August 8, 2009

My last official day in Korea has finally come. I don’t feel happy to be leaving, though I do miss my family. All in all, this was a wonderful experience, and any UC student that has the chance to participate in a study abroad in Seoul should definitely go for it! I have actually decided to teach here for a year, post graduation, so I’ll be here if you decide to come. A few things I’d like to mention for prospective students:

1. 1. A visa is NOT needed to attend Korea University. I spent around $90 to send my visa application to Chicago and to receive my visa. There was some confusion in the beginning, but the school sent us an official e-mail (after I’d spent the money of course) saying that Korea University Students do not need visas to participate or to get through immigration.
2. 2. Instead of only buying a normal T-money card (what they use for the subway- a black/blue or green/yellow card) purchase a rainbow colored card. I’d love to tell you an official name, but the entire card is in Korean. Sorry about that. Anyway, the card gives you 60 subway card for only 40,000 WON. This is a huge discount in comparison to the T-money card. Assuming you don’t transfer trains (and you will), each ride is 1,000 WON. Thus, you’d have to keep recharging the card and would be paying 60,000 WON. For 60 rides.
3. 3. Another note on transportation. If you use 2 or 3 methods of transportation (ie the subway and the bus or a taxi) within a certain time period (a few hours), all of your subsequent transportation for that day is free (excluding a taxi).
4. 4. Do not make any jokes about eating dog or cat. Although there is a dog market somewhere in South Korea, I’m told by my Korean friends that they consider it to be a pretty offensive joke/comment.
5. 5. The International Student ID Card is recognized nowhere in South Korea. Although it may be helpful for identification if you get hit by a bus or something (let’s hope not), you cannot use it to get into any clubs and it cannot be used in place of anywhere that requires your passport or Korea University student I.D.
6. 6. If you have to go to the doctor, bring a person who is fluent in both Korean and English with you. The medical personnel are not really bilingual.
7. 7. Learn the street signs. The street signs coordinate with the subway station stops and are written in both English and Korean. Korea University is on Line 6, and it’s pretty conveniently located to Myeong-dong (where my apartment was and shopping district) and Itaewon (an area typically frequented by foreigners and Koreans who are bilingual.
8. 8. Know your allergies and keep them written down in Korean AND English on a card to show to people at restaurants. Otherwise, you put yourself at serious risk. Korean dishes contain a variety of spices and foods.
9. 9. Never underestimate the power of making yourself look approachable and smiling. Korea has a low, almost non-existent crime rate. However, some of them are still wary of foreigners. If you get lost, smile and ask for help. If you look flustered and angry, it might scare them more than draw empathy. Thus, you might not get any help.
10. 10. Get yourself a Korean cell phone at the airport. It’s worth it. Using an American one to txt and call your friends will get VERY expensive. I used a little Motorala that only cost me $30,000 WON a month for unlimited talking and texting with-in South Korea. The phone itself was free upon the presentation of my passport.
11. 11. Last but not least, if you decide to come to Korea, please feel free to e-mail me prior to. I visit often and, as I mentioned, I will be living there for a year. I’m willing to help in any way I can.

Tuna fish, Cucumbers, cream of celery soup, and a traditional Korean salad with asiana dressing.

This was my meal on the plane leaving Korea. As usual, it tasted wonderful. The salad had walnuts, cabbage, tomatoes, lettuce, radish, and something else that I can’t pronounce nor spell (LoL, hey give me a break I was exhausted). Bye Bye Korea, see you soon! <3

Korean word(s) of the day: pyong won = Hospital. Kyong chal won = Policeman. Allojeegaisssoyo = Allergic.

I decided at the last minute to include some fun pictures that I’d neglected to in previous posts.

A rooftop BBQ before I left

My Friend, Vision, and I at a club.

My friends and I at a Korean bar all doing something crazy for the picture. I was a…. tiger? LoL