Teaching in Korea with Access South Korea Now

Invitation for Lunar New Year Ski Trip 2010

2010-01-09T23:21:00.001-05:00

Hello!

This is an invitation for our 4th annual Lunar New Year ski and snowboarding trip. This year, it will be tough to head out of the country because of the short holiday, so why not spend your holiday skiing with us? The cost is easy to handle and every year, everyone has a great time.

Visit this link for all of the details:

http://www.asknow.ca/ski

What: Our 4th Annual Lunar New Year Ski Trip: 2 days and nights of skiing/snowboarding including lift tickets for afternoon on first day, full day on day 2, rental of snowboard/skis, our own chartered buses, choice of accommodation style for 2 nights, and travel insurance. Our accommodations are literally 3 minutes from the slopes. Optional: Yongpyong has a great indoor water park and spa called Peak Island. We are able to get discounted tickets for this, so you can add that to your package if you want to enjoy an outdoor hot tub, water massage in the jacuzzi and some wave-pool and water slide action.

When: Depart 7:30-8am Saturday, February 13th and return at 12pm on Monday, February 15th. Monday is a holiday for everyone (Lunar New Year)

Where: Departure from Suwon, Bundang and Coex Mall in Seoul. Our destination is Yongpyong Resort in Gangwon Province on the East Coast. Yongpyong is the largest and most famous ski resort in the country and we are going to take over!

Who: Any ASK Now-ETO clients, friends of theirs, and anyone else that would like to join the family. We are open to all who want to have a great trip in a positive, friendly and communal environment. Note: We have chartered 2 buses, so we will be 90 people. That's a party!

How Much:
Full Ski Package Individual: 187,000 (165,000 + 22,000 for bunk bed)
Full Snowboard Package Individual: 197,000 (175,000 +22,000 for bunk bed)

For an individual who wants to snowboard and is using the bunk rooms, it is 197,000 won including travel, rental, lift, accommodations, and travel insurance. For someone who wants to ski and get the bunk room, it is 187,000.

We also have separate rooms available for groups of 3 or groups of 7. So, if you have a group and you would like your own Ondol-style room (K-style floor sleeping with mats etc...) then you can reserve one of those rooms, but you must be a group of 3 or a group of 7. The benefit is that you and your friends get your own private room, your own private bathroom/shower as opposed to sharing in the bigger bunk rooms. For the bunk rooms, you get to save about 20,000-25,000.

For a tool to calculate your cost for a group, visit http://www.asknow.ca/ski

Price for separate rooms:
3-person Ondol: 140,000 for two nights (min. 3 people in group)
7-person Ondol: 280,000 for two nights (min. 7 people in group)

Note: If you are reserving one of these rooms, you MUST pay all at once. So, one person should gather all of the money from your group and transfer at one time and the group leader will be in communication with us.

Optional:

Water Park Ticket: 30,000 won

How to reserve:

1. Provide payment

Go to a bank machine or to a bank teller and transfer the money to this account:

KB Bank (Kookmin Bank)
Brant Kim
921601-01-099-701

Note: Be sure your name is sent with the payment if you go to the teller. Don't send it as "Ski Trip" or anything else. Lots of payments come through, and if it says "Ski Trip" we don't know who it is from.

2. Send confirmation email

Send an email to the address below (Subject: Ski Trip Payment) with this information:

Name of Payor:
Amount Sent:
Date Sent:
Number of skiers:
Number of snowboarders:
Number of water park tix:
Accommodation type:
Name(s) of Traveler(s):

Send to: Jason's email (available on site)

3. Fill in information on sign-up form and print reservation number

Note: It may take a couple of days to receive confirmation due to high volume. Please be patient and wait at least 72 hours before contacting us to re-confirm.

Once we confirm that payment has been made, we will send you an email with a link for you to enter the required information and to generate your reservation number. Each person in your group needs to fill out the info. Here is what will be required:

Name, email, phone number, departure location, Alien Registration Number, Passport Number, or Korean registration number (for travel insurance).

Visit http://www.asknow.ca/ski

Email any questions to Jason's email (available on site)

Happy Lunar New Year!

Important info about Criminal Background Check in Canada

2009-12-08T21:35:00.001-05:00

Here is a message I sent to our partners and independent reps about a potential major roadblock for Canadian applicants who want to teach in Korea due to some changes to the criminal background check issuing rules:

Hello,

I just wanted to let you know that this morning I received an email from a company we work with in Canada that provides background checks. They let me know that as of November 25th, local police agencies are no longer supposed to issue background checks and that basically all background checks should be processed through the RCMP with fingerprints. The RCMP check is said to take about 120-180 days (4-6 months). Obviously, that has a major impact on any applicants in Canada.

He advised me that the agencies involved are trying to fight the change to allow local agencies and private companies access to doing the checks. This is a major source of revenue for local police services as noted in this article:

http://www.communitypress.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2211978

Anyhow, at this point, technically, a local police department can still easily type in a name and DOB into the CPIC database, get the results, and print out a background check locally. It seems as though it is taking some time for this rule to trickle down to all local police departments, so it may be a window of opportunity for teachers to get the CBC done quickly. But, if this does result in a change across the country, then we may see it take 4-6 months to get a background check which may really cut down on the number of viable Canadian applicants as how many people will actually wait that long and then not change their mind?

We are of course hoping that this will not remain for long, but if you have a look at the RCMP site about processing times, it makes me embarrassed to be a Canadian:

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/time-temp-eng.htm

They say that they've noticed a massive increase in the number of requests over the last 7 years! Yup, years, not months...you'd think that someone would say, "hey, it's been 7 years now, maybe we should make some adjustments." Then they go on to say that they are working on a project to increase the processing time but that it will take "another few years." Wow! How can we possibly be so inefficient?

So, if this does change, we are going to have a bit of a mess on our hands for Canadians.

Just wanted to give you the heads-up on this. If you are Canadian, get your background check done asap!

Jason

Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Veggies, and Pumpkin Pie and more. Very Limited Space

2009-12-02T00:45:00.001-05:00

Need we say more? If you missed out on getting some home-style turkey for Thanksgiving, don't let this opportunity pass you by. We are currently getting ready for our Annual Christmas Party. This year, we are starting off right at Chef Meili's in Itaewon. We have reserved the entire restaurant.

For those who don't know, Chef Meili is an Austrian Chef with is own restaurant and deli in Itaewon, just behind Gecko's. They serve amazing food and the atmosphere makes it feel like you are back home enjoying Christmas dinner with your family and friends at someone's house.

Chef Meili is booking the place for us on Saturday, December 19th and preparing a special turkey dinner with all of the fixings for us. Since we are taking the whole place, we'll be doing it earlier in the day, just like Christmas Dinner usually gets started back home. We will meet there at 4:30pm, get settled, and have a relaxing dining experience till about 6pm. After that, we are going to head the 20 steps down the street to the Wolfhound Pub. Wayne and our friends there are preparing a little special for us and he'll be letting us know what it is soon.

So, there are only about 40 spots available for the turkey dinner and it is first paid/first in. I would assume that we will be full before the next couple of days are up, so if you want turkey, get you and your crew together quickly and send off payment.

Treat yourself this Christmas as this will be one of your only chances to get your hands on homes-style cooking with a great group of friends. A meal like this at a hotel around Seoul would be around the 70,000 won range, but Chef Meili is putting it on for us for 35,000 won again this year. (for anyone who wasn't there, Chef Meili catered for us last year and I think everyone fell in love)

OK...enough blabbing, here is what to do to reserve your spot:

Since spots are really, really limited, we are taking reservations on a first-paid, first in basis.

Step 1

Send 35,000 won to this account via bank teller and be sure that your name goes through as well:

KB Bank (Kookmin Bank)
Brant Kim
921601-01-099-701

Step 2

Send an email confirmation to jason@asknow.ca with your name, date of payment, and amount of payment. If you are more than one person in your group, please all pay together and send all names that are in your group in one email. We will confirm payment and confirm your seat. Subject: Christmas Party Payment

Refunds? Sorry...please be sure you can make it. If something comes up and you can't, you can send someone in your place, but once payment is made, we can't refund.

That's about it! If you are only able to make it to the Wolfhound, then we will be arriving there between 6-6:30pm.

Gather your group, get the payment sent off, and send me the confirmation email as soon as you can. It's going to be a great start to a fun night!

Jason and the ASK Now-ETO Team

Fascinating Story from an American Teaching in Korea in Late 70's

2009-09-10T01:54:00.001-04:00

I received this email from someone that is currently writing a book about his time in Korea. All I can say is that

I want to sit down with him and hear more stories!

Dear Jason:

I "fell into" English teaching back in 1974 in Seoul. I was a broadcaster
at AFKN (Now AFN) from February, 1974 until June of '75. I liked the place
so much, I got out of the Army, bought a one-way ticket back (with a tourist
visa) and picked up on my old contact right away.

I did not go to college. (Unless you count Defense Information School, where
I earned broadcasting and journalism titles or my Nuclear Instructor and
Classroom Subject Developer Certificate) Instead, I stumbled across a
Hoq-wahn in Namdaemun and ended up jumping straight into the job. A
sidewalk loudspeaker was playing my own voice, reading a two-month old
newscast, recorded off of AFKN.

Inside, a hard working student was trying to transcribe my own words to make
class room material. When I announced who I was, the place went wild.

The upshot was, I ended up teaching for almost 5 more years on my tourist
visa. Seoul AFKN English Institute had me transcribe movie dialogues for
$300 a pop. (I can transcribe almost as fast as a person speaks in clear,
printed longhand) Movies took 3-4 hours each. I also transcribed the TV
show "One Day At A Time". It was a daily, 30-minute comedy that ran on
AFKN. I was paid $15 an hour (3X hog-wahn rate) for the hour a day it took
for me to transcribe, then tell him what the grunts and snickers actually
meant to a native speaker. His classes filled.

About this time I had three lucky breaks.

First, I was given a $35/ hr advanced English Conversation class at Sam-Sung
Mulsan Corp.. It was in the Dong Bahng building @ 7-8a.m.

Second, I invented a unique, chalk talk style of teaching that
revolutuionized the concept. It was not so much of an English Conversation
class, but an "Accent Removal'' EXERCISE.

You see, Jason, as a person who "read the News" I can stand up in front of a
crowd and deliver. As a broadcaster, I also did the weather. (That is,
stood at a chalk-board map of Korea and drew in the meteorology.) Also, I'm
a graphic artist. They used me at AFKN to draw up story boards for our
live, Black and white performances. Then there is my current part-time
Instructor Position at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

Third, I recalled a movie about Helen Keller. When this genius was taught
to speak by placing her hand over her teacher's and learning to form the
necessary sounds, a light bulb went on. I developed a kind of symbolism
that looked like Ancient Aztec "Glyphs" for the students to follow with the
harder-to-pronounce parts of our language. (See the attachment)

The movie made me realize something. Koreans move their mouths very little
when speaking Korean. Their language uses tone, we use accent. I had to
wrestle countless time with students to get them to show their teeth. Some
of the ladies of my Korea Airlines account, had to actually hold their hands
in modesty over their mouths in my class.

"Mr. Don! My mouth hurts from speaking English!" I heard that line over
and over but I knew I was winning the battle.

My "Glyphs" consisted of a single-line contour of a human head, showing the
nose, the teeth of the upper jaw, roof of the mouth, tongue, teeth and lower
jaw. With this tool, I found I could get rid of those pesky habits of "Sis"
instead of "This" and "Rub" instead of "Love. I developed a glyph for all
sounds that are difficult for Koreans to make. They copied it in their
notebooks and I prospered.

For the "V" in love, I'd draw a glyph, show them how to curl the lower lip
under the front, upper teeth and gently hold it there. After the "LLLLLL".
Pop the lower lip foreword and say "Love"! To see 140 students at Korea
Explosives have it "dawn on them" was extremely satisfying. I felt honored.
I also liked their $30 an hour... a month in advance.

Then came the final revaluation. It was in two parts.

See, I taught very advanced business students, airline stewardesses and
doctors.
They could, with help, speak each word properly. But it sounded artificial,
computer generated. I taught them to SPEAK like an American.

First, notice how we jam our words together. (Must be the German in us.)
See how I've written "How are you today?" Spoken, it comes out "Hower YEW
today? I'd exercise them with "YEWt'day, YEWt'day, YEWt'day." until they
got it.

Second. I came up with a method to show accent throughout a written (read
aloud) sentence. On my attachment, you can see the line running through the
normally presented sentence. I'd have them saying, "HOW are YOU today?" in
no time. It is hard to put into print. But once you see the value of that
little line, they can take all their workbooks and add this helpful device
with fantastic results.

At the end, I actually taught mostly private students and companies.
Sam-Sung, KoreaExplosives and Ewah University (just to keep my
hand in a classroomsetting) were among them. In my day, a university
campus could become a battle ground.

If I found a student was going to visit, South Carolina, for instance, I'd
actually teach them a "Southern Drawl". Being born in New York City,
raised in Kentucky and well traveled, I was able to duplicate almost any
(even Canadian) accent.

Having "performed" on camera since I was 16, (Dad owned an early Cable
channel TV Station in the early 70's. I had an "American Bandstand" style
show.) this came naturally to me. I mean, who can't fake a British accent?
It might sound silly but it WORKS! To have them realize the almost unfair
fact that if you are doing business with an American Firm and your English
is not up to snuff, they are viewed as "less intelligent". It's just human
nature. So I tailored their accent to the customers they'd meet.

Now and again, I made $300 per book to place my "accent lines" in their
"English 900" texts. Mostly they did it themselves as class rolled along.

And roll along it did. I was making $4500 a month in a place where my
grass-roofed traditional house on Mountain #6 in Ohyadong (near Seongnam-Si)
cost $16 a month, including the woman and breakfast in the morning. I
married her, kept bouncing "kata-wata" between Korea and Japan and generally
had a grand time.

Then President Park Chung Hee was killed.

When Chun Do-Hwan took over, the rioting got so bad I couldn't even get to
work. A couple of my private students were government officials. Some went
to jail. Others disappeared.

In mid-May 1980, we fled south, trying to get to Wando Island, near Mokpo in
South Cholla Province by train. The train pulled in to Kwangju station the
night of May 17th, 1980. We took a inn for the night, two blocks from
Kwangju's Provincial hall. The next day we were smack-dab in the middle of
"The Kwangju Massacre".

We literally walked out of Cholla province, at one point being smuggled past
the military check points, in a pig crate, covered in Korean radishes, by a
kindly farmer. We hitch-hiked back home, robbed at gun point, beat up and
stunned by what we had seen. Still I wanted to stay.

Making it back to Seoul, I taught English when the rioting would permit
until October 1980. A massive riot at Namdaemun Gate saw me trapped and
trying to get home from my Sam-Sung class on my Honda 350. (I'd smuggled the
entire thing into Korea in parts from Japan in my knapsack.) Someone got a
picture of me struggling to ride through a cloud of CS gas. Another got a
shot of me leaving a certain Transportation Minister's home after his class.
They came and "collected" me and my wife on October 6th.

Her, they let go. Me they threw me into Suwon Prison. I had seen too much,
known too much. Gen. Chun's Korea was under martial law. They did not need
any witnesses.

Having managed to sneak out a letter, written on a sheet of toilet paper,
hidden in a fellow inmate's blanket hem, to my Dad (The Kentucky
Governor's photographer) I was merely held one day pastmy visa
expiration date and deported with two years probation. That was the
day before John Lennon was killed, December 8th, 1980.

My wife and I divorced back in '86. (She's now yelling at someone else.)
But I have often thought of returning to Korea, just to SEE. I could walk
into Sam Sung, mention a few names and maybe get to teach a few classes just
for old time's sake. I left Korea for less than a year in 75 and was
stunned by thechange when I returned. I cannot imagine what it would be
like now.

I chose to live in 1925 conditions. Grass roof, ice-water hand pump, heated
floor and "Miss Oriental July" to keep me warm. I could have lived
"Western" if I wanted to but that was not the show I'd come to see.

With a race bike (While everyone else rode KIA-Honda 50 & 90cc Auto-bikes),
my commute was about 20 minutes to Ietaewon, then zip through the Namsan
Tunnel and there was Namdaemun. I did it in minus-18 degree conditions a
time or two. Brrrrr!

In short, I would not have traded my time as a teacher for anything. I work
at a nuclear plant now. Sometimes I teach the particulars of reactor repair
to mechanics, sometimes I illustrate the exploded-views necessary to show
them the way, other times I turn wrenches with them. But they all stop and
listen whenever I talk about Korea.

