It gets old having to explain yourself again, speaking slower the next time, using simpler words and then to find out that nod of acknowledgment still didn't get across what you needed. The foreigner struggle is real when you can't speak Korean.
While it's not impossible to get by with only English in Korea, it does take it's toll. The game of charades can only get you so far. Translation apps, although much better than before, are still sketchy. Don't get me wrong, it's really great to live here with fast internet, quick and easy public transportation, and fast delivery service all around - but when you don't speak Korean or understand the culture, everything else can be a slow process.
It can be utterly exhausting to try to mutter the right words to a delivery man that's lost in your neighborhood, explain that you are allergic to gluten at a restaurant, get your landlord to fix your water heater or return a defective product you purchased. For most expats and foreigners visiting Korea, it doesn't take long to give up. Living without and putting up with stuff becomes a way of life because it's just too much of a hassle to ask a friend to constantly translate or go up to bat for you.
Traveling and living abroad should be a fun experience and an opportunity to live life to it's fullest. You came all the way around the world and crossed oceans and borders to get here not to stand around arguing with bank tellers who don't understand you. It's silly spending hours trying to figure out how to buy train tickets on a website that is not foreigner friendly. Does it really make sense that you need a local phone contract, Korean resident ID and a Korean bank account to buy concert tickets?
The answer is unequivocally, no. But it is a reality that foreigners spend a lot more time trying to live life in general and they often miss out on a lot of things locals easily take for granted.
Wonderful seeks to solve this problem by offering a bilingual personal assistant service dedicated to helping expats, business travelers and tourists visiting Korea. The best part is the service is on-demand and you only need to pay for the time and help you need. So unlike having to hire an employee on a full-time or part-time basis, you can pay for service by the minute. Some things like ordering a pizza just don't take that long so it makes a lot of sense.
There are no monthly membership fees, commitments and clients can cancel service at anytime. Imagine all the time you can save by having another you - but the other you can speak Korean so things can get done even faster than you could have done by yourself. Being productive is a very satisfying feeling.
To learn more about Wonderful, visit www.gowonderfully.com or just send a message to get started.
If interested in our service, you can reach us on Facebook, Kakao Talk or Email.
Corporate program is available for companies with expat employees. For more information on this please email us.