Buhay sa Korea

While blogging on the F-2-1 visa (National Spouse), I remembered that I haven’t sent my Alien Registration Card (ARC) to the Seoul Immigration Office. The immigration official told at the naturalization counter told me to send it to them once I receive my Korean ID, and that was more than a half year ago.

Every long-term alien (non-Korean) in Korea is required to get the ARC. Long-term means staying here for more than 90 days or three months. It is important to get this ID since some transactions involving the government, bank, or sometimes the internet requires this — from opening a bank account to having your own korean cyworld page and even when you leave the country. (You’ll also need it in case an immigration official stops you on the street and asks for your ID — never happened to me!)

I applied for my ARC when my husband and I had my F-2-1 visa extended in October of 2003. I came here in late August, 2003 with the same visa valid for 59 days only (I didn’t want to pay $30 when I applied for the visa at the Korean Embassy).

Here’s how the ARC looks like (or at least mine):

Under the heading “Certificate of Alien Registration” is your ID number. The first group represents your birth date. If you were born on April 28, 1990 it will be shown on the ID as 900428. The second group of numbers (seven digits) is your alien identification number. Foreign women’s number starts at 6. Sorry but I don’t know what it is for foreign men and children.

Below your ID number is your name in this format: LAST NAME FIRST NAME MIDDLE NAME. If you have a long name it will occupy two lines, like mine. Well, I don’t have a long first name but including my last name and middle name (the mother’s family name - traditionally in the Philippines). If your name is MARIA CONSUELO BUENAVISTA Y ALVAREZ, then it would be written on the ID as BUENAVISTA MARIA CONSUELO ALVAREZ.

The PHILIPPINES is my home country while the F-2-1 is the type of visa I hold. The Korean writing below that is my address in Korean.

On the right side is my ID picture and below that is the effective date of the ARC. Under the said date is the expiration of my visa. Below is the back portion of the card:

The blank list is for additions or supplements in relation to your sojourn. The boxes below is for your visa extension, i.e. stay until 2005.08.23 (this is how date is written in Korea).

I really want to keep my ARC as a souvenir. I just hope I won’t get any letter from the immigration.

중고품 (jung-go pum) is the Korean word for used or secondhand articles. I had a Pinay friend visit me last Thursday afternoon. I was gonna give her a used computer, computer desk and chair, however they’re too big and heavy for her to carry so I told her I’ll just bring them over to her place this weekend. It’s costly to get rid of big furnitures and appliances, specially when you live in an apartment complex where there are guards. You can’t just leave your used stuff where the garbage cans are. You have to notify the apartment office and pay so they can pick up and dispose your stuff. I think they all end up at the 중고 shop anyway.

People do buy secondhand things here. Including “ukay-ukay” (used) clothings near Dongmyo station. You can buy used computer units at Yongsan. And as far as I know, there’s a used goods shop in every district. They sell items from baby cribs to desks, gas ranges and even used cisco. Not really sure about the latter but they do carry a lot of things in their shops and all in working condition.

I thought that television networks in the Philippines have forgotten that there are Filipinos living in Korea who miss Filipino television shows. I got this email yesterday from ABS-CBN announcing the launching of “TFC Ko” in Korea. I was curious so I dialled the number on the poster but nobody answered. An hour later, I called again but the phone is off. I don’t really intend to subscribe, I just wanted some info. I used to subscribe with ABS-CBN Now! until they increased their fees. I don’t really miss Pinoy TV although there are some programs that I truly like, e.g. “Noypi”.

I’m just glad that Filipinos here can now watch their favorite ABS-CBN shows via “TFC Ko” and “ABS-CBN Now”.

When I met my Pinay friends last Saturday, we also talked about how difficult it is for a foreigner (anybody who doesn’t have a Korean ID) to get a cellphone in Korea. After dinner, we went to a cellphone kiosk where one of my friends (K) asked if she could buy a phone. She asked another friend (J) to help her since she couldn’t speak Korean well.

Mobile phone stores here are as ubiquitous as in the Philippines, but back home it’s so much easier to own a phone. You just walk into a store, choose the unit you like and pay. That’s it. No need for an ID nor a credit card. Here in Korea, all you need to get a cellphone is a Korean ID and your bank account or credit card since bill payment is made electronically. However, if you don’t have a Korean ID it’s so difficult to have a cellphone.

