Watching a movie in Korea.

If you are like me, then going to the movies is a regular part of your life. Even if you're not as big of a cinema fan as I am, chance are you're going to see a movie in Korea sooner or later. While the process itself is relatively straight forward there are some things you should know before heading to the big screen.

- Most big American blockbusters make it to Korea around the same time as their American releases. If its a big movie and primed to make money, chances are its coming out worldwide at the same time. In fact, some releases come out even earlier. Take The Avengers for instance, its release date was a full week earlier than in the US along with The Amazing Spider Man, once again a full week earlier than in the US.

- If you're a fan of smaller flicks or indie flicks, you might have to wait before seeing them on the big screen. Korean cinemas are constantly trying to push out more blockbusters leaving little to no time for smaller films. Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris was released last fall in the US, but is just now receiving a theater release date in Korea. Other films such as Melancholia and Cabin in the Woods are also only recently getting a theatrical release date, despite coming out last year and earlier in the year.

- However, there are a few cinemas that specialize in showing more artistic films to Korean cinema goers. Their locations in Gangbyeon, Sangam and Gwanghwamun are known for showing more indie flicks in a smaller location.

- If you're looking at a movie outing as a date option, theaters in Korea will accommodate you too. Most famous theaters in Korea (CGV, Lotte) have special couple's seating that will allow you and your date to sit closely together and enjoy the movie in close proximity. Not quite my cup of tea, but it is an option for couples into that sort of thing.

- If you and your date want another private and close movie viewing option, DVD-bangs are also a cheap alternative. Featuring a wide selection of movies, comfortable seating and rooms with complete privacy. Just be warned if you are just beginning to date someone, suggesting a DVD-bang may not be the best idea since quite a few couples use it for reason not really related to movies (sex).

- If you're worried about getting tickets, do not. There are many options to get tickets. Some websites for foreigners such as Ticketlink and Maxmovie allow you to reserve tickets online. Be warned: both of the sites are in Korean and also require foreigners to present their ARG cards to sign up. 

- Cine in Korea is a website made especially for foreigners to reserve movie tickets. While it doesn't include all theaters and really doesn't represent smaller towns, most theaters in major cities are represented. 

- If you reserve your ticket at the theater, you can either use one of the automated machines or simply go to the counter to order your ticket. Both options will have English option and for the most part are very easy to find. 

- Unlike the states, when you reserve your ticket, you also reserve your seat as well. That goes without saying if a popular movie is showing getting there to get good seating (especially if you're with a group) is a must. 

- For those wanting the bigger picture and sound experience, IMAX is the way to go. There are many IMAX screens in all major cities in Korea (you can view the list here). I have been to two IMAX's, one in Incheon and one in Daegu. Both were equally fantastic. Large screen, excellent sound and high quality picture. It was easily one of the best IMAX related experiences I have had so far.

- However, for film fans savvy on their technical information, these IMAX's were not the "true" IMAX's that feature the proper sized screen. These are digital projection IMAX's and while they still look incredible next to their normal screen counterparts, they are not a true IMAX experience. This may come across as incredibly disappointing especially since some recent movies such as last year's Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol and this year's Dark Knight Rises had sequences specifically shot for the true IMAX format. Most people will not be able to tell the difference, but for those that can (like me) it will definitely be a step down in quality and lacking the complete grandeur that the scenes were intended for.

- There is one true IMAX in Korea, located in Seoul's 63 Center. However it is limited to showing only three movies a year a most of them are documentaries. Still, if you want to see the difference in quality and immersion, it is more than worth your time.

- The other format still making its rounds through movie is 3D. While most movies that are released are post converted 3D, meaning that most movies are originally filmed in 2D, and then have the 3D effects added later on, a few released this year were filmed specifically in 3D, most noticeably Prometheus and the result is fantastic. 

- If you do end up seeing a post-converted 3D movie, rest assured that even if the effort is subpar, it will not be through lack of proper equipment. A majority of theaters in Korea are very up to standard with crystal clear digital projection and 7.1 Dolby Surround. I live in a smaller town (Gimcheon) and the teeny tiny theater there still has an amazing screen and sound set up. It is a definite step up from a majority of standard theaters back in the states.

- Finally, if you want to go for something different, trying a 4D theater or D- Box is worth trying for the experience, at least once. You sit in a seat that moves with the movie, so each explosion, bump and jolt you feel in your seat as it shakes and rocks back and forth. Along with this movement, sprays of water and blasts of air are thrown in your face.  I saw my first 4D movie at the Incheon IMAX CGV (John Carter) and while the experience was fun, it won't be something that I will be doing again anytime soon. Not only was the screen only a standard sized theater screen (not IMAX), the projector was shockingly dim and the motions while fun, in the end did more to take me out of the movie rather than immerse me even more.  

That's all I have for now. This is a crap ton of information but watching movies and films is one of my favorite hobbies and being able to continue this hobby all the way in Korea is a very nice thing indeed. 

