Food

As part of your contract package, you will be provided with three meals a day and perhaps a snack here and there as well.

If you have not visited Korea before, you may still be familiar with many of the other more common Asian foods. However, while many Asian foods might have given you a little foretaste of Korea, I must relay that Korean food is very distinct among Asians foods. Expect spicy foods with lots of vinegar tastes. Cabbage is common as are many vegetables and white, sticky rice is served with all meals. Noodles of all kinds are also served with most meals, usually with meat and vegetables interspersed. Pork is the most common meat, but tofu is often used as a substitute. "Kimchi" is a favorite here and is eaten with the fervency of a fine dessert. It is made of spicy cabbage with vinegar. Now I know that may not be your idea of dessert (and not mine either), but the typical Western dessert is a bit of a rarity. If you like sugar and sweets, be careful you don’t end up with bean flavor or potato flavored ice cream. Brewed coffee is not really a part of the culture, but many people drink instant. Teas, on the other hand, are quite plentiful as is fruit. Milk and yogurt are plentiful but cheese is less so.

Also, please note that there are no morning, mid-day, and evening meal distinctions here. In other words, you may eat something for breakfast one day and then again for dinner a few days later. There are no "breakfast foods" or "dinner foods". All meals are what Westerners would consider more of a dinner.

Anyone who is a vegetarian or vegan can notify the cooks upon arrival and they will accommodate.

The Surrounding Areas

Teachers will have most evenings free as well as some time on the weekends. What you do with that time is up to you. If you choose to explore the city of Pohang, there are plenty of restaurants and shops that will pique your interest. The university offers free bus rides downtown where you can catch a movie, spend some time shopping, or visit the Dunkin' Donuts for a donut and a cup of joe.
On the weekends, you may care to travel out of town. Short trips include Busan and Gyeongju. Both sites are worth a visit, and they are unique experiences in Korea. Gyeongju is the capital city of ancient Korea where you can find many many Buddhist temples, burial mounds, and other sites of historical significance. Busan (or Pusan) is the second largest city in Korea and is a great place to find seafood markets, entertainment, and lots of shopping...anything from Korean souvenirs to vintage clothing. Another short trip is Andong to the north where you can find the historic Hahoe Folk Village, a picture of the ancient village life...a very worthy and informative venture.