There are three big networks here: LG Telecom, KTF and SK Telecom. The first two charges 30,000 won for connection while the latter, 55,000 won. In my friend’s case, she wanted a phone issued by SK. The seller asked for her ARC (Alien Registration Card), then he called an office to ask if they could issue her a phone. The person on the other line said it’s possible but she needs to have a credit card. Now getting a credit card is even more difficult and almost impossible for foreigners. Her option is to pay the 200,000 won deposit for SK or have a friend who has a Korean ID to apply for her. She just gave up and thought that she’ll just do it later.

When we were at the cellphone store, I had the chance to scan the new phones on display. I’ve been eyeing the Viewty phone by LG. It’s still expensive at 359,000 won, so I guess that’ll just have to wait.

As mentioned before, Korea has four seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. It’s now fall and I just love it when the colors of the leaves change to almost every shade of red and gold. Love the color of the sky too! Plus, the temperature has dropped but still not as cold as in winter

To continue… there are four airlines that serves Manila/Clark/Cebu < --> Seoul/Busan flights. Korea’s carriers, Korean and Asiana, are quite expensive specially during the summer and winter vacations. As they say, it’s best to visit Korea in October or the middle of Spring as tickets are cheaper that time. I usually take Asiana as they have a direct flight from Seoul < --> Clark and the airport in Clark is just a 15 minute drive from where I live in the Philippines. I haven’t flown Philippines Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

At the airport. Incheon International Airport is one of the best airports in the world. After getting off the plane, it takes about three to five minutes to walk to the immigration. There are sections for Koreans and Non-Koreans or Foreigners. When my sister visited, she was asked how long she’ll stay here and where. She answered “less than a week” and “Seoul” (she doesn’t know my address). As a US passport holder, she didn’t need a visa to tour Korea for less than a month. Philippine-passport holders need to get the appropriate visas. The last time I traveled, there was a small group of Filipinos traveling as “tourists”. While waiting for my husband at the arrival area (he forgot that we were arriving at 6AM!), one of them approached me and asked if I could lend him some money to call his brother in Seoul. I lent him my phone card and helped him call, as he was not familiar with the public phone. Then he explained to me that a family of four that he was with were being questioned by the immigration officials. He explained that they’re not actually tourists. After almost an hour, the family was released and explained that they were questioned for traveling as a family.

After passing through the immigration, you go down to the baggage carousel. Carts are free to use, unlike in some airports where you have to pay US$3.00! There are stores and restaurants at the airport.

From Incheon Airport, you can travel to Seoul by bus or subway. The bus fare is 9,000 won (standard limousine). I’m not really sure about the subway fare (heard it’s 3,500 won) but it’s definitely not more than the bus fare. You can also take the taxi, but it’s gonna be a lot more expensive (plus you’ll have to pay the 7,000 won toll fee for a standard sized car).

Escalator, pedxing, sidewalk. Most escalators in Korea have a yellow line in the middle of the steps. If you intend to walk up/down the escalator, use the left side. If you’re just gonna stand, then use the right side. If you stand on the left side, you’ll most likely be called for it or worse, somebody might just push you. Hehehe… Pexing (or pedestrian crossing). It used to be that Koreans walk and cross the street on the left side, shown by the directional arrows on pedestrian crossing and stairs. The government has changed this and you’ll now see the arrows on the right side. In the Philippines, I always walk on the right side but I’ve gotten used to the left side since a few years ago. Now, I have to train myself to walk on the right side again… Walking. Koreans walk on both sides of the sidewalk. Don’t be surprised if you get bumped a couple of times. It’s normal. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME! What I really hate is when there’s a group of girls/boys/old men/old women hogging the sidewalk that you just can’t pass through them. Motorcycles (o-to-bai in korean) use the sidewalks as well. So keep your ears alert too when walking. You wouldn’t want to be ran over by one.

Bus and subway. What makes it easy to tour Seoul is its bus and subway connections. Basic fare is 1,000 won. A prepaid transportation card or credit card saves you 100 won and you won’t need to pay again when you transfer. Buses are color coded and number coded. They only stop at designated bus stops. The Seoul bus route is available on the internet. There’s also a Seoul cyberstation map. A reminder: always give up your seat to senior citizens, pregnant women and disabled persons. In the subway train, seats are allocated for this group, so better not use them.

