living in korea
엄마! 나는 살아있다!
if you're studying abroad, you'll get used to travel quickly. here's some tips to get you settled in
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i came to korea loving coffee...now i'll be leaving with an addiction to the drinkBefore I even begin to discuss the endless supply of cafes in Korea, I must preface by just how much this country, Seoul especially, thrives at night. There have been early 6AM mornings for a day trip, and I'll see a group of college students walking out of a 노래방 (karaoke) or pub. Whether they chose to stay there overnight just to wait for the subway, or just had a wild weekday, this scene is pretty common in a college area like Sinchon. Outside of the typical college antics, it's even moreso common to have a coffee after dinner. Cafes are filled with anyone from college students cramming at night, or older women enjoying the atmosphere with some caffeine.
With all ages alike loving the European-originated drink, here's some of my observations to help you understand the massive economy that is cafe culture in Seoul: K-Pop or Birthday Cafes: The most unique and unexpectedly fun for me. These cafes are decorated and fan-sponsored, from the stickers on cute bottled drinks to the shrines of photos and merchandise on display. I talk about k-pop birthday cafes in a different post, but I must mention that these events are the core of business for some cafes in Seoul. If you're visiting Seoul, some of my favorites were Tone & Manner, Creamy Mood, Cafe Aside, Lovin' Her, and Lovin' Idol. Stop by these Mapo-gu cafes around the time of your favorite artist's birthday! Vintage/Historic Inspired Cafes This so-called category of cafes are for all of those that offer home-y vibes or are inspired by traditional Korean architecture. These cafes often have seasonal drinks and desserts, with a wide selection of cakes and sweets. Beyond Korea's love for iced Americanos and lattes, having a side of delicious and cute cakes is a common pairing. Check out the Anguk area (surrounding Gyeongbokgung Palace) for many cafes like these. In at area, I suggest Cafe Layered and 차마시는뜰. Though in my experience, finding a cafe by simply walking around can be the most fun! Photogenic/Unique Cafes Unlike the previous type of cafe, these cafes focus almost purely on the aesthetic and Instagram-ableness of the space. You'll find lots of younger people in their cutest outfits for their next post. I'd be lying if I said that wasn't me on many occasions. But don't be afraid! Taking lots of photos and taking your time while doing so is very common. Some of the more unique cafes include a Poop-inspired cafe and a 2D -cafe, Geurim Cafe. You can find lots of unique cafes in the Mapo or Gangnam area. Check out Instagram to find trending places too! Takeout Coffee While technically not a cafe, it's worth noting the price and high volume of coffee kiosks in Seoul. Mega Coffee and Compose Coffee are two big chains, but you can find many more within the price range of $2-3 USD. Some of these places have seating as well, and are great for studying. Study/24-Hour Cafes I'm unfortunately all too familiar with this type of cafe. If Seoul is not in lockdown (which thankfully we were not during midterms and finals), you can study here throughout the night. But beware, the seating here is competitive. Arrive no later than 7:30PM - 8:00 PM if you want a decent seat, especially if studying in groups of four. You can expect to see people trying to come in and look for seating all throughout the night. Sinchon has two 24-hour cafes, Cafe Namu and Cafe Ann. I am a personal fan of Cafe Ann for its higher-quality drinks and more spaced-out seating. It is much smaller, however, so the owner can be strict during busy weeks. Don't leave your seat for more than 20-minutes unless you want to buy a second drink. You can ask for extension cords at the counter, and sneak in some food from Mini Stop or Paris Baguette nearby. Starbucks Reserve With the company's ever-tight grasp on the coffee community in Korea, how could I forget Starbucks? Starbucks has may regular locations throughout with unique seasonal drinks all year. They also have Starbucks Reserves, which are noted by a special star and R icon outside the cafe. Starbucks Reserves are higher end and offer a wider selection of roasts and coffees, for all those bean-savvy or not. In addition, the atmosphere is much cleaner and refined, tending to be in higher-end locations. One of my favorite Reserves to visit was in Myeongdong. With a cafe fitting for every occasion of your day, don't be surprised if you find your coffee budget skyrocketing in Seoul. Take advantage of the lower costs and one-of-a-kind experiences. Enjoy it! Safe travels and happy exploring, Natalie you've got to be here to really believe itIt's no surprise that among each country, whether a border or ocean away, has its unique quirks. That being said, I'd like to share some of the small things about living in Seoul that you might not have known unless living here as well.