I just finished a book on my adventures. It took 5 years to write. I have
over 100 photographs to go with it.

So what do you think, Jason? Does anybody still teach "outside of the
system" like I did? Is it still possible to just walk in a start teaching?

Sincerely,

Don S.

Group Picture

2009-07-15T00:51:00.001-04:00

From bottom left clockwise.

Melissa, Dave Luth, Kate, Annie, Brant Sr., Jason, Brant Jr.

This pic was taken at our Mudfest trip when we had dinner on Saturday night.

Jennifer McMaster's Intro Video

2009-05-20T04:23:00.000-04:00

Here is a video that one of our former teachers and current MVP staff members made about her experience working in Korea and working with ASK Now:

Noraebang Medley Amazing Scavenger Hunt Race 2009

2009-05-17T22:59:00.001-04:00

Here is a medley of performances at the 2009 ASK Now-ETO Amazing Scanvenger Hunt Race. As part of the event, teams had to sing a song at a Noraebang (singing room) and the score that they receive at the end of the song was added to their point total.

Overall, it was a great day and the teams did a great job of entertaining us!

Visit ASK Now for more about teaching in Korea

Very Funny Experience from one of our Teachers

2009-04-23T23:13:00.003-04:00

Hello Jason,

I'm fine, thank you! How are you? I'm trying to teach my students other words besides "fine" such as, good, great, ok, fantastic, so-so, doing well, fabulous, not good, terrible, terrific.............ANYTHING besides "fine". "I'm fine, thank you" seems to be hard wired into their brains. However, I was able to teach one student to respond with " I'm absolutely fabulous!"

I didn't go site-seeing very much in the winter, so I don't have that many pictures. I do have some interesting stories though..........

For example, in my early experiments with soju back in January, I met with some friends and had one bottle too many, but felt ok. So, rode the subway (made it just fine), then rode the bus, and missed my stop by a couple. I went ahead and got off the bus, and thought I would just walk the rest of the way home. During my walk is when the soju really hit me and I fell down in the snow a couple of times, then I passed a place with a big, fancy, and bright neon sign. It looked magical because, as you know, there are not very many big bright neon signs in Seoul. Anyway, it looked like a bar, so for some reason I thought if I stopped and had a beer it might sober me up. I have no idea why I thought having a beer would sober me up.

Well, I went into the place at about 12:30 am and didn't see a bar just a desk and a hallway. But there were many beer signs and bottles of alcohol. So, I asked for a beer and they laughed at me, but I didn't understand why they were laughing. They finally agreed to give me a beer and took me to a room with a large sectional sofa, a big table, a giant tv, and a giant remote control! I remember thinking "how cool my own private tv and sofa to sit and drink my one beer." I also remember playing with the remote and asking if they had The History Channel.......unfortunately they didn't. Then they asked if I wanted a girl to keep me company........I thought "sure, why not?" Then they asked if I wanted two......again I thought "sure, why not?".

After that I had a few more beers and only remember bit's and pieces, like talking away to the girls as if they understood everything I was saying, and then stumbling around town trying to find my way home. The last thing I remember was seeing the sunrise as I finally found my apartment. The next morning I woke up on the floor in the kitchen with a receipt for 175,000 Won and a headache. As you may have guessed by now, the place wasn't a bar. It was a singing room. I didn't even know singing room places existed.

Anyway, I learned two lessons:

1. Don't drink more than 3 full bottles of soju.
2. If you do drink more than 3 bottles of soju, don't explore new places without a guide.

Jason W.

ROK Talk Episode 3

2009-04-03T22:41:00.000-04:00

Episode 3...We have a Name! from Jason Cresswell on Vimeo.

Our name has been decided!

In this episode, bad blooded dual citizens live in Hanok with women who can't drive. Or something like that.

www.asknow.ca

Paintball April 25

2009-03-30T09:35:00.001-04:00

info coming soon to events page. went today to scout. looks fun!

Flash Mob In Daegu

2009-03-28T13:08:00.002-04:00

Here is a fun video of a flash mob in downtown Daegu. The foreigners in that city know how to have a party! Promoting a new magazine about Daegu as well. Check it out.

Teach in Korea

Short Skirts, Bribery, Crazy Canadians and Good Burgers

2009-03-27T22:20:00.001-04:00

Episode 2 of the show is up!

Beta Version Episode 2 March 20 2009 from Jason Cresswell on Vimeo.

Update from Melissa in Gangneung

2009-03-27T06:15:00.001-04:00

Here is the latest installment from our guest blogger and ASK Now rep Melissa Steach currently in Gangneung. Enjoy!

I went skydiving for the first time last year. It was a Friday morning in California and like most every day it was a great day to be outdoors. For years I'd listened as others talked about jumping and said, oh hell no -- not me. But this morning was different. I had the day off, it was lovely and what the hell else had I to do but... jump. I made no phone calls to boast my plans. Instead I turned off my cell phone and drove.

As the plane climbed to the required height so did my confidence. Sensing that all I had was the big German whose lap I was now strapped to and the slim but real possibility that this jump could be my first and our last, I relaxed. It was then that I understood how when facing great fear a person can shit their pants: When your mind accepts the plain fact that in this moment you have absolutely no control, the body lets go as well. Kneeling down beside the gaping door of the tiny shuttle I looked at the miniature land below, said a prayer and fell into air. As instructed, my body bent backwards spooning the German and like flying squirrels we screamed, squealed and laughed for what felt like a lifetime of free fall. With my tug, our chute opened silently. Our speed slowed without aggravation. I gasped. My god it's beautiful were the only words I uttered the entire way down.

Spring has broken from Winter's ground. My daily hikes have replaced my morning yoga. It seems that people aren't the only life forces I'm interested in meeting these days. On Monday I met a lovely tree named Magnolia. Tuesday I spied a bunch of shy violets. By Wednesday I'd run into some flirty yellow buds and on Thursday I made the acquaintance of a Maltese named Boris. He in turn introduced me to his caretaker Sally, a young woman from California. We hit it off immediately and made plans for me to join she and her friends for some home-cooked Indian cuisine and knitting. Upon learning that I grew up in Alabama -- Sally pronounced that I will meet her expat friend from Montgomery and so it unfolds...

By Saturday I was off to Seoul. The city was aflutter. Like bees to honey the boys buzzed and the girls dripped. My five months of feeling sexually invisible instantly combusted. Women of every ethnicity strutted down the streets of Itaewon and I joined in the parade. Dinner was followed by dancing with friends and the young morning found us all at a Reggae club. Though a sudden rain had set in, no dimmed spirits were witnessed. We winded and grinded and all out stirred it up. Evidence of our joy marked by a cycle of condensation and sweat on the club windows. The owner / bartender was an unusually tall, but typically friendly Korean. The Filipino waitresses were a cocktail of bubbly personality, shiny eyes, hair and teeth. The establishment wife was an undeniably delightful drunk. The Africans were obviously so, yet distinctly Korean, switching languages as easily as they swayed to Bob.

After no more than a few hours sleep at the jjimjilbang, I awoke tired but relaxed. I was eager to discover what Sunday's jump would show me. My second free fall was tandem with a friend I'd made when last in Seoul. He treated me to his favorite restaurant and introduced me to one of the city's walking river paths. Sitting along the bank, I listened as my new friend shared with me, I watched children playing in the spray that drifted from the fountain. I could feel the setting sun blow warm against my skin, it's breath setting in motion the relaxing of my muscles like an expertly crafted line of dominoes. Reminded of the fifteen minutes I'd spent in awe and silence when it seemed I could touch the earth's curve -- My god it's beautiful were the only words I uttered the entire way down.

Melissa Steach

www.asknow.ca/melissa

They're looking for my ride...

2009-03-23T08:40:00.001-04:00

...but I'm on da bus!

South Korea to Host 2022 World Cup?

2009-03-17T20:29:00.001-04:00

It's way too early to tell what the results will be, but South Korea is bidding on the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosting. I will say that the 2002 tournament was one of the funnest times I've had in this country. Renting a car and traveling around with my good friend Dave and his dad Mario was a highlight. We went to several games and toured around the whole country for the month.

So, if Korea wins the bid for 2022, it could be a 20 year anniversary for us! Anyone up for a roadie?

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Win an Ipod by Naming our Show

2009-03-17T03:42:00.002-04:00

Hello!

We are starting a weekly show where we will review what's happening in the news in Korea as well as upcoming events etc...It will be pretty raw and perhaps even offensive at times. We have modeled it after the DiggNation format. Anyhow...we are holding a contest for a name. The winner will get a free Ipod. Please have a look and email your suggestion to noname at asknow.ca

This is our "Beta Version" of the show, so look for an improvement in quality and content as we move along. Enjoy!

Jason
www.asknow.ca

Beta Version Korea Talk Show from Jason Cresswell on Vimeo.

Cute Korean Video

2009-03-16T11:16:00.001-04:00

Here's a cute video I came across while checking out Vimeo, a replacement for Youtube that might allow us to post longer videos...yes, we have some stuff brewing. Anyhow...enjoy this one.

Korea from Stina Johansson on Vimeo.

Teach in Korea with us!

Soju Video

2009-03-14T11:23:00.001-04:00

Nice work by this crew to do this video. Soju boy..drank dat!

www.asknow.ca

Exploring Krispy Kreme

2009-03-07T03:46:00.001-05:00

KK in Korea www.asknow.ca

MY HOOD

2009-03-07T03:26:00.001-05:00

dogs

2009-03-06T10:55:00.001-05:00

Our Teachers T-shirts Rock!

2009-03-06T04:32:00.000-05:00

Hey,

I just got an email from our good friend Luke Martin, creator of ROKetship (http://www.roketship.com/) and one of our clients that we are proud of for getting so involved in things here in Korea.

He let me know that he's working with Babo Shirts (www.baboshirts.com) on some T-shirt designs. Check out the design at this link:

http://www.baboshirts.com/shirts/rocketship.html

While I was there, I also noticed that another one of our clients, Grant Gigliotti, has teamed up with them as well and is offering some of his designs, like this one:

http://www.baboshirts.com/shirts/won.html

Grant actually sent me one of those very shirts as a thank you gift after arriving in Korea. I wear it frequently!

Don't forget to visit the ROKetship site to enjoy some very funny stuff. I just visited and I love the one on the front page...anyone who buys cereal in this country has to check it out. FYI, Luke is the one who designed our E2 visa t-shirt that we gave away a few parties back. Funny stuff! And for anyone who was at the Halloween Party last year, Grant was the leader of the 300. Relax now ladies!

So, support your fellow teachers Grant and Luke, check out the t's and be fashionable!

Have a good weekend!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Vagina Monologues Interest Meeting

2009-03-05T05:25:00.003-05:00

Hey, one of our teachers is working on organizing an event for the prevention of violence against women. Please check out this Facebook group as they are looking for volunteers/actors/anyone who can help Click here for more.

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Invite to ASK Now-ETO March 21st Party and MudFest 2009

2009-03-05T05:06:00.001-05:00

Hello,

This is an invitation to our party on March 21st to be held in Itaewon at Rocky Mountain Tavern.

We will be giving away free tickets to this year's MudFest trip (the best event of the year for teachers in Korea). We'll also be giving away an Ipod as a "Welcome to Korea" prize.

So, here are the details:

What: Party for all of our new arrivals and all of the veterans

Where: Rocky Mountain Tavern in Itaewon, Seoul (map sent on sign-up)

When: Saturday, March 21st starting at 7pm.

Who: You and any friends or co-workers you would like to bring along.

How: Go to http://www.asknow.ca/events.aspx and sign up. You have to be on the guestlist in order to win any prizes.

I know there are a lot of people who arrived in February and March, so it will be great to get everyone together. Also, it seems like it's been a while since we've seen the rest of our teachers. We saw some of you during Stacey's visit and on the ski trip, but this is one event where we can pack the place and really get a big party going.

If you live far outside of Seoul, no problem. This is the best excuse to make a trip into Seoul. If yo want to travel together with someone or even arrange to stay together, just use the ASK Now Facebook group to coordinate: Access South Korea Now (search that on Facebook).

So...please be sure to sign up for yourselves and any guests. Anyone signed up will be in the draw for the prize, but you have to be present to win.

Next item...we are already planning our trip to MudFest 2009. It's going to be in July, so why are we starting now? Because it sells out quick, every year gets bigger and bigger, and we want to make sure our people have the best places on the beach.

MudFest is THE event of the year according to anyone who's been. It's definitely on the list of "must-do" in Korea. We are offering an Early-Bird Special for the month of March so that people can get the best deal and we can start booking rooms as soon as possible before anyone else takes up the good places. Please visit our MudFest page to learn more, check out some pics and videos, and see how to sign up for that.

Oh, if you happen to sign up for the trip and then win one of the trips at the March 21st party, we'll refund you, no worries. Here's the link for that:

http://www.asknow.ca/mudfest

We also have a Facebook group for that. Just look for "Mudfest 2009"

Well, that's all for now. Looking forward to seeing everyone on March 21st.

Jason and the ASK Now ETO Team

www.asknow.ca

About teaching

2009-02-26T20:43:00.000-05:00

Here is a quick message I wrote to one of our clients who asked me about teaching in Korean classrooms. I will expand on these ideas soon as I know it will help a lot of other first-time teachers avoid a lot of stress.

Hello Yvan,

To be honest, before coming to Korea, I really didn't have any formal teaching experience. So, I was thrown right into it without any idea of what I was doing. It was really tough at first as I had no idea how to control the kids and get them to do what I wanted.

It took me a while to learn that they need a consistent environment and to have very obvious standards to follow in order to give them a sense of what they can and can't do in class.

I think kids are very similar no matter where you go. There will always be kids who try really hard, then there will be the average kids, and of course, there will be the ones who are more of a challenge. That's the same in Korea.

The main thing that I have learned is that kids need consistency and they need obvious boundaries. If they have that, then there are few problems.

Specific to Korea, if you eliminate Korean speaking in class, you virtually eliminate bad behavior. It's almost a magical formula. As long as you have a specific system for not allowing Korean in the classroom, you eliminate the majority of your stress.

Talk to you again,

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Eric's pics of Jeju Fire

2009-02-16T02:47:00.001-05:00

Here are some pics of Eric starting fires. What a crazy festival that is!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Eric Starting Fires in Jeju

2009-02-16T02:45:00.002-05:00

Here is a great message from one of our clients and friends, Eric in Jeju. He participated in the Jeju Wildfire Festival and here is his report:

Hi Jason....

I have to share this with you in case you ever wanted to promote Jeju Island/ASKNow, Inc!

I have experienced many incredible things in South Korea.....overall, but Saturday
was the most incredible experience of ALL! I took part in celebrating something very
unique & special.

I went to the "2009 들불 축제"....(Wildfire Festival). The best way to describe it is "WOW"!!!
Of course...most Koreans attended, but I noticed about 25 - 30 foreigners and talked to
about 10 of them. We were spotted by management and asked to sit front stage. It was
definitely FIRST-CLASS. After enjoying the bands and singers "do their thing", the foreigners
at front stage (I was one of them of course) were given white gloves and a lantern. We
lined-up in rows and our lanterns were lite and we passed the flames to the next person. The
torches reminded me of the Olympic Torch.

15 people were pulled aside at random out of the 100 + who had a lantern. Guess who was one
of those 15 people picked? Yep! One was me. Wow! What a great honor! I felt like a celebrity actor
from Hollywood. The cameras were flashing....and the bulbs were flashing! I was going to sign
autographs.......but then I woke-up! LOL After I woke-up from the "dream world" I was in, we were
asked...one by one....to throw the fire lantern to start the fire on the mountain.

If you and your wife never went to this festival.....I would strongly recommend you do. It is celebrated
on Valentines Day each year, but a lot depends on the Lunar path, but no matter what.....I believe they
keep it close/on February 14th each year.

Eric (에릭)

P.S. Pics to follow

www.asknow.ca

ASK Now Wiki Launch!

2009-02-15T04:51:00.001-05:00

I am very happy to announce that after a good couple of hundred hours, the ASK Now Wiki is live!

www.asknow.ca/wiki

So, for those that are not familiar with what a wiki is, here's a brief explanation:

A Wiki is a type of website where the users are able to easily update and create content in a collaborative way. Everyone can edit the same page. The most popular site using Wiki software is obviously Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia. www.wikipedia.org

However, what many people don't know is that a wiki can be created for any topic and can be very useful for sites such as ours. It will allow us to have as much info as possible on living and teaching in Korea and to keep it contantly updated.

