Nav Apps: Options, Strengths, and Failures

Tell me if this is you...

You just arrived in Korea, you are so stoked to start your adventure. You are all sassy like, "Hey, let's open Google and see what's up"! You pop open your handy smart phone and start searching for things you love! You search and search and search... but nothing is coming up. You find almost no info that really helps and a little seed of panic starts to settle in. You wonder if there is actually anything out there to do or eat at all (don't worry, there is a ton). The walls start to close in.

You leave Google maps in defeat and move on to searching through blogs. There isn't much out there, but you find a trace of what you are looking for and copy the safe looking Romanized address they provide into Google. Nothing happens. The address doesn't work. You feel the rage begin to build. You feel helpless, frustrated, and isolated. For the first time you have that little thought, "This sucks. Korea sucks".

Don't worry, Korea doesn't suck, but your feelings that it does are a completely normal reaction. Nope, you aren't even a bad person. What you are is a person who moved to a new part of the world, where your carefully crafted coping skills and favorite apps don't work like you wished they would and it makes things really hard at first. Suddenly, the the way you are used to the world working has been turned on it's head and what was standard no longer applies. You have entered... wait for it... CULTURE SHOCK! We have all lived it. The important thing is to not listen too closely to that voice that says, "This sucks and Korea sucks." Instead, listen to that feeling and say to yourself, "This is new and I have a lot to learn". In short, it's not Korea's fault or your fault you don't understand each other, you have only just met. Give it time.

In order to overcome this little voice, you are going to need to download some new apps, learn some new systems, acquire a few skills, and go on some adventures. The feeling won't go away overnight and it won't always be easy to push past it, however it will be REALLY worth it to keep going because living in Korea is actually AWESOME!

We are going to help you on the journey by addressing one of the biggest issues you will face... MAPS! Yes, one of the most critical aspects of life in this new place is wrought with challenges. We will be giving you additional information about what hurdles you may face when searching for things in Korea and what maps/navi apps can help you get moving in the right direction. So strap yourself in and get ready for some knowledge bombs.

FIRST STOP: UNDERSTANDING THE HURDLES

1. ROMANIZATION v. HANGUL

The problem: Using Romanized Korean addresses and business names simply isn't going to work well with navi apps. Sure, you can get by, but it will never be efficient or consistent. You NEED to use the Hangul address or business name whenever humanly possible. This is going to be one of the most frustrating things you will deal with, especially if you haven't learned the Korean alphabet or mastered basic reading skills.  However, if you put in a little effort it will really pay off quickly. Make this a priority. Hard work in the short term will pay off during your stay.

The reason this happens: The main reason that Romanized addresses and business names don't work is that there has been at least 4 official ways to Romanize Korean. This results in two things can go wrong: 1) You can't be sure which is being used to run the algorithm of each map app or nav system; 2) You don't know if the person who Romanized the address used an official system or just winged it. In short, changing Korean to English is a hot mess. With so many Korean names being one letter different, the only way to be 99% sure you are going to the right place is to use the REAL address. In the South of Seoul app we try to make this as easy as possible, more about that later.

What to do: Learn the alphabet and how to read the basics stat. PIEF offers affordable classes near Osan Air Force Base and Camp Humphreys. However, you can quickly pick up the skill using websites and YouTube videos. We highly recommend Talk to Me In Korean as the place to start. Learn the order to read addresses in so that you can identify the beginning and end of a street address. You can learn more about Korean addresses by clicking here. Brooklyn English Used Books also offers FREE classes so pick one of these options and get on it.

How South of Seoul Helps You With This: We provide an easy to copy accurate Hangul address in each of our all listings. We gather these addresses from either Kakao or Naver maps. This means it's the MOST accurate information. This address can be copied from the South of Seoul app and dropped into the navigation app of your choice. We encourage every user to use this system instead of WAZE or Google Maps because we have far more faith in Daum/Kakao and Naver's ability to get you places. Even if you can't understand it, dropping the address into Kakao Maps or Naver Maps will get you there.

