Archive for the Category »expat living «

23
Feb
Baby Dynamo Granted an F3 Visa
wendy


Baby Dynamo is barely 3 months old. He was granted his F3 visa here in the Philippines by the Korean Embassy last February 19.

A lot of Filipinos lament the Korean embassy’s strictness with visa application. The Korean Embassy is said to be rejecting a lot of application for tourist visas. Personally, I think it depends on your purpose and the authenticity of your documents. It is a known fact that many apply for a tourist visa with the purpose of working in South Korea. Many of those are English tutors in the Philippines who would like to try their luck to work as (illegal) English tutors in South Korea. The problem arise in their documentary requirements, particularly the financial documents… and then they declare that the embassy is very strict. Without ample and authentic documents, what do you expect?

Four years ago, I also applied for a tourist visa. I submitted all the required documents and surprise!… instead of being granted a tourist visa, I was immediately granted a F-3 visa. It isn’t the standard procedure as F-3 visa holders should go through the process of being granted a tourist visa first and apply for a F-3 visa in South Korea. Anyway, it was a pleasant and a convenient surprise. I showed the lady accepting all visa applications at the Korean Embassy my case four years ago and she was surprised that I was granted the F-3 status instead of a tourist visa. For whatever it’s worth, Baby Dynamo was also granted the same status as I did.

I think the Korean Embassy is perceptive enough to evaluate and conclude that we are going to Seoul not just for a tour. So, instead of letting us go through the usual process of having a tourist visa first, they cut short the process for us and immediately granted us ur desired visa type. And it’s all in the documents that we submitted.

We are just counting the weeks. Little Dynamo, hubby and I are going to welcome our Baby Dynamo to our family life in Seoul. It’s one brave move! I will be assuming my role as the mistress of our house… without the perks our Philippine life is blessed with:-).

Anyway, dis-is-it!

Category: expat living, travel/places  Tags: , , , ,  8 Comments
30
Aug
My Pasalubong - Door to Door Service to the Philippines
wendy


My toddler and I are going to the Philippines mid-September. With a pregnant belly and without hubby around, I couldn’t carry much baggage so we decided that we avail of the My Pasalubong service - a door to door service for OFWs to the Philippines.

Good thing, I still have the Sambayanan newsletter which I got from Hyehwa in 2006 (so long ago). The company had an advertisement in the newsletter’s May 2006 issue and they still have the same contact number. I asked for a Jumbo size box without really knowing how big it would be. Aside from the necessary stuff that we need in the Philippines (those that I can’t include in my luggage) I ended up putting as many old clothes and shoes as I can. Our families back home do not really expect much pasalubong and so I just had to buy 4 boxes of Maxim coffee to fill up the box. LOL. Oh, plus boxes of those Korean chocolate sandwiches that are often on sale. Fillers!

p8221089

Contact numbers are 02-929-7766 and 010-3212-3100 and you may ask for Ms. Precy Niebres.  The cell phone number reflected in the box was just changed recently. Somebody will deliver your requested box. Just call them again when your box is ready.

Rates are as follows:

Destination

Regular Box

(715×59x56)

Jumbo Box

(715×59x73)
Metro Manila W 85,000 W 95,000
Luzon ACavite, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Bataan, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Zambales, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Baguio City W 85,000 W 100,000
Luzon BQuezon Province, Ilocos Sur,/Norte, Albay, Appari, Isabela, Sorsogon, Quirino, Cagayan Valley, Ifugao W 95,000 W115,000
Off-shore Islands and VisayasCatanduanes, Masbate, Marinduque, Palawan, Romblon, Visayas Islands W 110,000 W 130,000
Mindanao W 115,000 W 140,000

Category: expat living, general tips  Tags: ,  6 Comments
11
Aug
Early Morning of an Ajumma
wendy


Oh, yeah. I was a true-blue ajumma this morning.

Little Dynamo slept for close to fourteen hours, waking up at 9 in the morning. That means, riding the school bus was no longer an option. He was sleeping so well, I bet he was really tired from all the playing yesterday. I didn’t have the heart to wake him up.

