Week 3 in Seoul

By:

Isaiah Richardson

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Isaiah Richardson

<i>"Hello" in your host country's language:</i> ์•ˆ๋…•ํ•˜์„ธ์š” <i>Home Institution (your U.S. University/College):</i> Western Kentucky University <i>Expected graduation year:</i> 2023 <i>Destination city & country:</i> Seoul, South Korea <i>Program provider:</i> Yonsei University <i>Major/minor:</i> Computer Science <i>Demographics:</i> First-generation college student Biracial (African American and Caucasian) <i>Future career aspirations:</i> After I graduate I want to work in U.S. a little while as a software engineer, and then eventually move to South Korea and work as software engineer. <i>Top 3 goals for your time abroad:</i> While I am abroad I want to learn more about the Korean culture. Enhance my software engineer skills by learning about the different approaches to problem solving. Get involved in different student organizations.

Hello,

I am back with my third week in Seoul, South Korea. This was my first week being out of quarantine and I took full advantage of it. This week was easily the most interesting, scary, and fun time I have ever had in my life.

Starting off with Saturday, my friends and I after getting out of quarantine met up with a friend who has been living in Seoul for a few months now. We all took the subway, and it was confusing at first, but we managed. After we met up with our friend, we explored numerous shops, cafes, and restaurants. The first time I ordered at a restaurant I was very nervous but also prepared. I know it sounds like a very small and easy task, but it was one of the many things I had been preparing for. When I ordered I stuttered my words a little, but I did not give up. My friends and I shared a large portion of food and kept exploring around afterward. Sunday my friend and I went and visited the Hyundai city outlet store and looked around. We also found a small, nice cafรฉ inside that we plan to visit again very soon.

Monday was where it got very intense and interesting. Two of my friends had planned to get their nails done this day and I had no one to really meet or explore with. So, while they were getting their nails done, I figured I could go and explore more around our neighborhood because there is so much. I ended up taking the wrong subway line and got lost. There is Wi-Fi almost everywhere in Seoul, and I also had service, so I knew I was safe, but it was just a scary moment. Thank goodness the subway fare is cheap! I decided to make the most of this and just walk around at the exit. I ended up seeing a lot of pretty places and took beautiful pictures. After about one hour of exploring, I decided it would be best to make sure I could find my way back home. I ended up meeting with my friends and we went out to eat.

Also, this week I was able to see the largest building that I have ever seen, Lotte World. It was easily the most incredible place I had ever been. Since I only looked around at the stores and clothes and did not get to do much. This week I plan to go back and explore the aquarium and everything else that is at Lotte World!

This being my very first week out of quarantine I wanted to make the most out of it so I explored as much as I could and plan to keep doing the same. I am getting real experience practicing my Korean which is helping me so much. I am super excited to keep exploring and learning as much as possible.