More importantly, it allows everyone in the ASK Now community to create pages and update them as they see fit. So, if you have a favorite restaurant or bar in your neighborhood that you would like to let people know about, just create a page and start typing. If you can write an essay or any other document using a word processor like Microsoft Word, you can easily use the Wiki format.

So, visit the page for the city you live in and please, start adding content if you have more info to share. It will help everyone.

For those new to teaching and living in Korea, the ASK Now Wiki will help you go much deeper and find much more info than anywhere else.

Please have a look and click around to see what is available:

www.asknow.ca/wiki

Jason

www.asknow.ca

English-Speaking Real Estate Agents in Korea

2009-02-12T03:32:00.001-05:00

Here is a great post I just came across for anyone looking for English-speaking real estate agents to help them find a place in Seoul.

Jason

www.asknow.ca

English-speaking real estate agents in Seoul, recommended

Seoul City has selected real estate agents to help foreigners find housing in the city, officials said yesterday.

With the recommendation from the real estate association, the Seoul Metropolitan Government certified 20 offices for offering English service to expats as part of a real estate service improvement project, according to officials. Among these, 10 are located in Yongsan-gu, which has a high foreigner population.

These 20 agencies have been in business for three years or more, and are operated by fluent English-speaking agents. Contract formats and counsel will be available in English.

Below is the list of "Recommended Real Estate Agencies for foreigners' use" compiled in cooperation with the relevant associations - the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, and the Korea Real Estate Brokers Association - for the purpose of recommending suitably qualified real estate brokers. Kindly note that the use of this list is solely for referential purposes and Invest KOREA expressly disclaims all liability to any person or company in respect to any consequences arising from utilization of the services of the real estate agencies included in the list.

Certified Real Estate Agencies for Foreigners
(Authorized by Seoul metropolitan government as of December 2008)

Name of Gu (Ward) Name of Office English Name Address of Office Tel. Languages Available

A. Yongsan-gu

1. IRE Certified Real Estate Agency / Chang, mi ra / Yongsan-gu Bogwang-dong 231-19 Tel 798-9888 FAX 798-9895 English

2. Yongsan Certified Real Estate Agency / Song, myung goo / Yongsan-gu Yongsan-dong 2-ga 5-1612 Tel 792-7111 FAX 792-7021 English, French, Spanish

3. International Certified Real Estate Agency / Lee, yong kyun / Yongsan-gu Itaewon-dong 34-158, 1F 103 Tel 794-8844 FAX 749-8892 English

4. Dreamland Housing Certified Real Estate Agency / Kang, shin young / Yongsan-gu Itaewon-dong 226-1 Tel 794-0811 FAX 794-9876 English

5. World CertifiedReal Estate Agency / Kim, jae woo / Yongsan-gu Itaewon-dong 229-17 Tel 797-0330 FAX 794-2181 English, Japanese

6. Reamko Realty Corporation / You, young hwa / Yongsan-gu Hannam-dong 28-11 Hanseong Building 201 Tel 749-9959 FAX 749-7959 English, Italian

7. UN Certified Real Estate Agency / Chang, moon hee / Yongsan-gu Hannam-dong 28-12, 1F Fax 792-2558 FAX 793-0741 English

8. Green Certified Real Estate Agency / Chung, seung sup / Yongsan-gu Hannam-dong 36-1, 2F 204 Tel 749-8070 FAX 749-8060 English, Chinese, German

9. Yoo Lim Certified Real Estate Agency / Chung, kyoung hwa / Yongsan-gu Dongbinggo-dong 310-29 Tel 794-7633 FAX 798-0843 English

10. Hi Rent Certified Real Estate Agency / Ahn, young bok / Yongsan-gu Icheon-dong 302-68 Pungwonsangga 101 Tel 797-7277 FAX 795-7077 English

B. Eunpyeong-gu

Eunpyeong Certified Real Estate Agency / Jung, da woon / Eunpyeong-gu Yeokcheon-dong 28-68, 101 Tel 353-1123 FAX 353-1143 English

C. Yangcheon-gu

New Seoul Certified Real Estate Agency / Lee, hark ro / Yangcheon-gu Mok-dong 925 Mok-dong Apt 7 Danji B Sangga 204 Tel 2651-2244 FAX 2651-9966 English

D. Geumcheon-gu

Cheongho Certified Real Estate Agency / Park, nae yeol / Geumcheon-gu Siheung-dong 917-36 Tel 808-8920 FAX 808-8970 English

E. Yeongdeung-po-gu

Richensia Certified Real Estate Agency / Um, ok soo / Yeongdeungpo-gu Yeouido-dong 61 Kumho Richensia A-dong 203 Tel 784-5655 FAX 784-5756 English, Arabic

F. Seocho-gu

1. POSCO Certified Real Estate Agency / Bae, jung soo / Seocho-gu Seocho-dong 1444-21, 102 Tel 525-0024 FAX 587-5911 English

2. Nambuk Certified Real Estate Agency / Lee, oh sung / Seocho-gu Yangje-dong 321-2, 1F Tel 577-9498 FAX 577-9407 English

3. Yangji Certified Real Estate Agency / Yoon, young bae / Seocho-gu Jamwon-dong 69-10 Banpo Shopping Town 5-dong 1F 20 Tel 591-5151 FAX 596-4143 English, Chinese

G. Gangnam-gu

Onnuri Certified Real Estate Agency / Cheong, choon sahng / Gangnam-gu Yeoksam-dong 690-3, 317 Tel 558-0601 FAX 070-7016-0601 English

H. Songpa-gu

Corea Certified Real Estate Agency / Song, won yong / Songpa-gu Munjeong-dong 51-7, 1F Tel 400-1310 FAX 400-3830 English

I. Gangdong-gu

Lee Jik Sun Certified Real Estate Agency / Lee, jik sun / Gangdong-gu Dunchon-dong 148-7 Tel 470-8946 FAX 472-4455 Japanese, English

Recommended by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers

Click the name of each company for details.

I. Seoul

1. Gangnam-gu

Elite Real Estate
* Address: 1st fl,Shin-Han Building,76-15, Chungdam-dong,Gangnam-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points : Song,Kyu-Sang
Tel: 02-540-3700,FAX: 02-511-9094
H.P: 011-9675-8249
Email: kssongkr@empal.com
* Homepage: http://www.114elite.co.kr

JH Realty Service
* Address: #115 D.O Plus Bd,Yeoksam-dong,Gangnam-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points : John, Kim
Tel: 02-558-4202, FAX: 02-558-4203
H.P: 016-367-8354
Email: jhrealty@hanmail.net
* Homepage: http://www.homefinding.co.kr

My home Finding
* Address: #206,D.O Plus Bd,Yeoksam-dong,Gangnam-gu,Seoul
* Contact points : Hee Ok Park
Tel: 02-2050-0075, FAX: 02-2050-0090
H.P: 016-360-9704
Email: sarirpark@hotmail.com
* Homepage: http://www.oneroomdr.co.kr

New Star Realty
* Address: 6F Ankook Bd,595-1,Shinsa-dong, Kangnam-gu,Seoul
* Contact points : Tae Hyun Kim
Tel: 02-3448-5651, FAX: 02-3448-5654
H.P: 010-6273-7039
Email: ceo@newstarusa.co.kr
* Homepage : http://www.newstarusa.co.kr
http://www.newstarplus.com
http://www.newstarrealty.com

Realty TMK Co.,Ltd.
* Address: #239,Daerim Acrotel Bd,140-3,Samsung-dong,Gangnam-gu,Seoul,135-080,Korea
* Contact points : Eric Kim
Tel: 02-538-7550, FAX: 02-538-4754
H.P: 011-459-1470
Email: tmk@realtytmk.com
* Homepage: http://www.realtytmk.com

2. Seocho-gu

Dave's Realty
* Address: #101,Lotte Bd,1649-16,Seocho-dong,Seocho-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points : David Kim
Tel: 02-586-4400, FAX: 02-586-4534
H.P: 011-336-0918
Email: lulupio@dreamwiz.com
* Homepage : http://my.dreamwiz.com/lulupio

Korea Realty
* Address: 3F,Young Chang Bd,88-12,Banpo4-dong,Seocho-gu,Seoul.
* Contact points : Byung Hun, Song
Tel: 02-534-4066, FAX: 02-592-3211
H.P: 019-312-8241
Email: korearealty@korea-realty.com
* Homepage : http://www.korea-realty.com

3. Yongsan-gu

Dreamland Consulting
* Address: #5-12,Itaewon-dong,Yongsan-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points : Kang,Shin-Young
Tel: 02-794-0811, FAX: 02-794-9876
H.P: 011-660-0811
Email: webmaster@seoulife.com
* Homepage : http://www.seoulife.com

Global Midas Realty
* Address: #717,Itaewon-dong,Yongsan-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points : Keun Sik, Lee
Tel: 02-792-7890, FAX: 02-792-0877
H.P: 011-250-1279
Email: ks@korealty.com
* Homepage : http://www.korealty.com

Green Real Estate Consulting
* Address: #204,Yeosunkyeo Bd,36-1 Hanman-dong,Yongsan-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points : David Chung
Tel: 02-749-8070, FAX: 02-749-8060
H.P: 017-326-3730
Email: green70@hanafos.com
* Homepage:http://www.greenrealestate.co.kr

International Real Estate Agency
* Address: #130-1,Itaewon-dong, Youngsan-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points : Youg Kyun, Lee
Tel: 02-796-4580, FAX: 02-790-8002
H.P: 010-5767-4580
Email: realty8949net@yahoo.co.kr
* Homepage:

Reamko Realty
* Address: 28-11,Hannam-dong,Yongsan-gu,Seoul
* Contact points : Yoo, Young-hwa
Tel: 02-749-9959, FAX: 02-749-7959
H.P: 011-9715-6770
Email: europea@chol.com
* Homepage:

Yeon Sei Real Estate
* Address: #106,Sam-Ik shop,300-301 Ichon-dong,Yongsan-gu,Seoul
* Contact points : Hyeong Seok, Ban
Tel: 02-798-3223, FAX: 02-798-3226
H.P: 016-546-7161
Email: 2003bhs@paran.com
* Homepage: http://www.ys3223.com

4. Kangdong-gu, Kwangjin-gu, Songpa-gu

Hana Realty Consulting
* Address: #652,Koduck-dong,Kangdong-gu,Seoul
* Contact points: Hoon Kim
Tel: 02-442-2221, FAX: 02-427-6688
H.P: 011-330-2236
Email: kh-seoul@daum.net
* Homepage:

J.S Lee Office
* Address: #101,148-7,Dunchun2-dong,Kangdong-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points: Jik Sun Lee
Tel: 02-470-8946, FAX: 02-472-4455
H.P: 011-270-4810
Email: jiksunl@korea.com
* Homepage:

Youn Realty Office
* Address: #122-20,Jungkok-dong,Kwangjin-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points: Shinwoong, Suh
Tel: 02-446-4989, FAX: 02-453-7087
H.P: 010-7202-1589
Email: ssw1953@hanmail.net
* Homepage:

Dream Real Estate Office
* Address: #112 1dong,Olympic Family commercial Bd,150,Munjung-dong,Songpa-gu,Seoul
* Contact points: Mong Suk Kim
Tel: 02-402-0909, FAX: 02-402-0365
H.P: 011-9881-5376
Email: poongsukim@hanmail.net
* Homepage:

5. Gangseo-gu, Yangchun-gu, Youngdeungpo-gu

Hyundai Realty Network
* Address: #26-1,Gonghang-dong,Gangseo-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points: Calvin, Kim
Tel: 02-2662-1141, FAX: 02-2662-1141
H.P: 019-661-2222
Email: calvinkim2u@yahoo.co.kr
* Homepage:

Myung moon Realty
* Address: #129,13th block,C-Part Mok-dong Apt,Shinjung-dong,Yangchun-gu,Seoul
* Contact points: Kwon, Miok
Tel: 02-2648-4544, FAX: 02-2642-4542
H.P: 016-237-5488
Email: k08150@hotmail.com
* Homepage: http://myspider.net/kk2moon

Richensia Realty
* Address: 61 R/No.A-203,Yoido Keum-ho richensia Bd,Yoido-dong,Youngdeungpo-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points: Um Ock Soo
Tel: 02-784-5655, FAX: 02-784-5756
H.P: 010-4754-5655
Email: richensiarealty@yahoo.co.kr
* Homepage:

6. SungDong-gu, Jungnang-gu

RE Doctor Office
* Address: #103,Bshop, Daerimkangbyun Town Apartment Complex,15,EungBong dong,SungDong-gu,Seoul,Korea
* Contact points: Lee, Myeung-Ja
Tel: 02-2299-6677, FAX: 02-2299-4543
H.P: 011-9886-5570
Email:
* Homepage:

Prima Realty Office
* Address: #115-20,Sangbong-dong,Jungnang-gu,Seoul
* Contact points: Jona Lee
Tel: 02-2207-5400, FAX: 02-2207-2211
H.P: 011-752-6365
Email: jonalee@korea.com
* Homepage:

II. Busan

A-Ram Real Estate Office
* Address: #204,DewooGreenTower business Bd,Geoje-dong,Yeunje-gu,Busan,Korea
* Contact points : Ok Sun, Sohn
Tel: 051-507-0049, FAX: 051-507-0049
H.P: 016-570-2375
Email: river225@hanmail.net
* Homepage:

III. Gyeonggi-do

Rpark Realty
* Address: Rm210 Yangwoo Dramacity 854-1,Janghang-dong,Ilsan-gu,Koyang-si,Gyeonggi-do
* Contact points: Andrew Kim
Tel: 031-901-8300, FAX: 031-901-8355
H.P: 017-366-0467
Email: sjto21c@yahoo.co.kr
* Homepage:

CHOICE R.E.
* Address: #101,Cheonji Bd,270-3,Seohyun-dong,Bundang-gu,Seongnam-si,Gyeonggi-do,Korea
* Contact points: Jong On, Choi
Tel: 031-706-5205, FAX: 031-706-5206
H.P: 016-854-9490
Email: jong828@hotmail.com
* Homepage:

Woori Realty Service
* Address: 88,Sehyeon-dong,Bundang-gu,Seongnam-si,Gyeonggi-do,Korea
* Contact points: Ryu Kun-Joon
Tel: 031-704-3003, FAX: 031-704-7560
H.P: 011-9993-3727
Email: nampar@dreamwiz.com
* Homepage:

Top Real Estate Office
* Address: #108,KumhoAPTshop,932-2,Pyeongchon-dong,Dongan-gu,Anyang-si,Gyeonggi-do,Korea
* Contact points: Hwa Ja, Baik
Tel: 031-383-1999, FAX: 031-383-1318
H.P: 011-275-9012
Email:
* Homepage: http://www.aptnara.co.kr

IV. Gyeongsangnam-do

Se-Jin
* Address: #130, Sungwon3APTshop, 335, Daebang-dong, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea
* Contact points: Jun Hyung, Lee
Tel: 055-275-1117, FAX: 055-275-1181
H.P: 016-269-0898
Email: hawk586@hanmail.net
* Homepage: http://www.sejinland.co.kr Hanaro Real Estate Consultants
* Address: 143-11,Jasan-dong,Masan-si,Gyeongsangnam-do,Korea
* Contact points: Hee Sun Je
Tel: 055-246-8949, FAX: 055-246-8942
H.P: 010-3030-0112
Email: jhs0684@hanmail.net
* Homepage:

Recommended by the Korea Real Estate Brokers Association

Click the name of each company for details.

