Getting a feel for your new life

There are always things you need to think about before going abroad. Getting in touch with at least one of the foreign teachers at your new school is a must. There are many questions you may have and they often have answers. Some good things to talk to them about would be local entertainment and dining places. What they often do in their free time, how they make lesson plans, and so on.

However, there are also the important things you may want to know to help you settle in faster. Asking the other teachers for pictures of the apartment and surrounding area is a great way get a feel for the area. You can look at the space and start figuring out how to use it. You may also notice places you want to visit or familiar restaurants or fast food chains nearby. My school is apparently in the same building as Pizza Hut, for example.

Also, the airport. If you've ever traveled abroad, you may know that some airports have lots of twists and turns, and even shuttles or small trains to transport you to the 'main' terminals. You may want to be aware of that.

Another thing you may want to start preparing for is your new budget! Ask the teachers, that if it isn't too personal, if they could tell you how much they were being paid AND how much was actually going into their account. Sometimes it is hard to know how much taxes and other expenses will be deducted from your paycheck, especially when you are starting work in another country. Use a currency converter to see how much your salary is, then deduct a couple 1,000 Won. This should help you get a good feel of what you will be getting.
Also, asking the teacher's about how much they spend on utilities (which you normally pay), cell phone, cable, and other expenses a month. Your new school may take out some extra money in the beginning, a kind of 'insurance policy' in case you take off for whatever reason. The teacher's will likely warn you about this so you can plan for it.

Planning out a budget for your new life, in a new country, can really help you settle in more comfortably knowing what you can spend how you can spend it. :)