Having a long history as the leading private institution of higher education in Korea, Yonsei University offers courses in a multitude of disciplines, all taught in English. The University enjoys the reputation as the most internationalized in Korea, having an extensive network of exchange partners from around the world.
May in Korea has been beautiful if not a bit challenging. Things got hotter earlier than they usually do and the temperatures in May are now 70-80 degrees (Freiheit). With this weather comes monsoon season as hot weather is mixed with rain. I have to say this heat is making things hard as I realize I am not built for this. Walking in the heat to my classes was something I did not think of. Luckily if I want to go somewhere else the buses and subway are kept cool.
Walking by Underwood Hall In All Its Glory.Please Let Me In!
Walking by the many school fountains was so tempting in this heat. However, everyone around me seemed to not let the weather change how they dress. I walk the only one that seemed to be struggling with the heat.
I decided to try and enjoy some of this sunshine while I was out in nature. I walked through this beautiful nature area that Yonsei had on campus.
So Much Green EverywhereBeautiful Pond
After walking back from Korean class I went to the ATM and then to a convenience store. One of the many convenient things about South Korea is that you can pay for your national health insurance by visiting the convenience store with cash and your bill. I was freaking out about it more than it was worth as it went smoothly.
In the evening I went and met up with a new friend in Gangseo-gu. I took the bus by myself for 30 minutes (each way).
Busy Area! One of Many Food Alleys in Seoul
This area is not as traveled by foreigners as places like Sinchon or Hongdae. I had a great time and we laughed a lot. She showed me one of her favorite restaurants and we enjoyed some ramen.
Peaceful Bus Ride.
As I traveled home ( On what I hoped was the right bus) I enjoyed staring out the window. We passed over the Han River and it was a beautiful sight.
Walking home at night in Korea can be comforting because it is always full of lights and people going places.
Motorcycles Are EverywhereOff the BusFried Korean Treats.
I had such a good time exploring and enjoying seeing others out and having fun as well.
However, at 7 AM, I was woken up by my phone with a very loud emergency alarm. I had to translate what the warnings were saying and it said I might need to be ready to evacuate. In the past, I had gotten a small one of these for an earthquake that turned out to just be a test. I was hoping this was the same. I reached out to my American friend that lives here and she said that North Korea had launched something. She did a good job calming me down but I was defiantly rattled until they sent out the alert that everything was okay.
The word Wartime scared me so much.
Living here takes a lot of courage. I was only focused on everything positive about Korea and I over-looked this important issue.
I hope I can continue to look towards the bright side though and enjoy this warm weather with new friends.
Since the Japanese colonial period when coffee was introduced to Korea, it has become an important part of the culture. The culture is known for its fast-paced nature and thus many people find it hard to keep up. Coffee swoops in to save the day and there is a cafe every 2 buildings. Which was how I found myself at a cafe called A Twosome at 9 pm. Whoever let cafes be open until 11 was either a madman or a genius. I went to meet up with my friend to work on our final project proposal for our class “Understanding K-pop”.
The Duality of Literature. (I Only Know Winnie The Pooh)
When the weekend arrived I went to go get my nails done in Hongdae at a shop I found online that was supposed to be friendly to foreigners. The woman was very nice and my nails were very cute.
I Love Pink!
Afterward, I went to a Korean bbq place in Hongdae that specialized in eating alone. It was my introvert heaven. I ordered through a touchpad and no awkward sitting at a table alone.
So Easy!All Of This for $16! ( Plus A Drink)
It was a very relaxing day for me and as I walked back to the subway station the streets of Hongdae were filled with people enjoying an evening weekend stroll.
The next day I saw this big blow-up balloon!
Snoopy!
When I went to the mall I discovered there was a pop-up store! (Pop-up stores seem more common in South Korea).
So Cute!
I bought two cute bags for myself and an AirPods case for my boyfriend.
South Korea is defiantly a fast-paced culture but when you get to stop and look around it feels freeing.