A. Seoul

1. Gangnam-gu

G&B Realty Services
* Address: #Suite No.101 Daewoong Bd,46-20,Cheongdam-dong,Gangnam-gu,Seoul,Korea(135-100)
* Contact points : Soon Seo Park
Tel: 02-548-2002, FAX: 02-540-3953
H.P: 016-207-2391
Email: sspark20@korea.com
* Homepage: http://www.gnbrealty.com

KORID A&C Co.Ltd
* Address: #702 Boam Bd. 528 Shinsa-dong,Kangnam-gu,Seoul
* Contact points : Lee Chul-Sung
Tel: 02-567-6222, FAX: 02-567-8918
H.P: 011-832-9982
Email: chullee7@hanmail.net
* Homepage:

Shinsegae Realtor Office
* Address: 3-105,Hyundai No.9 Store,Apkujungdong,Kangnam-gu,Seoul
* Contact points : Kim In Hyuk
Tel: 02-545-8844, FAX: 02-3444-5400
H.P: 016-221-2492
Email: ihkim777@yahoo.co.kr
* Homepage: http://www.ihkim.co.kr

Town Realty Agency
* Address: 1022-3,Daechidong,Kangnam-gu,Seoul
* Contact points : Chung Oe Taek
Tel: 02-558-4959, FAX: 02-558-4958
H.P: 011-240-8069
Email: otchung@hotmail.com
* Homepage : http://www.town4959.co.kr

2. Seocho-gu

Dream line
* Address: 795-18,Bangbae-dong,Seocho-gu,Seoul
* Contact points : Kim Dong Yul
Tel: 02-3477-3060, FAX: 02-595-7770
H.P: 016-237-2952
Email: dyk88@hanmail.net
* Homepage : http://www.r-hyundai.com

MYUNG KA REALTOR OFFICE
* Address: 1484-1 Seocho3-dong,Seocho-gu,Seoul
* Contact points : Kang Woo Won
Tel: 02-598-8228, FAX: 02-598-8228
H.P: 011-777-2455
Email: hantrade@shinbiro.com
* Homepage : www.realtorwell.com

3. Yongsan-gu

Century 21 Seoul Realty
* Address: #106,Kolon Greenpark Commercial Bd,293,Seobinggo-dong,Yongsan-gu,Seoul
* Contact points: Kim Sun Hyun
Tel: 02-797-0102, FAX: 02-797-9794
H.P: 016-432-0900
Email: c21seoul@korea.com
* Homepage : http://www.c21seoul-realty.com

Kim Jae-eun Real Estate Agency
* Address: 302-95 ho,Inchon-dong,Yongsan-gu, Seoul
* Contact points: Kim Jae Eun
Tel: 02-797-1133, FAX: 02-796-5480
H.P: 011-285-4545
Email: krebikim@hanmail.net
* Homepage : http://www.seeland.co.kr

Rex Realty
* Address: 5-756,Yongsan-dong 2ga,Yongsan-gu,Seoul
* Contact points : An Gwon Chan
Tel: 02-790-8833, FAX: 02-790-8837
H.P: 011-309-7434
Email: rex-realty@hanmail.net
* Homepage: http://www.rex-realty.co.kr

4. Sungbuk-gu, Songpa-gu

Hyundai Real Estate and Consulting Office
* Address: 130-20 Bd,Jungreung 1-dong,Sungbuk-gu,Seoul
* Contact points: Chang Ki Chul
Tel: 02-942-6500, FAX:
H.P: 019-373-1018
Email: kichulchang@yahoo.co.kr
* Homepage:

B. Busan

Sun Real Estate
* Address: 107-3,Mugigae Bd,530-5,Jurye3-dong,Sasang-gu,Busan
* Contact points : Yoon Jeum Ho
Tel: 051-313-0500, FAX: 051-314-2630
H.P: 016-895-1569
Email: jhyoon8@yahoo.co.kr
* Homepage:

C. Daegu

Kool House Realty
* Address: #665-1,Bongduk3-dong,Nam-gu,Daegu
* Contact points: Lee Young Hee
Tel: 053-474-7922, FAX: 053-474-7931
H.P: 016-532-7354
Email: celline74@hanmail.net
* Homepage: http://www.kool-house.com

DRC realty Co.Ltd
* Address: 5th FL,Dongbang Bd,2-8 beonji,Boemoe3-dong,Suseong-gu,Daegu
* Contact points: Chang Jong Won
Tel: 053-742-2580, FAX: 053-742-2582
H.P: 011-9067-9550
Email:
* Homepage: http://www.drcrealty.net

D. Gyeonggi-do

Daewon Real Estate Consulting Office
* Address: #583-15,Ilsan-dong,Ilsan-gu,Goyangsi,Gyeonggi-do
* Contact points: Lee Deuk Joo
Tel: 031-976-5225, FAX: 031-976-5678
H.P: 011-268-4705
Email: djl525@yahoo.co.kr
* Homepage: http://djl525.greba.co.kr

Apseon Certified Real Estate Broker
* Address: Rm105,Shopping Arcade,LG apt 202,Kumi-dong,Bundang-gu,Seonganmsi,Gyeonggi-do
* Contact points: Lee Young Sook
Tel: 031-717-1894, FAX: 031-717-4007
H.P: 016-657-5386
Email: 01-iris@hanmail.net
* Homepage: http://www.apseon.co.kr

The Milestone Real-estate Agent
* Address: 1067-5,Kwonseon-dong,Kwonseon-gu,Gyeonggi-do
* Contact points: Yeom Young Sun
Tel: 031-232-0094, FAX: 031-232-0332
H.P: 019-9236-4530
Email: Happyyysun@hanmail.net
* Homepage:

Realty Serve Samsung Inc.
* Address: Sunkyng town 1-1,406-57,Dunjunli,Phogokmyon,Yonginsi,Kyeonggi-do
* Contact points: H.S Lee/James Lee
Tel: 031-333-9007, FAX: 031-333-9296
H.P: 016-208-1120
Email: more1120@hanmail.net
* Homepage:

E. Gyeongsangnam-do

Hanryeo Licensed Real Estate Agent. Ltd
* Address: 531-19,Okpo1-dong,Geojesi,Gyeongsangnam-do
* Contact points: Ok, Gyu-Deok
Tel: 055-687-2723, FAX: 055-688-5355
H.P: 019-687-2723
Email: okhr5755@hanmail.net
* Homepage:

F. Jeju-do

Jejudo love Licensed Real Estate Agent.Ltd
* Address: 2461,Jungmun-dong,Seogwiposi,Jejudo
* Contact points: Choi, Hye-Deok
Tel: 064-738-1243, FAX: 064-738-1241
H.P: 010-2828-7824
Email: jujuclub@korea.com
* Homepage: http://jejudolove.com

Great Book Available: Seoul Fashion Report: Volume One

2009-02-05T01:52:00.001-05:00

Hey,

This is an email I received from Oscar, one of our clients here in Korea. He is involved in the publishing of a book on Korean Street Fashion and the book is due out soon. They are also having a launch party on February 22nd in Itaewon for anyone who is interested:

http://www.feetmanseoul.com/2009/01/29/the-seoul-fashion-report-launchbrunch-party/

Please help support other teachers in Korea by checking out the book! Visit the site for a preview.

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Hello family and friends:

If you were unaware, I have been a resident of South Korea for nearly two years now since graduating from Cal State Northridge. In my time here I have managed to tap into the fashion and publishing industries, which has resulted in my first published work. The Seoul Fashion Report: Volume One is the brainchild of a friend and talented blogger/photographer named Michael Hurt. He, along with another talented photographer and close friend of mine Denise Lejcar, invited me onboard to join the team in creating the first book on Korean street fashion--ever! I was the in-house stylist, make-up and hair coordinator, and even penned an article on Seoul couples in the expat community.

So much attention has been placed on Japanese fashion in recent years, but now we have compiled street images, photo stories, and articles from the sister website www.feetmanseoul.com to showcase the much ignored fashion boom on the Korean penninsula.

Pre-orders have begun this week, and I am hoping that you can all support us in this venture. If we are successful with this first volume, we will have the opportunity to create a series of books (already in talks to be sold at international retailers like Urban Outfitters, and online megastore Amazon).

I hope you'll take the time to check out the sample pdf of the book on the Feet Man Seoul website and patronize our hard work by purchasing a copy or two to further us on the road to fashion relevance in a fairly untapped market.

Thank you all so much and God bless!

Oscar Daniel Lugo

Pre-order can be made here: http://www.feetmanseoul.com/2009/02/03/pre-order-your-photo-book/

Ugly yet Cute

2009-01-15T22:14:00.001-05:00

Good job SY!

2.7 in Anyang or 2.2 in Seoul?

2009-01-15T22:08:00.001-05:00

I live in Seoul and most days go to our office in Bundang. I like Seoul but having lived in several cities in Korea I know other places are fine too. We have positions in Anyang at42.7 mil for qualified people but some of our clients would rather Seoul at 2.2. I am worried people do not know what it is like and miss good opps. I guess we need better education on location! Working on it! www.asknow.ca

Snow in Seoul

2009-01-15T21:52:00.001-05:00

We awoke to about an inch or two of snow today. The dogs love it and since we don't have a driveway,I like it too.

The Final Countdown

2009-01-12T03:40:00.001-05:00

It's the last week before Stacey arrives for her first trip to Korea. We've planned out an itinerary it should be a lot of fun.

It's also the last 2 days before we close down the sign-ups for the ski trip. We almost have a full house but there are a few spots open and a few people that may be confirming soon, so if you are at all interested in this trip, jump in as soon as you can:

http://www.asknow.ca/events.aspx

See you on the trip!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

random

2009-01-09T05:11:00.001-05:00

bus is boring me today. si gn up for ski trip!

Pics from Daegu

2008-12-30T21:44:00.001-05:00

Our new year visit to Daegu.

Happy New Year

2008-12-30T21:39:00.001-05:00

Wishing everyone a wonderful 2009. I hope 2008 will be remembered as a great year for you and that next year exceeds your expectations.
Jason
www.asknow.ca

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2008-12-24T05:28:00.001-05:00

Hello!

Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends out there.

2008 has been an incredibly interesting year and I'm looking forward to an even more exciting 2009. I hope that you find time to unwind and be with people you care for during this holiday season (maybe I'm talking to myself here!).

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, it's a great opportunity to just step back and review the year, think of what you want to accomplish next year, and appreciate everything and everyone around you.

Happy Holidays!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

xmas dinner

2008-12-21T05:28:00.001-05:00

yummy!

Thanks for the 20 cents

2008-12-19T08:59:00.001-05:00

Dear nice girl on the bus,my hands were full and i put 2000 won in the slot and you noticed. You also saw that I didn't get my 20 cents change. So you asked the bus driver for the change 5 minutes later and handed it to me with a smile. I love this country some days.
Jason
www.asknow.ca

Pics...

2008-12-19T02:05:00.001-05:00

My first attempt at a blog post with picture from my cell.

Jason Lynch Fundraiser Pics

2008-12-15T09:13:00.001-05:00

A few pics from the fundraiser at Stompers for Jason Lynch

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Some Pics of Christmas in Korea 2008...the Preparation

2008-12-15T08:55:00.001-05:00

Enjoy some recent pics of getting ready for Christmas at Chez les Cresswell in Seoul, South Korea!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Egg Nog Success!!!

2008-12-15T08:42:00.001-05:00

Wow! I sit here in Korea sipping on some delicious egg nog...nope, I didn't make a quick trip to the supermarket back home...we're talking homemade!

So, the first batch that we attempted was, well, not so good. We deviated from the recipe and...oh wait, correction, I deviated from the recipe.

Anyhow, we ended up with a modified version of milk that tasted nothing like egg nog. It wasn't horrible, but it certainly wasn't nog!

This, on the other hand, is a masterpiece!

Does it taste like supermarket nog? Nope. But that's ok. It's a whole new taste for me and perhaps the start of an annual Christmas tradition.

So, here is the recipe that I used:

http://www.eggnogrecipe.net/traditional-eggnog-recipe.html

The things that we did differently:

1. No bourbon or brandy handy...I put in a touch of Bailey's...next time I'll use more!

2. No nutmeg available...I used cinnamon and I think I prefer that for sure.

3. Skipped the waiting stuff and did it all at once and then put it in the fridge for a while.

Enjoy!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Traditional Eggnog Recipe

12 eggs, separated
6 cups milk
2 cups heavy/ thickened cream
2 cups bourbon
1+ ½ cups sugar
¾ cup brandy
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

In a large bowl and using a mixer, beat the egg yolks together with the sugar for approx 10 minutes (you want the mixture to be firm and the colour of butter).
Very slowly, add in the bourbon and brandy - just a little at a time.
When bourbon and brandy have been added, allow the mixture to cool in the fridge (for up to 6 hours, depending on how long before your party you're making the eggnog).
30 minutes before your guests arrive, stir the milk into the chilled yolk mixture.
Stir in 1+ ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg.
In a separate bowl, beat the cream with a mixer on high speed until the cream forms stiff peaks.
In yet another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold the egg white mixture into the egg yolk mixture.
Gently fold the cream into the egg mixture.
After ladling into cups, garnish with the remainder of the ground nutmeg.

Serves: 8.

Christmas in Korea...Coping Strategies

2008-12-08T21:59:00.001-05:00

Well, if we were back home right now, it would certainly feel a lot different than it does here in Korea. Back in Sudbury Ontario, I'm sure that it feels like Christmas is just around the corner, especially with all of the snow in the pictures that Stacey sent me.

But, here in Korea, it is difficult to imagine that Christmas is coming. Sure, there are some lights and decorations here and there, but nothing like the atmosphere back home.

Am I alone in missing being back home for the holiday season? Far from it I'm sure. Every year at this time, applications to come teach here drop. Everyone wants to wait until after Christmas and come to Korea in January. Why? To spend Christmas at home with their family of course!

So, for those of us still here, it is easy to imagine that many people will be feeling more homesick than ever. This year, we will be staying in Korea as well. It's been several years since I've missed a Christmas at home, so I'm feeling it too. So, I've decided to come up with a list of things to do to help cope and bring the holiday spirit about.

In no particular order of importance...

1. Get a tree and decorate it! Go ahead and download some Christmas music, then head over to your closest E-Mart, Costco, or other favorite store and pick up a tree and some decorations. We picked up a 150cm tree for 29,000 won at E-Mart on Sunday. Sure, it doesn't compare to the 7ft tall, 7ft in diameter giant real trees we get back home, but once you get decorating and turn off the lights and see the bulbs dancing, a little tree is almost just as good. Plus, no family arguments about how to stand it up, where to put it, which side is best etc...

2. Come to our Christmas Party. If you haven't signed up yet, do. We are having a full on turkey dinner with all the fixins'. Home is where the food is. So, since you can't take yourself home, we are taking the food to you. www.asknow.ca/events.aspx to join.

3. Find some snow. This perhaps makes more sense to northerners like myself, but I'm sure even those who spent most of their lives down south will agree that being in a snowy environment makes the mood much more festive. In our case, we plan to head to a ski resort for Christmas. I always feel like I've gone to a different world when I go to a resort in Korea. If that's not your style, track down and rent a cabin ("pension") in the woods in a place like Gangwon-do (province on the east coast). Get a group of people together and head out for a gift exchange weekend. Have a pot-luck dinner.

4. Write and Wrap. One of my favorite things to do near Christmas is wrap presents. Nothing says Christmas like the smell of Scotch tape and wrapping paper. Sure, I make a mess of it and my wrapping skills haven't improved since I was 8 years old, but I love sitting in my room, listeing to Christmas tunes and getting those gifts wrapped. Many people also enjoy writing Christmas Cards. Screw e-mail, go to the local book store or stationary store and buy a pile of cards. It's so cheap to mail stuff home...get those addresses and send the people who are important to you a Christmas card.

5. Make Eggnog. Sure, not everyone likes eggnog (unbelievable!) In fact, I didn't enjoy eggnog until a few years ago. But now, it is one of the things I look forward to most each holiday season. But, good luck finding it in Korea! Surprisingly, it is not so difficult to make. Brant found some recipes and made a batch that was superb. We first found out from Chef Meili that home-made eggnog can be great. I was used to supermarket nog, but when I tasted Chef Meili's nog with a hard hit of alcohol, I was hooked, as was Brant. So, off we went in search of a recipe. Be creative like we were and throw in some extra Bailey's and Kahlua. Or, go for alcohol-free batches for your morning drink. Here is a collection of recipes:

www.eggnogrecipe.net/

I hope that helps give you some ideas of how to enjoy your Christmas in Korea. Please feel free to share your plans for Christmas and help others who might be feeling the holiday blues. Don't worry, there are plenty of Christmases to come!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

ROKetship adds video

2008-12-07T21:12:00.004-05:00

Great news! Luke Martin of ROKetship has now launched ROKeTV. Check out this very entertaining video about the laundry challenge in Korea.

www.asknow.ca

Dispatches from Gangneung

2008-12-07T20:49:00.001-05:00

Here is another installment in Melissa Steach's adventures as a first-year teacher in Gangneung on the East Coast. There are so many comments in here that bring me back to my first year in Korea! Great stuff!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

------------------------------------------

So there's this teacher I work with. Nice lady. She's friendly and upbeat. But here's the thing: she smacks. She sits at the desk next to mine and she chews like a cow. She chews her food, then she slurps her coffee, then, without fail, she says "Ahhhh" -- Repeat.

