Korean Jackpot!!
Today Jenn and I became millionaires. In Korean funds anyway. When we convert it over to Canadian dollars, it won't look quite as impressive. We opened a bank account this week at KB Star bank and we got our first deposit from the school in the amount of 1,740,000 won (pronounced WAN - as in Obi WAN Kenobi for you Star Wars fans). Our contract stipulated that we would be reimbursed for our plane tickets when we got here, so that is what our first payment is. This should tide us over until we get our first pay cheque which won't come until October 1st. Living expenses here are turning out to be quite reasonable. We usually go out for lunch and only have to spend the equivalent of $5-8 dollars for two meals. And another cultural difference in Korea that is having an immediate impact on our finances is no tax or tip. We live in a world with no GST or PST - and I know you are all jealous of that. And tipping is frowned upon (which doesn't bother us one bit). Even if the service you 
received was impeccable, which it usualy is, the wait staff will not accept a tip. It is actually insulting to them to leave one. They will even chase you down the street to give you back change if you left 6,000 won for a 5,900 won bill (that's like a waiter giving you back a dime). The Koreans are steadfast about not accepting handouts. So when we go out and each order a dish that is 3,000 won, we leave the restaurant paying 6,000 won. No more, no less. It's amazing to look at a menu, see a price and know that is what the final amount will be, with no hidden taxes or no expectation to hand over extra money. So to celebrate our newfound wealth, we are going out for pizza tonight. A Domino's pizza!! There are plenty of Westernized establishments to chose from in Seoul, but Domino's is the only one we have seen so far in our own city of Yeoju. From what we gather, the pizza will be between $10-12 dollars, which is more than we normally have to spend at a restaurant. But hey, we're millionaires for a short while so we can afford it.
posted by Darin & Jenn @ 2:15 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Wow, it's almost like you "won" the lottery! Sorry about that. You have made a very important cultural discovery...the location of recognizable fast food! For us adventurous world travellers(who don't particularly go in for sea food or anything with more than 4 limbs) the location of restaurants serving "normal" food that can be ordered simply by pointing at the proper picture on a menu (that they shove in your face as soon as you walk in the door because, let's face it, you don't look like you can speak the language...how does pizza translate? or quarter-pounder with cheese meal...my all time fav?)is of vast importance. Enjoy your splurge. Cory.
Congrats on lasting a whole week with respect to your "eat authentic Korean food plan".
Of course, if the pizza is topped with items such as red soy beans, whey powder, pineapple, corn, green melon, and jujubes then I will retract my statement. :)
Enjoy your pizza. You know, the Fish Macs I ate in France far surpassed any Filet O Fish I ever ate here. There's something about familiar food taken out of context that is just soooo good... and besides... you have a whole year of eating ahead of you... I'm sure the novelty of the 'authentic' stuff will wear thin!
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