My wife is Korean and her Dad would agree with you on this one. In fact he said when we travel there eventually I shoudl really brush up on my formal spoken Korean. He said that when a pagin namja can speak Korean well, the locals will open up and treat them very well. Plus the English speakers over there are dumb. If they wanted to make really big bucks they should learn Korean and act on Korean sitcoms.
So, these books would help me figure out how much everything would cost? What are some places I should investigate traveling to on the cheap?
My wife is a Korean American. She and I were thinking of going there to teach English. We would have been living there, and I don't speak the language. But I consider myself somewhat normal. So I disagree with the part about normal people living somewhere when they don't know the language. But one of the reasons I wanted to go there was so that I could learn the language. Hopefully in time I would have known at least enough to get by. But if people were rude to me while I was learning, because I didn't already know the language then I might not have wanted to stay. But I was never concerned about that. I usually get along well with most people, and would have tried to make sure I knew enough not to commit any major faux pas. The only problem I might have had is with my wife. As I said she is Korean American, but doesn't speak more than a few phrases of Korean. I know that would make things very difficult, and brought on resentment by some people there. Ironically learning Korean was one of the reasons she wanted to go to. A death in the family changed our plans, but I am looking forward to visiting there sometime in the not so distant future.
Hilarious man, just picturing that in my head is unreal. I met a young white English teacher (professor at a university) who spoke Korean very well over the summer and I found it funny how her fiance's parents would fall in love with her there. I am impressed by your willingness to take such a venture, and as always my generalizations are only based upon my experiences. Korea is a very fun place to visit as long as you have a few people who can show you the ropes while you are there. Living there, admittedly, as I had very little Korean when I first lived there is another matter. It's unfortunate you never had the chance however, because I would say it taught me quite a bit living there.
Yeah it would have been great. I know it would have been fascinating, and really a valuable experience. If we did visit, we definitely arrange it at a time when her familiy's friends could show us around. As is I just try and listen when her family talks about their visits, and experiences.
Yup! My favorite is Lonely Planet. Here's a link on Korea Says you can get by on $30/day. That's REALLY roughing it...but gives you an idea? (maybe FB will go with you ). Travelling about's not everybody's thing. Especially on the cheap. It happens to be my vice, and just pointing out that if you're into it...you don't necessarily have to spend the big bucks. A closer destination you may consider is Guatemala. Direct flights from Dallas (at least there used to be)...close enough that you can go for not long. Lonely Planet says $25/day is possible. I wouldn't budget less than twice their 'budget.' I'm sure there are many forums that discuss this stuff in detail. Google away...
Shrub was born in Connecticut. Went to Prep School in New England. And went to his Dad's alma mater Yale and Harvard Business School. Now if that doesn't sound like a real Texan then I don't know what does.
Hey bnb, It is always good to read stuff from other people who also have the wonderlust. Lonely planet has been my favorite for a long time now, too. Did you ever see the show Lonely Planet, that used to be on the travel channel? It was very well done. The one in Korea was hilarious. Anyway that was back when the travel channel was good. Now it is all just celebrity poker, vacation homes of the rich and crap like that. It has very little to do with real travel anymore.
Ian Wright was the Best! That guy would eat anything. Sheep's brain, Cow eye, you name it he probably ate it. You are right about the travel channel, it's nothing but packaged tours to Hawaii or Disney World. What does is say about the Travel Channel when the best travel show on cable is on E! I'm speaking of Wild On of course. Great show, but I miss Brooke.
Yeah he was great. I really enjoyed his shows. The girl who I only saw later seemed a little annoying, but the travel show was still good, despite her, and she was only annoying some of the time. Compared with the stuff they have now I would welcome all her episodes in place of about anything else on the channel. I watch wild on which is a mix of cool stuff, and a search to find places in other countries that look like they are full of <insert profanity here>. I mean honestly. I can do body shots here in the U.S. when I'm in Greece, or somewhere else I would look for something a little different.
I`m currently in Songtan for work, my hotel is just around the corner from the Osan air base. I gotta agree with you some of these cats are just plain ugly.