Thursday I rode with Lindsey and her family to E-Mart. This is Korea's version of Wal-Mart. I arrived very excited to stock up on body lotion, moisturizer and some new boy shorts. My joy quickly dissipated when I saw the prices. Oh my god! How much for Neutrogena?!?!? You've got to be kidding me! The saleswomen who swarmed around me didn't understand. They pressed every brand of shampoo, lip gloss, vaginal fragrance, you name it as long as there was English writing on the label, in front of me. All at once they pointed, gestured, acted out the reasons why I should buy the product in their hands. I was overwhelmed. I couldn't explain the price issue. They were confused. "Cheap!" they chirped with questioning eyes. Lindsey's daughter Cathy had been assigned the position of Teacher Melissa's translator. At age twelve, her English is decent, but faced with the onslaught of salesmanship and my constant guffaws at the prices I saw... All I could get out of Cathy when I asked her what one of the many women were saying was "shampoo?"

Halloween arrived and the children at QES went bananas. I arrived as a pumpkin. Despite the candy, I thought we were off to a healthy start. Each teacher had an assignment. Lindsey put boys in one room and girls in the other. They played Halloween games. Evelyn occupied another group of children in the screening room upstairs. They got their English lesson the old fashioned way: They watched it. Julie monitored the hallways and I painted faces and hands. At first the children all wanted jack-o-lanterns on their hands or cheeks until someone would decide on a ghost, then the next ten kids would all want that. This pattern continued for about two hours until, just when I was gonna hang myself in the hall and really give'm something to scream about, Max asked me for Donald Duck. When I finished he ran into the hallway and excitedly shared his freshly painted hand. The fun began. Like a pop quiz in pictures, each student came in with a new challenge. "Sponge-a Bob-a" asked one. "Colorful cat" said another. "Oni from Star Craft" challenged Jordan. Aw yeah I thought. I got so involved with my new personal competition that I didn't hear the trick or treat begin. Julie had closed the door to my classroom and though some twenty students stood outside knocking and yelling "trick-a or treat-a" for what I was told to be five minutes... I hadn't heard a thing. Finally, one of the two girls watching me paint a blue mouse onto Lucia's hand shook my shoulder. "Teacher. Trick-a treat-a time."

The teacher's outing was Saturday. All of us went hiking in Mareung Valley (Utopia Valley). I thought last Saturday's grueling hike at Sorak Mountain was a fluke. I was wrong. I erroneously thought that a hike here is comparable to a hike in LA. You know, Runyan Canyon at the least. Frye Canyon or the Palisades if you're feeling adventurous. Oh no. It is literally a national past-time here. We hiked a total of five hours, passed two Buddhist temples both more than a thousand years old, drank water directly from a mountain stream, rested at three different waterfalls and had lunch atop a rock nestled in the forest next to a prayer sanctum marked by lovingly arranged rock totems. Once we finished our lunch of Kim bap (Korean version of sushi hold the fish, add pork), apples, persimmon, boiled chestnuts, pastries and a thermos of sugared coffee, I excused myself to climb further into the forest. While the others chatted and rested before the trek down I went further into the prayer sanctum to meditate. A prayer I could not have prepared poured forth as affirmations of gratitude. I understood then how communication has absolutely nothing to do with talking. That behavior really says it all and that is what I am truly responsible for. I don't know how long I escaped into this fold before an investigative chipmunk stirred next to me and drew my attention. He wanted to know what I'd brought along with my prayer as an offering. I left him a piece of apple and a halved chestnut before rejoining my group. During one leg of the hike up I'd counted more than five hundred steps. The three different sets of steps (more akin to ladders) we'd endured on the way up the mountain were no less daunting on the way down. My left knee began to pop and just when I thought I'd maybe been too grateful for my healthy body too soon, a patient stretch got me to the mountains base. I arrived invigorated and said another silent prayer: May I please be able to maintain at least half of what I'm learning long enough for it to become part of my being and not just some more esoteric babble because the proof just ain't in the pudding.

My plan for Sunday was to sleep all day. Saturday's hike had followed four days of ninety minute yoga classes. I was beat. But by 3 p.m. I couldn't sit around any longer and so decided to take a cab downtown. Fall is my favorite season. I wanted to bundle up and expose my face to the crisp cold air. Lindsey told me that whenever I wanted, I could hop into a cab and simply say "downtown." Getting the cab was easy... however, the cabbie and I spent twenty minutes pulled to the side of the road and while the hazards blinked, we played charades. The cabbie and I threw clues back and forth. Words, gestures, sounds. At one point I found myself hoping on my butt across the backseat, purse in hand, acting out "shopping." I called Lindsey on her cell: no answer. He called dispatch: no luck. Finally after throwing in the towel and reaching into my purse for the won to pay for my time in the cab, dispatch called back and downtown we drove. Though we still didn't understand anything the other said, together we giggled all the way there.

I browsed for about an hour. Downtown is a little older than the rest of Gangneung. The streets are narrow and the stores crowded. Music seeps into the streets from every shop mixing with the smells of coffee, pastries, roasting nuts and dried fish (stingray being a local favorite... teeth and all). I hailed a cab home with the confidence of knowing my apartment's street name or at the very least the name of the popular nearby market. After climbing in I started with my address, the engine idled. I tried again with Donghae Market... nothing. I ended with Dunkin' Donuts and off we went. During the drive home this new cabbie taught me to say "dong tek chi." This, he communicated, was the name of my neighborhood. I surmised that he was telling me this because he knew I didn't really want to go to Dunkin' Donuts, but figured as long as I knew this phrase I'd be able to at least get within walking distance of my apartment. We arrived at our destination. Smiling, we exchanged our own particular good byes before I exited and headed home.

I fell into bed. Waking up in just enough time this morning, I downloaded pictures from the past couple of weeks before leaving for yoga then work. Saturday's adventure had made my legs tight and even though the instructor kept telling me "good job" in Korean, it sounded like the English word for "crutch." "That's what I'm gonna need when you're done with me," I said under my breath. She caught the look on my face and matched to the tone of my voice, she knew exactly what I'd said. Communication. We laughed and the day was good.

Come to Stompers Tonight!

2008-12-06T02:02:00.001-05:00

I should have posted this earlier. Anyhow, there is a fundraiser for Jason L. at Stompers tonight in Itaewon. I do believe his band, Dog Soup, will be playing there and they will collect a 5000 won cover charge that will go to help Jason's cancer surgery payments.

So, head up the hill, or should I write, The Hill, in Itaewon and join us at Stompers for a drink tonight, Saturday December 6th. Jason L. is a great guy and he could use any help we can give him.

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Either you Guys Really Love Hongdae, or We're Doing Pretty Well!

2008-12-01T21:20:00.000-05:00

Brant, So Young, and I went to Hongdae this weekend after enjoying some SamGyupSal and a bit of soju. We were joking about how soon it would be before we spotted one of our teachers in the area as it seems to happen every time we go.

Well, we hadn't been out of the cab for 30 seconds before we made our first spot! We met one of our teachers that we placed back in 2007 and he was hanging out with one of our teachers that just arrived a couple of months ago! I have no idea how they met, but that was neat! I have to admit I didn't recognize Megan at first, but she recognized Brant's name and we all figured it out after that.

So, then, after a drink at Rocky Mountain Tavern, we headed down to Jane's Groove where we discovered 4 more of our teachers enjoying the Groove! Jean and Carrie with their group and Paul and Joey with another group. Then, as we were about to grab a taxi toward the end of the night, we saw Becky, someone who applied with us but ended up getting a position elsewhere, but who has become really close with us and joins in a lot of our events.

I got to thinking about how many people might actually be around that we don't recognize because all we have to go on is one or two pictures. It is quite possible that there were many more people that we should know. So, if you recognize us, be sure to come and say Hi! I must admit that I'm proud of this little company we've built and nothing makes me happier than being able to randomly run into people we've helped get to Korea. See you again on another weekend!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

How to Pack a Year's worth of Korea in 2 weeks?

2008-11-28T01:38:00.001-05:00

So, my sister Stacey will be making her first trip to Korea in January. This is obviously very exciting and I can't wait for her to get here. My question is how to pack a whole year's worth of Korean experiences into a 2-week trip?

To start, we are having our annual ASK Now Ski Trip the first weekend after she arrives, so that will be a good introduction. From there, I think we are going to do a road trip down the East Coast through Pohang, Ulsan, and down to Busan. Then, up to Daegu to visit the Daegu fam. After that, back to Seoul. Some things we have to do:

Norae-Bang

Dongdaemun

Namdaemun

Itaewon

Namsan Tower

Visit some schools

Eat all kinds of different K food

and....

Any ideas on what to squeeze into the trip?

Jason

www.asknow.ca

If They are Happy with their Job, Why Not You?

2008-11-25T23:12:00.001-05:00

On nights when I run home from the gym at about 10pm, I often see something that makes me think.

One of the ways I take to get home from the gym includes a run past a few small factories. If I happen to pass by at around 10pm, I always see a group of ladies leaving work and heading home either on foot or on their bikes, often two to a bike. They are mainly Philippino, Chinese, or other South-East Asian women speaking Korean to each other.

The thing that strikes me is that they are always laughing, smiling, and seemingly having a great time. No, it doesn't seem like that "I just got off of work, so I'm happy" type of happy. It seems more like they just enjoy working together and are happy with their situation in life. The thing that is strange is that I'm sure they have put in at least a 12-hour work shift at the factory, and I'm sure that they do so at least 6 days a week, and I'm sure they get paid close to half of what most English teachers are getting paid in Korea.

My theory is that they have come from a situation that is so much more difficult, that having this type of opportunity is a real upgrade for them and something many people back home could only dream of doing. On the other hand, a lot of us Westerners who come to Korea seem to perceive it as a downgrade and have a difficult time finding job satisfaction. Could it be possible that a change in attitude would fix this?

The factory workers are looking at the positives of the job. Sure, they work long hours, they don't get paid that much, they have difficult jobs, their bosses may take advantage of them etc...but, I think instead of focusing on that, they focus on the fact that they are making enough money to survive and send some money to family back home, they are in a safe country, and they can improve their status here the more they learn and the harder they work.

What if more English teachers decided to look at the pros of their job as opposed to the cons? Yes, schools call last-minute meetings, change the schedule, give evaluations to do and don't always listen to the suggestions of teachers. But, instead of focusing on that, try focusing on the positive aspects and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how good you feel at the end of the day.

Here is a challenge: Try going 3 days without uttering a single complaint. Even if there is something legitimate to complain about, don't say it. Also, don't even think about the complaint. Frame it in a different way. If you can do this for 3 days in a row, you will be among a very small, small percentage of people.

Jason

www.asknow.ca

12 Koreans Vs. One White Guy

2008-11-25T22:57:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I went head-to-head with a group of 12 Koreans and I think I won.

Sorry, that may be a bit misleading. Actually, yesterday was the annual presentation to the Gyeonggi Province school board to maintain status as an official recruiter for GEPIK public schools. For the first time, I did a presentation fully in Korean. There was a panel of 12 people consisting of the heads of the school board as well as representatives from different schools throughout the province.

I think it went fairly well, although it got off to a rough start! The power point presentation I prepared wouldn't open on their laptop, so luckily we had printed off a copy of the presentation for everyone and worked off of that. I only stumbled over a few words, but otherwise, I felt quite comfortable throughout. Had we not already sent them lots of teachers, I would be a bit worried that we wouldn't make the cut, but considering our past record of sending great teachers, I'm pretty sure I could have gone up there and totally flopped but they'd still want to work with us.

So, thanks to all of our public school teachers out there for making me look good! Without you, we wouldn't have such a solid reputation with the school board and I'd be forced to really impress them!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

An Update from Melissa on the East Coast

2008-11-23T01:37:00.001-05:00

Here is an update that Melissa S., one of our clients living on the East Coast of Korea was nice enough to share with us.

I teach a total of thirty-two children within six hours a day. Each class last about fifty minutes and they're mostly filled with me saying "English!" in "English please!" I try to explain again and again to the Amy's and Martin's that yes, they can talk about Star Crafte and Transformers... just in English please. Lindsey says the mixture of Korean speaking with English words drives her nuts. She says she hates that Korean businesses think it's fancy to throw in an English word here and there. It's confusing and stupid and makes no sense she continues. I'd agree with her if I understood a whiff of Korean, but since I don't, the fact that "Fryed Chichen" is very popular here has saved me twice from breaking down and ordering the live squid next door.

All day Thursday it rained and I loved it! The smell of the wet pine trees was a treat. The air was cold and crisp. And there was just enough traffic to make that "swoosh" noise I love when a car drives by.

Friday morning I finally saw the owner of the garden out front of my apartment. Crouched down between the squash and collards, a cigaret dangling from between his teeth, the old man evaluated the rains work. I paused as I passed by on my way to work. I wanted to say hi. Chat him up about his garden. He looked completely disinterested in me, even a little suspicious. Maybe he could tell I also want to get to know those lovely sweet potatoes of his and whatever those reddish, fire pink flowers are that grow near the curb.

Saturday morning was cold with strong wind. The beach is a ten minute walk from my apartment and with the moutains all around, I think I'm in for a serious winter. I threw on a pair of sweats, sneakers, a hoody and headed out for a brisk walk to the Paris Bakery. It's a perfect example of what Lindsey hates: A straight up Korean business with an English sign. God bless'em. I discovered Korean pastries in K-Town years ago and though I'm not really one for breads, I love theirs. The white bread especially is so damned good. I could eat a loaf alone in one sitting. The three pastries I ate this morning were of course only in preparation for my five hour round-trip hike up Sorak mountain later.

Sorak Mountain is in Sokcho Si (Sock - Shoe City). It is said to be the most beautiful mountain in Korea because of the striking balance between rock and trees and for the Buddhist temple (built in 647) that is nestled within the high valley. And beautiful it was. Because the last of the trees are turning, seemed every family within drivng distance decided to hike it this weekend. It was packed! Tour buses every five minutes ferried hikers up and down the mountain. Those of us who decided to walk literally had to jump to the side of the road so as to not get run off it into the river below. But nothing could take attention away from the sheer beauty, color and texture of the land. So many purples and oranges and deep, deep crimsons. The river bed was stunning. It rushed the burnished leaves down the mountain in a clear stream dressed in white striped gray and blue stones.

Once at the top we stopped for Ramen noodles, bread and coffee. I'm still in awe of the lines of people I saw at the temples. This hike is no joke with or with out the bus. The lines could've been from Disneyland. Young and old. People of all sizes and shapes out enjoying nature as if it were the Matahorn. I was impressed to say the least and surprised at how indignant I felt at first. As if nature must be silently revered in order to be appreciated. Folks were out celebrating it! Other than the costant stream of people quietly walking to and fro, there was no litter, no graffitti, none of the usual markings that say people have passed this way. I got a lesson today in appreciation and enjoyment.

Outrage continued

2008-11-21T00:30:00.001-05:00

So, let's pick up on the adventures of our North Korea bound marijuana searching friend....

It seems as though the director brought him to the hospital and got him some meds. What kind of meds, we are not quite sure. However, they were effective enough to make our friend change his mind and decide that he wanted to stay in Korea and felt like he could reduce the drinking and the cravings for mary-jane.

Well, to celebrate, our friend went home and had a relaxing evening. It seems one habit he hasn't kicked is cigarette smoking. After enjoying a nicotine fix, our friend tossed the cigarette butt into the trash. We all know where this is going now!

Yup, nothing like celebrating your decision to stay in Korea than by having a bonfire in your laundry room! Start the sirens! 5,000,000 won in damage later, the director has no choice but to have our friend work off his debt! We're all happy nobody was hurt...yet. Stay tuned to find out if there are any updates in the next little while. Have a great weekend!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

The Most Outrageous Reason I've Heard for Quitting Yet

2008-11-18T21:49:00.001-05:00

When Brant told me about this one, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It is a very good indication of the issues schools face when hiring teachers.

This particular client of ours was a very intelligent and well-spoken recent graduate from the UK. We ran into a few challenges with his placement, but in the end, all went fairly smoothly and he arrived in Korea about a month or so ago. However, Brant recently got a call from the director saying that this particular teacher had given notice that he would like to leave.

The reason....