2. NEW AREAS, NEW ADDRESS SYSTEM, NEW ROADS

The cities south of Seoul, like Pyeongtaek, have been going through crazy amounts of development and entire areas are being completely remade. In these areas, sometimes none of the map apps work right. Even WAZE sometimes gets blocked and you can't even drop a pin. It's frustrating for everyone. Soseobol in Bijeondong has been kicking our asses like this for years. In fact, right now the entire East side of Pyeongtaek is hard to navigate because of this issue. 

Please be kind and understanding as everyone does their best in this situation. One day an address in this area will work, and the next it sends you 8 blocks away (sometimes to a completely different area of the city). It sucks and we all do our best. Hold a place in your heart and embrace the adventure. The businesses in these areas also wish things would work correctly. No one is happy about it.

3. MILITARY BASES

For obvious reasons, the areas near military installations can be fickle. WAZE works far better than other maps when near United States Military installations so we recommend going with that if you need to find anything within a 1/4 mile of a base. 

4. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW

When you arrive in Korea you might search for gymnastics for you kids or the best place for french toast and come up with nothing. That's because these things are not really a part of Korean culture. Sometimes you simply don't have access to what you valued in your old life. HOWEVER, there are many NEW and fun things to try. If you search for nori bangs (singing rooms), archery, Korean BBQ or mandu (Korean dumplings) things will be quite different.

During your short time here you will find life far more rewarding when you participate in Korean culture rather than trying to recreate your own. This is a brief and exciting period in your life when you have the freedom and opportunity to discover exciting things you never even thought could exist. Take advantage of every minute of it. FOMO!

How South of Seoul Helps: This is one of the main reasons our neighborhood directories allow you to scroll through what's around you instead of relying just on search. We know that you wouldn't even think to search for half of what's around you. We sure didn't when we arrived. It took us 8 years to compile the amount of information you now have readily available at your finger tips via the South of Seoul app. Actually, even if you speak Korean you can't easily find many of the places South of Seoul has listed simply because Pyeongtaek is the countryside and most bloggers are in Seoul or Busan. 

Exploring the South of Seoul listings and reading the blog will help you get and idea of what new and fun things are waiting to be experienced. With that said, it's time to look at what options you have for navigating Korea.

Second Stop: FOREIGN MAPS/NAV APPS

Google Maps

Although we've already mentioned that Google is a hot mess, we should still cover it so you know what's up. It's notoriously unreliable due to the fact Google doesn't have access to current information in Korea and is banned from offering driving directions (although they do offer public transit info).

We can't ignore it, however, because it's embedded into many foreigner developed apps, including ours, since (until recently) Daum/Kakao and Naver didn't have an English language option. It's not COMPLETELY useless. Just mostly.

We have found it useful for public transit info in Busan and Seoul and locations are becoming increasingly accurate. Their relationship with WAZE is certainly starting to pay off. If they were allowed to offer driving navigation it could almost be useful.

We hope to be able to ditch Google and use a Korean mapping system in the future.

WAZE App

In 2013 Google beat out many other companies to buy WAZE. Yes, that's right, WAZE is basically Google, but not. It's a clever little tool Google has leveraged to gather information in Korea even though it's not really welcome here.  Due to the fact that WAZE aggregates information directly from users and isn't restricted by the Korean government, it has far more accurate information than it's parent company. Still, it will fail you miserably on long trips, searching for new things, and sometimes it simply doesn't take you where it's supposed to when you put in an address.

The good parts: 
1) Waze can be easy for new arrivals to adapt to. You can just put in an English language pin that a past person has entered and it gets you there more often than not. It's a great tool to find what other kind foreigners have taken the time to mark for you.
2) There is a photo of the building. If you don't read Korean it can be hard to know when you have arrived. Having an image of what the location looks like can give you confidence that you found the right place.
3) You can mark places with no address. This is possibly the most useful part of WAZE and the one thing we use it for. You can drop a pin anywhere. That means you can mark hiking trail heads you spot in the middle of a field, etc. It's great for when you need to meet-up somewhere really random.

