Living on the edge (of Seoul, South Korea that is) has its ups and downs, at least for English expat Stevie. Learn what this English teacher thinks about living and working in this South Korean capital city, where, though he thinks fashions could be improved, the people are mostly pleasant and the streets are safe and clean.	Stevie B

-Where were you born?
In Beverley, England.

-In which country and city are you living now?
In Anyang, on the southern edge of Seoul, South Korea.

-Are you living alone or with your family?
Alone.

-How long have you been living in South Korea?
I've been for just over 16 months now.

-What is your age?
I've just turned 31.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in South Korea?
It was a convergence of circumstance, boredom and London being too expensive to live in and pay off my student debts.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
No, it was very easy indeed.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
Not at all. My employers have to provide me with medical insurance by law. And I have to pay about UKP25.00 a month for it.

-How do you make your living in South Korea? Do you have any type of income generated?
I teach English at a private school. I got the job through a friend who was already working there and who recommended it to me and me to them.

-Do you speak Korean and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
It's quite easy to pick up survival Korean, but getting beyond that is harder. It's not really a problem though. There is a lot of English spoken here so I've never really had any problems. You can usually get by with a mixture of very basic Korean and sign language, and if things get really hard, you can get a Korean friend to help you out.

Ex-pats (especially Westerners) get away with a lot here. They don't have to follow the rules of etiquette so closely (which involve a lot of paying respect to one's elders and always deferring to your boss), and if you do do something that offends, most Koreans would rather quietly correct you than cause a scene about it.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Of course. But there's a big ex-pat scene here, so if you're really desperate for company from home, it's never far away.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I may go to Japan in the near future.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
My school pays for my apartment, which is a little old and dingy, but is perfectly adequate.

-What is the cost of living in South Korea?
Half of my monthly income - around UKP600 a month. It would be less if I didn't have such expensive tastes.

-What do you think about the Koreans?
Korean people are very nice, generally speaking, and treat foreigners with respect and hospitality. Generally. But not always. They are, unfortunately, quite taken to gutter press sensationalism, so if there is an anti-American or anti-Westerner story in the press, you can sometimes catch a few glares and cusses on the street and subway, and of course, you get the occasional arsehole now and then, but other than the odd glitch, Koreans are pleasant and polite, and the streets are very safe indeed.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in South Korea?
Positives: Good money if you're trying to save, pleasant people, safe, usually clean.

Negatives: Awful food, awful fashions, awful music, awful beer (though imported beers are available). Also, Koreans can sometimes be stiflingly nationalistic and foreign foods and products can be very hard to come by.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in South Korea?
Yes, bring lots of fashionable clothes, music and books. You won't get them here.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about South Korea?
Only my own, which is a bit too wordy and full of itself, but occasionally amusing and always very honest (if you want a fuller and ruder picture of Korea, take a look): http://tentaclesforbreakfast.blogspot.com