Shopping on the economy

This past weekend my family went shopping at two local stores.  I  would say they are similar to a Super Walmart in that they carry food, clothing, sporting goods, appliances, etc.  While we were there, I noticed quite a few products here in Korea that we buy in the USA.  I thought  I would  put together a small photo journal of our trip.

Electricity Update

Thank God for friends!  My friend Vikki was able to come up with a kilowatt usage chart.  Basically, this says if you use xxx kw it will cost you about $$$.  This is the information that I have been searching for to see what our usage will cost us in the long run.  Let me lay it out for you, in case you are in Korea and have been wondering the same thing.  These numbers are rounded and not to the penny.  Thank you again Vikk!

Kilowatts Used                          Cost
100 kw                                    6700 won
200 kw                                   20000 won
300 kw                                   40000 won
400 kw                                   78000 won
500 kw                                 115500 won  
600 kw                                 194000 won
700 kw                                 269000 won
800 kw                                 340000 won

Utilities in Korea

The bills for our first full month here  in Korea weren't too bad.  My husband moved in at the end of May and the girls and  I arrived here on the 5th of June.  Our utility bill for June arrived about two weeks ago and I was pleasantly surprised. Our electric portion of our bill was only about 78000 won, roughly $65.00 and our gas bill was 3400 won, under $3.00. I was actually very excited that the bills were so low for June but I am afraid that July and August are going to very different,especially the electric.

The average temperature in June was lower than the recent temps so we didn't have to run the air conditioning very much.  July came and it was a different story. The temperature has been between 86 and 95 degrees with a humidity of 65 - 90%, which makes for a very warm apartment. I would consider myself to be quite frugal and have only been running the air conditioning a few hours each evening to cool off the house before the girls go to bed. 

Our first month we used about 450 kw but I checked out usage this past month (July) and it has gone up to over 600kw.  The picture below is of the touch screen technology that we have in our apartment.  We can see who's at the front door, talk to neighbors in their apartments and track our utility usage. 

We have been told that the electric is priced in brackets. Say for instance you use under 500 kw, your bill will be 80,000won. If you use between 500 and 700kw, your bill will be  XX number of won (and it would double).  I hope that I am worrying for nothing but since we don't really know what the brackets are and the cost for each of them,  I am afraid that our electric for July will be pricey.  I guess  I can only wait until the bill comes in two weeks to find out. 

I know the gas bill will go up because as I have learned to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, I have definitely been cooking more lately.   In addition to our  gas and electric, we also have to pay water and sewer and our portion of the fees at the apartment complex such as the cost of the parking garage lights, outdoor lighting, elevator cleaning person and recycling people.

As I was trying to research utility bills and usage in Korea, I came across this lovely article (NOT!)  It lets me know that our utilities here in South Korea will be going up due to an increase by the government.

While living in Korea has been very different, I can definitely tell you that it is an adventure that I am glad we have had the opportunity to do as a family.

Funny Faces

My girls love to take my camera and take pictures.  Unfortunately, most of them don't turn out or end up being of the walls or furniture. While importing pictures from the camera to the computer I came across some funny ones, so I thought I would share them with you.

Moving Up - Korean Style

We have been living here in Korea for two months now..I can't believe how time is flying.  My husband found out this week that our belongings should be arriving in country this weekend and will be released once they have gone through customs. That's the good news.  The not so great news is that it could take two weeks or longer to get cleared through customs.  I am praying that it is even less than that.

I will post pictures of our move and apartment once our things get here but I thought in the meantime I would post some pictures about moving...Korean style.  Because we live on the first floor of our apartment building, this method of moving will not be used for us when our things get here.

Since Korea is densely populated, the most efficient use of space is to build up.  You will see 5 story buildings in town and on each floor are different store and businesses.  Same with housing.  About a mile from our apartment, they have torn down whatever was there before and you can see their plans to build huge 15 story or more apartment complexes in place of whatever was there before.