The bad parts: 
1) Limited Information. You are relying on what foreigners have entered for you, which means most of the country's information isn't there. If a kind English speaking foreigner who loves WAZE didn't drop a pin and make notes, you aren't going to find things very often. That means it's mostly useful in certain areas of Seoul, Pyeongtaek, Cheonan, and Asan, or near US military bases, since expats don't really use it.
2) It's unreliable. Even the WAZE Pins/Ids will sometimes just not take you where they used to. Maybe the week after they will.
3) It doesn't work well with accurate Korean addresses. In fact, we just refuse to use it unless there has been an actual pin dropped for the location we are going. We have added perfect Korean addresses and had it send us to a place 30 minutes away from where we should be.
4) It's hard to read. Honestly, we hate using it just because it's #weirdAF to follow. We don't actually like the experience of using it and avoid it whenever possible.
5) It doesn't always give accurate results. Depending on things one can't control, even if you have an EXACT WAZE pin name, it doesn't always give you the information you ask for. Maybe it thinks you are too far away or it's not of interest to you because of your favorites. For whatever reason, it will simply not show you things that you know for a fact exist.
6) WAZE Pins are fickle. Sometimes a location will vanish, take weeks to go live, or just not show for certain people for reasons listed in issue 5.

In short, it's remarkably unreliable and us expats simply don't use it because it makes us feel pretty crazy dealing with it.
7) WAZE is only for drivers. It's pretty much useless for people walking, needing a bus, or taking a taxi.

How South of Seoul Uses WAZE

Despite our personal feelings about WAZE, we at South of Seoul understand that it's extremely useful to new arrivals. Because of this, we have spent hundreds of volunteer hours making sure that Pyeongtaek has been well documented. Since WAZE Pins/IDs need to be added in person, our volunteers walked the city adding hundreds of places for new arrivals. 

In addition to adding locations, we also list the WAZE Pin/ID in each South of Seoul listing. Starting in 2018, however, we will not be making WAZE ID's part of our priority since both Kakao Maps and Naver Maps are in English on iPhone and Android.

How You Can Help

WAZE works because users contribute. We need everyone in Pyeongtaek marking where they go in order for it to be the most useful version of itself. When you go out, make sure to drop a pin for the next person. It's all of us working together that makes this system work. You can learn how by clicking here to read a blog about it. 

Third Stop: KOREAN MAPS/NAV APPS IN ENGLISH

(Your best option by far)

Kakao Map and KakaoNavi are - hands down - our preferred apps. They are owned by Daum who bought out Kakao a few years ago. They sync easily with KakaoTalk which means it's easy to share addresses and navigation links with friends. They also sync with Kakao Taxi which means you always have access to emergency transportation.

THE GOOD PARTS

1. For Everyone: There is route information for buses, cars, subways, walking, and bikes. This fact alone makes Google Maps and WAZE obsolete. Unlike WAZE you don't need a car for it to be super useful. This makes buses, subways, and taxis simple.

2. Bus, Taxi, Toll Fees: You can know ahead of time what things will cost. No more wondering how much you need on your TMoney card or how much a taxi should cost. You will also be notified of toll costs for long distance trips. DREAMY!!!!

THE BAD PARTS

1. English Search is Limited. You still can't really "discover" that many things using English search terms. It's best if you already know what you are looking for. It works perfectly to use South of Seoul for searching for what you need, and then copying the address and dropping it into KakaoMaps or KakaoNavi.

2. Some Things Are Still In Korean. Not every last detail is in English but it's enough. You can screen shot and use Papago if you have any issues.

How South of Seoul Works with Kakao and Naver

Here is how you can use our app and Korean Map apps as a team to find what you need: 1) Do a search in South of Seoul; 2) Pick the place you like; 3) Copy the address; 4) paste the address into the Nave app of your choice; 5) Find your route.

South of Seoul Search

Paste Address into Nav App and off you go.

Naver Maps works in a very similar way to Kakao Maps except that it has a bit more English, additional images to help you know you arrived at the right place, etc. We also use this one a lot. We don't feel like you can really go wrong with either. We aren't going to repeat the points above, just give you some screen shots to see how the two compare. We will get more into the details of both of these apps in future posts.

Sample route

Sample Bus Route Info

Honestly folks, KakaoMaps and NaverMaps are a true sources of freedom in Korea. They connect you to the community and the life here in ways that Google and WAZE simply can't. We know it feels good and comfortable to use WAZE and Google at the beginning, but you will find making the effort to transition to Kakao or Naver will make your life so much better. Just jump in, start clicking around, and find your way to freedom!

