5 Must Haves in Seoul

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T money (รญโ€นยฐรซยจยธรซโ€นห† รฌยนยดรซโ€œล“tee-meo-nee ka-deu)

In Seoul, we use T Money cards for transportation. Tap on. Tap off. Itโ€™s as easy as that. It can also be used for any fancy bus, train, and subway. You can even use T Money in convenience stores to buy items.

Smart phone (รญล“ยดรซล’โ‚ฌรญยฐ hyoo-dae-pohn)

Everyone pretty much has some model of a Samsung smart device or an iPhone. Smart phones are just super convenient multi functional devices that make lives easier. Theyโ€™re helpful for looking up Korean phrases, finding maps, and contacting friends to meet up. A smart phone is a must have.

Umbrella (รฌลกยฐรฌโ€šยฐ oo-san)

Apparently monsoon season is in July, but thereโ€™s already rainy weather. Obviously, an umbrella is an item everybody in Seoul carries with them. Havenโ€™t see rain ponchos yet.

Credit card (รญยฌรซ ห†รซโ€โ€รญล ยธ รฌยนยดรซโ€œล“ keu-rae-dee ka-deu)

Iโ€™ve seen many people on the streets with just their smart phone and their credit card tucked into the case. Thatโ€™s what I call traveling light. Many credit cards here double as a T Money card. This makes things even more convenient because they never need to recharge their card with cash.

Good shoes (รชยตยฌรซโ€˜ goo-doo)

Last but not least, everyone needs good shoes. Whether they are sneakers, slippers, sandals or heels, they need to be durable. My daily commute is uphill going school and uphill going home. I live in Gwanak gu (sub division of Seoul) and it is famous for itโ€™s mountain Gwanaksan. The topography here is very hilly. Anywhere I go is uphill with flights of stairs to accompany it. Whatever people wear on their feet, it just needs to be durable.

Kathy Tran

Annyeonghaseyo! My name is Kathy Tran. I am a Multi-Disciplinary Design student at the University of Utah. In addition to my studies I am a Diversity Scholar and a member of the Asian American Student Association on campus. Coming from a first generation Vietnamese immigrant family, I am the very first child to attend college and definitely first to study abroad. I have a love for pursuing many different experiences ranging from playing lacrosse, to creating chalk murals at festivals, and exploring world cultures. Some things you may find on my resume are various volunteer positions, athletics, and club memberships. Now it is time for me to explore cultures outside of my own identity. This summer I will be attending Seoul National University in their 10-week Korean Language Program. My interest in South Korea stemmed from being exposed to Korean media and learning about its technological advancements. During my time in Seoul, I have decided to stay with a host family. Through this experience, I will be able to learn about Korean culture more in depth and will constantly interact in Korean. Along with my daily 4-hour language class, I will be serving with Seoul Bean, a volunteer group that socializes with orphaned children while teaching them english. While attending SNU, I look forward to meeting other international students, serving the community, and interacting in Korean with native speakers.