Tuesday, November 03, 2009

신분 증명서

Two cards are all that it takes for me to lead a new life. They are the Certificate of Alien Registration and the Kyunghee's Student Card.

The Certificate of Alien Registration allows me to lead a life of an 'alien' in an 'alien land' known as Korea (The Korean authority really needs to fix the word 'alien'. No one would like to be associated with creature from outer space). This card is obtainable one week after registering at the immigration office. Initial registration fee is 10,000won while subsequent extension (for 3 months) costs 30,000won each time. With this card, I could subscribe and enjoy the convenience of many Korean internet services. However, this card was returned to the airport's immigration officer on the day of my departure.

Kyunghee's Student Card allows me to lead a life of a language student. It took a long time (read: 5 months) with countless visits to my school's admin office before I received it. At one time, an office staff, even told me that this card has no other function except to allow me into the central library. In reality, what she said wasn't exactly true. With this card, I knew I could enjoy subsidised medical care at my school's hospital. I used this card to get priority seating for my school's anniversary concert. I was also entitled to discount for performance held in my school's auditorium. Lastly, I could enjoy discounted coffee at the Angel-in-us cafe just outside my school. There are probably other benefits which I have yet to discover. Unlike my Certificate of Alien Registration, I get to keep this card for life. 난 경희인이라고 불러도 돼요. ^^

7 comments:

  1. haha i'm looking foward to the day I can get the alien registration card XD

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  2. 'alien' life is sure enjoyable ^^

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  3. Sometimes I wonder, how did you get so many off days from your work to study in Korea? So envy...

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  4. is there an employer who will give me so much off days? quite impossible right?

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  5. OMG.... you are having a good life! Please stuff me into your luggage bag...I want to MIA for months. :P

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  6. sure, you need to fire your boss and have a lot of savings to tie over the winter.

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  7. ah!!! my laught was bursted .. it is really funny id card in the world. I am korean. Once I already knew it ' alien' hahaha thanks for your present for my big hahaha

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