Double Take: 4 Top Japanese Ramen Restaurants in P-taek

It's only been a few months since we posted 5 Japanese Ramen Restaurants in Pyeongtaek, but since that time new restaurants have opened and we already have to redo the list. Quite frankly, things are so different now that we feel some of the others shouldn't even be on the same list as these new shops because there is such a difference in flavor and presentation. Instead we decided to limit the list to four this time around. We still have everyone listed in the app, we are just highlighting our favorites. Try them all and add your reviews to the app!

1. Kwang Hoon Japanese Ramen
Shingang (Songtan SED), Pyeongtaek

First of all,  Pyeongtaek now has a clear leader in Japanese ramen and that's Kwang Hoon located in Shingang (Called Songtan SED by the US military). These guys completely changed the game and knocked a few places off of our Top 5 list. Quite frankly, you wont be happy with some of the other options once you try this. From the rich flavors to the unique bowls and ordering system, they have worked hard to stand out from crowd.

The shop owner is also from Pyeongtaek which makes me happy. They aren’t a big chain or from outside the city. This is one of our own making the magic happen. It was actually through a shared friend that we found out Kwang Hoon had opened and within 24 hours lots of other friends started raving about it as well. That’s how a star was born.

2. Umai Ramen

Seojeongdong (Songtan City Hall), Pyeongtaek

The next spot is located in Seojeongri behind the Starbucks (which makes it pretty easy to find). The menu may be all in Korean, we can't remember exactly, sorry if it is. Still worth going and just asking for Ramen. We actually tried both the ramen and another dish, both were excellent. Like SUPER excellent. We are so glad to have a delicious lunch spot for when we go to immigration next time.

3. Higashi Ramen

Pyeongtaek Tong Bok Market

Hidden between a Japanese snack bar and the board game pub, this little gem has some excellent noodles and a few tasty versions. We HIGHLY recommend searching this place out even though it can be hard to find. They have a variety of broth styles that differ from other shops and we have been happy with all we've tried. This place is also so new at this point that they can't even be found on Naver or any Naver blogs so go forth and lead the way.

3. Raku Raku

Pyeongtae City, AK Plaza Area

This has been a favorite in Pyeongtaek for awhile. A true neighborhood joint. The place is also super cute with tons of memorabilia and notes. Like all ramen joints in the city, there aren't many seats. The owner is also really great. Our friend lost money on the floor and didn't realize it. Another guest turned it in to the owner and he checked CCTV, saw it was my friend sitting in the seat, and when she came back many weeks later he gave it back to her. Basically, delicious food and great people.

Now it's time to go try them all and leave your reviews in the South of Seoul app. Just go the app, open the listing, and click the star in the banner. You can tell us all what you thought. Remember to include useful tips like where you parked, if they had chairs for kids, or other details you found important. Reviews help us build a beautiful life together. One Star reviews with no explanation may be rejected.

For address and WAZE directions to anything on this blog download the South of Seoul App from either Google Play or Apple App Store. 

Why we do this:

We made the app to accompany the blog because it's easier to keep update with current information. In the past we've tried keeping the information on the blog but it's too hard for us to maintain the information in two places at once over time. Since we compile and write blogs around a full time jobs without compensation, we need to do it the most efficient way possible with as few steps as possible. 

Seosabol: Mr. Healing Cafe

File healing cafes under things we didn't know we needed until they existed. Last year healing cafes started popping up around Korea and our area. The first one that came to our attention was in Songtan across from the Songtan Bus Terminal. You pay 8,000 won for a drink and then get 10 minutes in a massage chair and a few other things. It's a nice way to kill some time before a bus or wait for a friend. We thought it was pretty fabulous, but more about the drinks and chilling out with friends.

Food+Fun: Bijeon, Sosabol, 비전, 소사벌

However, this cafe has nothing on Mr. Healing in Soseobol. They have taken the concept to a whole new level. They have a free drink at the end, but the focus is on the healing. For 13,300 won (as of 2018, prices my change so don't hold us to this) you get 45 minutes in an epic massage chair in a quiet dark space filled with lovely smells. Here is how it works. 