He leisurely had his breakfast and bubble bath. I, on the other hand, was already in my gym clothes. I was so ready and eager earlier in the morning. My morning was planned out. Right after my Little Dynamo is secured on the school bus, I was going to immediately head off to the gym. That, of course, was not what happened.

After putting on his school uniform, we both went out to hail a cab going to Kinder Schule. I, on my gym clothes and unwashed face (gym is just on the second floor of our building). The new music teacher eagerly introduced herself to me and gave me a most pleasant feedback. My son loves singing and playing the drums. He is always excited during music class and he follows his songsaengnim very well. I was listening to all these happily while at the same time wishing to get out of the building the soonest that I can.

My “ME” time, at last! I was so happy stretching my muscles. These days gym is limited to twice a week, only when Little Dynamo is in school. Mondays are out as the gym is close. And there goes the halmoni who always love to chat whenever she sees me. I love talking to people. I love being with people. But there are times I love to be left alone. My gym time is one of those times. Argghhhhh!


Category: expat living, life in korea  Tags: ,  2 Comments
09
Aug
Plates Collection
wendy


It’s nice to look at the souvenirs from places you’ve been to.

p70303401I know of people who collects bottles of shampoos, conditioners and lotions from the hotels thay have stayed in. Others buy key chains. In our case, we buy plates. Actually, they are not all strictly plates. Some countries do not have these plates souvenirs. Others are in the form of decorative ash trays and some are small wall decors. As long as they are consistent with the size and the look of our present collection, we get them. We are running out of space for them. I told hubby we need to buy a good display cabinet specifically for these collections.  This would be a nice collection to forward to our children.

I’ve only been to a few countries with my husband so I can’t claim to have been in all the countries from these plates collection:-). 

Aside from these plates, hubby also makes it a point to keep all the card keys from all the hotels he had been to, with or without me. During one sentimental moment, I made a compilation of his collection of hotel card keys with the exact dates. I was quite surprised with my collection of details. All I had to do was check on my planner and I have actually meticulously noted down all his trips!


Category: expat living, travel/places  Tags: ,  2 Comments
05
Aug
13 Hours
wendy

 

Hubby starts his day on the gym while Little Dynamo and I prepare for dinner. When hubby prepares to go to bed, Little Dynamo and I are just starting our day.

When hubby moves to another state, it would be another time zone and another adjustment will be done.  In a case like this, we could only appreciate how technology bridges the distance… and eases the longing.

Every waking moment means one day less and we will be laughing and playing together again. For our Little Dynamo, it means reclaiming Daddy’s suitcase as his own. He thought it was his when his Dad allowed him to drag the suitcase like a big man when we brought hubby to the airport.p8030929

As an expat family here in Seoul with hubby somewhere around the globe almost every month, one would think we would be used to the time differences.

We aren’t.

We can’t be.

Category: expat living  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment
05
Aug
Wednesday Playgroup
wendy


Little Dynamo has a Wednesday playgroup. Every Wednesday, our group of four moms and four kids (plus one baby girl) would gather in one venue where the kids could play together. I love hosting our Wednesday playgroup because it is very convenient for me. I do not have to bring my son to another place or another house. Our apartment building has a playroom where I could bring the kids to release their energies. It has ample room for a balloon slide, a jumping platform, two kiddie houses and a good space where they can bump cars. There is a corner for moms to chit chat while watching the kids. The playroom is full especially during winter and very hot summer afternoons. Today was a hot Wednesday afternoon.

p8050947

Aside from the convenience, I love preparing snacks for the kids and the moms. Today’s chocolate torte was a hit. So was the lemom loaf I prepared the last time. The lemon loaf was such a hit that one boy spontaneously exclaimed “Mashita!” (delicious). Today’s chocolate torte’s left-over was all crumbs. I never thought I could get this kind of satisfaction from people liking my baked goodies:-). Just how domesticated could I get? LOL. I don’t think I will ever desire going back to reading law books… hahaha.

