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Posted: 8/1/2015 5:03:17 PM EDT
Well, it looks like I am going to execute some more expat contractor duties...this time in Korea.  Having never been to Korea as a civilian, and never having been to Camp Humphreys CASEY (Dongducheon) and living on the local economy-do we have any talent here that can offer advice?  My experience with Korea is strictly at the schlepping around the hills level; never got to interact with the populace.  I am good on the cuisine and booze-one of the few perks of being in SoCal and having had local Korean friends.

I am done with expat work in SWA-does not pay what it used to.

So, I'll probably get a studio or small villa.  I'd prefer to be within walking distance of Humphreys, I am not inclined to buy a junker car and deal with whackamole driving over there.

What do I need to know?  Power converters, potable water, best ISP. utility rates, best neighborhoods, what to avoid, etc..  I am not inclined to pick up a mamsan or add to the local DNA pool.  Just going to live modestly, rack in the dough, workout and eat lots of Bulgogi.  But I need fast internet (I have fiber and HUGE bandwidth now...no going back...not going to deal with Iraq grade TIGRISNET).

I remember some real cold-wet and hot-wet field events. So clothing will not be an issue.  What else?  Thanks!

BTW-I know Korea sucks on gun ownership, this is only for a 1-3 year period.  Who can afford to shoot and train when ammo is $$$ anyway.
Link Posted: 8/1/2015 5:23:48 PM EDT
[#1]
Have a friend over there teaching English, IM me if you'd like to get in touch w/ him.
Link Posted: 8/1/2015 5:25:01 PM EDT
[#2]
Thanks.
Link Posted: 8/1/2015 5:31:17 PM EDT
[#3]
I drank a lot down in the ville.

Coming back to Humphreys after a long night of drinking, the best fried rice is just inside the gate.

Had a buddy mugged nite back alleys of anjinie (:-P)

Smurfberry juice will Fuck you up.

1 bottle of soju,I bottle banana extract,1 can of Orange crush.  It will turn you blue.
Txl
Link Posted: 8/1/2015 5:32:53 PM EDT
[#4]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I drank a lot down in the ville.

Coming back to Humphreys after a long night of drinking, the best fried rice is just inside the gate.

Had a buddy mugged nite back alleys of anjinie (:-P)

Smurfberry juice will Fuck you up.

1 bottle of soju,I bottle banana extract,1 can of Orange crush.  It will turn you blue.
Txl
View Quote


Challenge accepted.  I have three livers.
Link Posted: 8/2/2015 12:20:23 PM EDT
[#5]
look forward to stories from an old stomping ground

Txl
Link Posted: 12/17/2015 3:12:36 AM EDT
[#6]
Well, a Korea update is in order.

My contractor PCS move was delayed until Feb, or March.  It looks like I will get enough of a living allowance to cover a small two bedroom apartment that actually has a shower stall and not a shower sink.  

It should cover my utilities and blazingly numb fast internet too.

Probably NOT going to be at Camp Humphreys though.  Although most of the Army dudes (most, not all) are bebopping down to Humphreys with it's new base shiny and new base smell, I will get to go...wait for it...Camp Casey.  Dongducheon .  You can faintly hear "I'm so ronery," echoing through the mountains, in its proximity to the norks.  Lots of legacy sub camps and Casey are still active and support DMZ and deterrence roles.

Sigh.  Anyways-

I have no desire to purchase a mink blanket, custom suit or ghonnasyphahepeles.  Probably not even going to worry about wheels.  I need to walk more anyways.  

I do have my Roku set up, and I believe I should bring my own router and prime it with a VPN so I can watch FX, Food Network, and all of my clown bondage flicks.  Korean censorship is pretty entrenched, I will have to spoof the interwebz with a VPN.  Korean and Korean based arfcom peeps:

So...before I head over to tech forums, what says my arfcom Mafioso on the Roku, VPN, IP and router solutions?  Any other suggestions, besides double wrap it...are appreciated.
Link Posted: 12/17/2015 4:27:12 AM EDT
[#7]
TOR.
Link Posted: 12/17/2015 4:42:16 AM EDT
[#8]
TOR?  Ummm, okay.  I'm going to google-fu that.  I have not a clue.
Link Posted: 1/17/2016 11:04:04 AM EDT
[#9]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
TOR?  Ummm, okay.  I'm going to google-fu that.  I have not a clue.
View Quote


Bounces your shit around to a bunch of proxies around the world to surf anonymously. If you have plug ins on and/or download something it's not as secure. Google the fuck out of it to see what you need to do to get the best use of it.
Link Posted: 1/19/2016 1:40:53 AM EDT
[#10]
Thank you polecat.  Probably going the VPN route.  TOR seems not as whazoo secure as I initially thought, although the price is right for the budget minded.
Link Posted: 2/6/2016 7:02:56 PM EDT
[#11]
Hey OP,



I'm currently in Korea, living on the economy, wife is stationed at Camp Stanley.




When you first come over, they will put you through a housing briefing.




You will find a realtor that speaks English. Mine is Jenna Goog, and she's a single cutey, speaks the Engrish like a champ.




Her phone number is 010 3442-3677.




They take you around and show you different high rise apartments. Most are in the 3-5 bedroom range, well within your allowance.




Converters come with the apartment. We live on the 15th floor and we got a fully furnished (bare bones, bed, sofa, dining table) apartment. Like I said, converters came with the apartment, more than we actually needed.




To get to work, you'll need to jump on the hwy situated near the apartments and head about 10 minutes toward Dongduchun.




You will follow the highway until it ends. You'll know it's ended when you see red markers on the highway indicating that it is narrowing to one lane.




Exit highway and turn right. Follow the road *twists, turns, etc* until you come to a dead end three way intersection. Directly ahead of you - Camp Casey.




Buses:

Airport Limo bus goes to and from the airport from the front of Casey.




Taxi/bus/train

T-Money card, buy one at the station or at a convenience store. You can charge these up at convenience stores with cash only.




Join "Military Families in Yangju" on Facebook for more immediate needs like apartment help, local directions, camp casey happenings. Beware, they are humorless and mostly dependa wives, and the group doesn't enjoy joking around. Very serious bunch.




Let's see - Koreans drive like maniacs, they're all about the me-me-me - not very gracious on the roads. They run red lights like it's nothing. So be careful out there. There are speed cameras on the highways, sometimes they put them up overnight and you get caught - when you do, you'll get a ticket to your APO address. Pay it and move on - 30 bucks.




Join "Failed parking and driving in South Korea" on facebook group for a good laugh - every single day - great pics and a stress reliever for sure.






Link Posted: 2/6/2016 7:04:55 PM EDT
[#12]
Netflix works fine with VPN, but here's what recently went down. They announced they were going to open their doors to the Korean market, and now a VPN isn't needed. However, you only get barely 1/3 the selection that you did in the states. Apparently they've been working on installing new s/w that allows them to see if the customer is using a VPN. It hasn't hit us up here in Dongduchun (Casey area) yet because VPN still works fine for me.
 



You will definitely need a VPN to access porn though.
Link Posted: 2/6/2016 7:17:10 PM EDT
[#13]
Crazy shit you see on Korean subways

































Cray-cray people on the street (this guy isn't even Korean)













This is the apartment I live in. (ten min from casey)





















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