Author: Gracie Wells

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

 

 

Since the Japanese colonial period when coffee was introduced to Korea, it has become an important part of the culture. The culture is known for its fast-paced nature and thus many people find it hard to keep up. Coffee swoops in to save the day and there is a cafe every 2 buildings. Which was how I found myself at a cafe called A Twosome at 9 pm. Whoever let cafes be open until 11 was either a madman or a genius. I went to meet up with my friend to work on our final project proposal for our class “Understanding K-pop”.

When the weekend arrived I went to go get my nails done in Hongdae at a shop I found online that was supposed to be friendly to foreigners. The woman was very nice and my nails were very cute.

Afterward, I went to a Korean bbq place in Hongdae that specialized in eating alone. It was my introvert heaven. I ordered through a touchpad and no awkward sitting at a table alone.

It was a very relaxing day for me and as I walked back to the subway station the streets of Hongdae were filled with people enjoying an evening weekend stroll.

The next day I saw this big blow-up balloon!

When I went to the mall I discovered there was a pop-up store! (Pop-up stores seem more common in South Korea).

I bought two cute bags for myself and an AirPods case for my boyfriend.

South Korea is defiantly a fast-paced culture but when you get to stop and look around it feels freeing.

Gracie

I ventured out on my own when I went to Hongdae to get eyelash extensions. The lady spoke English and was very efficient. On the 20-minute walk home, I passed by a shop where 90% of the items were on sale. I bought 2 dresses and the total was $42. On the way home I stopped and got a brown sugar boba from one of the many coffee shops that have an electronic kiosk you can order at. It was a nice sunny day and I was proud of myself.

It has been a very eventful few weeks as I have finally discovered how to use the subway. Sinchon Line 2 has been my best friend as I have begun to branch out more. I first rode it with my friend to Myeong-dong to get to a mall. Before we arrived we stopped at a restaurant to have some iced peach tea and pasta.

Myeong-dong had impressive skyscrapers but I also saw some interesting old-style architecture among them.

The mall we went to was called Shinsaegae and it was way too expensive for me. I learned I have expensive taste when I picked up a dress and saw it was $1000. I did not buy anything but my friend bought a wallet and a belt.

We went to another mall on Wednesday named CoEx Mall. The subway ride took 40 minutes. On the way there we got to sit but we had to stand the whole way back. My feet hurt so bad at the end. For lunch we had sushi and I bought a shirt and skirt set that was very comfy.  This mall is also the home of the famous Starfield Library.

The Library had a cute cafe on the second level.

I also discovered a store called Pop Mart which sells collectible figures in mystery blind boxes. I am now officially obsessed and have started to build an army.

Today I went to Hongdae with my friend and we first went to a shoe store she had been wanting to visit. My friend takes a long time to pick something she likes but I came in knowing I wanted some cute white shoes. I ended up paying $22 and the kind store lady made sure there were no imperfections on them.

My friend then went into a store across the street but I wasn’t interested in it so I waited outside and look at a shop that had some jackets out on the street. The Older lady inside saw me staring at a jacket then pulled it and me into the store. She had me try it on and told me it would be better for me to wear because it is a jacket for spring. I was wearing a winter jacket at the time and agreed a thinner jacket would be nice. She was sweet and tried to tell me how to style it (my Korean is not that proficient yet but I tried).

On the way home I took the subway alone for the first time. I was standing holding onto the handle of the train. A nice older lady patted the seat next to her and let me sit by her. When I got off I waved to her and she waved back. It was a small interaction but it made me smile.

Using my transportation cad I can pay to get on any bus and subway with it. I enjoy the subway more than the bus so far. The subway system is built great with trains always there to hop on. My confidence is building thanks to the subway.

Gracie

In my Korean language class, I have been sitting next to the same girl for weeks. We have now become exploring buddies and we go out 2-3 times a week together. Going out with her makes me feel braver and we share places we want to go. This week we went to a mall, a dermatologist, and a cat cafe.

We first went to the U-Plex Mall in Sinchon which is 13 floors (not counting the 2 basement levels). Sephora was the first store we went into. The worker spoke English with me and helped me hunt down a new foundation. She was so nice and it made me feel more at ease. After our makeup haul, we went upstairs to the cafe. The cafe was called Rendejavous. I got a roll cake and a strawberry latte while my friend got an avocado yogurt drink. I enjoyed mine but was suspicious about the combination of my friends. She assured me it was good.

