After a 14-hour flight, I had finally arrived in Seoul, South Korea, the city I had been waiting two years to visit. Once I had left the airport and taken a bus to my accommodation, I had expected to feel a sudden switch, understanding that I was in a completely different country. Yet, there was a sense of familiarity and comfort as I left the airport and during my hour drive through the city.
The first few days took some getting used to, especially waking up earlier than usual — at 5 a.m. every day — while fighting jetlag. I've visited some unfamiliar places, like CU and MegaCoffee, which seem like they're on every corner here. Using my T-money card, I could easily buy snacks, drinks, or whatever necessities I may need. Around me were many different and unique shops and restaurants that I had never heard of. I recognized and tried some places like Paris Baguette, Popeye's, and even 7/11, which became almost a daily stop for me, since it was right next to my housing and incredibly convenient.
I learned a lot within the first few days. Navigating public transportation was something that I was not used to back home. I used various apps to find out the best routes for the buses and trains. Towards the beginning of my program, I traveled in groups with other WorldStrides students. Once classes started, this is when I had to put trust in myself to be able to get there solely on my own with no one to guide me besides NAVER Maps, which gave me directions, and it came in clutch throughout my whole experience. During the first few days, I had a setback and dealt with some eSIM issues. Ultimately, it led me to make mistakes, get lost, and gave me the opportunity to explore. I relied on communicating with locals and foreigners in the country, along with my knowledge of the places I had been traveling to every day. I eventually found my way around through trial and error.
My Yonsei University orientation took place a few days after I arrived. There were about 2,300 students from around the world. Soon after I had started my classes, I was shocked to see how large the campus was and experienced walking up and down the infamous steep hills, which were hard to manage at first. Eventually, I was able to find my way around the beautiful campus. I loved how my classes consisted of students from various countries. I decided to take a course in marketing and K-wave in consumer insight. Each person I talked to was from a different place, providing different perspectives and experiences, which I enjoyed.
Yonsei orientation ceremony
During my first weeks here, there were many events, restaurants, and activities to participate in. I visited cities like Hongdae, Sinchon, Seongsu, and Gangnam, and took part in some group excursions with WorldStrides. I tried a lot of new foods, including hotpot for the first time, the iconic convenience store drinks, and triangle gimbap. I also visited some cafes, including a place called Sulbing, which was on my bucket list. The bingsu I ordered, which consisted of shaved ice and various toppings, was great for cooling down during the hot and humid summer in Seoul.