Category: child development, expat living, life in korea  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment
07
Jul
Schengen Visa for Filipinos
wendy

Each embassy has their respective policies for visa application and approval. This is especially hard for Filipinos who need to have a visa to enter almost all countries except countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Hubby had so far been given special arrangements and lesser “waiting time” for his visa applications. However, a business trip to Italy was delayed for two weeks because the Italian Embassy had to strictly implement the two-week processing policy. He was finally able to go to Italy last month after receiving his approved visa.

The strict policy is understandable as Italy is one of those countries implementing the Schengen Agreement. So, an approved visa to Italy means validly entering and freely moving in the territory of these countries with the Uniform Schengen Visa. These countries include:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Germany
  • Denmark
  • Spain
  • France
  • Finland
  • Greece
  • Italy
  • Iceland
  • Luxemburg
  • Norway
  • Sweden
  • Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Czech Republic
  • Estonia
  • Hungary
  • Lithuania
  • Latvia
  • Malta
  • Poland
  • Slovenia
  • Slovakia
  • Switzerland

Filipinos who wish to go to the countries above on business or as tourists need to submit:

  • valid passport
  • proof of sufficient financial means (bank certification, statement of bank account, at least 3 months salary slips)
  • proof of employment
  • return ticket or sufficient means to purchase it
  • 1 passport size picture
  • fill-out the visa application form

Category: expat living, general tips, travel/places  Tags: , ,  5 Comments
03
Jul
Friday Frustration: Uncertainties
wendy

ConversationsWithMoms:Every day Conversations with a Mom Blog

For two weeks, I didn’t have a reason to join Maria’s Friday Frustrations. Now I have.

My husband is a brilliant and reliable man. That’s certain.

This is where the uncertainty lies. He is frequently on a business trip. Frequent means every month he’s out of South Korea on a business trip. I smile with happiness if he has a one-night business trip. I frown when he’s out for more than a week.

No matter how short or how long the trips are, he brings home something I appreciate. That’s certain.

This is where another uncertainty lies. He could be told to go on a trip the day before. He could be told to go on a trip a week before. He could be told to schedule a trip a month before.

And that brings me to this frustration: We can’t schedule our family activities with certainty. We had rescheduled our summer vacation a number of times.

Last night, he brought home this news: He was told to stay in the US for a minimum of one month. Together with two of his colleagues, they are tentatively booked to leave on July 27.

Which brings me to a greater frustration: We had rescheduled our summer vacation on July 27. Now, I have to check on flights and packages for July 13. I was hoping for a relaxing time in Guam. Now, it’s out of the picture. We have to settle for Kuala Lumpur or Jeju. That I have to check after I finish this entry:-).

And the greatest frustration? I am now at a loss. We had scheduled our family’s trip to the Philippines on the second or third week of September in time for my father-in-law’s investiture as University President and just in time for me not to be rejected by the airline due to my pregnancy. With my husband’s departure on July 27, what do I do here? He could come back by the end of August or by the end of September. That uncertainty also depressed him a little bit last night.

I could go home to the Philippines and live with my parents-in-law until the investiture on September. I could fly to Iloilo where we planned for me to give birth after that. But that would be too long!!! Ughhh! We had just sold our SUV in the Philippines and I can’t imagine borrowing my father-in-law’s car. Though he owns two (and another two is provided to him as University President), can a daughter-in-law bear a mother-in-law’s frequent questioning? Duh. It’s theirs and she will have the right to check on their property every now and then. Unbearable. LOL. How can I go back and forth Cabanatuan and Manila without a car? How can I meet friends?

I could ask my mother to come over and be with us for the whole month of August. We could just go home together on September. But this comes to mind: The first time she was here for two weeks, she had to constantly ask when she’s going home to the Philippines. The second time she was here with my father, they only stayed for four days. No amount of persuasion made her stay longer to take care of her only grandson. And now I’ll ask her to stay here for a month? Bless me! That would be the day.

I’m now ranting longer than I should:-). But if there’s any consolation to all this, I’m just reminded once more how lucky I am to have this man as my husband. And how lucky his company is to have his loyalty all through these years.