Get Ready: When you arrive you will enter a small waiting room/cafe where you will check-in with the person at the register who will take your payment and your drink order. The drinks wont come right away, instead they will be ready when your "treatment" is finished. If the cafe is busy (which it often is) you will wait at one of the cafe tables and an attendant will come get you when space is available. PRO TIP: If you plan to go a lot, you can give them your phone number and every 10th visit you get a free one.

Enter the Healing Space: When the attendant takes you back, remember that this is a healing cafe so you want to be VERY quiet. This isn't the time to chat with your friends. Everyone is there to escape the noise and rest. 

Once you are next to your chair:

• Take off your shoes and store them in the cabinet on the wall 
• Your personal items will go in a little box/tube that's provided 
• There should also be a coat hook on the wall
• You will then slip on cloth slippers before sitting down in the chair 
• Once seated, the attendant will spray your hands with antibacterial spray before you tuck them into the chair 
• They will instruct you on how to adjust the chair for your height

Now that you are situated, you are going to be asked to choose between a kneading and stretching massage. This will most likely be asked in Korean, just do your best. Either one will be great. The massage lasts 45 minutes and you leave feeling like a new person.

When you exit they should have your drinks ready for you. They aren't the worlds fanciest drinks, but they are a great way to sit and peacefully enjoy your new state of mind and get ready to adjust back into the hustle and bustle outside.

Honestly, this is kind of a must when you are in Soseobol. It's in the same building as the movie theater so make a plan to go there before your next show. It turns every outing into a rejuvenation. Obviously, it will be the most busy during prime "date" times like Friday nights or weekends. 

From a practical standpoint, if you are having muscle pain this is one of the most affordable massage options in the city. This is a way to get the pain worked out without killing your budget. We, personally, use Mr. Healing cafe to maximize our regular massage appointments by getting a chair massage 24-48 hours before a regular massage. The one two punch gives us much better results.

Now it's time to go try them all and leave your reviews in the South of Seoul app. Just go to the app, open the listing, and click the star in the banner. You can tell us all what you thought. Remember to include useful tips like where you parked, if they had chairs for kids, or other details you found important. Reviews help us build a beautiful life together. One Star reviews submitted with no comments may be rejected. Please explain 1 Star reviews without being crude or profane. Simply explain the situation. For example: "the food was not fully cooked, the waitress never brought my friend's food, and the taste wasn't what I prefer." Korea has strong anti-defamation laws so keep explanations clear and fact based.

For address and WAZE directions to anything on this blog download the South of Seoul App from either Google Play or Apple App Store. 

Why we do this:

We made the app to accompany the blog because it's easier to keep update with current information. In the past we've tried keeping the information on the blog but it's too hard for us to maintain the information in two places at once over time. Since we compile and write blogs around a full time jobs without compensation, we need to do it the most efficient way possible with as few steps as possible.

Awesome Blossoms: Cherry Blossom Info for Pyeongtaek

Cherry Blossom season is coming up and it is a beautiful and iconic time in Korea. There will be festivals from the top to bottom and left to right of the country and you will feel the pressure to race around the country. All of these festivals will be awesome and PACKED! They always are. The areas are truly stunning and the perfect excuse to see different parts of Korea. One of the crowd favorites is Jinhae where the trees are huge, the beauty vast, and the walks easy.

However, we aren't really going to talk about those festivals right now. Why? Because everyone already is. In fact, you can find a list of the major Korean festivals here in this useful article from Stars & Stripes.  Instead we are going to answer a few questions about cherry blossom season and talk about alternative options that are closer to home.

1. Who cares about a bunch of flowers on trees?
We have actually heard this question a lot and the answer is simple, "People who aren't dead inside." (the reason we blog and don't "report" is so that we can say things like this and not get fired). It's true that your life might not be changed by cherry blossoms, but your day will most certainly be made - if you aren't dead inside. The areas with tons of trees are other-worldly. It feels like you've stepped into a painting and it's fun to walk the tree lined streets soaking up the beauty. Even if you have a slightly frozen soul, walking beneath the warm spring sun surrounded by the soft pink peddles will cause it to thaw at least a little.

