1. PAKS2K: No need to bug the landlord about Mold. Just tell your Base Environmental Health folks. If you are Command Sponsored, they can lean on him a little, and he'll fix it. NCS, maybe that would work, or maybe you will have to move if they don't fix the mold. Clorox will remove mold, but it also can release harmful gases in the process, so Environmental help is better. Living with it is not healthful.

2. Chocolates are a great gift for Koreans, as well as fruit. Don't worry about them asking for Commissary or PX goodies. But- if they do ask, politely refuse, explaining that you can get in trouble and could lose your job over that!

3. Beggars- it is now illegal for them to bother you. When you see them, put a few coins in the can, if you like. If there is no can, just say the international word loudly, -NO!
Normally they won't touch you unless you look interested. It is sort of like driving, keep your eyes on the road, and your destination. If you don't act like a tourist, they normally won't approach you.

there has been periodic crackdowns on beggars, hawkers on the subways which has been nice

for the landlord/apt managers/guards, i get them something at seolal, chusok and christmas. this is the first non-campus provided housing i've had and this manager has been terrific

if we can just get rid of the religious nuts, they are the most annoying, they've chased me down in itaewon, grabbed me at the itaewon subway station while i was waiting for my wife in the restroom, come up to you on the subway. I see some in my neighborhood and they will knock on my door. A person on Daves ESL Cafe suggested posting a sign with a bible and a red circle through it on your door. Funny though I dont think I've seen any in the bar/club area of hongdae

Hey Blues bro.; I live in Itaewon, and never experienced a "Religious Nut" type. I did speak to a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses one day, taking a survey, but not agressive. Are we talking Nigerians or Koreans or "Other"?
Were they wanting money or trying to "save" you?


In S.C., Jehovah's Witnesses handing out their "Watchtower Magazine" , knock on a lot of doors, as do Mormons in other states. They both feel they are following the "Bible", and hopefully they don't get agressive about it.


That Itaewon Christian Church , across from McDonalds, draws a big crowd on Sunday, and makes it impossible to park anywhere. Not a criticism, just a fact. They fill their parking building in back, and overflow into the street.
I have never been accosted or incovenienced by them.

I've been here going on 11 years and trust me the nuts are out there in Itaewon, heck they are all over the place. Ever seen the Christian musicians outside the Hamilton singing after they close? Several times I've had people come up to me and try and preach to me. Couple of the more nortorious ones were one Sat nite a couple of years ago 4 of us were walking down the street and this Korean girl runs up to us and say "Do you want to go to church with me tomorrow?" we are like "wtf are you?" One a couple of months ago on a Sunday noon, a friend of mine and I were waiting for my wife to come out of the bathroom at Itaewon station and we were approached by this person going "help me, I'm a pastor, I need you to come to my church down the street". We should of acted like a gay couple.

They are out all over the place in Myeong-dong. I get approached at least once a month either going or coming from my gym. Sometimes they approach you on the subway or they just start preaching in the middle of the car. I get them at my home at least once every two months.. World Cup was nuts here outside the stadiums.

Worst thing is on Buddhist holidays and Chusok and Seollal they will work the temples and the train stations telling people going to these places they are going to hell etc.

Some days its a real spectacle around here

Blue's, sorry but what you have said makes no sence........the only thing you quoted was...... "a couple of years ago"....."One a couple of months "... "at least once a month"....."I get them at my home at least once every two months"..

Nothing of what you have said would call what the original poster (or Mr. Joe) would call radical......what she is talking about.

To me everyother day, 7-8 times a months would be bad.

This is MY opinion and everyone has one

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey

those are just the more bizzare ones. Its happens a lot down there in Itaewon At least once every month or so I get a few Jesus freaks knocking at my door here in Hongdae. Heck they even come up to me when I'm walking to my univ or taking out the trash etc. They must think us way-gooks are heathen what they fail to realize it was way-gooks who brought Christianity to Korea

Apparently there is a big deal amongst Korean pastors about having a way-gook in their church it makes them "look good" to the other pastors

Maybe you folks on base dont see it enough but get out amongst us regulars and you will notice a difference

I hate to say this but I am sooooooo boooooored here in Korea. I can't just go get a job to pass my time, I don't have any classes til May, hubby works everyday (including most weekends), and I'm not comfortable enough to take my two little girls to far from the local area (I might not make it back :). Anyway my point is WHAT IS THERE TO DO!! I don't know how much more of this I can take. I looked into volunteering but most of the stuff is sporadic, of paper pushing stuff. Anyone have a suggestion?

SLC,
I hate to say this as well, but maybe you should think about moving on to your husband's follow-on (Nellis, right?) and start setting up the house, school for the kids, and school for yourself. I had a boss (J33) when I was at Yongsan who brought his wife with him, 2 yr accompanied tour (USMC O-6). After 7 day work weeks, mostly 18 hours a day, she basically asked why he brought her with him, as he never saw her and the kids anyway and took her away from where she was happy and had a life. Being separated from family is difficult, but sometimes being together, but not being together (if you know what I mean) in a foreign land is much worse. I know the experience of living in a foreign country is exciting and fun, but it eventually wears off (as it sounds like it has for you), your can only shop so much, not working sucks when you're used to doing so, eating w/chopsticks can get old, and, unfortunately, the kids probably won't remember anything in 3-6 years anyway, depending on their age. I know I'm probably not making any friends in the NCS group in this forum, but I think it may be better for the spouse to either stay in the present location, if the schools, job, etc. are good, or move on the the follow-on to get things settled (school, new job, etc.) and visit once or twice for up to a month. That way, you don't get bored, the military member can no kidding take some time off when you visit to see what great things Korea has to offer (I HIGHLY recommend Everland!!! discount tickets from USO), and then you can get back to life like we're all used to back in the USA. With 2 visits from the US to Korea, and 1 mid-tour from Korea to USA, you can break up the 1 year into four 2-3 month separations. Makes it simple. Additionally, if anything ever did kick off over there (not that anything has happened in 55 years!), your family would be out of harms way and the military member could concentrate on killing the bad guys, not worrying about if his family made the NEO evac to Japan or not.

I'm sorry if I upset you or anyone else here NCS, or even CS for that matter. That was not my goal. I'm just being honest and providing another view on how to deal with a remote. I hope you enjoy the rest of your time there and best of luck in Vegas.

Opie has a good idea. For some folks it will work. Nellis is a good assignment. Been there, done that.
I can't imagine that there are not enough volunteer jobs at Osan. If you have tried the Chapel, the Orphanages, (Where the kids will have lots of friends),the Library and teaching English, the Rec Center, etc. Then you may be right. I could never be bored.

The only problem is Kenny Dear signed up for KAIP to stay for two years (which we STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING FOR YET!!!!! although it's been approved it is sitting at AFPC ) so we don't know where we will be going after this. They only do orphanages trips once a month and although I have contacted all the the different POC's only one person got in touch with me. I can't teach english b/c I don't have an ESL certificate, which from on the the commercials and all seems like you have to have one. Maybe after the current activites are over and everything is normal I will go bother the people at AFRC and see what I can find to do.

On top of all this, the commander says that no matter how long you are here he only allows 30 days total leave (yea I know he's an idiot).