We then worked our way up the floors until we reached the 11th floor which was called “The Food Alley”. Together it was decided to go to a restaurant called “Little Cuba”. We shared a pasta dish made with shrimp which was spicier than I anticipated.

When we reached the 12th floor there was a beautiful bookstore. Korean book covers are so beautiful.  Unfortunately, I am not proficient enough yet to be able to read them. I found a book in English about a fictional Korean family and bought that. We spent 5 hours in that mall and I was glad to finally rest my feet at the end.

On Tuesday Ruo-Ying asked me to accompany her to the dermatologist and I agreed. We decided to take the bus which is something I have not done a lot. When getting on a bus in Korea you must find a seat or hold onto something fast. Bus drivers immediately take off after the doors close. I was holding onto an overhead handle and still flew around a bit. I helped my friend navigate reception at the office and then waited in the lobby while she got her consultation done.

After all that, we decided to end the day by going to a cat cafe near my apartment. I paid $22 US dollars and we got to be there for 2 hours, get a drink, and 2 packets of cat treats.

Midterms are this week and next, so I do not think I will do much but focus on class. However I am excited for the future adventures my friend and I will go on!

Gracie

Before classes started I signed up for a tour of the campus to help me get accustomed to the campus. Yonsei’s campus has an underground level with many access points. I got lost trying to find where my tour would meet until I took an escalator to a basement level. I then found the Global Lounge and there were other international students waiting. One of the first things we were shown was the Yonsei Co-Op.

This store has SO MUCH I was honestly shocked. They sell clothes, stationery, and humidifiers. They even rent out laptops and other electronics. Everyone gets their Yonsei letterman jacket here.

After that our guide took us to the well-known sites on the campus.

This is the building in all of the promotional videos and as the tour was going many people were taking graduation photos there. It is one of the oldest buildings and as spring comes it will be covered in Ivy.

Apparently, this is the 3rd Underwood statue they have had as during the second world war they melted it down for bullets, then the Japanese took it down when they were occupying Korea. However, the podium the statue is on is the original and even has bullet holes from the Korean War.

As I began to settle in and go to classes I learned that I have not walked this much in a while. My Korean language class is farther than most and takes 30 minutes to walk there. However, the view from the New Millenium building is gorgeous.

I have also ventured out to the shopping area to a store named Daiso which is very popular. This store has most of what you would need and is inexpensive. My navigation app confused me as I was taken down alleys and side streets trying to find this store.

Exiting this sidestreet, I looked around unsure where the store is and find it immediately to my left. I have now gone to this store a few times and feel like a professional navigating these streets. I’m beginning to feel more comfortable and hope to explore more soon!

Gracie

The day before my birthday I got up at 6 am and had my boyfriend drive me to the airport. I then proceeded to ball my eyes out as we said goodbye. Having never been on a plane before I threw all my focus into surviving the next 15 hours. Going through TSA was made to seem like the most daunting task I would face. However, I sped right through it and went off to find my gate.  The first flight was to Vancouver, Canada. I was told the plane would be a small prop plane and I instantly became worried about the sturdiness of the aircraft.

The first plane ride was shaky but once in the air, we became more steady. I had a window seat and got to look out as we rose above the clouds. I took a short nap before I arrived in Canada.

Next up was the real task as I had a 12-hour flight ahead of me. I was thankful for the inflight meals as I had not eaten before the airport. I quickly became jealous of the girl next to me as she slept for most of the trip. Unable to get comfy I was awake for most of the trip and stared at the flight map.

I arrived in Korea later than intended and my only goal after my 14-hour flight was to lie down in my bed. With Orientation the next day I went to be at 9 pm Korea time. Going to bed so early meant I woke up way before my alarm. The best part about waking up early was that I could talk to my boyfriend again. When you get thrown into a new country by yourself things can be scary. I kept my boyfriend on the phone as I got the courage to finally leave my room for the first time. Having someone on the phone to support me helped greatly.

I went to the 7-11 near my apartment to buy a snack and then headed toward the university. Naver Maps (the Google Maps of Korea) said the walk would take 26 minutes. I got to the building the orientation was but I was 2 hours early. Unable to get inside as the doors were locked I sat on the curb outside. Which was unfortunate for me in that I was only armed with a thin sweatshirt. As people began to gather out front a girl came up to me to ask if she was in the right spot. We became orientation buddies and I learned that she was from France. After the orientation, we went to one of the school’s cafeterias and had lunch together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I miss home a great deal but I am hoping that with time and new friends, things will get easier.

Gracie