Notes of a Native-Speaking English Teacher

Key: 

1   Payroll  Date

2   City Code 

3   Employee Name 

4   Pay Period Starting Date 

5   Department 

6   Position 

7   Number 

8   Earnings Type 

9   Amount 

10 Deductions Type 

11 Amount 

12 Base Pay 

13 Holiday Pay 

14 Weekend Classes Pay 

15 Soccer Classes Pay 

16 Sick Pay 

17 Transportation Reimbursements 

18 National Pension 

19 Health Insurance 

20 Employment Insurance 

21 Income Tax 

22 Local Tax 

23 Agriculture Tax 

24 Long Term Care Insurance 

25 Tuition Payments 

26 Other Deduction 1 

27 Other Deduction 2 

28 Total Deductions 

29 Net Pay 

30 Total Gross Pay 

31 Company message 

32 Company name and location 

A typical paycheck will have about 200,000 in deductions. 

Pension ~ 99,000 

Health insurance ~ 62,040 

Income tax ~ 29,090 

Local Tax ~ 2,900 

Long term care insurance ~ 4,060 

If your gross is ...  you'll take home...

     2.2  mil                   2.0   mil

     2.3  mil                   2.07 mil

     2.54 mil                  2.31 mil

Anyhow, my payday victory lap around Ansan starts at my school and heads to Seonbu-dong. It is a very busy and happening place.  The nearby route 97 bus stop drops me off near KB bank, Homeplus, and countless other fun shops and food vendors.

The line at the KB is usually a bit long around 6pm.  I don't know why I called it a line.  People just jockey for position behind the person they think will be next.  A polite person could be standing here for half an hour if they aren't careful!

Once I get out of the ATM, it's time to check out some food.  There are maybe a dozen large food tents on this street.  They all look like they serve quality food, but some look more delicious to me than others.

My favorite place serves up these spicy chicken feet!  No, I've never tried them.  I stick to breaded, crispy hot dogs on a stick.  They are really good and only cost about 85 cents. ^^

If there's any doubt, look for the sign that says Bobo Chicken! ^^

That's it.  I spend 20 minutes taking in the sights and sounds of the city, then I get right back on that bus and head home.  The KAF is zero! Too perfect!

5/14: I found some prices for these homes. They are selling for about 8억 ($750,000)

What makes me a fun teacher?  The kids love my English speaking, ukulele playing monkey.  It is a source of endless joy.  However, once in a while when Bonzo isn't up to the challenge, I need to create a new lesson.

When I try to create new materials for my classes, I get stuck searching for "TEFL-y" types of websites that focus on worksheets.  Some of them are pretty obscure.  A really good website for hands-on activities is Education.com.  I wish I had discovered it sooner.  

A lot of the lesson plans in their kindergarten section would work very well for young English students.  Here is a link to the kindergarten page.  

Not only did I find a LOT of laces, I also found shoes in my size (US- 12, Korea 300).  In the past, I've had to spend about four or five hours going to Itaewon just to find a pair of decent shoes. I was thrilled to find this place. I can take the subway after work and, with a little luck, buy a pair of shoes and return home in less than one!

I was truly happy to find the ABC Mart!

Find out where each of these are at the CNN Go page!

The Korea Times posted a great article about where to find the best pizza in Seoul.  Korean pizza is sometimes loaded with potatoes, bulgogi, shrimp, even noodles!  Finding a nice Italian style pizza is always a treat.

For what it's worth, at least they don't do this. 

When I arrived, they took my information but told me that the doctors were about to go on their lunch break.  I would have to wait about an hour.  Meanwhile, there were quite a few people in the waiting room.  I didn't enjoy being so close to so many other sick people.  I went outside for some fresh air.

The doctor and the nurses were very kind, although they didn't speak much English.  I was able to get a prescription and a shot.  The total cost of the visit and the meds was under $10.  That's enough to make any American feel better!

The clinic is a 내과.  That means that they can take care of people with coughs, colds, and stomach problems.  In addition, I noticed that this clinic had at least a few more specialties.

Hours: 

Weekdays: 8:30 - 7:00

Saturday: 8:30 - 4:30

The doctors will take a lunch break between 1:00 - 2:00.  They will also stop seeing patients about 90 minutes before closing time.  The closing time reflects when they actually leave.

Here are a few (highly idealized!) pictures taken from: Health.Naver.com

Links:  SOK @ Gojan website

Health.Naver.com website for SOK @ Gojan

I just can't get my hands on any shoelaces.  It never occurred to me that a department store could stock hundreds of pairs of shoes, maybe thousands, and not stock a single set of laces. 

Raisin water doesn't taste like raisins.  It is not at all sweet.  The flavor reminds me of the last drops of milk remaining after you eat a bowl of cheerios.

They have a Ladies Night, Quiz Night, and the Acoustic Garden series.  For full band performances, look no further than upstairs to their sister bar "Indie Suwon".

Taking the bus is the cheapest and fastest way to get there, at least until they finish building the Suin line.  

The 707 goes between Suwon and Ansan.  Here are the stops that I use.

Get on 707 at 18-272 stop Take the 707 bus to 03-015 - 수원역 AK 프라자 .

The nice thing about this route is that Suwon Station - AK Plaza is the first and last stop on the route; no chance of missing the stop.

Transfer to any one of these buses (double check with shelter schedules) 

10     10-2     10-5

An example of route 10-2:

Get off at the 03-137 stop: 녹산문고앞 경기도빅치유센

This stop is after the first hard right turn on the route. 

To go back: 

Get on at 03-142 stop 녹산문고앞 경기도빅치유센터 

(across the street from where you arrived)

Take a bus to Suwon Station - AK Plaza (last stop) (03-017)

10     10-2     10-5 

11-1  37        46-1 

66     66-4     88 

720   720-2   730 

transfer to 707 and get off at 18-273 (안산문화예술의전당) - (my place, just  an example)

Taking a taxi is also easy.  The rates are cheaper after 4am.  Be strong.  A ride from Suwon to Ansan during that time is about 20,000W.