I ventured out on my own when I went to Hongdae to get eyelash extensions. The lady spoke English and was very efficient. On the 20-minute walk home, I passed by a shop where 90% of the items were on sale. I bought 2 dresses and the total was $42. On the way home I stopped and got a brown sugar boba from one of the many coffee shops that have an electronic kiosk you can order at. It was a nice sunny day and I was proud of myself.
The Nice Older Lady Agreed This One Would Look Good On Me.
It has been a very eventful few weeks as I have finally discovered how to use the subway. Sinchon Line 2 has been my best friend as I have begun to branch out more. I first rode it with my friend to Myeong-dong to get to a mall. Before we arrived we stopped at a restaurant to have some iced peach tea and pasta.
Rose Shrimp Pasta. Yum!
Myeong-dong had impressive skyscrapers but I also saw some interesting old-style architecture among them.
Stands out!
The mall we went to was called Shinsaegae and it was way too expensive for me. I learned I have expensive taste when I picked up a dress and saw it was $1000. I did not buy anything but my friend bought a wallet and a belt.
We went to another mall on Wednesday named CoEx Mall. The subway ride took 40 minutes. On the way there we got to sit but we had to stand the whole way back. My feet hurt so bad at the end. For lunch we had sushi and I bought a shirt and skirt set that was very comfy. This mall is also the home of the famous Starfield Library.
I Was Amazed!Both Sides Covered!
The Library had a cute cafe on the second level.
So Sparkly!
I also discovered a store called Pop Mart which sells collectible figures in mystery blind boxes. I am now officially obsessed and have started to build an army.
This Is the Mall Location. I Have Also Visited the 3-Story One.
Today I went to Hongdae with my friend and we first went to a shoe store she had been wanting to visit. My friend takes a long time to pick something she likes but I came in knowing I wanted some cute white shoes. I ended up paying $22 and the kind store lady made sure there were no imperfections on them.
So Many Cute Shoes. Nice Atmosphere.So Cute! So Many Outfit Options!Selfie Time! Cute Mirror!
My friend then went into a store across the street but I wasn’t interested in it so I waited outside and look at a shop that had some jackets out on the street. The Older lady inside saw me staring at a jacket then pulled it and me into the store. She had me try it on and told me it would be better for me to wear because it is a jacket for spring. I was wearing a winter jacket at the time and agreed a thinner jacket would be nice. She was sweet and tried to tell me how to style it (my Korean is not that proficient yet but I tried).
Stylish! She Said It Would Be A Casual Style.
On the way home I took the subway alone for the first time. I was standing holding onto the handle of the train. A nice older lady patted the seat next to her and let me sit by her. When I got off I waved to her and she waved back. It was a small interaction but it made me smile.
Using my transportation cad I can pay to get on any bus and subway with it. I enjoy the subway more than the bus so far. The subway system is built great with trains always there to hop on. My confidence is building thanks to the subway.
In my Korean language class, I have been sitting next to the same girl for weeks. We have now become exploring buddies and we go out 2-3 times a week together. Going out with her makes me feel braver and we share places we want to go. This week we went to a mall, a dermatologist, and a cat cafe.
Ruo-Ying and I!
We first went to the U-Plex Mall in Sinchon which is 13 floors (not counting the 2 basement levels). Sephora was the first store we went into. The worker spoke English with me and helped me hunt down a new foundation. She was so nice and it made me feel more at ease. After our makeup haul, we went upstairs to the cafe. The cafe was called Rendejavous. I got a roll cake and a strawberry latte while my friend got an avocado yogurt drink. I enjoyed mine but was suspicious about the combination of my friends. She assured me it was good.
Shopping Break!
We then worked our way up the floors until we reached the 11th floor which was called “The Food Alley”. Together it was decided to go to a restaurant called “Little Cuba”. We shared a pasta dish made with shrimp which was spicier than I anticipated.
Pasta Is The Best!
When we reached the 12th floor there was a beautiful bookstore. Korean book covers are so beautiful. Unfortunately, I am not proficient enough yet to be able to read them. I found a book in English about a fictional Korean family and bought that. We spent 5 hours in that mall and I was glad to finally rest my feet at the end.