A link to more information about watching movies in Korea. 
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=261865

Chapter 11: Saying goodbye to the person who removed my fear

It’s funny writing that I’ve been in Korea for nearly 5 months and really don’t consider it some kind of milestone. In fact it took a moment of random thoughts and staring at a calendar to remind me of just how long I’ve been here and just how fast time really does pass when you aren’t actively counting it.

I haven’t been actively keeping track of my days here in Korea nor have I been counting down the days before heading back to the states. I have not experience homesickness yet, nor have I become so fond of Korea that I do not wish to return. It’s not a year away from home to me and it’s not a vacation away from the US. It’s a new part of my life, a new chapter that I am currently living out and for the most part, enjoying it very much.

The last few weeks have helped to illustrate this point with two major events: one of first friends made in Korea leaving to go overseas and a trip to the ocean, two unrelated events but ones that gave me a new perspective on life and where I want to go with mine.

My friend leaving was a sad day for me, The first I have experienced in Korea. Charlie was a substitute teacher at the school I taught at and was quick to start talking to me the first day he started teaching there. His English was excellent and his personality was lighthearted and fun. Charlie was always quick to crack a joke whether it was through observation or mistranslation. He was also always there to give me a helping hand in my school work, translation and just someone to talk to during the day. Being a native English speaker and knowing very little Korean makes for very short and unfulfilling conversations, but Charlie was always there to say something.

When the teachers would leave for a gathering or meeting more often than not I was left behind as coming to the meeting in their eyes would be pointless if I did not understand what anyone was saying. In truth this made sense, but it didn’t make the isolation any less hurtful nor did it do anything to starve off the feeling that I was not an esteemed colleague, but rather an accessory to teach English.

I sat in the office alone, possibly for the rest of the day for all I knew.  As I sat in my chair staring blankly off into the distance, Charlie came in from the side, put his hand on my shoulder and said:

“Hey, it’s not bad that they left you, now we can go get ice cream and talk.”

We ate ice cream and talked. We talked about our families and about our most embarrassing moments. We talked about where we were going to go in our lives and what we wanted to see in the world. We talked about our ideal soul mates, the people we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with.

“I really want to be with someone who understands me. In Korea sometimes people are only after you for your status. I don’t care if she’s a doctor or trash collector, if she’s a good person who cares what she does?” he once told me

I was having my first substantial conversation with someone since leaving my home behind. It felt refreshing to be able to say these things and not feel the stigma of saving face or cultural boundaries. I smiled as I listened to Charlie’s hopes and dreams and slowly let the ice cream melt in my mouth and leave a cold trail down my throat. I usually was one to finish my ice cream as fast as possible but here I slowly let it melt instead. The cold sweetness was a physical compliment to mellow and blissful state of my mind. I was shocked at just how good conversation could feel after being devoid of it for so long.

Charlie was also one of the keys to getting to know other people in my little town better. While I was originally used to meeting the friends I had originally met outside of my hometown I had very little contact with the people who lived near me. When Charlie requested meeting the other teachers in town we suddenly became a lot closer. Charlie had a magnetic personality that was able to make even the shiest person want to sit down and talk with him. Our get togethers were becoming more frequent and soon we were getting to know each other better. I previously dreaded staying behind in my town for the weekend, but now looked forward to it. Slowly these people were becoming my friends. My family I could talk to when I needed help and my source of good conversation and happiness at a moment’s notice.

While Charlie was getting closer to everyone and helping everyone become better friends, he was also preparing to move further away than any of us. Charlie was preparing to leave Gimcheon to pursue a job overseas. It would give him the chance to do what he always dreamed of: travel the world and get paid for it. He kept it quiet not telling anyone any details until a few weeks prior.

At first I was slightly disappointed, I wanted Charlie to follow his dream and I wanted him to be happy but it seemed too soon too sudden. Charlie had just gotten to know us and find his friends again in Gimcheon, to leave that behind seemed a cruel twist of fate.

Charlie was never one to keep a sad situation that way so in an attempt to say goodbye and leave on a high note, Charlie decided to have two days of celebration. One day a barbeque cookout and one day a night spent in one of his favorite places, the city park.

The barbeque started out horribly. It was raining all day and everywhere was thoroughly soaked. The wind picked up when it was time to start grilling and despite having a ton of food to eat, we lost most of it due to the rain water and the meet sitting out uncooked. Despite the miserable atmosphere the party was a blast.  Charlie was happier than ever and when combined with our good company we were able to take the ugly and cold day and turn it into an experience of drinking, laughing and playing games. We were freezing and soaked to the bone but still happy.

The final day was spent in the city park, drinking beer, eating chicken and talking. It was the small intimate events that were we’re most used to and in a way, liked it better that way. We didn’t have the pressure to meet expectations or satisfy the need to be over the top and extreme.  We were a simply able to talk. To share and listen. To learn more about each other.  It was a mellow end and a quiet way to send Charlie off on his way.

