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help_notes [2016/07/27 08:44] santiagoricoyhelp_notes [2016/08/01 18:17] (current) santiagoricoy
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 Q2.) **How am I going to handle money?** Q2.) **How am I going to handle money?**
  
-A2.) Check the foreign transaction fees for your debit and credit cards ahead of time. If you can, sign up for a card that waives these fees. If you don't, don't worry, they normally will not go over 5% plus 5 dollars for an ATM withdrawal, which is reasonable if you get in a pinch.+ 
 +A2.) Check the foreign transaction fees for your debit and credit cards ahead of time. If you can, sign up for a card that waives these fees. If you don't, don't worry, they normally will not go over 5% plus 5 dollars for an ATM withdrawal (Woori Bank has global ATMs on campus), which is reasonable if you get in a pinch.
  
 I recommend checking the conversion rate online and then see how you can ask for foreign currency from your bank. I recommend checking the conversion rate online and then see how you can ask for foreign currency from your bank.
  
 I ordered Korean won from my bank, with no fee, before leaving. I simply went to the nearest banking center once delivered there, asked about it, they counted it out for me, and I took it home. To be honest though, getting settled in will probably cost you a significant amount, so if you're going to go the all-cash route, pull out around 2000 dollars in Korean currency (this is still well below the amount of money you must claim at customs) and it should last a while. I ordered Korean won from my bank, with no fee, before leaving. I simply went to the nearest banking center once delivered there, asked about it, they counted it out for me, and I took it home. To be honest though, getting settled in will probably cost you a significant amount, so if you're going to go the all-cash route, pull out around 2000 dollars in Korean currency (this is still well below the amount of money you must claim at customs) and it should last a while.
 +
 +Your KAIST ID can hold credit on it, that can be used to easily speed up payment at the cafeterias and other campus stores (I don't know for sure, but possibly a select few places outside of KAIST also accept the ID). You must be registered with Woori Bank for this feature. If you can qualify for the Alien Registration ID in Korea, that's something I'd highly recommend getting. It allows you to make a bank account and use various other services in Korea as well, including the National Health Insurance.
  
 Q3.) **Where am I going to stay?** Q3.) **Where am I going to stay?**
  
-{{:ricoykaist:dormroom.jpg?nolink&500}}+{{:ricoykaist:dormroom.jpg?nolink&500}}<fs x-small>Our room.</fs> 
 + 
 + 
 +{{:ricoykaist:hwaamview.jpg?nolink&500}}<fs x-small>The dorm complex.</fs> 
  
 A3.) If you're doing the same thing we are, you'll be in a KAIST dormitory. We were placed in the Hwaam dormitories, but others were not. It depends, but our dormitory is a couple miles north of the main campus. There is a shuttle that runs from the main campus, to Munji campus, to our dormitory (Look at Q7). A3.) If you're doing the same thing we are, you'll be in a KAIST dormitory. We were placed in the Hwaam dormitories, but others were not. It depends, but our dormitory is a couple miles north of the main campus. There is a shuttle that runs from the main campus, to Munji campus, to our dormitory (Look at Q7).
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 Q5.) **What and where will I eat?** Q5.) **What and where will I eat?**
  
-{{:ricoykaist:kaist_cafeteria.jpg?nolink&300|}}+{{:ricoykaist:kaist_cafeteria.jpg?nolink&500}} <fs x-small>Selection is better at N11 cafeteria.</fs> 
 +{{:ricoykaist:hwaam_cafeteria.jpg?nolink&500}} <fs x-small>Hwaam is much quieter, less crowded, and you can eat more for less there.</fs> 
 +{{:ricoykaist:kaistfrontcafeteria.jpg?nolink&500}} <fs x-small>This is what N11 (main campus north cafeteria) looks like from the front.</fs> 
  
 A5.) The Hwaam dormitory has its own cafeteria open at about the same times as the main campus cafeteria. You may prefer one or the other if you're there. Hwaam is basically all-you-can-eat with limited selection, while main campus has more selection, but at the cost of quantity. Hwaam is most convenient for breakfast if you dorm there. There also exist convenience stores that stay open very late on campus with food in case you miss a meal. A5.) The Hwaam dormitory has its own cafeteria open at about the same times as the main campus cafeteria. You may prefer one or the other if you're there. Hwaam is basically all-you-can-eat with limited selection, while main campus has more selection, but at the cost of quantity. Hwaam is most convenient for breakfast if you dorm there. There also exist convenience stores that stay open very late on campus with food in case you miss a meal.
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 Q7.) **How am I going to get around?** Q7.) **How am I going to get around?**
  
-{{:ricoykaist:hwaam_shuttle.jpg?nolink&300}}+{{:ricoykaist:hwaam_shuttle.jpg?nolink&500}}
  
-The schedule for the shuttles KAIST offers can be found [[http://www.kaist.edu/html/en/kaist/kaist_010701.html|at this link]]. There is even a cheap bus available that can take you to Seoul (not as simple getting back though).+ 
 +The schedule for the shuttles KAIST offers can be found [[http://www.kaist.edu/html/en/kaist/kaist_010701.html|at this link]]. There is even a cheap bus available that can take you to Seoul (not as simple getting back though). All of the KAIST shuttles look the same, except for the smaller one that takes you to E-Mart. So know what time you need to be at the correct stop, and double check the sign on the front of the bus that indicates which one it is.
  
 Besides that, there is also public transportation, so buy a T-Money card, which can get you almost anywhere you want if you can read Korean. Note that you don't even need to understand what you're reading. If you're visiting smaller towns, public transportation is more difficult, but in places like Seoul, it's ubiquitous. Besides that, there is also public transportation, so buy a T-Money card, which can get you almost anywhere you want if you can read Korean. Note that you don't even need to understand what you're reading. If you're visiting smaller towns, public transportation is more difficult, but in places like Seoul, it's ubiquitous.
 +
 +Other things:
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 +There is no convenience store at the Hwaam dormitory hall. Only a cafeteria, and a small gym in the basement.
 +
 +{{:ricoykaist:gymhwaam.jpg?nolink&500}}
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 +**LAUNDRY!!**
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 +I'm sure the other dorms are different, but in Hwaam, we have washing machines available for free, and the option to hang dry, or pay 1000 won for 50 minutes of time in the dryer.
 +
 +{{:ricoykaist:laundry_room.jpg?nolink&500}}
 +
help_notes.1469634242.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/07/27 08:44 by santiagoricoy