On Tuesday Ruo-Ying asked me to accompany her to the dermatologist and I agreed. We decided to take the bus which is something I have not done a lot. When getting on a bus in Korea you must find a seat or hold onto something fast. Bus drivers immediately take off after the doors close. I was holding onto an overhead handle and still flew around a bit. I helped my friend navigate reception at the office and then waited in the lobby while she got her consultation done.
After all that, we decided to end the day by going to a cat cafe near my apartment. I paid $22 US dollars and we got to be there for 2 hours, get a drink, and 2 packets of cat treats.
Oh To Be A Cat Sleeping In A Cafe.Sleepy Baby.Majestic.
Midterms are this week and next, so I do not think I will do much but focus on class. However I am excited for the future adventures my friend and I will go on!
It took me a week to get over a nasty cold which disappointed me because I had planned to explore more. However, I seemed to get over my sickness at the perfect time. When I arose from my cave for class on Monday I discovered that the cherry blossoms had bloomed.
So pretty!Sunny Seoul Street!
The walk to class was so beautiful and many people stopped to take pictures. I never got the chance to see the blossoms back home in Portland so I was amazed. The sunny street with the blossoms felt nice and cozy despite being in such a big city. Seoul takes a lot of pride in keeping its trees healthy throughout the winter.
Since the weather had me in such a good mood I decided to do some exploring!
Religion Is Everywhere.Multi-Level Stores Are Common.
I was so surprised when I found this church close to my apartment. I had heard that many people in Korea are religious but for some reason, I did not expect the building to look like this. In contrast to the other buildings, it stands out with the brick and style it is built in. I had never seen a church that big in person and I stared at it for a few minutes as people passed by.
Then I finally decided to stop at 2 stores that I walk by every day. One was a clothing store called MIIGWECH. Everything was so cute and I bought 2 shirts and a skirt.
Do You Think It’s Cute?
After that, I went to the beauty store that I have heard many Koreans talk about. OliveYoung was more than just makeup and I found myself buying more than I intended. I ended up buying an eyebrow pencil, body scrub, face masks, deodorant, and a drink. The total was about the same as the clothing store. I’m not sure if that is a good thing just yet but I did enjoy myself. Of course, I did stumble over my words at the register as she asked if I wanted a bag twice and then if I had any points.
Success! Made It Out Alive!
It took me a bit to find my footing, but I feel as if I’ve finally caught some traction.
Gracie
Before classes started I signed up for a tour of the campus to help me get accustomed to the campus. Yonsei’s campus has an underground level with many access points. I got lost trying to find where my tour would meet until I took an escalator to a basement level. I then found the Global Lounge and there were other international students waiting. One of the first things we were shown was the Yonsei Co-Op.
So Many Cool Things!
This store has SO MUCH I was honestly shocked. They sell clothes, stationery, and humidifiers. They even rent out laptops and other electronics. Everyone gets their Yonsei letterman jacket here.
After that our guide took us to the well-known sites on the campus.
The Symbol Of Yonsei. The Underwood Building.
This is the building in all of the promotional videos and as the tour was going many people were taking graduation photos there. It is one of the oldest buildings and as spring comes it will be covered in Ivy.
Historic Underwood Statue.
Apparently, this is the 3rd Underwood statue they have had as during the second world war they melted it down for bullets, then the Japanese took it down when they were occupying Korea. However, the podium the statue is on is the original and even has bullet holes from the Korean War.
As I began to settle in and go to classes I learned that I have not walked this much in a while. My Korean language class is farther than most and takes 30 minutes to walk there. However, the view from the New Millenium building is gorgeous.
Seoul Views.
I have also ventured out to the shopping area to a store named Daiso which is very popular. This store has most of what you would need and is inexpensive. My navigation app confused me as I was taken down alleys and side streets trying to find this store.
Is This The Right Way?
Exiting this sidestreet, I looked around unsure where the store is and find it immediately to my left. I have now gone to this store a few times and feel like a professional navigating these streets. I’m beginning to feel more comfortable and hope to explore more soon!