Self-service restaurants. I just have to write about this. In the Philippines, after eating in a fast-food joint we usually don’t throw out our leftovers or trash. In Korea, it’s a big no-no. After eating, you’ll have to throw out your own trash. Once my husband and I ate at a self-service pizza joint. Near our table is a group of five Filipino grown-up men (I know they’re Pinoys because they spoke Tagalog). When they were done, they just left their table and didn’t bother to put back their trays and dirty dishes on the designated table.

More later…

Inspired by a comment from a dear visitor and by my sister, who recently visited us. When I first came to Korea, I had a lot of expectations. Those stemmed from watching Korean dramas and movies. Some of those were right and a lot were definitely not. I only knew a few Filipinos here, a professional who lives in Wonju (a city in Gangwon province) and whom I’d known online (through Pinoyexchange) and another one who I met in the Philippines and is married to a Korean. They both live hours away from Seoul. I had a really difficult time adjusting, but I tried really hard and now I could say that I’m used to the “korean way of life”. I’m not gonna say that I’ve adapted fully. If you’re a foreigner here, no matter how hard you try, you’re still a foreigner.

I’d like to share my experience and offer some tips, as well, to other Filipinos who plan to come here.

Before you leave.

The first thing a Pinoy should know is that Korea has four distinct seasons (and Koreans will always remind you of that - as if theirs is the only country that has “four distinct seasons”). So if you’re coming here during the winter season, head on to Divisoria and get yourself a really nice winter coat. Winter here is long, dry and cold (for a Pinay like me, not much for a Canadian) and winter coats - expensive!

Seoul is one of the most expensive cities in the world! Eventhough it’s considered a “developed” country, some necessities may not be available here. When I first came here, I had a hard time buying deodorants. They’re available now but the selection is limited. Anyway, you might only need them during the hot summer days. Also, it’s better to buy some OTC meds back home like Bioderm (for skin infection), Terramycin, Diatabs (just in case), Canesten and others. They’re available in Korea but the medicines don’t have English instructions.

If possible, it’s better to learn “Hangeul,” the Korean alphabet. Public properties have English signs but most shops don’t. Also, learning the basic Korean greetings (”in-sa”) will impress most Koreans you meet. A learning Korean language book is about 15,000 won ($15). I’ve seen a Korean language book at National Bookstore for 300 pesos the last time I went there.

Eat all your favorite Pinoy foods! They’re available at Hyewha’s Sunday market but there’s nothing like the cooking you grew up with. What I really miss is “calderetang baka”. Beef is so expensive here that we only have it occasionally. Sad for me since I really like beef. Rice here is expensive. I’ve tried one of those “turo-turo” at Hyewha. An order of “calderetang baka” is about 3,000 won and if you add rice, your whole meal totals to 6,000 won.

Bring your favorite Tagalog DVDs. As far as I know, TFC’s service to Filipinos worldwide has not reached the airwaves of South Korea. There’s no Pinoy TV here too. If you’re into Tagalog movies and TV shows, your option is to subscribe to ABS-CBN’s Now (I don’t! Too expensive for the quality of their service. I’d rather watch Youtube.)

It’s been a long time since I posted an entry on this blog. I’ve been busy the past few weeks with Chuseok, autumn cleaning and touring my sister (who visited for a few days from the US). Plus, my 16-month-old boy wouldn’t allow me to just sit in front of the computer. He keeps me occupied almost the whole day. I could only get a rest when he takes a nap.

Last Saturday, one of my Pinay friends had a housewarming party and guests were treated to a delicious lunch at her lovely home. We had beef kare-kare, menudo, chicken curry, spaghetti, lumpia, fruit salad, green salad, chopsuey, banana bread and “super sarap” biko or rice cake. I couldn’t stop myself from gorging, since it’s been a long time since I had Pinoy food.

When you live a different country, gatherings like this are really gratifying. It’s a treat to spend your day with non-stop laughter, gossiping and eating. It’s so different from when you go out with the natives, when you have to watch your actions most of the time. Even if I only meet my Pinay friends occassionally and for a short time, every minute of every meeting is memorable.