Before I begin, I would like to mention that these are purely my own observations, and they should not be seen as stereotypes or profiling for the entire country. Please take these as little nuggets of my life here : )
While living in a new country can be an exciting and new experience, expect some of your expected patterns in life to drastically change. Some things are for the better, others for worse. I hope these little observations help you understand a little more of what life is like in Seoul, as a Hawaii resident! Have fun and stay safe, Natalie 9/29/2021 0 Comments quarantine in korea: part 2The second and final part regarding 14 days of quarantine in Korea. Keeping the introduction short, as this post is quite lengthy! Look under the Quarantine category in this page for Part 1. WHAT I CHOSE AND WHY As you already know, I decided to go with Stay14 as my quarantine program. First, I could not believe the prices of Stay4Korea, and wasn’t even aware of the SIM card offering (I honestly think they added that after I chose Stay14). Second, I was satisfied with the price point and potential risk I’d be taking if I went with Stay14. While it isn’t advertised by my university, it was still widely popular and there was secondhand knowledge that it was historically successful. I specifically booked a room in the Lake Stay option, and chose the Asian Food package. I liked the variety of meals and options they advertised, which gave me flexibility in making my meals. Payment was done online, and I used Wise to pay. MY EXPERIENCE 3/10. It was not good at all, but from what I’ve seen, not even the worst of those using Stay14. To put things into perspective, at one point I even made a playlist lamenting my situation and jokingly called the program Survive14, which unfortunately too many people then related to. I’ll break down my experience in the following categories: food, amenities, and customer service. Food I did not receive water until my third day/second full day in quarantine, and the majority of my food was instant. Fresh food included two salad bowls, two loaves of bread, and a giant sausage package. Instant food included a dozen rice bowls, 6 instant ramen cups, and 6 instant pho cups. Once out of quarantine, I quickly realized that the food I received was all off-brand and extremely cheap. While ₩100,000 for two weeks of food seemed worthwhile at the time, I’m sure the food and cost of deliver was far below that. I had to get creative in making my meals feel varied in taste. Leftover dressing from salad bowls and mayo packets from instant rice bowls were used to flavor my toast. I also rationed my 6 liters of water very carefully, and I frequently had headaches from drinking less liquids than I typically do. Drinking water from the tap was also not an option. While you may think staying indoors for 14 days and eating fast food may put a couple pounds on you, it was actually the opposite. I may have lost a few pounds, but also suffered major stomach issues the following week out of quarantine. While it could have been adjusting to the water or different bacteria in food, I largely attribute my high-sodium, low nutrient diet as a factor in post-quarantine health issues. While I said I would share my experience, I should mention a friend’s situation who was also in quarantine at the time. He had received no food or water for 5 days, and relied on delivery to sustain himself. It’s unclear whether it was a mistake on the delivery company or Stay14, but regardless, the situation took a long time to be resolved. Toast with dressing leftover from a salad bowl One of my more creative quarantine meals; I got way too excited when having this for the first time... Accommodations: Lake Stay
Every quarantine location may be different, so I can only speak about Lake Stay. Its location is on a narrow alleyway, taxi cars are unable to drive through. Inside, there are different floors for smoking, so unfortunately my hallway reeked of smoke and hazy air whenever I opened the door. Inside, are an induction stove, hot water kettle, closet, mini fridge, microwave, TV, and washing machine. The hot water kettle had mold in it, so it was unused. Be sure to bring laundry detergent to wash clothes throughout quarantine. There is a clothes rack to hang dry clothes. The bathroom is a typical small-apartment style, with the shower head overlapping the toilet area. Be sure to take your toilet paper out of the shower when using it, or expect soggy paper! Only one roll of toilet paper was provided. Also, bring a power adapter! All outlets are traditional to those in Korea. Customer Service I quarantined during a period when most Fall exchange students were, which likely made response time much slower than less busy periods. All information was communicated via KakaoTalk, and