The day before my birthday I got up at 6 am and had my boyfriend drive me to the airport. I then proceeded to ball my eyes out as we said goodbye. Having never been on a plane before I threw all my focus into surviving the next 15 hours. Going through TSA was made to seem like the most daunting task I would face. However, I sped right through it and went off to find my gate. The first flight was to Vancouver, Canada. I was told the plane would be a small prop plane and I instantly became worried about the sturdiness of the aircraft.
Anxiously awaiting the first flight.
The first plane ride was shaky but once in the air, we became more steady. I had a window seat and got to look out as we rose above the clouds. I took a short nap before I arrived in Canada.
First Peak At The Sky Above The Clouds.
Next up was the real task as I had a 12-hour flight ahead of me. I was thankful for the inflight meals as I had not eaten before the airport. I quickly became jealous of the girl next to me as she slept for most of the trip. Unable to get comfy I was awake for most of the trip and stared at the flight map.
What Did I Get Myself Into?
I arrived in Korea later than intended and my only goal after my 14-hour flight was to lie down in my bed. With Orientation the next day I went to be at 9 pm Korea time. Going to bed so early meant I woke up way before my alarm. The best part about waking up early was that I could talk to my boyfriend again. When you get thrown into a new country by yourself things can be scary. I kept my boyfriend on the phone as I got the courage to finally leave my room for the first time. Having someone on the phone to support me helped greatly.
Exploring outside.
I went to the 7-11 near my apartment to buy a snack and then headed toward the university. Naver Maps (the Google Maps of Korea) said the walk would take 26 minutes. I got to the building the orientation was but I was 2 hours early. Unable to get inside as the doors were locked I sat on the curb outside. Which was unfortunate for me in that I was only armed with a thin sweatshirt. As people began to gather out front a girl came up to me to ask if she was in the right spot. We became orientation buddies and I learned that she was from France. After the orientation, we went to one of the school’s cafeterias and had lunch together.
The Map Will Come in Handy.Lunch With A New Friend
I miss home a great deal but I am hoping that with time and new friends, things will get easier.
Soooo, a lot has happened since my last post—both in terms of my life and the world. With much sadness in my heart, I decided to come home to the US because of the COVID-19 outbreaks in South Korea and all around the world. I really wanted to have my semester abroad, but I know that it’ll happen someday, and I’m grateful for the time I had abroad while it lasted.
My first time outside after my two-week quarantine! Waiting for my bus to the airport.
First, I wanted to address a few things regarding COVID-19. While it’s most dangerous for older folks and immuno-compromised people, it’s still important to take care of yourself and others to help stifle it before it spreads to an astronomical level. You can help by washing your hands for 20 seconds, coughing/sneezing into your sleeve or a tissue (and then dispose of the tissue), keeping a physical distance between yourself and others, and being considerate of others. Click on this link for more information from the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
I understand that it’s easy to be scared of what’s going on—you just want to protect yourself and your family, so you resort to behavior that might not be normal for you. Or, you don’t want your life to change so you continue doing what you always do. Fear does that. But, I encourage everyone to think past themselves and about the bigger picture. There are shortages of toilet paper, masks, and other supplies that many people and, especially, healthcare professionals need in order to do their jobs. By limiting contact with others, you can help stop the spread of the virus. Please think about the consequences of your actions is all I’m saying.
Another thing that this fear and panic have brought out in people is subtle and overt racism towards Asian people—especially Chinese folks. Asian businesses have been suffering from a lack of customers, Asian people have been verbally and physically attacked, and Asians all around the world have been denied certain services because they’re Asian. As an Asian-American, this is all extremely disheartening for me to hear and read. To be honest, I was a little afraid of coming back to the US for fear of being looked at weirdly or treated badly because I’m obviously Asian. Just hear me out—try to recognize and acknowledge your biases and fear and then think about how you can not let those control you and your actions.
OKAAYY, so what have I been up to, you’re wondering?