2. Do I really need to travel far and wide to enjoy a cherry blossom festival? 
Absolutely not. Pyeongtaek has a Cherry Blossom Festival that happens at Pyeongtaek University. Although there aren't a lot of sexy videos made about it, it's a lovely place to spend the day and it will be far less hectic than other places. Even with less people, remember that parking won't be great and taking a bus from the AK Plaza area will be the easiest way to enjoy your time at the festival. The festival is usually held during the beginning of April.

ADDRESS: 경기도 평택시 서동대로 3825
AK Plaza to Pyeongtaek University Buses: 20, 21,15, 7-7, 94-1
(Camp Humphreys readers, you can catch the 20 in Anjeongri/Paengseong and ride it all the way to Pyeongtaek University. Learn more about the 20 bus here on Sig Flips the Table.)

3. I hate crowds, does that mean I'm going to miss the cherry blossoms?
You don't have to go to a festival to enjoy the cherry blossoms. Here are a few drives, walks, and locations where you can checkout the beauty without being bothered with the crowds.

River Drive or Bike Ride: Take a drive on (or a bike ride next to) the road that follows the river from Camp Humphreys to Anjung-eup. It's lined with stunning cherry trees and feels quite magical. Be careful with biking as cars can be quite careless in this area. A bike path is available so choose that instead of riding on the road itself.

START ADDRESS: 경기도 평택시 오성면 창내이

Lake Drive: There is also a recommended driving route in west Paenseong, Pyeongtaek that takes you over by the lake. Click here to see photos from the route. We grabbed the addresses of where to get started so you don't have to figure out the map in the linked blog itself. One address is actually from a housing development...don't turn in there! Stay on the main road and go west!

START ADDRESS: 경기 평택시 계양로 516-12
FINISH ADDRESS: 경기 평택시 계양로 624

If you click the link below it will take you to the route in Naver maps: http://naver.me/5j2BOcvu

University Campus in Ichung: This lovely campus is situated on the edge of the city near some lovely hills. It's covered in cherry blossoms in the spring. This isn't far from Songtan so Osan Air Force Base folks might find it a nice place to visit. There are city buses that go here and plenty of parking for cars.

LOCATION NAME: 국제대학교
ADDRESS: 경기도 평택시 장안웃길 56

Pyeongtaek River Walk: If you are in Pyeongtaek just head past Tong Bok market toward the river. The area is loaded with cherry blossoms and the river walk itself is beautifully developed. We are giving you an address that gets you to the area, and then you can just find the beauty around you.

ADDRESS: 경기도 평택시 62-5

4. What happens at a Cherry Blossom Festival?

Well, obviously you take lots of pictures of yourself and the blossoms looking fabulous. You eat, maybe do some crafts, buy some pretty things, and generally do the classic festival things like live music and dance. However, honestly, it's just about being outside in the spring weather and enjoying the majesty of nature. The other stuff doesn't really matter.

5. Any other things I shouldn't miss during cherry blossom season?

Oddly enough, don't miss the Starbucks cherry blossom drinks offered during this time. They only come around once a year for a VERY short time and they are straight up awesome. The cherry blossom latte is my favorite for sure. I never miss it. They also have some spring time blends worth looking into.

Whether you decide to go with a big festival or a lazy drive, just be sure to get out and enjoy yourselves this spring. If you are only here for a year, this is your chance to build a lovely memory. If you are staying for years, it's the perfect annual tradition.

Now it's time to go try them all and leave your reviews in the South of Seoul app. Just go to the app, open the listing, and click the star in the banner. You can tell us all what you thought. Remember to include useful tips like where you parked, if they had chairs for kids, or other details you found important. Reviews help us build a beautiful life together. One Star reviews submitted with no comments may be rejected. Please explain 1 Star reviews without being crude or profane. Simply explain the situation. For example: "the food was not fully cooked, the waitress never brought my friends food, and the taste wasn't what I prefer." Korea has strong anti-defamation laws so keep explanations clear and fact based.

For address and WAZE directions to anything on this blog download the South of Seoul App from either Google Play or Apple App Store. 

Why we do this:

We made the app to accompany the blog because it's easier to keep update with current information. In the past we've tried keeping the information on the blog but it's too hard for us to maintain the information in two places at once over time. Since we compile and write blogs around a full time jobs without compensation, we need to do it the most efficient way possible with as few steps as possible.