instructions or external links were completed on Notion. Overall, I felt that the two points of contact were generally kind and helpful. I understand that upwards of 100 different students may be messaging them at once, so I felt their average response time of 1-2 days was reasonable. However, I was most disappointed by their lack of accommodation with transportation, unlike advertised online (though the website has since changed). FINAL THOUGHTS/RECOMMENDATIONS You get what you pay for. My quarantine experience was more stressful and less luxurious than those who took the traditional Stay4Korea route, but I did pay far less. Further, I must emphasize that all quarantine services seem to constantly change their guidelines, prices, and accommodations, so always look for recent reviews to read. I didn’t have a terrible experience, but I would most likely not visit Lake Stay if I were to quarantine again. However, every person has different levels of satisfaction when it comes to comfort and price, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. Before booking your quarantine, I recommend the following:
Safe travels, Natalie 9/15/2021 0 Comments quarantine in korea: part 1an overview of quarantine options, my personal opinions of what there is to offer...INTRODUCTION
Almost two years into a pandemic, why would I ever choose to quarantine for two weeks, willingly? Because I’d be living in South Korea for four months (and the two weeks in quarantine!). Despite my eagerness to live in a new country, choosing the best program to quarantine was not easy. I spent a long time considering all options: from quarantining with others, to government programs, to something completely different. In terms of research and resources, I mainly used the Internet, Yonsei University’s limited information provided via email, and the platform for crowdsources info, Discord. This Discord server specific for Yonsei International students consisted mostly of students in the UCEAP program, who had then received information from their program coordinator. So between these three resources, I was recommended a handful of options. Generally, the process for quarantine in Seoul was this: Upon arrival, you check in with customs and complete all necessary paperwork (such as providing a PCR test 72 hours prior to flight). You are required to download a location-tracking app while going through customs, which is then used to check-in twice a day while in quarantine. After leaving the airport, you must take a specific quarantine taxi or have a family member drive you to your quarantine location. Taking public transportation (bus, general taxi, subway) is not allowed. Within 24 hours after arriving, you must visit the closest Public Health Care Center to take a rapid test, and the results are sent to you via text. They provide you with a thermometer, masks, and other general supplies. Again, you must take a quarantine taxi or walk to and from the test site. Then, your long and lonely isolation begins. Within 1-2 days of completing your two week quarantine, you must again visit the same Public Health Care Center for a second test. Upon receiving a negative test, on the 14th day you are free to complete quarantine at noon. It is highly recommended to delete the app. THE OPTIONS It is important to note that like booking hotels, many of these quarantine programs fluctuate in price depending on demand and location. So what prices you may see on the live website may be discounted if you are reading this in a low travel period. Frankly, the government’s rules related to quarantine are also constantly changing, so I can only say with 100% accuracy that Stay4Korea is completely government compliant. I can’t be 100% sure if there is government compliance with some options in Stay14 or quarantine in a goshiwon. Always read the most recent news or check with your university before making a final decision. Stay4Korea and Stay14 are the most popular options, as seen by the survey conducted in the Yonsei Discord and personal conversation. I mention Trazy, Enkor, and Goshiwon options, but can’t offer any personal experience or experience from those who went with that program.
CONCLUSION There is a wide range of options, each with their own drawback and benefits. Ultimately, it is up to what factors are important to you (such as food/housing quality, level on independence in the process) to determine what works best. I'll share more about my personal experience with Stay14 in my next post. Stay tuned! Safe travels, Natalie |
About the siteAcross the Pacific is a blog about a Hawaii local's experience studying on the other side of the Pacific Ocean to Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. The blog includes travel tips, personal memories, and adventures while abroad. Categories |