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.

5 Kids Cafes in Cheonan City

By Sarah Powell, South of Seoul Volunteer
Edited by Jessica Lister, South of Seoul Volunteer

Well, the weather outside is still frightful, so our listing of kids cafes continues, now with a focus on Cheonan (you can read the first article in this series HERE, regarding Pyeongtaek’s kid cafes).

Cheonan is a city with a lot to offer - from shopping, to eating, to sightseeing; kids cafes are in no short supply there, either. Its proximity to Pyeongtaek means that most of these destinations will be no more than 20 ~ 40 minutes away by car for many of our readers, and its various bus and train stations means it’s also accessible to those who do without a vehicle of their own (though, let’s face it, if you have to go anywhere with kids, the car is easiest).

This is not mean to be a “best of” list, or even a definitive list; more locations are available for perusal in the SOS app under Directories >> Cheonan >> Focus: Families.

Monello Premium Kids Cafe

Waze: Monello Premium Kids Cafe

Hours: 10:00am ~ 8:00pm

Located in the March Avenue Mall, this is a sophisticated and sleek take on the average "kids cafe"! But don't let it's atmosphere fool you; it's still has all the staples of a good kids cafe: trampolines, kitchen sets, ball pit, climbing area ... the works. Its toy stations are supplied with “posh” versions of kids cafe staples: fancy kitchenettes, trendy scooters, a charming market area, cute little tents and camping sites. There’s a cute “go fish” game where kids use magnets to pick up little fish through a transparent floor. The cafe serves a variety of drinks and snacks, but no full meals; however, lots of family friendly dining options are close by within the March Avenue Mall itself. Parking is available both in a large underground garage, or street-side (and there’s plenty of space there, too).

Happy Nuri Kids Cafe

Waze: Happy Nuri Kids Cafe

Hours: 10:00am ~ 8:00pm

A cute little kids cafe right across the street from Costco and right beside a Daiso (convenient shopping!). The cafe is on the smaller side, but it has a room with a cute knitted swing-tree that children can climb up into as well has hang from. It has two trampolines - one for big kids, and one for littler ones. There’s a ball pit, wooden block pit, and toy stations in a loft. They also have those rolling horses that move when the rider bounces on them, which were a hit with the children. The employees were very friendly and spoke basic English. Overall, it's a charming little place and is well priced. Serves snacks and drinks, but no full meals. Parking is available in a good-sized garage behind the building (the entrance is just past the Daiso); it wasn’t terrible busy on the weekday I visited, so larger cars shouldn’t have problems here.

Tiki Toc Land

Waze: tiki toc land

Hours: 10:00am ~ 8:00pm

Tiki Toc Land is a massive indoor playground aimed at babies, toddlers and young children. They have a lot of open floor space, various playgrounds, trampolines, several different kinds of play stations, a train ride, a music room, a sand pit room, and a 4D theatre for the kids. There are remote-controlled robots and arcade games available for play (so bring some loose won!). They have equipment like bouncers for the small babies and plenty of high chairs. The cafe serves full meals in addition to drinks and snacks. The admission fee covers three hours of play on the weekdays and two hours of play on the weekends/holidays. Admission for babies under 12 months is free. Parking is available in the garage of the building.

JumpingGO

Waze: JumpingGO 점핑고

Hours: 10:00am ~ 8:00pm Sunday - Thursday, 10:00am ~ 9:00pm Fridays & Saturdays

One of several trampoline cafes in Cheonan marketing specifically to older kids, JumpingGO is a great option for preschool and elementary school aged children. JumpingGo has very large trampolines, playgrounds, ball pits with bulldozers the kids can sit in and man, bumper cars, a large cafe, and slides. They welcome birthday party reservations for their party room. They offer group discount rates for groups over 15 persons, but only for official institutions (schools, daycares, etc). The cafeteria portion is spacious and offers various snacks, drinks, and full meals. They also offer an attractive lounge area for parents. Parking is located in the garage beneath the building.

ZooZooPia

Waze: ZooZooPia 쥬쥬피아

Hours: 10:30am ~ 6:30pm (doors close at 5:30pm)

ZooZooPia is both an animal cafe and a kids cafe all in one, and it is great for both young and slightly older children (toddler to ~8 years). The entire facility is completely indoors and has several different areas, the primary being a zoo with mammals, reptiles, fish, and birds - some of which can be petted, and many of which can be fed (food purchased at front counter for 1000 won). There are lots of silly picture opportunities in a mural wing, and other areas have light displays, animal statues, and other colorful things for kids to look at. There's a cafe that sells snacks, drinks, and desserts (no full meals), a large play area with trampolines, an obstacle course, a block pit with toys, and ball pits. They have a train ride, bumper cars, and gundams to ride (with an additional fee), as well as arcade games and the like scattered throughout. Parking is available in the building's garage. It might be a tight fit for large cars, but there’s also plenty of space for roadside parking as well.

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.