Apparently, the lack of availability of marijuana in Korea was a bit too much for him and he would like to go to a country like Vietnam where marijuana is more readily smokeable. Wow.

I guess that due to the lack of mary-jane in Korea, he has taken to drinking a bit too much. So, the new vice is alcohol and it is a bit costly to go out drinking nightly. Before leaving Korea for good though, he would like to stop by North Korea...

...by sneaking in at night on a fishing boat.

Ahh, ok. I'm not so sure if that's a great idea, but I hope all goes well!

No matter what kind of pre-screening process there is, it seems as though there will always be some interesting characters making their way over here. Enjoy the trip to Vietnam!

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Christmas Party 2008 and Lunar New Year Ski Trip 2009

2008-11-18T02:34:00.001-05:00

Hello,

This is an invitation to two events. First is our Annual Christmas Party which will be held on December 20th and second is our Annual Ski Trip which will be held during the Lunar New Year vacation on January 24th till 26th 2009.

Part 1:

This year the Christmas Party is going to be extra special. We've been doing some research to put something together that we've never done before: Turkey Dinner with all the fixins'!

Yes, we have tracked down an Austrian Chef who is going to cater a full-on Christmas home-style dinner for us. We're talking turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, veggies, and likely even pumpkin pie for desert along with a few other tasty treats. (egg nog with rum anyone?)

Picture sitting there with a big group of teachers and enjoying a taste of home. That's the atmosphere we are aiming to create. There are a lot of hotels around Seoul that put on this type of dinner, but they charge 50,000-70,000 won per person. We've been able to work out an amazing deal with Chef Meili since we are going to be a big group.

The cost:

ASK Now placed teacher: 29,000 won

Non-ASK Now placed guest: 35,000 won

Seats are going to be very limited for this event. If you haven't heard of Chef Meili, you are in for a treat. He is a kind, funny Austrian Chef who runs an Austrian restaurant and a deli just behind Gecko's in Itaewon. When we first got in touch with him about catering for us, we decided to visit his restaurant. From the first moment we went in, we could tell by the aroma coming from the kitchen that we found the guy we were looking for! The food was amazing. I can't wait to see what he does with a massive turkey dinner.

How to sign up? As always:

http://www.asknow.ca/events.aspx

We will send payment information. It must be pre-paid of course and the deadline will be Wednesday, December 10th.

We are settling between two locations in Seoul depending on the number of guests we have. After dinner, we will also offer the option of going out together for drinks and to enjoy the rest of the night.

I expect this to fill up by the end of the week, so please do get in if you want to go. Anyone who has been to any of our Christmas Parties know what they are like. This one will be the best yet.

Part 2:

Are you looking for something to do during Lunar New Year that won't be too expensive? We are putting together our annual ski trip. This one is very special for me since it will be the first time my sister Stacey (whom many of you know through your applications with ASK Now) will be visiting Korea. She is looking forward to meeting as many of our teachers as she can, so I hope all of you are able to make it.

Here are the details:

When: January 24th-26th 2009

Where: Yongpyong Resort

Who: All ASK Now clients, guests, and friends of ASK Now

What: Room for 2 nights about 3 minutes from the slopes. (Korean-style shared with our group). Snowboard or ski rental. Half-day lift ticket for the first day we arrive and another full-day lift ticket for day 2.

How Much: 150,000 won (2 night stay, 2 lift tickets, rentals)

What else do I pay for? Bus, which is about 26,000 round-trip depending on departure location. Clothes rental if you don't have clothes. Food.

How: http://www.asknow.ca/events.aspx

We have booked enough room for only 50 people. So, only the first 50 people to register and pay will be able to take advantage of this trip. Again, if you want in for this one, I would suggest signing up within the first week because that's how long it usually takes to sell-out. You can see videos of past ski trips at the events page. I don't know if we'll be doing the snow-filled-tub-of-beer this year, but you'll have to be there to find out!

That's all for now. Send any questions to me via email.

Looking forward to 2 great events to end 2008 and start 2009.

Jason and The ASK Now Team

www.asknow.ca

Billy Joel + John Digweed = Fun Weekend

2008-11-18T00:20:00.001-05:00

So, Saturday night was a fun evening. We had great seats for the Billy Joel concert and our friends at Mass in Gangnam put on a great night with John Digweed.

One of my favorite concert moments ever happened at the Billy Joel concert.

At the start, it was your standard floor seating with everyone being pretty calm. Then, Billy saw a group of people who looked like they wanted to come dance in front of the stage, so he waved them over. A group of mainly foreigners made their way to the front and that started a flood of other people. Before you knew it, there was a big group of people rockin' at the stage.

Then, a couple of songs later, when they were playing "In the Middle of the Night" the Korean staff were instructed to get everyone back to their seats. So, they started to do so and everyone was nice about following the orders....except Billy Joel. In the middle of the song, he completely stops, gets up from the piano, music stops, and he gives a "What the hell is going on?" and waves everyone back to the front of the stage. The crowd goes nuts, everyone comes back and even more people make their way to the stage. He sits back down and keeps rockin' in the middle of the song. The whole arena at this point just gets up and goes crazy and everyone is on their feet for the rest of the show. Great moment of "what the hell are you doing, this is a rock concert!"

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Is Your Bathroom Broken Too?

2008-11-17T01:04:00.001-05:00

Well, one of our recent arrivals to Korea has been kind enough to remind me that things are different in this country and that I can forget what it's like to first arrive in Korea.

This client does have a few legitimate issues with his apartment that we are having the school fix right away, but there was something that made me laugh in his message, having been here for a while. Anyone who has been here for a while will enjoy this quote:

"All of this can be fixed or repaired (in time) except one issue- my shower is not separated from the area where my toilet and bathroom floor is. Can you imagine that every time I have a shower my toilet will get wet, as well as my bathroom floor."

Yes, I can imagine that very well! I remember when I first came to Korea, this blew me away too. We took video of us spraying water all over the bathroom and then sent it home for the amusement of others. I guess we can't prepare our clients for every nuance of this land. I hope our new friend learns that this type of bathroom ends up being much more efficient. I know when I return to Canada, I'm a bit frustrated when I can't wash the bathroom with the shower head.

And, as Brant said, it's a great system for teaching people in which order you should be taking care of business in the morning.

Jason

www.asknow.ca

Extreme Live in Seoul

2008-11-16T20:11:00.001-05:00

Need a little refresher on "More Than Words?"

'Take Us Alive World Tour' Extreme's first live show in Korea is coming up this December.

This chart topping band, most famed for their hit song "More Than Words," have finally reunited to go on a world tour. It has been 12 years since they broke up.

The concert is scheduled for Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Melon-AX concert hall in eastern Seoul. Tickets cost 88,000 won. For more information call (02) 3444-9969 or visit http://ticket.interpark.com

Billy Joel in Seoul on Saturday, November 15th

2008-11-13T23:23:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow, there will be a concert by the legendary Billy Joel at Jamsil in Seoul. I'm not sure if there are any tickets left, but if you want to try to get in at the last minute, for English inquiries and reservations, send email to ticket@b4hent.com.

We are lucky enough to have a good friend who works for the concert promotion company and she's landed a couple of tickets for us. I can't say that I am normally someone who goes out of my way to listen to Billy Joel, but hey, live music is great and I'm sure we'll have an amazing time at the concert.

We're going to work on trying to get an agreement with the company that promotes these concerts to see if we can get tickets for prizes for our ASK Now (www.asknow.ca) clients. A lot of times, there are concerts that people would want to go to, but we don't know until the last-minute, so to be able to let people know in advance would be helpful.

I'll send my report of the concert afterward. We'll also be going to the John Digweed concert (info at www.youloveit.com) that same night. Busy!

Hope to see some of you there,

Jason

John Digweed at Club Mass in Gangnam on Saturday

2008-11-12T02:56:00.001-05:00

For any fans of electronic music, you'll want to make your way to Club Mass in Gangnam for legendary DJ John Digweed this Saturday, November 15th. For info on where to get tickets, visit http://www.youloveit.com

There will be a few of us going and if you want to meet up with the ASK Now Crew, just send me an email. It should be a lot of fun.

Jason

Video on how to get to SMOE office for interviews

2008-11-12T01:03:00.002-05:00

Here is a short video on how to get to the office at SMOE if you are going for an interview.

How to get to SMOE from SMOE Coordinator on Vimeo.

The Halloween Party Was a Great Time!

2008-11-11T01:46:00.001-05:00

Here are a few pics from the Halloween Party. I think everyone had a really good time and our hosts Matt and Dave at the King's Tap of course took good care of our group. Also, the folks over at BaboShirts (www.baboshirts.com) were kind enough to give us a bunch of shirts to give away. If you didn't get one, be sure to visit their site to check out what they have. See you at the Christmas Party on the 20th!

Jason

Melissa's arrival in Korea

2008-11-11T01:24:00.001-05:00

One of our clients, Melissa S. who recently arrived in Korea was kind enough to share a blog entry about her first few weeks in Korea. It is a great description of what it is like to arrive in Korea for the first time. Thanks for sharing Melissa!

Hey Access Now team!

I've been in Gangneung Si for three weeks now thanks to your help. My placement is wonderful and my host amazing! She's someone I'd be lucky to have as a friend where ever in the world. I've been posting notes about my experiences in South Korea every four days or so on Facebook. I thought you might like to read the first post and if you like, add it to your web page for interested candidates to peruse. Thank you for facilitating this experience and please read the following note:

Saturday October 18th through Tuesday October 21st:

I arrived at Incheon/Seoul airport at 5:40 p.m. Though I'd hoped to get a view of Seoul as my bus limosuine (they call it) carried me the four hours to Gang Neung Si (City) it was too late and too foggy to see anything. So I slept. I'd read that South Korea was very conservative and so traded all of my slinky tops and tight jeans for fifties inspired slim waisted skirts and prim blouses. The first woman I noticed before passing out, my head slung sideways into a "neck" pillow was a beautiful Korean woman in a fitted white tee-shirt, tight jeans, hoops and high heel boots. Damn I thought... I woke up later to slob on the side of my face. So much for glamour.

My apartment is tiny. Well appointed. But tiny. My small place in Culver City was no preparation. But this place is beyond cozy. I have heated wood floors, a full kitchen, washing machine, air conditioning, an enclosed tiled balcony, satellite tv and wifi. Come to find out, Gang Neung is the most popular beach destination in the country. The number of restaraunts located in this tiny city is mind-boggling. I can even get nachos two blocks down. Of course it's advertised next to a restaraunt exhibiting live squid swimming in huge tanks out front alongside the upstairs residents laundry -- underwear and all.

Early this morning I walked onto my balcony to look at the garden outside. Across the street from there, "Nekenhouse." You got it, a Heineken bar! Seems the town went through a boom time not so long ago. So while grandma and pa continue to grow pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes and radishes... Dunkin' Donuts, Heineken, Sushi of every kind and SK Telecom go about their business. I'm amazed at how large these gardens are (they're all over the city) and the fact that no one steals from them. These vegetables are huge and look very tastey. I asked Lindsey (she owns the school I work for) if I could pick some flowers since they had grown beyond the city curb that butts up against the garden. She frowned and said it was not such a good idea. The old people won't like that very much she said.

*Lindsey studied English in Seattle for six months about seven years ago. Her two girls were 4 and 6 at the time. Lindsey and her husband Patrick thought it was now or ever for her education abroad. After returning to Korea, she invested all of her money into The Queen's English Academy. It is one of three remaining franchises and she's been in business seven years. They are a delightful family. Actually, so far, I've not met an unpleasant person. It's a funny thing. In some ways, I feel like I'm in K-Town it's so americanized here. But without the car exhaust and stress. Lindsey says Koreans call South Korea Little America and yet, for all of the "things" there are to buy here... no one seems pressed. Lindsey told me today that Korean's pride themselves on efficiency and that she thought America was slow. I couldn't help but laugh since she'd just finished taking me through the fastest, friendliest most efficient health check I've ever experienced. Granted I had to take my pee test squatting over a porcelin floor toilet and pull a chain overhead to flush.

The students at the school are delightful. Typical 7 to 12 year olds. Happy, shy, funny, smart, interested and mischevious. I marvel at their English, they fall over laughing at my Korean. We're off to a good start I think. Tuesday was my first full day teaching. I had enough energy to survive, but not enough to report anything other than they're great. I've got lots to learn.

* Lindsey, Patrick and their daughters Kirsten and Kathy of course have Korean names but insist I use their English names. I do not believe my Korean pronunciation has anything to do with this request.

That's the right attitude!

2008-04-01T21:00:00.003-04:00

Here is an email I received from one of our clients in Changwon, near Busan.
I thought it was an excellent reminder to everyone about how important it is
to keep things in check.

Hi Jason,

Thank you for the timely message. Indeed, I hit that wall about a month ago.
Everything went wrong one day: frustration during shopping (the first time I
received poor customer service since I arrived), my kids drove me nuts, my
colleagues annoyed me, and I thought, "If I see someone spit on the street
one more time, I"m going to throw up." Not once during all this, however,
did I consider going back to Canada.

I came home that night in such a grumpy mood, drank half a bottle of wine,
did some writing, had a good sleep, went to yoga in the morning, and then a
better perspective arrived. I reminded myself of why I love it here, and
tried to recapture some of that over-flowing enthusiasm I had when I
arrived.

It's all about the attitude for sure. I bought a bike, went hiking, signed
up for art classes, and did go to a new restaurant-- two, in fact.

Based on all my reading, I knew to expect this, but I truly didn't believe
it would come. Changwon has a lot of charm, and everyday now I get
my attitude in check and take it all in stride. It's part of the process.

So I'm back to being in love with my life, and decided to approach these
mild days of madness with an open mind and a cheerful disposition. When else
would I ever have an opportunity to do this? Why ruin the experience with a
negative attitude?

So again, thanks for the email. It's nice to know these feelings are
"normal."

Now I'm off for my daily cappuccino, where the woman knows me and always
looks genuinely happy to see me. One of those small delights as a reminder.

Take care,
Monica

PS. I also booked a long weekend trip to Hong Kong for Buddha's birthday in
May. Hellooooo shopping!

E2 Visa interview in Toronto

2008-03-10T20:33:00.002-04:00

Here is an email we received from one of our clients who had his interview at the Korean Consulate in Toronto. He has some helpful advice for anyone needing to do their interview at this location. As you know, every consulate has a different way of doing things with the new E2 visa rules. Thanks for the help Andrew!

Hi everyone hope you've all had a good weekend,

There were about 8-10 of us visa seekers awaiting our
interview times in the conference room at the consulate and just before
the interviews were to begin, one of the women conducting the interview
informed us all that our passports/visas would be sent to us abut 3 days
after the interview. So what I had been told on the phone didn't really
matter apparently.

I had been talking to a number of the others in the room and they were not
surprised at all by this. It seemed that everyone I'd talked to had been
through weeks and months of delays for their whole visa/job process as
well.

The interview went well though. They had me fill out one form which I'm
sure i had already filled out before. It asked such things as employer
address, education info, university address, passport info, medical info,
criminal info., etc.

Luckily I'd printed off a page with such things as the school's address in
Korea, contact there, etc

The interviews lasted maybe 3 minutes consisting of maybe 5 or 6 basic
questions such as: why Korea? what experience do you have? what age will
you be teaching? etc. The man asking the questions did stump me however
with his last one; "Who is the President of South Korea?" ... honestly no
clue, definitely not a question I was anticipating. (editors note: Lee Myung Bak)
I could give you the North Korean leader but thats about it. I told him that I actually didn't know but I did however know a fair bit about the city I was going to. The fact that I didn't know didn't seem to be any problem at all.

Any advice I'd give for anyone having their interview at the Toronto
consulate would be to bring a page of your education info, Korean school
info, and your own passport info so that they could fill out the form
there and probably one of the most important things, PARKING. You are not
allowed to park in the consulates parking lot apparently and seeing as
it's winter most parking spaces along the road anywhere near the consulate
were completely blocked off with snow. I did manage to find a public
parking lot about a block away behind an office building near a cemetary
on St. Clair St W, it's a little hidden but it's there. One of the guys in
the room said he had been stuck looking for parking for 45 minutes and
there were a couple of other's that arrived late because they had the same
parking problems. So make sure to be plenty early.

All in all a pretty painless process that for sure could have been done
via telephone but that's all part of the experience right?

Thanks everyone and just let me know of any of the new changes whenever
you know,

--Andy M

Thanks for sharing Andy! If you are interested in teaching in Korea, please visit us today.

