Korea Semester Abroad 13: Seoul Speedrun
26.08.2022 - 09.01.2023
The Swedes are here
22.12.2022 – Thrusday
The Korea Speedrun starts in Seoul with Jonathan.
We explore the Myeongdong Street Market and Myeongdong Church. I buy a hat with "외국인" written on it - Korean for "foreigner". This gets a good chuckle here and there, as it wasn't obvious enough. We also buy more junk at the market for our flatmates' upcoming scrap metal giveaway.
Now that the Swede has arrived, it's really cold here at -16°.
Christmas in Seoul
23.12.2022 – Friday
I get up earlier than the rest of the flatmates and go in search of a plastic surgeon to remove my week-old stitches. After being put off twice, the third one works. He removes the stitches after a short wait. However, I have to come back the next day for a check-up because something is not right...
Jonathan and I then travel to Bukchon Hanok Village at lunchtime to see the old Korean town. Afterwards we take the metro to "K-Star Road". This is basically the walk of fame for Korean singers. In the evening, we all meet up with KNU student friend Erika from Costa Rica at the Hongik Shopping Center for Chinese hot pot. She is now also leaving for Thailand.
24.12.2022 – Saturday
I have to get up early again for the doctor's check-up: unfortunately, the wound hasn't healed well and has detached. I get stitched up again straight away. This time I have to leave the stitches in for 2 weeks until I return to Seoul for the last time.
After my return, some of our flatmates go to a German service in a church in Seoul, while Jonathan and I go to the "Gyeongbukgung Palace" in Seoul instead, watch a traditional changing of the guard ceremony and see the palace in general. Then, just in time for Christmas Eve, our flatmates had a scrap metal giveaway: I give away a soju shaped bottle opener and way too big sunglasses + wooden puzzle and get a lego palace & scotch tape for my chin. We also found a wine store that sold mulled wine! This is made warm on the gas stove of the Airbnb and drunk while yodeling Mariah Carey.
In between, of course, we call the family and play a few card games and paint souvenir pictures.
Shopping in the Lotte Tower
25.12.2022 – Sunday
We visit the "Lotte Tower" & the associated "Lotte Mall", all still in Seoul.
Here you also have a great view of Seoul from the 31st floor of the food court. However, we had already been to so many towers that the nicer attraction for me was the Christmas decorations in the mall and the associated park. Our Airbnb dissolves in the evening. Lukas goes back to Germany, Tobi to Daegu and Samuel, Jonathan and I stay in our own Airbnb for another night.
