May in Korea has been beautiful if not a bit challenging. Things got hotter earlier than they usually do and the temperatures in May are now 70-80 degrees (Freiheit). With this weather comes monsoon season as hot weather is mixed with rain. I have to say this heat is making things hard as I realize I am not built for this. Walking in the heat to my classes was something I did not think of. Luckily if I want to go somewhere else the buses and subway are kept cool.
Walking by the many school fountains was so tempting in this heat. However, everyone around me seemed to not let the weather change how they dress. I walk the only one that seemed to be struggling with the heat.
I decided to try and enjoy some of this sunshine while I was out in nature. I walked through this beautiful nature area that Yonsei had on campus.
After walking back from Korean class I went to the ATM and then to a convenience store. One of the many convenient things about South Korea is that you can pay for your national health insurance by visiting the convenience store with cash and your bill. I was freaking out about it more than it was worth as it went smoothly.
In the evening I went and met up with a new friend in Gangseo-gu. I took the bus by myself for 30 minutes (each way).
This area is not as traveled by foreigners as places like Sinchon or Hongdae. I had a great time and we laughed a lot. She showed me one of her favorite restaurants and we enjoyed some ramen.
As I traveled home ( On what I hoped was the right bus) I enjoyed staring out the window. We passed over the Han River and it was a beautiful sight.
Walking home at night in Korea can be comforting because it is always full of lights and people going places.
I had such a good time exploring and enjoying seeing others out and having fun as well.
However, at 7 AM, I was woken up by my phone with a very loud emergency alarm. I had to translate what the warnings were saying and it said I might need to be ready to evacuate. In the past, I had gotten a small one of these for an earthquake that turned out to just be a test. I was hoping this was the same. I reached out to my American friend that lives here and she said that North Korea had launched something. She did a good job calming me down but I was defiantly rattled until they sent out the alert that everything was okay.
Living here takes a lot of courage. I was only focused on everything positive about Korea and I over-looked this important issue.
I hope I can continue to look towards the bright side though and enjoy this warm weather with new friends.
Gracie