Well, it’s been weird and ironically funny. So I was in South Korea doing my two-week self-quarantine in the dorms mid-February. There was someone that delivered food to me and left it in front of my door, and I wasn’t allowed to leave my room at all (except to open the door to get the food). Fast forward to a few days before the end of the two weeks. I had been mentally preparing for anything to happen because the COVID-19 situation was escalating in South Korea, and I knew it made my parents nervous. So a few days before the end, my parents and I decided that I should come back to the US. With the help of IPO, I was put on a flight back to the US the day I got out of quarantine in South Korea. Then when I arrived home in Alaska, I was put into another two-week quarantine because I had arrived from a high-risk country. FOUR WEEKS of quarantine…like I said it’s kind of funny how it worked out.
So, now I’m done with my two-week quarantine/isolation, and I’m planning on taking online classes until the fall. Part of me has been not wanting to write this because I don’t want to admit it’s all over. But, alas, even as the world is on fire, the show must go on. Thank you all for the support, whoever is reading this. I wish you all the best in these times of uncertainty. We can get through this together.
My name is Alecia Barlow, and I cordially invite you all to join me (virtually) throughout my adventures in Japan and South Korea. This spring semester, I am set to study abroad in South Korea; however, starting early February, I galivanted around Japan for three weeks on a quest to visit friends and explore as much as possible (more about that coming up). I’m currently in South Korea, and I feel as if I should briefly address the elephants in the room before I carry on with my blog.
Yes, I do know that the coronavirus (aka COVID-19) is spreading throughout East Asia and is becoming quite a hot topic. I am and have been taking the necessary precautions to keep myself and others around me healthy, but I also don’t want to let fear get in the way of me experiencing new things. I’m realistic about my situation, but I’m also not going to let fear control my life.
Yes, I do know that Kim Jong Un exists and is a possible threat. First of all, I think that’s the least of the world’s worries right now, and I can promise you that I won’t cross over into North Korea—though I might be tempted to go to the DMZ (demilitarized zone) ;).
I will most likely talk more about these topics later on in my study abroad experience, but for now I’d like to talk about other fun things that have happened.
SO. Japan…WOW.
PART ONE
(also I apologize for the quality of some of these photos because I can’t seem to keep my hand steady for some reason)
What a time and a half. I arrived in Japan around 6:45 p.m. their time, and my friends Isis Hatcher and Emi Kishi picked me up from the airport. Emi went to Linfield as a Japanese exchange student and Isis is a Linfield student doing an exchange at Aoyama Gakuin University for the year. Naturally, the first thing I had to eat in Japan was…conveyor belt sushi. Try the cheesy salmon nigiri—it’s delicious. And, yes, I’m lactose intolerant, but sometimes I like to test the limits of my body. What can I say? Cheese is cheese.
For the next couple of days, Isis, Emi and Marina (another Japanese student who did an exchange at Linfield), and I stayed at Emi’s uncle’s apartment in Kanagawa. We explored some of the surrounding areas and ate good food like Ichiran (basically ramen but fast-food style), cheese dog, and more ramen (lol I love ramen).
Ramen is life.I ate one bite because I wasn’t trying to die from cheese that day.
We visited a shrine, experienced Shibuya Crossing, and went out to eat at an izakaya with our friends Rei and Zeno who are also Japanese students who did an exchange at Linfield!
Me jumping in front of a wooden torii gate. Sorry to the girl whose photoshoot I probably ruined…oops.The entrance to the shrine.Shibuya Crossing.Good food and drink with friends!
We also explored Akihabara which is famous for otaku culture, and I got to experience an onsen for the first time!
Oh, look! A wild Isis and a cool mural.
We went to this place called Team Lab Borderless Museum, and it was super cool and trippy. I almost ran into a few walls.
Flowers are projected onto every surface of the room creating a borderless feel.
Then I went to go visit my friend Minami Yamamoto (another Japanese exchange student who had gone to Linfield). We went to Disney Sea with Risa (another Japanese exchange student who studied at Linfield — oh, the connections you’ll make at Linfield!), the ocean, Yokohama, and Kamakura. We got to see a big Buddha statue in Kamakura, and we ate dozens of fresh strawberries at a strawberry park in Yokohama.
Apparently, this is a popular photo spot, so naturally, we had to take a photo! ALSO, curry popcorn is officially the best kind of popcorn. I had three bags of it. Too good.Yokohama’s Chinatown!
Wow, that’s a big Buddha.