E2 Visa Process Video Explanation

2008-02-23T06:16:00.005-05:00

Here is a 2-part video on how to get the E2 Visa. It should explain everything you need to know from start to finish. So, for those on their way to teach in Korea Enjoy!

Ski Trip 2008

2008-02-19T04:19:00.001-05:00

Here is a video of our ski trip to Yongpyong resort in Feb 2008.

Interested in participating in our next event? Visit our events page.

Come teach in Korea with us!

Jason on national news

2007-12-16T11:36:00.001-05:00

Here is a video clip of a recent interview I did with CBC Newsworld. They needed information on the rules and regulations for Canadians teaching in Korea, and I received the call for the interview. It was a good experience and I'm glad to know that when the national media needs info on teaching in Korea, they contact us.

Another Video from Tom

2007-12-11T08:51:00.000-05:00

Here is another video from Tom. Tom is one of our clients in Korea who is also from our hometown. He seems to have fun creating clever videos, so I'm glad he is kind enough to share them with us. Here is one from his trip to Busan. Enjoy!

Jason

Halloween Party Video

2007-12-11T08:47:00.000-05:00

Our Halloween Party at Carne Station was a great time. Justin won the 200,000 won prize. That was great because Justin has been to every event we've had, so I'm glad he won. Please watch the video and enjoy! Want to teach in Korea too? Visit us now!

Jason

Christmas Party Was Fun!

2007-12-11T08:42:00.000-05:00

Well,

Saturday we had another party for our teachers.

I think everyone had a great time. I would say we were close to 100 people and we did it at the Wolfhound again. The beer flowed steadily throughout the night and it was good to meet some of our new clients for the first time as well as visit some of our clients who have been around for a while.

Andrew won the trip to Fukuoka care of our travel partners, Kangsan Travel.
He seemed pleased about that! If you are looking for travel from Korea, just visit our travel page and we can help you get that set up.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Christmas Party!

Jason

Tom Goes to Changwon House

2007-11-01T23:15:00.000-04:00

Here is a video from one of our clients teaching in Korea. His name is Tom and he lives in Changwon. This video is of his trip to the Changwon House, a traditional Korean house and village.

Thanks for sharing Tom!

Halloween Party invite for October 27th

2007-10-03T01:53:00.000-04:00

Hello!

Halloween is coming and we are going to celebrate in our own way!

Since there won't be any trick or treating, the next best thing will
be an all you can eat and drink buffet where you don't even have to
say "Trick or Treat".

That's right...what better way to enjoy the excesses of Halloween than
by celebrating with us at Carne Station?

For those who are uninitiated, Carne Station is an all you can eat
and drink (yes, alcohol) buffet that is quite popular amongst foreigners
in Korea for obvious reasons...particularly at a cost of only 25,000 won.

Oh, and before I forget to mention it...ASK Now and ETO will be giving
away 200,000 won in cash that night for those wearing Halloween costumes.

You certainly don't have to wear a costume, but it will be more fun
if you do...and with a chance to take home a bit more money than you
came out with, why not?

So, here is the nitty gritty:

Who? You...any current, past, future ASK Now and ETO clients, or
friends and family thereof! (in other words, anybody who would like
to come and signs up on time)

When? Saturday, October 27th reservations at 5pm for Carne Station,
we will meet at 4:45pm at Hongdae subway station.

Where? Hondage (Hongik University) subway line 2, Exit 1, top of the
stairs.

How? Go to http://www.asknow.ca/events.aspx and sign up. Have any
guests you plan on bringing sign up as well. (You can sign up for
them if you like, but you'll need to put in their name and email
addresses. Then, you will receive a message on how to pay.

How much? The buffet is 22,500 won + VAT which comes up to 24,750 so
you can send that, or feel free to round it off to 25,000. We have
to make reservations in advance because it's crazy busy.

Deadline: Deadline for payment is October 21st, 2007. Reservations
being made October 22nd. There is a good possibility that there will
be a pile of people signing up and if there are too many, we may have
to cut it off at a certain number (or else the restaurant won't be
able to hold all of us) so I would suggest signing up right away if
you plan on coming.

Can't make it to Carne Station? At this point, here is the plan:

Eating and drinking will take place between 5-7:30 pm, at which time
the restaurant will kick us out. From there, we will go and take
over Tin Pan 2 in Hongdae. We should arrive at about 8pm and that's
when and where we will do the draw for the costumes.

About the draw: If you wear a costume, you are in the draw. It's not
going to be a "best costume" draw...why? Because none of us here want
to get involved in arguments of "my costume is better than yours."

So, to make it easy...if you wear a costume, you have as good a chance
as anyone else to win. However, if you show up wearing a hat and you
say, "I'm a guy wearing a hat", sorry, you're not in. If more than 2
people question the validity of your costume and call B.S. on it, you're
out due to lack of effort! So don't try to sneak that past us! haha!

OK...this email is long enough. If you have any questions or concerns,
contact me at jason asknow.ca

Otherwise, just sign up for the party at http://www.asknow.ca/events.aspx

Oh, and if you want to see a video from the last Carne Station party,
you can visit that same link and watch the video.

See you there!

Jason

The Bath House by Meredith

2007-09-17T00:38:00.000-04:00

Here is a story by Meredith Lee Priesmeyer who is enjoying her first year teaching in Korea and will be sharing stories with us from time to time. Enjoy!

September 2, 2007

Since today was my first day off since I've been here, I slept late, still
haven't unpacked, and then, as you all know how fond I am of running, ran 15
miles through the town, the huge rice paddies decorated with gigantic
sunflowers and beautiful white cranes, through the giant squash farm, over
the river, snuck into the open high school campus olympic swimming pool and
took a swim, got a strong tan....my face is so red! Craig and I went to an
"italian" restaurant....only they like to sweeten everything! Weird. Even
the garlic bread or as they called it "Gallic" Bread. Nice.

Yesterday, I had my first authentic korean experience, well not really, but
a very important experience to korea, the public bath. I was trying to go
get a massage, a "necessary"experience for a bath house; think Greek or
Roman bath house complete with statues and marble. The first time I tried, I
failed, not speaking Korean can make things ridiculously humbling, I cried
and left the bath house (well, sometimes regular Korean speech sounds like
scolding, and it is very difficult to try to get what you want). I left the
bath house, because well, culture shock just got me, I really wasn't
expected to see, well all the ladies acting so "free", well, and really
hadn't thought how much I would be stared at!!!!! So, I left and attempted
to walk home, leaving Craig in his man's domain on a different floor, I
didn't care, I just wanted to go. Ah, well, as I was walking home, I
realized I didn't know how to get there, so I had to go back, and TRY again.
Anyway, I think after the Korean ladies saw my second attempt, yes they
laughed, but they were more trying to help me. Then some younger girls came
up to me to speak English and be cordial, which made the experience more
acceptable and nicer, though shocking, still, one girl who's name is Jenny
(though spelled different in Korean has the same sound) told me I was very
brave, I told her I know, we both laughed, she said she'd never seen a
westerner ever in a bath house. We talked a bit more and then she went away
into another bath with her mother.

Finally, I did get what they called a massage that day. This massage was far
different from any I had ever received in the States. The sight and
experience was shocking, but I just went with it and pretended to be cool,
the masseuses were naked all but some light transparent laungerie; it was
something fit for a PG-13, may be 14 or 15 movie.
First, sprayed me down, then slapped me down on the massage table, poured
the most refreshing water by the bucketfulls all over me, put huge amounts
of cold seaweed on my face, and proceeded to give me a rub down! Whoa. All
the while, the two ladies are munching on cucumber and onions, speaking to
me in Korean, laughing, and because I don't understand end up pulling me
this way and that to put me on my stomach or my back. After, about one and a
half hours the madness ended. All in all, I'd recommend it to anyone; it's
the kind of culture shock that makes you become very openminded and relaxed
about everything.

Later, I have discovered that Koreans do have a normal dry, clothed massage,
known as a "sports masagi"; which, I would recommend these to anyone as they
combine deep tissue, reflexology, and these obsurd looking suckers that are
suctioned on your back, leaving huge red spots all over. Despite their
unattractiveness, work wonders in relieving tension, and provide a bit of
comic relief as they heal; my friend's back turned from huge red polka-dots
into a giant smiley face about a half-week later.

Meredith Lee Priesmeyer

www.youloveit.com is back!

2007-08-21T05:17:00.001-04:00

Hello,

Just a quick link to a classified site for buying/selling/personals/jobs in Korea:

http://www.youloveit.com

If you are trying to have a moving out sale or if you are looking to buy a bike, computer, books, or whatever, good place to look!

If you are looking for a job or private lessons, there are sections for that too.

The site has had a makeover, so it's much easier to use. Enjoy!

http://www.youloveit.com

Party in Hongdae on Sept 1st...you should be there

2007-08-21T05:09:00.000-04:00

Hello!

So, there are a lot of people who have arrived over the summer, and
there are a lot of people who will be heading back home in September
and October.

Thus, it's the perfect time to have a party!

This is going to be a real simple one. We're just looking at getting
together in Hongdae on the evening of Saturday, Sept 1st.

I was thinking of heading to Tin Pan 2, as that seems to be a popular
place for cheap drinks and dancing. But, that has not been 100%
confirmed. If you have a different idea, please let us know at our
Facebook group, Access South Korea Now.

At this point, we are just aiming for a night at the clubs. But,
if you would like to get together first for dinner somewhere, again,
let's discuss that on the Facebook group.

So, if you are in for a night out in Hongdae on Sept 1st, please
sign up at http://www.asknow.ca/events.aspx so we know how many
people to expect.

Also, invite as many friends as you like. Nothing formal going on,
so the more the merrier. We will send out an email with more details
on time and place once we get closer to Sept 1st, so be sure to sign
up early so as not to miss out on the info.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Jason

Hong Kong is fun

2007-08-02T03:53:00.000-04:00

So, we went for a trip to Hong Kong last week and had a great time!

It's a good reminder that when in Korea, it's pretty easy to hop on a plane with short notice and for little money be in another country.

Hong Kong is a good option for English teachers in Korea because the flight is only about 3 hours, it's no problem to get a visa, and it's one of the cheapest flights you can get.

Here are a few things to remember:

1. You'll have to get a re-entry visa before leaving at immigration. If you're planning on doing several trips throughout the year, go for the multiple re-entry and spend 50,000 won to have unlimited re-entry, as opposed to spending 30,000 won every trip.

2. If you are getting a package with hotel, try to make sure your hotel is closer to the Hong Kong Island area. We had our hotel up north at the end of the subway line, and although it was fine, it was out of the way for everywhere we wanted to go.

3. Don't be satisfied unless you pay at least 50% off of the prices they quote for clothes, watches, bags etc... at the markets. You really can get good deals. Also, they may take you up to the "special warehouses" which are places up in apartments behind the market. Seems a bit sketchy at first, but it's part of the fun. Of course this is all about the not so authentic watches, Luis Vuitton bags and other goods.

4. The Octopus card is a good deal for getting around. You can use it for the express train to and from the airport, and you can use it for subway/bus etc...

5. From my estimate, taxis seem to be even cheaper in Hong Kong than in Korea. Sweet!

Those are a few tips on a quick trip to Hong Kong. It really is something you can do for a weekend trip and you'll have enough time to see and do enough that it makes it feel like it was worth the trip.

Later!

Jason

Where is your focus, and where is mine?

2007-05-29T02:52:00.000-04:00

Regardless of whether we are aware of it or not, we are always focusing on something. What most people don't do is exercise their right to control where they focus. I am aware of this, and even though I know I have control of my focus, I can sometimes let my thoughts drift into the realm of negativity as well.

I can only imagine how much time most people spend on focusing on the negative side of things. It is pretty obvious when you hear people talk about things. If they are predominantly spending their time complaining, it is obvious where their focus is.

The challenge is to catch yourself thinking negatively, or complaining about something, and cut yourself off right there. While physically easy, it can be mentally exhausting at first. But, like anything else, it gets easier with time and use.

The problem as it applies to teachers in Korea is that it is not hard to find things to think negatively about. With so much different going on around you, people find it very easy to pick on these discrepancies and spend a good amount of energy on finding the things they dislike, as opposed to the things they like. This is not going to make for a good day!

So, take the challenge and try to cut out negative thinking and complaints for a full week. If you can, you'll definitely notice a difference in your mood everyday. At the very least, be aware of what proportion of your time you spend thinking and talking negatively. Ask yourself if you are happy with that?

I will do the same!

Jason

Dentist takes foreigners hard-earned cash

2007-05-11T07:58:00.000-04:00

Here is a story from Matthew about his recent trip to the dentist...a bit of a difference!

Last week, I had a toothache. It was kind of ticklish and throbbing, but utterly irritating, and I couldn't even sleep for most of the night. In the morning, playing soccer with the “ajoshis” at my university, and then all morning in class, it was all I could think about. I had thought that I might not get to see a dentist until after the weekend, and I’d have to deal with it, but it became unbearable, and I had to see someone that day. I went to Mr. Kim in my office to ask him where a dentist's office was, and what I might have to do to get an appointment. His directions surprised me in their simplicity.

Friday afternoon, I walked into "Happiness Dental Clinic" off the street, a guy they'd never seen, no appointment, and without an insurance card (even though I do have insurance). They said, "Come on in" (well, in Korean) and sat me down. And if you wonder at the facilities, let me tell you that they were as clean and modern as anything I'd seen. They had a computer at every chair, right in front of my face, with a number of dental programs up and running.

The girl had a look, poked around, and took me in for a couple of x-rays. Then came the dentist, and with both broken English and broken Korean (and a good nature), we discussed my problem, and he began to check me out. I could see the inside of my own mouth on the camera on the computer screen, and they also brought my x-rays up there for me to see while he explained. After determining that swollen gums were causing the pain, he scraped around my mouth for a bit, gave me a prescription, and told me to come back Monday if it still hurt, or Friday if it didn't. I went back in Friday. It was fine before I walked out of the office. Total cost: 6300 won, or about 8 bucks. Ha!

So, I then went across to the pharmacy after, showed the pharmacist my paper, she gave me the pills (3 a day for two days). Total cost: 1500 won, or less than 2 bucks.

In all, about 25 minutes after walking in unannounced off the street, and not bothering with discussing insurance (Mr. Kim had given me an indication beforehand as to how much it might cost), I had been in to see the dentist, x-rayed, worked on, a whole all-consuming discomfort relieved, in and out of the pharmacy with a small bag of drugs, and all for ten dollars! Are you kidding?

What kind of appointment-making and waiting would I have to do in Canada to see a dentist? And how about the cost? Yep, some things don't have to be so complicated.

Get dental work in Korea!

1 Week in the Classroom

2007-05-11T02:07:00.000-04:00

Well,

I received a call from a friend the other week in regards to helping out with a 1 week teaching gig for someone who was going on vacation.

I decided that it would be fun to get back in the classroom myself since it was only a couple of hours per day that they needed someone. It had been since 2004 since I'd been in the classroom in Korea.

So, it was with much anticipation that I headed off to my "new job"! As always, it was fun to meet the people working at the school and to see what kind of dynamics they have there. I met a few people who were great to work with, and I think that working at this school would be a good gig for someone if a position comes up.

They usually do their own hiring, but if they aren't able to find someone, I'm sure they'll get in touch with us. It would be fun to recommend a job to someone where I've already taken it for a test drive!

Anyhow, it's Friday afternoon and I must say that I didn't forget all my old moves! I'm pretty sure that I've been a productive teacher and that the students were able to learn a few things during my short stay.

Things are very much the same as they were before. There are the keen students, and the not so keen. There are the well-behaved students, and the not so well-behaved.

But, I still stand behind my motto of consistency in discipline. The kids just want a system that allows them to be well-behaved without looking "uncool" to their friends. So, eliminate Korean in the class, provide a consistent set of expectations, and classroom management is much, much simpler.

Although I'm not signing up for a full-time job because of obvious reasons, I still do enjoy the fun of interacting with the kids.

How about you?

Jason

My Wife and the Delivery Men

2007-05-03T03:48:00.000-04:00

So, I realized today how popular online shopping is in Korea.

How do I know this? From first-hand experience of course! My wife is a bit of an online shopaholic. Now, I must admit that I do benefit from that every once in a while, such as today when I was the recipient of two funky pairs of wakeboard shorts.

Also, yesterday we received our hammock for about $20 (complete with the stand and a parasol of course!)

