A week in Seoul

So it's been almost a week in Seoul and I've experienced and observed so much that it'll be hard to describe everything in one post. My least favorite part about blogs is that no matter how much you write you inevitably leave things out.

Every day here since I've landed has been packed with either exploring, eating, shopping, or running errands. I will describe events that stick out to me as well listing some observations I've made about Korea as a Westerner.

A typical breakfast I eat every morning that my host family makes me.

Marisa and I (Marisa is my American friend and MSU student who has been in the same Korean class as me for the past two years) were fortunate enough to meet my mom's Korean friend to take us to the immigration office to get our alien registration cards. You need an ARC if you're in Korea for more than 90 days and we wanted to get ours before the rush of international students. You also cannot do/get many things in Korea as a foreigner without an ARC like a phone plan. I'm SO glad we went early. We were there for two hours and that was before everyone else went. We were also very grateful for my mom's friend because there were a lot of steps to get the card that we were unaware of such as getting fingerprints. I pick up my card on September 15, so until then it's no phone plan for me.

Marisa and I after we filled out everything for our ARCs.

I had orientation yesterday (Tuesday) for all Fall 2014 international students. We meet four students from England and two of them, Marisa, and I ended up sticking together the rest of the day. We ventured to Insadong, Korea's traditional district, and then we went back to Sinchon to introduce them to 막걸리 (makkeoli), a Korean fermented rice wine that is like nothing I've ever had before. The best way I can describe it is that it is milky, slightly fizzy, and slightly sweet. It may sound gross but after having it for the second time it's now turning into one of my favorite alcoholic drinks.

막걸리, a Korean rice wine.

A statue of King Sejong at Insadong.

Like I mentioned, my days are filled with exploring, eating, shopping, or running errands. I've explored some parts of Seoul like Gangnam and City Hall and I also have been exploring Yonsei's campus (which is unfortunately under a lot of construction). I've eaten both street food, Korean food, Japanese food, Chinese food, and items from a bakery. If you know me well you know that I'm quite the foodie so I've enjoyed having the opportunity to eat delicious, fresh, diverse, and even healthy food a lot. I haven't done a ton of shopping, which is good for my wallet, but I have bought some school supplies and I even caved and bought a Korean casual dress that fits very nicely. It's hard not to do shopping here because there are just so many stores filled with the cutest clothes and items. And depending on where you shop the prices are cheaper than the U.S. as well.

A part of Yonsei University.

As a Westerner, I have observed how Korea is (obviously) very different from the U.S. in some respects. First is that living quarters here are much smaller; I am still becoming used to being comfortable in smaller spaces. Second, because Seoul's plumbing system is old and it's too late to completely change the entire system, you cannot flush toilet paper. Instead you throw it away in the trash. Third, Seoul is very couple-ly and places high emphasis on being social and having friends. If you go to restaurants by yourself, sometimes you'll be asked where your friends are. As far the couple-ly thing goes, there are a lot of flower shops, benches for two people, and a LOT of cafes which are perfect for dates.

I am sure everyone who has ever written a blog about Korea has said the same things. I'll try to write more observations as the weeks go on, but for now I have to get ready for my buddy orientation where I get to meet my Korean buddy! Every time I have the opportunity to make more friends I get very excited because as an exchange student it can sometimes get lonely. Here's to positive thinking!

I have arrived!

I have arrived in Korea! I finally left Detroit August 20th around 8:00 p.m. after a five hour delay and I arrived in Korea on August 21st at 11:00 p.m. The late arrival messed up my plan of taking the airport bus to my host family's apartment so I had to take a cab instead which stinks because instead of 10,000 won I had to pay 60,000 won (the exchange rate is roughly $1 = 1,000 won). And since it was so late everything in the airport was closed. Of course the only bank that was open gave me a bad exchange rate but when you're desperate you gotta do what you gotta do. After a long flight and a long time in the airport at immigration, my mind wasn't at it's best. I got a cab but totally forgot to write down my host family's address because I thought I would wifi. Luckily I saved the photo of their business card on my phone but even then the writing was so small I guessed at what it said. I guessed correctly and in broken Korean expressed to the cab driver where I had to go. I also told my host mom after I got off the plane (because I had wifi at the time) that I would message her when I left in the cab but since I didn't have wifi I couldn't. I don't know how tourists make it in Seoul because both the cab driver and the security guard of my host family's apartment didn't speak any English.