Category: expat living, life in korea  Tags: ,  3 Comments
03
Jul
Toddler School in Mapo: Good for Foreigners
wendy

I went to a number of day care centers before I settled for the Kinder Schule in Mapo. For the first three months, my son only attended a twice a week, 2 hours program. This month, I have enrolled him for a three days, whole day program. Whole day program starts at 10 in the morning until 2:20 in the afternoon. The bus would pick him up at 9:20 am and would drop him off at 3:10 in the afternoon.

We started last Monday. Unfortunately, the school called me to inform that my son had a fever.

If I will be asked by a foreigner who has a toddler and who does not know how to speak Korean (like me!), I would recommend this school. The owner (Michelle) speaks very good English. A Korean teacher (Jen) also speaks very good English and they have an American teacher (Liza), as well. My son goes to her whenever he feels upset or lonely.

Kinder Schule is quite expensive. It’s rate is way above the regular daycare because it is a franchise. One month for one toddler is priced at 850,000-won. For those who are aware of the daycare rates around Seoul, this may sound irrationally expensive. In my case, I have no choice:-).

But more than having no choice, I have personally experienced good service from the management. The owner, Michelle, went out of her way to reach out and talk to me about my son’s progress. I call Jen even during weekends about any concern. I have seen how comfortably my son sits down on Liza’s lap. During the first days I left my son in the daycare to be on his own for two hours, I have seen how he automatically runs towards Liza for comfort. When he got used to being left in the daycare, he willingly reaches out his arms to be carried by his homeroom teacher. Sometimes, he forgot to kiss me good bye.

This week, when my son just stayed at home because of his throat infection (which is just viral - no antibiotics this time, thanks!), I got phone calls from his teachers to ask about his progress.

For a stay-at-home mom like me, it was also a struggle letting go of my son. We were together twenty-four hours a day. We started from me being with him in school, then me leaving him for two hours on his own. Now, I wouldn’t be eating lunch with him anymore for three times a week. The transition is good both for me and him:-).

For those foreigners who are trying to find a good day care for their toddlers, this is the only day care I could speak highly of around Mapo… for the simple reason that I can’t relate with other daycares because they don’t speak English (not one staff) and I don’t speak Korean.

For a better alternative? Diligently learn your Korean:-).

Category: child development, education, expat living, life in korea  Tags: , , ,  One Comment
24
Jun
Making Friends For a Reason
wendy

How do you make friends? Do you make friends because you instinctively like the person? Do you make friends because you need them?

What are your reasons for making friends with a particular person?

A month ago, a mother living in the same apartment where I live sent me a message if I had time to spare so that our boys could play together. I readily agreed as Little Dynamo and I were free that time. And I have already said no several times in the past because our schedule wouldn’t permit it. After several meetings and after knowing that my son has a playgroup scheduled every Wednesday, she also asked if we can schedule our boys’ playtime together. Now, aside from school, my son’s weekdays are full:-).

She is a very efficient mom with a very smart and obedient boy. She is one of those rare Korean women who believes that the English language is not a subject. It should be part of their daily life. Her little boy, without an English hagwon, speaks good english for his age. The boy can speak both Korean and English… because the mom makes the effort to speak to him in English. During one of our play time last week, the mom spoke Korean to another lady. Her boy reminded her “Don’t speak Korean. It’s English time”.

It dawned on me. Oh, my son and I are good companies for the boy’s English education:-). Kids don’t lie.

I know Korean moms are aggressive when it comes to their children’s development, even more so for their children’s English education. English is just a must in this very competitive society. I also know that some of my friends initially like to be with me to learn a thing or two about the English language or at least, practice their English speaking skills. It’s just that, this is the first time that it hit me straight in the face.

Nope, I didn’t take it against her. I was simply amused. Truth be told, I also enjoy being with her and learning from her. I think I have learned a lot of insights from her, in terms of how Korean moms are, more than from any other Korean friend that I have.

Oh well, sometimes the motives do not matter anymore when, in the process, you would grow to genuinely like each other’s company:-).

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Category: expat living, life in korea  Tags: ,  2 Comments
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