After my time with Minami was over, I went back to Shibuya area and hung out with Marina and Isis. We traveled to Asakusa and went to yet another shrine!
Another shrine, another silly poseI LOVE MELON PAN!
PART TWO
So, now it was time for the road trip. Four girls, one tiny car, driving around Japan for five days.
First, we went to Hiroshima, saw the last standing building after the bomb hit and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It was very hard and emotional to walk through the museum and memorials surrounding it, and I encourage more people to educate themselves on the devastating effects of the U.S.’ actions both in Japan and other places around the world.
The last standing building from pre-atomic bomb Hiroshima
Next up was the Fushimi Inari Shrine where we got to see the famous Torii gates. It was nighttime when we got there so the photos aren’t the best, but it’s all about the company right? Then, we experienced the majesty of the Kinkaku-ji Golden Temple, bamboo forest, and Byodoin.
The famous torii gates featuring three goofballs.The Kinkaku-ji Golden Temple!Bamboo forest!
Byodoin—Featured on the 10 yen coin!
Then, we went to the Tottori Sand Dunes…except they were covered in snow!
Where’s the sand? This Alaskan came to see sand dunes, but I guess I’ll never escape the snow…
And last but not least…Mt. Fuji! (and another onsen with Mt. Fuji as the view)
What a beauty.What a way to end our road trip!
And that was the end of the road trip! I was so sleep deprived the whole entire time, but it was totally worth it. 10/10 would recommend.
Ok, I know this is already really long, but I only have a little bit more to say. Please stay with me lol.
PART THREE??
So, now I’m in South Korea at Yonsei’s dorms. I’m conducting a self-quarantine, so that means I see and interact with no one in-person for two weeks and can’t leave my room. All I can do is just keep up with the news and keep an ear out for updates from the university or other international students through a group chat I’m in. Am I afraid that my semester might be canceled? Yeah, of course. But, I’ve decided to just take things day by day because that’s all I can do. I will live in the now and try to make the most out of the time I have here.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me. My parents, IPO, my friends—you all rock. Even when I can’t leave my room, have to be dependent on some random stranger for delivering me food, and have uncertainty as a big part of my life, my panic goes away because I remember all of the people who are cheering me on at home and believe in me. Thank you.
After midterms, a friend and I decided to take a trip to Busan, which is in the south of Korea. It was a nice weekend getaway from the busy Seoul life. And it was just what I needed after midterms. Although it was a weekend getaway, it was full of exploring, walking, and trying new things. First, we headed to the Busan Tower. The view from the top of the tower is absolutely stunning, showing the whole city of Busan.
View from the Busan Tower
While at the Busan Tower, a friend and I decided to try on a hanbok, which is traditional Korean clothing for semi formal or formal occasions. This type of clothing dates back to the Joseon Dynasty period which was from 1392 to 1897. The hanbok that I wore had made me feel like true princes, I had never in my life worn something so beautiful. It’s pretty custom that Koreans and foreigners alike rent the hanbok’s for a short period of time and take pictures. Since we were at the Busan Tower, it was perfect place to take pictures.
Dressed in a hanbok, which is traditional Korean clothing.Wearing traditional Korean clothing with the tall and proud Busan Tower behind me.Looking at the view from the top of the Busan Tower.
We also visited the Yeongdo Lighthouse, which is a historical sight where the lighthouse provided a beacon of light to ships around Busan Port for over a hundred years. The air was fresh and luckily we got to see the lighthouse when the sun was out and shining.
Yeongdo Lighthouse
One of my favorite spots to visit was the Busan Gamcheon Culture village. The tourist guide explained that the Culture Village was once a popular place for war refugees to settle in after the Korean War. Also known as the “Machu Picchu” of Korea, the village is full of paintings and murals on the walls and now has become a very popular tourist attraction. With cafes, shops, and many more businesses filling the area.
Culture Village, or also known as the Machu Picchu of Korea.The beautiful and colorful Culture Village.
Overall, my trip to Busan was absolutely exhausting but it was so worth it. It was nice to get away from one of the busiest cities in the world and enjoy the beach and the breeze.