When I got to the apartment I was really hoping it was the correct one but there was no way to contact my host mom that I was even downstairs because I didn't have wifi. So fortunately the security guard understood what I said and he called the apartment so my host mom was able to meet me downstairs. It's in moments like that where you realize how helpless and alone you really are. It look me some willpower to not break down in tears. Keep in mind that at this point it was almost 1:00 a.m., I'm tired, and I'm stressed by so much unfamiliarity. But it's also in those moments where you really grow as a person. This trip is already making me feel independent.

My host family is great. I live with my host mom and her parents. We didn't talk too much the first night because we were all tired but today we did a lot more talking. They made me breakfast which was so good! I had bulgolgi, rice, kim, pumpkin egg pancakes, and two side dishes. I also had instant coffee, which despite the disgusting stuff you find in the U.S., was quite delicious and smooth. Later my host mom showed me how to use the subway and bus and took me to Sinchon where Yonsei University is located. The public transportation here is beyond perfect. It's just so efficient and accessible. The only downside I'm facing right now is that it's super confusing at first. I know it'll take me a couple more days to adjust and remember certain stops and landmarks.

I know with time things will get much easier, but right now I'm feeling a lot of mixed emotions between being tired from jetlag, the discomfort and stress of unfamiliarity (mostly just being in a big city is enough), and missing certain people from home. I know it's tough now but in time I'll get used to speaking in Korean and being in a home away from home. But on a positive note, I was finally able to eat 밭빙수 for the first time! It's a Korean shaved ice dessert and it was SO refreshing for a hot and very humid summer day like today.

There's so many details I want to go into with everything but I think I'll just save that for later. After all I have a whole year of writing to do!

Almost a month

As my time to depart approaches, the more real everything becomes. It seems obvious, but for someone who has been talking about this trip for two years, it seemed like it would never actually happen. The reality of saying good-bye to my friends, moving out of my apartment, and leaving the Asian Studies Center has been making me sad. I have had a great summer, actually the best summer of my life so far, and being completely content has made leaving harder. I know my attitudes will do a 180 once I arrive in Korea. The food, new people, my host mom, and the overall atmosphere will be so exciting that I will forget what I left behind. I also know that the year will go by extremely fast and before I know it I will be reunited with old friends and places, having the same sentiments about leaving Korea as I do leaving the United States.

With my visa in and the majority of my shopping taken care of, the only thing left to do is move and pack. I have already strategically thought out what items to pack (versatile shoes, certain cosmetics I can't get overseas, power adapters, etc.). I will take a backpack, carry-on, and larger suitcase for the entire year. I'm thankful for the fact that Korea is a developed country; it's not like I'm going backpacking in rural Malawi where I can't easily stop by a department store or mall for necessities.

The next time I blog will probably be the day I leave, August 20th. I want to take the time before then to live the rest of the summer out as fully as possible before it quickly fades away.

Plane ticket purchased!

I just bought my plane ticket to Seoul! I leave from Detroit on August 20th and I arrive in Seoul on the 21st. It's a 13-hour direct flight, definitely the longest flight I will have ever taken (the second longest was coming from Istanbul last summer, which was 11 hours). I'm so glad I found a direct flight because I won't have to worry about my baggage getting lost during layovers at other airports. Plus longer flights have nicer airplanes which is a bonus as well.