Oh Mandu we love you

Chinese

Yesterday we arrived home from work to a special delivery of mandu from Oh Mandu in Cheonan. They are a small home business that just started up a few weeks ago. They specialize in small batch, hand-made, traditional and unique mandu flavors. They currently offer Chinese, vegetarian, and Mexican flavors but have others they are working to perfect. They are very new so it's an exciting time to try them. I love ordering from new ventures like this because it's like going on a taste adventure.

Since we were way to busy to coordinate a pickup and drop-off, Oh Mandu was wonderful enough to accommodate us by shipping ours to us. Since we are fine with paying a bit of shipping fee to have quality food like this arrive like magic at our home, this system worked great for us. The order came packaged in a Styrofoam box with ice pouch. So easy. So worth it. (Shipping prices vary base on order size.)

Honestly, we had no idea what to expect. Random person starts making mandu in their kitchen and selling them, anything could happen. We never let that bother us though and we jumped in with booth feet. We cooked up 5 Chinese and 5 vegetarian mandu straight away.

Although Oh Mandu recommend using a microwave to warm the mandu, we don't own one and instead prefer traditional ways of reheating so we created a makeshift steamer. We steamed for around 3 minutes each (rough guess) and figured we had probably ruined them completely, but we hadn't! They came out like little dreamy clouds of deliciousness. They just melted in our mouths. So friggen good. We ate them until we could barely move. So much having them for snacks later.

Vegetarian

We our favorite was by far the Chinese Mandu, although the vegetarian was still very good. It just didn't pop like in quite the same way. Still, if I was vegetarian I would be ordering these Mandu constantly. Honestly, so friggen good. We were just seduced by the meaty goodness in the Chinese version.

We still need to try the Mexican mandu. It's at home calling our name in the freezer. After we eat it up we will definitely be putting in an order for more. Goodbye e-mart mandu and hello Oh Mandu.

If you would like to give Oh Mandu a try just you can find them on FB at Oh Mandu where you can place an order, like their page, and leave a review.  Please keep in mind this is a small, family owned mico business just starting out. If they make mistakes be kind. Give them healthy feedback for improving their systems and offer solutions when you can. We had a great experience, but we always like to remind people that small businesses have growing pains and responsive consumers can help them move through them and grow into something wonderful.

And - of course - Happy eating.

(Tex)Mexican Food Outside Seoul

El Gitano

If there is one thing I have learned since moving to Korea it's that I can live without a lot of things, but burritos isn't one of them. To be completely honest, one of the very real reasons I've stayed put in Pyeongtaek over the years is the fact my other favorite cities in Korea don't have restaurants selling these little flavor packages.

Anjeong-ri

• El Gitano - These are the new guys on the block and I am admittedly addicted. They are fast, delicious, consistent and delightfully TexMex all the way.
• Casa Burrito - I've been eating here for years. Sometimes this is exactly what I want. Just like TexMex is a twist on Mexican, this is a twist on TexMex and actually is a lot like some CaliMex burritos I've had in the states. I kind of love that he burritos have fries in them.
• La Mesa - I've heard it's improved a lot since opening, but I've not been back since my first visit. Trying to build up the nerve. EDIT: New management and chef's has now made this amazing. See my new review here.

Cheonan

• Cantina - Delightfully fun TexMex where the party happens at night. If you are hungry, don't order the tacos even though they are delicious. This is a great place for a date or night own. Totally worth a trip to Cheonan.

Daejeon

• La Casita (라카시타) - Haven't been here yet. Totally need to go. Putting it out there in case anyone wants to check it out.

Songtan

• Casa Burrito - See what I wrote above.
• Tacos Locos - These Baja style tacos are fabulous. Super fresh, very slow to make. The shop is quirky, inconsistent hours, and not open in winter. It's one of my favorite places in town and I eat here 1 -2 times a week when they are open. I can't help myself.
• La Casa Del Mexicano  -  I have eaten here a few times. This is the most truly Mexican place in Songtan. Since the highlight of most of the dishes is the cheese and I can't eat cheese, I've never really found anything I'm excited about. If you love cheese and heavy food though, go here. You will most likely really enjoy it.

Shipped to Your Home

• Tamales in Korea - These guys are amazing and legit. I love their tamales. You really need to make an order and keep them in your freezer as snacks.

Tacos Locos in Songtan

Water Parks and Pools: Cheonan Sangnok Resort

Pyeongtaek: To Do

Water Park

Nothing says Friday like going to Cheonan Sangnok Resort 

to swim and play with all of the students.

Of course, I would come here with adults as well.

Small but substantial - this is a great place for summer fun for everyone.

Outside is quiet during rain, but hopping on sunny days.

Inside is always busy, but not too busy on weekdays.

The longest line on Friday was three people.

Plus, it's only about 1 hour from Pyeongtaek, 

so it's easy and way less stressful than Caribbean Bay

where you are in long lines for everything.

CLICK HERE to learn more about pricing, hours, etc.

Address: Chungcheongnam-do, Cheonan-si, Dongnam-gu, Susin-ro, 576 Phone: 041-560-9114