Anyhow, we were on our daily walk to go to Dunkin Donuts (no Tim's in Korea yet)for coffee and we (So Young) were expecting a delivery, or 3. As we're walking, about 10 minutes from our place she spots a delivery driver...whom she is quite familiar with.

She goes up to him and asks if he is headed to "Bongduk Il-dong" today with a package for Park So Young. Yup! In his big ol' truck with hundreds of packages, he knew exactly where it was too. Why, cause he always comes to our house, so he recognizes it now!

It was a bigger package, so she told him to just leave it at our place if we weren't back by the time we got there.

Then as we were about to arrive at Dunkin, she spots a delivery truck from another one of the companies that often visits! She goes up to this guy, and sure enough, 2 packages! These were lighter (my shorts and some hair stuff for her) so she just signed for it right there and took it along with us.

I just had to laugh and shake my head! My wife is buddies with all of the delivery drivers in Daegu...so am I because I answer the door the other half of the time!

I'm glad she keeps her purchases small and frequent and not large and frequent!

The convenience of the internet age!

Jason

Observation on Koreans' desire to help friends

2007-05-02T00:31:00.000-04:00

One of our clients, Lei, has made a great observation about Korean culture. She is currently preparing to come teach in Korea. She is still in Australia, but has been making friends with several Korean people there and helping them develop their English, as well as just meeting with them socially.

She had this to say about what she discovered:

"I am really overwhelmed by the love, care and support I have received
from my Korean friends. They are all very proud, excited and overjoyed that I want
to be an ESL teacher in Korea. All of them have offered to take care of me and
provide me with whatever support I need when I am there.

I must admit that I do have some pride in me as I have always been a very independent woman and like to do everything myself.

I am now beginning to understand a very important aspect of the Korean culture and that is I must allow them to love and care for me without reservation or else I will be hurting their feelings. This is something I must keep working within myself so that I will be able to adapt and enjoy my time in Korea."

Very well-said!

She has made more of a discovery about Korean culture and how it applies to her than many people do after spending a year in Korea. You just have to be open to learning and understanding the people you are surrounding yourself with.

If you can't do that, then why even come to Korea, right?

The main downfall to all of this is that you will be over-fed and everyone will always want to make sure you are not going hungry. Not great for dieters!

Thanks for the insight Lei

Jason Cresswell

One of our teachers killing the drums in Korea!

2007-05-01T05:06:00.000-04:00

One of our teachers, Jason Lynch, is in a band that plays some weekends in Korea. He's on the drums. I didn't know he played, and I'm impressed with his skills! The band is called Dog Soup. I'll try to keep you posted on any upcoming gigs.

Drum Solo

Facebook is on fire!

2007-05-01T05:01:00.000-04:00

I have been actively using Facebook for about 2-3 months now and I am amazed at how it is an excellent example of the effect of compounding.

This thing is alive and growing at an amazing rate! You can tell just be using it. I'm really surprised at some of the people that I am finding there. Some I haven't seen for years, others I would never even guess would use a computer!

Perhaps our own business will begin to see that kind of compounding effect, but on a much smaller scale, now that we have so many active clients.

I've noticed that happening too, and that's the best feeling! Nothing better than having someone apply and let us know that so-and-so recommended us to them. Big compliment!

So, if you are using Facebook, look me up and join our Access South Korea Now group. If you haven't tried it out yet, sign up! You'll have fun getting in touch with everyone. Trust me, they'll be there!

About saving face

2007-05-01T04:52:00.000-04:00

In Korea, image is very important. That definitely includes personal image. What is interesting is learning about "saving face" which I've heard a lot about.

I've observed a very real, yet somewhat insignificant in the big scheme of things, example of this.

On a recent car trip with some Korean folks who may or may not be my in-laws, the person driving made a bit of a driving error because he wasn't paying attention. The driver of another car who was not impressed with this, gave a big ol' honk and surprised us all into realizing that perhaps we should have stopped for that red light!

Anyhow, a minute after, the female companion of the driver started talking about something and anything in order to distract us from the fact that a mistake had been made.

I noticed this on a couple of other similar occassions, and now I realize that it was just to "save face" and avoid the embarrassment of the situation. To be honest, I find the obvious and sudden change of subject to be more embarrassing than the initial offence.

I would not say that Westerners are immune to this type of thing, but it seemed a bit more glaring once I noticed it.

Just a good example of what is a priority for Koreans, and how we may differ, and yet are much the same.

Ryan teaching in Gumi

2007-04-24T21:51:00.000-04:00

Here is a video of some real live classroom teaching by one of our teachers in Gumi. I like that Ryan is able to have fun and play with his kids while still keeping them under control. A lot of people tend to lose control of their class when introducing any kind of activity, but Ryan seems to have a good rapport with the kids and is having fun with them.

Carne Station Video

2007-04-16T01:33:00.000-04:00

Hello!

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who was at the Carne Station event, and for those who couldn't make it, hopefully we'll see youat the next event.

It was a big success, and I think everyone had a great time. I knowit was a bit crazy at first, but then when everyone got some food inthem, all was going well.

The draw for Jeju was fun, and my new friend who passed the bottle of soju to me when doing the draw certainly helped change the paceof my evening!

Anyhow, here is the link for the video:
http://www.asknow.ca/events.aspx

Hopefully you enjoy it. My Canadian friends will enjoy the old-schooltune I think...be sure to crank your volume. I had fun making thevid and look forward to the next party.
Any comments or questions sent to jason at asknow dot ca are always appreciated.

Also, if you haven't joined our Facebook group yet, I'd invite youto do so. Just look for Access South Korea Now. Looking at thatas being a way to communicate as opposed to the forums we had, which were big spam targets.

So, enjoy the video, book off the weekend of June 30th/July 1st, and let me know what you think!
Jason

Learning Annex event in Toronto

2007-03-26T18:28:00.000-04:00

I just returned from a great weekend in Toronto at the Learning Annex Real Estate Wealth Expo. There were some excellent speakers including Tony Robbins and Donald Trump.

It was fun to go to this event because we had gone to the same event held in New York back in 2004. At that time, ASK Now Inc. was a very new company, and my level of experience and confidence wasn't as high. I was much more of a business rookie back then.

Now, 3 years later, and many, many successful placements later, it felt good to go back and be in a situation where I was very proud to talk about our business.

I must say that I've put thousands of hours into making ASK Now a better and better company, and I'm glad to say that it is paying off. (of course, there is always lots of help from others, but I'm just talking about my personal experience this weekend)

Anyhow, the weekend was very motivating and I learned quite a few new things that will help me out.

One of the main things that everyone seems to agree on, from Tony Robbins to Donald Trump, to George Foreman etc...is that if you want to be a success in business, you must have a passion for it. I think that's what has kept me going when things were not easy. I freakin' love doing this!

I love getting emails from people telling me how much fun they're having in Korea. I love hearing about people's lives being changed for the better. I love seeing pictures of people climbing mountains and visiting temples and doing all sorts of other great things!

I just want to share the positive experiences that are possible with as many people who are interested as possible. So, I think that's why I know that we will continue to grow. I love the business, and so do the people who work with me.

I think that anyone who doesn't share this passion won't last for long. Those are the companies to avoid. Perhaps that's why a lot of people are keen to work with us. They know that we genuinely care about them.

Now, this entry is not meant just to brag about how cool we are. But, what I really want to share is my passion for helping people have a great experience. I look forward to continuing to help many more people for many years.

I hope that you are passionate about what you do as well. If not, find something new to do!

Jason

Should I buy a computer in Korea or at home?

2007-02-27T21:26:00.000-05:00

Here is my reply to this question from one of our clients:

Generally, computers are pretty close in price and not too big of a
difference. In regular shops, the Windows is in Korean. However, you can
get that changed at some shops in Itaewon in Seoul, and perhaps some other
places.

What I would suggest (what I have) is to get a laptop. There are some
competitively priced options available that will likely cause you less
stress than your current computer. You'll have everything in English,
you'll be able to bring it wherever you go, and you can get Nespot
internet service in Korea and be able to access the net from just about
any major restaurant, coffee shop, train station and other place in
Korea...so, if you are doing some travel throughout the country, you'll be
able to bring your laptop and stay in touch, update your blog, send pics
home, video Skype with family from some McDonalds in Busan at 3 am (oh,
wait, that was me!)

Jason

Ski Trip 2007

2007-02-27T09:41:00.000-05:00

Here is a video taken by Art of some funny stuff at the ski trip. I'll try to get some pics up soon as well.

Up and down

2007-02-21T20:36:00.000-05:00

So, I was finally doing some work on fixing the forums at our site today due to excessive spam that we've been receiving. It was a bit complicated and beyond my comfort zone at first, but I was able to code a whole bunch of stuff. Ok...that's nice Jason...very excited...

Next...I try a new tool that lets me erase a bunch of people at once, so I can delete the 150 porn spammers that registered to the site...great.

But...what I ended up doing was deleting the whole bleeping thing! So, everyone's accounts...gone. All the helpful posts that people have put up...gone! Wow...it was not easy to not throw something!

But, what can you do? In this case, nothing. So, we now have a nice, new, empty forum. Hope it doesn't discourage people too much and hopefully it will get busy again.

The forums at ASK Now

2007-01-28T22:43:00.000-05:00

So, the ASK Now site now has forums.

The forums are there to encourage communication amongst our clients and people in Korea in general if they wish. There are four categories:

1. Get-togethers
2. Helping each other
3. Chit Chat
4. Teaching tips and tricks

I think that's pretty self-explanatory. The hardest part with getting the forum going is to have enough activity so that when new people visit, they will feel as though the board is active and that they will actually receive a response to any questions they pose. Otherwise, it's a bit of a waste of their time.

I think it is catching on quicker than I thought it would. We've had a few leaders who have been actively posting and also replying to questions, and that's been very helpful to get the ball rolling.

I think it will be a big part of the site by next year. The only negative at this point is having to deal with spam from porn sites and sites trying to sell viagra. I'm really amazed at how much junk there is out there. Oh well, I'm looking into ways to improve the filters for stopping the spam more automatically.

So, go to the forum and write something!

Jason

From Starbucks on January 29th

2007-01-28T22:36:00.000-05:00

The month of January has flown by very quickly. It seems as though I was just in Canada for Christmas, yet, here I am at a Starbucks in Daegu typing away. The weather in Daegu has been mild since our return on January 11th.

I was able to do something that I haven't done in over 2 years...go snowboarding! Wednesday, we took a drive out to Muju resort. (myself, wife, and mother-in-law)

The ladies were kind enough to drop me off at the ticket booth and they went on their way to do some touristing and I was on my way for an afternoon of riding. I almost forgot how much fun it could be!

The temperature was about 2 degrees celcius, just above freezing, and the conditions were good. It was a Wednesday afternoon, so I avoided the long weekend lineups. It's kind of funny how 95% of the snowboarding I've ever done has been done in Korea, yet I am from Canada!

Speaking of which, I'm looking forward to our upcoming weekend at Yongpyong resort.
We've already got quite a few people confirmed, and it's shaping up to look like a great party. I think it will be pretty crazy to try to get everyone together and organized, but regardless, it will work out I'm sure.

There will definitely be a lot of pictures and videos of that weekend. I'll try to keep updates posted here.

Jason

Go teach in Korea!

The ski/snowboard trip Feb 17 & 18

2007-01-27T00:57:00.000-05:00

Hello!

The ski/snowboarding trip is on! We've had a really good
response, so we are going to put it together. Many people said
that they would be interested in an overnight trip, so that's
what we are going to do.

So, ASK Now and ETO are basically going to act as the organizers
of the event. As much as we would like to be the financers
of the event, that unfortunately won't be the case.

We will give a breakdown of what we are expecting to do, and
what you should budget for the trip.

Here goes:

First, we've reserved 41 beds at Yongpyong Ski Resort for the weekend
of February 17th and 18th. This is the Lunar New Year weekend, and
everyone should have Monday off, which is good because you can have an
extra day to recover after the trip.

The location is at the Youth Hostel and it's right on the resort. We have
a big 20 person room, and three 7 person rooms. It's not luxury, but
it's on the resort, and should be pretty comfortable. It may be bunks or
Korean style blankets piled on the floor.

The costs:

We are budgeting 25,000 won per person to cover the cost of the rooms
and for a meal and drinks together on Saturday night.

Other costs (depending on your usage):

Lift tickets (regular price, we should be able to find better):
Regular lift:
Full Day 59,000
Half Day 47,000
Night Ski 34,000

Gondola:
Full Day 66,000
Half Day 54,000

Rentals at hill:

Skis: 26,000/full day 22,000 half day
Snowboard: 34,000/full day 27,000 half day

(Clothes rental for those who need them, but you could probably do better
buying something at a local market or E-Mart)
Jacket & Pants
Jacket or Pants
Daytime
(Morning+Afternoon)
25,000
15,000

Morning/Afternoon/Evening/Night
15,000
10,000

Daytime+Evening
30,000
20,000

2day
45,000

The cost to get to the hill will be dependant on where you are coming
from, but it should be somewhere between 10,000-25,000won. We'll get
more details for people who are coming from specific locations.

For those in the Seoul area, we can try to organize a common meeting place
for a bunch of people to take the bus together. For Eric and others coming
from Gwangju, we can try to get you guys organized together as well.

Basically, we'll see who is coming from where, and try to get people
coordinated.

We are looking at leaving Saturday morning, skiing/boarding Saturday,
having dinner together, and then perhaps apres-ski party in one of the
rooms.

I think it should be an amazing time for anyone who decided to come. We
only have 41 spaces for people to sleep over, so please sign up right away
if you want to be in.

A lot of people have asked if it's ok if they bring non-clients...yes,
again, just make sure to have them sign up right away as well. We will
also be requesting the 25,000 in advance so we can book the rooms, and so
we will know that people are sure about going. Details to follow on that.

For those who can't make it Saturday, or who want to save some money, or
who don't want to stay overnight, I would suggest doing a one-day Sunday
trip. You can take the tour bus out there, meet up with us in the morning,
ride together, and just spend the day. We will provide contact numbers
for anyone who wants to do that. Just get in touch with me at my email
address, my name at asknow.ca

So, if you need more details, please email me. If you are in, sign up at
http://www.asknow.ca/ski.aspx

Do it quick if you want to have a seat! (if we get a lot of people who want
to go, and it's over the 41, we'll try to arrange other rooms if possible,
but can't guarantee that it will be this cheap)

For info on the resort:

http://www.yongpyong.co.kr/eng/index.asp

Talk to you soon!

Jason
_________________
ASK Now Inc.
Teach. Learn. Prosper.
http://www.asknow.ca

Some pics from Sarah from the party

2007-01-08T11:53:00.000-05:00

Here are a few more pictures from Sarah S from the Christmas Party.

Thanks Sarah! Hoping to get together again in February.

Christmas Holidays Just About Over

2007-01-03T22:40:00.000-05:00

Well, it's definitely fun being home for Christmas. Although, surprisingly, it was a green Christmas.

Things really do slow down, and there was a real change of pace. But, I think it's good. Even though it was stressful not putting in the normal hours I usually would into work, it is beneficial in other ways. I guess for most people, that would seem like a bit of an oxymoron, being stressed over less hours of work. But, when you enjoy the work you do and your invested in the business, that's what happens.

So, I will be heading back to Korea in a week from today. I'll have to make sure to get in everything that I wanted to in order to make sure it feels like both an enjoyable and productive trip.

There are a few people I would like to visit in order to make that happen. It seems that meeting up with people is pretty pivotal to everything. Working together with the right people, great things can happen.

Although I often enjoy my little world of computer communications, getting in front of people can be much more powerful and productive.

Well, time to end and go play a hand of euchre with the fam.

Jason

The New Teach in Korea Video

2007-01-03T22:38:00.000-05:00

Here is the new video I finished making before Christmas. It is the main promo video on our site now. A bit of an upgrade from the previous slideshow. Let me know what you think!

Jason

Pics from Joey (thanks!)

2006-12-15T09:53:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures that Joey sent from the party. He and Justin were basically the only ones who remembered to bring something for the Kris Kringle, so they exchanged some funny gifts. Justin brought several varieties of everyone's favorite drink, Soju. And Joey was kind enough to bring a lovely Christmas sweater!

Christmas Party Video!

2006-12-15T08:59:00.000-05:00

Here it is folks...the Christmas Party 2006 video. Hope you enjoy it! Tell me what you think!

Jason