Coffee Prince, My Name is Kim Sam Soon 

ADDRESS: 

Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul-si 
서울 종로구 부암동

Approx. 1 hour 20 min. (by bus) from Bundang-gu

CONTACT INFO: 

1330 tt call center: +82-2-1330 
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

DIRECTIONS: 

Subway: Hongje Station (Subway Line 3).
Bus: 1711, 1020, 7212, 7018, 7016 or 7022.

Drama Tourism: The Botanical Garden BCJ (Byeokchoji) (벽초지 문화수목원)

The Botanical Garden BCJ (Byeokchoji) (벽초지 문화수목원)

INFORMATION GATHERED FROM [HERE]

AS SEEN IN: 

City Hunter 

ADDRESS: 

166-1, Beolmanjang-gil, Gwangtan-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do 

경기 파주시 광탄면 창만리 166-1

Approx. 3 hours (by bus) from Bundang-gu

CONTACT INFO: 

1330 tt call center: +82-31-1330 

(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) 

For more info: +82-31-957-2004

OPERATING HOURS:

09:00-Sunset

ADMISSION:

April-October: ￦8,000

November-March: ￦6,000

DIRECTIONS: 

Samsong Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 8.

Cross the large intersection 80m ahead.

Take Bus 703, and get off at Gwangtan Samgeori (3-way Intersection) Bus Stop.

Transfer to Bus 15 or 67 and get off at Domasan Elementary School Bus Stop.

The Botanical Garden BCJ is located across the street.

Drama Tourism: Riverview 8th Avenue (리버뷰 8번가)

Riverview 8th Avenue (리버뷰 8번가)

INFORMATION GATHERED FROM [HERE]

AS SEEN IN: 

City Hunter, IRIS 

ADDRESS: 

527-2, Cheonho 2-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul-si 

서울 강동구 천호2동 527-2

Approx. 1 hour 19 min. (by bus) from Bundang-gu

CONTACT INFO: 

1330 tt call center: +82-2-1330 

(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) 

For more info: +82-2-476-0722

[OFFICIAL WEBSITE]

CLOSED: 

2nd & 4th Monday of each month

HOURS: 

10:00-22:00

DIRECTIONS: 

[Subway]

Gwangnaru Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 2.

Cross the street, turn left, and go straight for 300m.

Turn right in front of Gwangjin Youth Center. 

Continue straight for 600m along the Gwangjingyo Bridge. 

OR

Cheonho Station (Seoul Subway Line 5, 8), Exit 2.

Go straight for 300m and turn left towards Gwangjingyo Bridge.

Go straight for 900m along the Gwangjingyo Bridge.

Mischievous Fridays 06/28/13

Another week has past and this one was significantly more painful than the last. In fact, if the dramas this week weren't wringing my poor abused heart they were shooting up my blood pressure and making my palms sweaty. 

Anyone else have a rough week? 

Dramas discussed: Last Cinderella, The Fugitive of Joseon, Gu Family Book, Dating Agency: Cyrano, Just You, Jang Ok Jung, Heartless City, I Hear Your Voice, and Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo.

Of Dramas That Break My Heart: The Drama Betrayal List

So I finished watching Gu Family Book today (don't even get me started...no really, don't) and I've been experiencing this thing called....

...

I don't even know what you would call it. Sitting-there-in-a-helpless-daze-while-thoughts-of-betrayal-manifest-in-your-mind. 

That sounds about right. 

Anyway, so the horrible feelings I suffered through during the last two episodes of Gu Family Book got me thinking about a lot of other similar dramas I've watched and I really just got...depressed. 

The big D. 

Why? Because I realized that I am continually being betrayed by the very dramas I love and yet I still keep watching them. Must be another one of those mysteries of the universe. 

Anyway, in honor of my forsaken state I though I would make a post dedicated to the top five dramas (other than GFB) from South Korea which I adored up until the very end when they stabbed me in the back. Interestingly enough, not all of the dramas on this list inspired the same kind of hate as others, which is weird and yet probably a good thing (watch how my "level of re-watchability"'s fluctuate...it's rather worrisome). 

(Also? Gu Family Book...thanks for the worst birthday present ever). =_= 

CAUTION: WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE FOLLOWING DRAMAS: 49 Days, Bridal Mask, City Hunter, Rooftop Prince and Faith. 

Gu Family Book is Ending...

I feel like I should bake a cake or something...

No silly, not to celebrate a successful run...to devour when it's all over and I'm stuck in PDD (Post Drama Depression). 

A fangirl's gotta do what a fangirl's gotta do... 

Here's a little gif to convey my current emotions as I sit and patiently wait for the last two episodes:

Mischievous Fridays 06/21/13

Yey! Time for my first Mischievous Fridays post! Every Friday I'm going to be discussing the dramas I've watched during the week, so feel free to join in! 

Caution: Will probably contain spoilers! 

Dramas discussed: Last Cinderella, Monstar, Gu Family Book, Heartless City (aka Cruel City), Dating Agency: Cyrano, Jang Ok Jung, I Hear Your Voice, Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo, and King of Dramas.