When it comes to things such as moving or changing jobs, I tend to stay really quiet about it until everything is set in stone and nothing can backfire. So, now that I’m settling in, I can finally say: I’ve moved!
I’ve taken a second contract with the GEPIK program, but this time I’m working at a middle school in Bucheon. I’m really excited about my upcoming year in Bucheon, because when I first planned to move to South Korea, I said that Bucheon and Bundang were my preferred locations. I loved Anyang a lot, but Bucheon has a lot to offer, so I can’t wait to see what the coming year has in store for me!
My first impression of Bucheon so far has been fantastic. I got a choice in my apartments, so I picked one really close to Central Park. Which was a very good choice, because apparently I am surrounded by EVERYTHING. There are trees everywhere (though I can’t fully appreciate them yet, since it’s only the beginning of March. I’m anticipating it will be very green here though.) I’m also really excited because I’m within walking distance to both an E-Mart and Home Plus, restaurants and gyms and pretty much everything I could possibly need.
I’ve already met a lot of cool people in the area, and find it almost hilarious how every company seems to make all their native English-speaking staff live in the same neighbourhood. It’s a really convenient area though, so I’m not complaining too much. 😉
School has started already, and I’m getting used to the middle schoolers quite quickly. The only thing that is taking some time to get used to is the fact that a lot of the kids are already taller than me. I blame the milk they’ve been getting daily since grade one. There are still quite a few kids who are shorter than me though, so I don’t feel too tiny yet.
It seems like there has been a big influx of foreigners to my neighbourhood, so if you’re reading this and you’ve just moved to Wonmi-gu in Bucheon, let me know! It’d be fun to get to know some of the other people in this area.
Hello Rebecca…..I’ve just moved to Bucheon on the GEPIK programme. I googled Bucheon and stumbled across your blog. I enjoyed your intro but it doesn’t look like you’ve added to it. May be you’re having too much fun! If you’ve got any tips about the area…. where the best gyms, yoga classes, places to meet people etc might be, please drop me a line and tell you how I once met a man in a cupboard. Cheers.
Hey! Welcome to Korea and Bucheon! By intro, do you mean this post? I don’t really write a “this was my day” blog, unless the day was REALLY funny. I’ve been kinda busy with a new pet project right now though.
Best gyms? Well, my friend and I go to RU Fitness, which has branches all over Bucheon. I love it there, but it was pricy. Worth it though. They have yoga classes and spinning too! As for meeting people, I’m horrible for those kinds of things, because I don’t really go to standard foreigner places. I tend to avoid them. 😛 There are some western bars in Jungdong though that appear popular?
Thanks for the welcome Rebecca. Yes by intro I meant your post. It seemed like an introduction to more blogging. When you say pet project, do you mean animals? haha. I like to think you’re a monkey whisperer.
Oh and thanks for the gym advice. I think I’ll stick to running around the park opposite City Hall for now. I’ll wait till fate directs me to a pilates or yoga class….or one starts in my apartment without my knowledge one evening.
I am enjoying being solitary at the moment, while I learn to teach. Eventually , I may move onto western contact. Hopefully I can still speak. I fear I may sound a bit Rain Man.
I went with a co-worker to church today, despite not being a believer. I worried my beard looked a bit messy but then remembered Jesus liked to rock a beard himself. Disappointingly, no one remarked on the resemblance. I also worried I’d be singled out as a non-believer, though I escaped without inquisition.
Shit, I’m rambling and in public!! Hope you had a good weekend anyway!
Well, it did say chapter 2, which kinda just implies it’s the same old story, just moving on. But either way, no, a pet project does not involve pets. :/
It did indeed say chapter two. Forgive me,I’m old and my eye sight’s not what it was.
Hey I may be moving to Bucheon for my next contract in March 2013. I LOVE SEOUL because I’m from NY and it has that same awesome vybe. I chose Bucheon because of its proximity to Seoul. Can you tell me about commuting into and out of Seoul? And how is it music scene?
I really love Bucheon. It has a really great feeling to it. It’s obviously a planned city, because the streets are well designed and it’s not hard to get around. At the same time, it doesn’t FEEL planned, like Songdo (the new business city outside of Incheon)
Commuting into Seoul is quite easy. We have line 1, and now we have the line 7 extension that just opened. It’s really made getting into Seoul much easier. If you use Google Maps, the red bus system makes it even easier to get into the city. Hongdae in about 30 minutes, Gangnam in 50 or so… It’s quite reasonable, if you think about commuting on line 2. Except the buses are never as crowded as the train. There is apparently a very big foreigner scene here, but I don’t really go to bars so I don’t know it really. Same with the music scene. I am aware there is one, because I see lots of posters for it. Even in my middle school, there are 5 or 6 bands, and there’s lots of stuff supporting them in the city. I’m sure it continues up into the weekends and stuff.
Who are you going to contract with?
Hey I never answered your question, How rude of me! I forgot I’d even posted on here. I’m contracted with GEPIK and I’m living in Wonmi now…maybe we’ve seen each other around!
Did you get one of the elementary schools? I ended up moving when you would have arrived because the middle schools lost their funding. So I’m in Bundang now. 🙂
Hi Rebecca, whats good in Bucheon? 🙂
I really liked Bucheon Central Park and going to the movies. 🙂