Before leaving that evening Charlie told me goodbye.

“You’re a good friend Kyle. I will miss you but don’t worry I will be back someday, you can never get rid of me forever,” he said, flashing that same stupid grin he always did when saying something serious and heartfelt.  “Also, don’t worry too much about things in life like your job and relationships. All these things just happen when ready. Sometimes it is just best to not worry about planning and just react.”

These were the last words Charlie spoke to me in person. They still stick in my mind days after he has left, they were simple but poignant words. Their meaning now embedded in me.

Up to this point in Korea, I had been banking on a master plan hoping that everything would work out in my favor. My whole life had been one master plan after another. Even when I told myself I was being open minded I was lying to myself. I always wanted a result, an end to what I started. Not having things finish or leaving things without a clear idea always made me nervous. Not nearly as much as previously in my life, but still enough to linger in my mind and cause me a growing sense of dread when the unknown popped up.

Charlie taught me to forget all that. He taught me the freedom of not having all the answers and not knowing how the story would end. I learned that sometimes it was good to just let things go as they did, that everything would happen good or bad and that no matter what the result, it was always a good thing to embrace the adventure in my life.

The last of my fear had finally disappeared. Thanks to Charlie, I had truly become free.  

Regarding the photo stream...

I currently use Flickr on this blog because it allows me to stream some of the photos from the set on the sidebar of the blog. However, with the limit that Flickr imposes and the fact that I am uploading my photos onto two other places: Google + and Facebook, I will no longer be uploading pictures to Flickr. I have reached my 200 photo limit and do not feel the need to pay for services that others do for free (and in some cases much more efficiently).

If you know of a better uploading service that can also be integrated into Blogger please feel free to let me know. I am sadly kind of ignorant on the issue so there may very well be a service out there that integrates well that I am simply unaware of.

For now, for those who care, please follow me on Facebook and Google Plus (links in the sidebar) if you wish to see more photos from Korea. Thanks!

Random helpful things I have discovered in Korea (glasses, transportation, hair cuts and wi fi)

As of right now, it has been nearly five months since coming here for the first time. what once seemed like an impossible dream of making my way to Korea has now become an everyday reality. There's been some challenges along the way but for the most part, Korea has been an incredible country to explore and discover. I consider myself very lucky that everyday is an opportunity for new adventures.

Since being here there have been a lot of small things I have learned along the way that have helped me live a comfortable life. Here is a small but helpful sampling of what I have learned.

If you wear eye glasses in Korea, it is very easy and affordable to get new ones. I was able to visit an eye glasses store in Seoul and in the end purchased a new pair of glasses, new lenses and a have my old glasses repaired for 40,000 won, an insanely cheap price compared to the states. If you were waiting to purchase new eye wear until after coming to Korea, this is the perfect opportunity to do so.

Traveling in Korea is a breeze. Not only do larger cities have an easy to use subway and taxi system (most of which will have a very frequent use of English) traveling between cities and towns is easy thanks to the excellent train systems here. The slowest train, the Mugunghwa will take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours between locations but is the cheapest (around 14,000 won). The next train in line is the Saemaul which is a step up in speed and price (around 20-25,000 won). Finally, the KTX is the fastest train that Korea offers, able to travel from one end of the country to the other in less than 6 hours. It is the most expensive option (anywhere from 34,000 to 50,000 won), but as you can probably tell, you have plenty of train options that can fit every budget and time frame. The website allows you to book your tickets in English and redeem them at the station. Be sure to bring your passport when redeeming them. You can find a link to the English Korail site here.

Along with trains, taxis and subways, buses are also an option. While a majority of bus schedules are in Korean, a little time spent learning the schedules and having a Korean friend help translate will cut down on travel time in the city immensely and will be a cheaper alternative to a taxi or subway.

Getting a haircut is also an easy experience if you live in a larger city. Most places will known enough English for you to express how you want your hair. An alternative is learn some basic hair-related phrases (trim, cut, perm) in order to make the process easier. Be warned, there are many places that cut hair for many different prices so be sure to choose carefully. Ask other foreign teachers, Korean friends and co teachers before making a decisions. Guys and especially girls are at a risk of having their hair butchered if not careful. As with many things in Korea, doing your research before doing anything else is key!

Finally, a side note: wi fi is not something that is widely available in Korea like back in the states. Coffee shops and restaurants are often your best bet to find hot spots, but even then, some places may be lacking. If you have a device that relies on wi-fi, it is best to find a reliable hang out spot that you can frequent. If you have a mobile phone device, it is best to stick with your service and try for the largest data plan possible. While it may cost more initially, if you frequently use your devices, it will be considerably less than going over a limit.

There are many useful tips for foreigners living in Korea. This is just a small sampling. I will post more as time goes on and I discover more new tips and tricks.