So if you live in all but the first floor of an apartment complex in Korea, your belongings are not brought up a service elevator or even the stairwell like in the states.  A huge lift is set up outside the building and your stuff is put on this lift and run up and down the side of the building.  I grabbed a few pictures the other day as someone across the way from me was moving out.

Major cultural differences

There are many differences between Eastern and Western cultures.  Some are very noticable while others are not as noticable until you are in a situation to observe them.  Here I have listed a few.  Everyday we are learning about our "new home".  I hope I am learning enough not to offend indivduals from our host nation.

Eastern Culture                                      Western Culture
- mutual dependence                                          - independence
- harmony with nature                                         - control nature
- hierarchy                                                          - equality
- conformity with group                                       - individuality
- marriage is based on what is appropriate          - marriage based on love
- subtle, indirect communication                          - open, direct communication
- love expressed through mutual obligation           - loved expressed openly, verbally
- stress on interpersonal  harmony                        - stress on individuality
- life shaped by position in family, gender and age - life shaped by own efforts
- woman's reason for being is wife and mother       - woman's choices as broad as man's

Reality Check...We're not in Texas anymore

I think it has finally hit me.  I have been so excited about a change of duty station, living overseas, experiencing a new culture and visiting new places with my family that I didn't see it...or maybe I ignored it.

Yesterday I was browsing a book that was given to me about military living in Korea .  One of the articles was about culture shock.  I thought "culture shock"  not me..I've been so excited knowing our family will be together for  two years, there will be lots of new things to see and do, and how many people really get to experience something  like this (living in another country). 

Then as I went to bed last night the reality hit me....

I may not see me parents for two years.
I will not be talking to my sister daily, like we did when I lived in Texas.
I will be missing the birthdays of my nieces, nephews and other family members.
I won't be shopping at Walmart or Target for quite awhile.
What I  know of as American Cable TV will not be in my future for quite some time.
I won't be spending the holidays with my family for the next two years.

Ok, I  need to stop there before I allow the negative things to take over.  I guess I could say I am experiencing a bit of culture shock now.  At this point, two years seems like a really long time.  It's longer than a deployment.  It means the difference between seeing my sister's new baby when he was born to meeting a toddler who walks and talks.  If I dwell on it, I get overwhelmed.

When we were in Texas, we were not close to family, but it was only a 26 hour car drive to get back to my parent's home.  Here, it is a 12 hour plane ride...another 6 hour plane ride and a drive.  It can't be done on a whim and will definitely cost me more than a trip from Texas to Pennsylvania.

So, at this point I need to just give my struggle, emotions and sadness about what I am missing in my life to God.  I need to lean on Him to get me through what I am feeling right now.  I can't imagine doing this as a 20 something new military bride and I can not imagine doing this journey without my faith.  I have a place to turn, a place to find refuge that not all families experiencing what we are going through have established in their lives.

Yesterday, my husband's sermon was on the importance of the body of Christ and the roles we each play.  We need each other.  We all have something to contribute, to help each other out.  Gathering together with other believers is important and we should not forsake that.  I need to get my focus off of myself and see what I have to give to encourage others who are going through the same things that I am going through.  I am thankful for some very good Christian friends that I have already met here in Korea....some in our apartment complex, others at chapel and others through facebook that I have connected with after arriving.

We all have something to contribute to the body of Christ and we need to be giving and not just sitting back waiting to receive.  What are your gifts and talents?  Do you have something to contribute to the body of Christ?  Maybe you don't think so, but step back and think again.  You like to cook...making a meal can bless someone.  You enjoy like to shop....buying a small gift can cheer someones day.  Is organizing fun for you? Maybe a busy mom could use your help.

Don't sit back and dwell on your situation but get busy and start blessing your friends, neighbors and those in your church with your gifts and talents.  Remember, without our pinky toe, we would not be able to keep our balance.  However small you think your contribution might be...it  is needed.

So I am going to stop thinking  about what I don't have or what I will be missing while living in Korea and start blessing others with what I do have.