Today, on my second morning in Korea, I had planned to meet up with a friend I met through the International Business Organization (IBO), Erica. Thank goodness for her and her previous experience in studying in South Korea because today I was able to do some currency exchange, went to Myeongdong to do some shopping, and also went to Insadong to shop for handmade crafts like bracelets and rings from a store called IDUS.
But first things first, before being able to use any subway lines or buses to travel around, I needed to get a T-Money card. In Korea, these cards can be bought and reloaded from convenience stores such as 7-11 or GS25 and they are used conveniently for public transportation such as buses and subways. Once you have loaded your card, all you have to do is swipe it on the card reader when entering the subway stations or when getting on a bus! Around the stations are machines where you can reload your card - but to play it safe if you are planning on staying in Korea for quite a bit of time, I would suggest filling your card with enough to last you a few months at a time so you do not have to worry about running low on credits. Estimate that each trip or card swipe will cost around $1-2 US dollars. Also keep in mind that when you transfer lines, sometimes (if not always-not entirely sure yet as I do not have that much experience with the subways yet) you would not need to pay again even though you still have to swipe at the gate. Also in terms of transportation remember that when taking the bus, you swipe your transportation card when you enter and exit the bus! I recommend that travelers try both the subway and bus systems to see what you are more comfortable with using. It may be difficult at first to use the subway and bus so I suggest that you download apps on your phone such as KakaoMetro and Naver Map. Both apps are easy to use and very useful. Also, when using the subway, there are many signs and labels to help guide to when looking to enter certain lines or exit at certain stations. When visiting Myeongdong for the first time, I was absolutely so excited! I had previously watched many travel vlogs featuring Myeongdong over the past few years so being there in person was surreal for me. Some things to note include how large the shopping district is - I will have to do multiple trips in order to visit just one fourth of the stores there (possibly even less than that), the large volume of visitors everyday - be prepared to walk trough or with large crowds of people, and many great deals you can get from the various types of shops - many shops advertised for 50 percent off sales or BOGO deals! Also, the street food vendors that the area is known for does not open until about 2:30 - 3:00 pm so if you are going just for the street food stalls, I would suggest planning to be there closer to that time. If you plan to go a bit earlier, there are definitely many clothing shops, cosmetic stores, and restaurants that you can visit while waiting. This trip to Myeongdong was a short one so I did not get the chance to actually try the street vendor food as I had already eaten lunch and desert and planned to leave just before seeing the food stalls being set up. However, I do intend to visit Myeongdong again and am excited for what new things I may discover when I do get the chance!
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Right now I am headed to the airport with my family so that I can head to Korea! In the beginning, while applying for this study abroad program, I was very excited for the opportunity to study overseas, meet new people, learn more about myself, about how to better adapt to new situations, and just overall grow in ways that I am unable to if I were to just stay in the comfort and familiarity of my home institutions.
However, since I started packing my luggage and really planning for my classes, housing situation, and thought more about me being there, I started getting more and more nervous and anxious. It was finally getting real to me that I would be away from my family, friends, and regular routines for an entire semester. It is not just being away from them that made me nervous, but it was also the fact that I would be going to a country where I have never been to nor do I have any relatives that I can turn to that live there just in case I would need someone to talk to or ask for advice from. Although the thought of being immersed into a new culture was quite nerve-wracking because I do not know what to expect, I intend to do so with an open and positive mindset. This adventure would be something unlike anything I have ever experienced before so I am overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions and thoughts. I think this feeling would be very common for anyone that embarks on a new chapter in their life away from what they are used to. My advice for anyone who will be in similar situations would be to build strong friendships and network as much as possible before your trip with people who have experienced your study abroad program, people who have been to country you are going to, and with those who will also be experiencing the program with you! There are many more things that you may grasp and understand when you learn with and from other people in comparison to if you were to do something alone. Thank you for your interest in my adventures! I am very excited to share with you all my study abroad experiences at Korea University Business School! Best Regards, Ashley |
AuthorJust a person who is excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Korea University Student Body! CategoriesArchives
December 2019
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