Our Graduate Adventure: Getting Started

Starting next week we (my husband and I) are taking my South of Seoul adventures to the next level and beginning graduate at the aptly named Namseoul (South Seoul) University. It’s a private Christian school located in northern Cheonan, about 20 minutes south of Camp Humphreys. We will be studying for a Masters in International Teaching, which is taught in English, through the Global Studies department. We are super excited!

For years we’ve wanted to continue our education but had given up on the idea since we didn’t want to relocate to Seoul, move to another country, or study online. Giving up our happy life in Pyeongtaek and  good jobs we love to go into debt simply didn’t seem like a smart idea. In fact, it seemed like the WORST idea. We have too many friends and family struggling to pay off their fancy school student loans while working at jobs that give them maybe a few thousand more a year for having an advanced degree. The math simply didn’t work with our age or ambitions.

When we found out we might be able to study close to home at a price we can just pay out of pocket, we had to give it a go. The application process was somewhat painless, but also nerve racking, and there were new things we haven’t had to do before. For example, all potential students had to go in for an interviews!

Of course, plenty of US people think we are crazy. There are all kinds of negative opinions about being educated outside of the US, opinions that don’t really matter to me. Mostly because I have spent my life making different educational choices than most. For example, I was mostly homeschooled until high school. During that time I was continuously told that;

• I wouldn’t be able to compete with other high school students if I went back into public school
• I wouldn’t get into college
• If I was accepted, it wouldn’t be to a “good” college
• I wouldn’t be properly socialized and would have no friends
• I wouldn’t be hired at a good company

The fact of the matter was that I graduated second in my class, was accepted into an excellent university that gave me exceptional scholarships, I graduated from there with honors, have been hired at nearly every job I've interviewed for, and have the world’s best friends. Being home schooled has only helped me in my life and I would change nothing.

Once I entered university I chose to enter their newly formed social work program which was not yet accredited. I was told it was a terrible idea and that I wouldn’t be able to get a job. Well, obviously they earned their accreditation by the time I graduated and all the horrors about how I was wasting my education were never realized. The teachers were extraordinary, terribly dedicated to founding an amazing program, and their teachings changed my life.

The point being, never once have my alternative education choices held me back. Instead they have taught me new and unique ways of viewing the world that keep me moving forward when others who buy into the system fail to see a way forward. I see the world as big and full of opportunity with many different paths to the same goal. Right now I’m SUPER excited about taking this path less traveled and seeing how it expands my world view and opens up new opportunities I’ve never even imagined. Plus, I can either be two years older with a Masters or two years older without one. Why not go on the adventure?

During my journey I’m going to keep you all posted on how the experience unfolds and what I learn. Here is what I’m looking forward to personally;

• Experiencing a new education model
• Meeting students from around the world
• Reading articles and writing papers
• Researching education practices I’ve been developing

Classes starts next week! Wish us luck! If you have ever wanted to know what studying in Korea is like, this will be your chance to follow along and see if it’s right for you. Learn about the hurdles and our triumphs as we work together to level up on life and earn our Masters in International Teaching from Namseoul University. This is going to be a weird and wonderful experience.

Now it's time to go try them all and leave your reviews in the South of Seoul app. Just go to the app, open the listing, and click the star in the banner. You can tell us all what you thought. Remember to include useful tips like where you parked, if they had chairs for kids, or other details you found important. Reviews help us build a beautiful life together. One Star reviews submitted with no comments may be rejected. Please explain 1 Star reviews without being crude or profane. Simply explain the situation. For example: "the food was not fully cooked, the waitress never brought my friends food, and the taste wasn't what I prefer." Korea has strong anti-defamation laws so keep explanations clear and fact based.

For address and WAZE directions to anything on this blog download the South of Seoul App from either Google Play or Apple App Store. 

Why we do this:

We made the app to accompany the blog because it's easier to keep update with current information. In the past we've tried keeping the information on the blog but it's too hard for us to maintain the information in two places at once over time. Since we compile and write blogs around a full time jobs without compensation, we need to do it the most efficient way possible with as few steps as possible.