I'm also working on my visa application. I just need to get a money order from my bank and take passport photos. Thank goodness I can mail everything in instead of having to go in person to the Korean consulate. Finding a way to get to Chicago would have been really annoying. The only thing I'm worried about is my passport getting lost but I'm mitigating the problem by buying mail that has insurance and express mailing.

I'm slowly checking off the items on my to-do list. This week I also have a doctor's appointment so I can get the medical letter needed for Boren. Whenever I become stressed when thinking about all the things I need to accomplish, I keep reminding myself that in two months I will be in the country that I've wanted to be in for the past two years. The wait will be worth it!

Encouraging students to study abroad

I want to take this opportunity to let others know about two MSU students who are also studying abroad for a year. They are writing blogs too and I encourage you to read them because they provide another side to studying abroad.

The first blog comes from Marisa Reynolds, who is also studying abroad at Yonsei University. Here's the link to her blog: http://studiesin-seoul.blogspot.com/

Marisa and I have been in the same Korean class for the past two years and I'm so pumped to represent MSU with her in Seoul.

The second blog comes from Chris Murphy, who is studying abroad in China. He's currently in Harbin for a two-month summer program and then he heads to China again for a year-long program. Chris also received the Boren scholarship. Here's the link to his blog: http://spartansabroad.wordpress.com/

I'm hoping that with all three blogs, Marisa, Chris, and I can encourage Spartans and future MSU students to study abroad. The journey may seem intimidating (and I would lie if I said it wasn't), but adding personal voices allows students to see that the process really is doable and also extremely rewarding in the short and long run.

Back from the Boren orientation

Last night I arrived back in East Lansing from the two-day Boren orientation and convocation in Washington, D.C. It was the shortest yet busiest trip I think I've ever been on; the only down time I had was at the airport!

Everything's so official!

At the orientation I was able to meet other Boren scholars and fellows, meet Boren alumni, and have all my questions answered about the scholarship and the one-year congressionally mandated service requirement in the federal government. I also had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Debbie Stabenow and several staffers!

This is me with Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

I received a lot of great, solid advice from several leaders and alumni. If you want to work in the federal government, there are three things you have to do: get an internship, pass your security clearance, and network. The advice is simple but judging from the current careers of the Boren alumni, following that advice will make you successful. The orientation also served as a great networking opportunity; I received contact information from several people working in government and I plan on keeping in touch with them.

It was nice having the opportunity to visit the Capitol again!

I was heavily spoiled during the event! NSEP paid for my hotel (which was two blocks away from the Capitol!), flight, meals, and even gave me a $100 stipend for additional meals and costs for public transportation.

Furthermore, I met a lot of very influential people. If anything the orientation taught me, is that I really do have a passion for public service. I am now even more excited to pursue a career in the federal government. The journey will be long and very stressful, and I will fail several times, but my life experiences have already taught me that the journey is more important and memorable than the goal.

It's official!

I found out yesterday that I have been officially accepted into Yonsei University as an international exchange student! Now that I finally received acceptance, I can now move forward with a lot of things I need to do for my year-long study abroad. I need to buy my plane ticket, apply for my visa, finalize my homestay, enroll for courses, get all my health stuff done, notify my bank, apply for my 21st birthday driver's license, etc. and of course, pack. Luckily I have two and a half months to get everything done so I'm not too worried about time.

My acceptance letter.

I also head to my Boren orientation soon! I leave Sunday, June 8 and I come back Tuesday, June 10. I'll be in Washington, D.C. meeting other Boren scholars and even having the chance to meet U.S. Congressmen and Senators!

Even though I haven't bought my plane ticket yet, I plan on leaving the U.S. on August 20th. So until then everyone will have a chance to say their good-byes. I will most likely stay in Korea until next August because I want to do a summer study abroad there as well. It's weird to think that when I come back a lot of my friends will have graduated and I will only have a year left of school.

Anyways, everything is going to plan which is really, really good. I'm hoping all the items on my list go smoothly as well!