Sophia Schulz - Blog Abroad
Blog #1
My name is Sophie, and I have been living in Seoul, South Korea for almost two weeks now, but I’ve already had tons of wonderful and challenging experiences here. Before I get into that though, I’d like to introduce myself a bit. This is my second year as a university student, and I study both Psychology and Studio Arts at UNM, but now I am attending Ewha Womans University here in Seoul. I enjoy creating art in my free time, particularly practicing photography (I brought my cameras with me on this trip and plan to upload pictures on this blog soon!). I also have a great interest in travel obviously, and love learning different languages and cultural practices. I have wanted to visit Korea for quite some time after becoming interested in the pop-culture that has spread to the U.S. (K-pop, K-dramas), and I cannot believe I will be living here for the next 4 months! Now, I’ll share a little bit of what my experience has been like so far. On the first bus ride into Seoul from the airport, I was so exhausted from travelling my neck ached from holding up my head for so many hours, but still, I couldn’t help myself from straining to look out the window at the new world around me. Seeing things in real life that I’ve only imagined or seen through a screen for years has been so joyful. One of the places I’ve visited so far has been Yeouido Hangang Park on the Han River. It’s a great place to admire the beauty of the river, take pictures, and enjoy a bicycle ride (you can rent a single bike for an hour for only 3,000 KRW! - $2). The weather in Korea has been very cold so far, but there were still lots of people walking and having picnics in the park. I’d like to visit again when the trees begin to blossom, I bet it will be beautiful. I also went to visit Seongsu, a district in Seoul, which has lots of cute cafes, restaurants and many shopping centers and pop-ups. It was raining all day when I visited, but there were still many people walking around the streets and waiting in lines for the cafes! Some foods I have tried so far include chueo-tang (추어탕), which is a traditional, healthy Korean soup made with ground-up fish as the broth, it was very hearty and warm if you don’t mind a fishy taste, and only 10,000 KRW ($7). I also tried shabu-shabu, which is a Japanese hot-pot dish but there are tons of restaurants here in Korea that serve it. It was very delicious and only 8,000 KRW ($5) for a one-person serving. And lastly, I also stopped by a street vendor when I was out one day to try red bean bungeoppang, a fish shaped-(but no fish ingredients)-pastry with red bean filling (3 for 2,000 KRW - about $1). It was so wonderfully warm and crispy, and a comfort to me in Seoul’s cold weather. Thus, I’ve had high moments like these where I’m gripped with curiosity and delight for my new surroundings, but also lows, where I’ve struggled with many different cultural and situational challenges. On my third night here, I came down with a bad flu. It was hard to move, hard to stand, and yet I was in a situation where I needed to accomplish a series of errands, navigating a city whose language I could not yet understand, in order to move into my dorm. Before getting sick I was ready with a plan of what to do that day, but suddenly it all felt so impossible because my strength was gone. I definitely had a moment of panic, but I reached out to my family back home and then knew what I had to do in order to take care of myself. It was a grueling day, but I got through it and was able to move into my dorm where I could finally rest. Since then, there have been more moments of joyful discovery, but also more challenges. The main consistent challenge I’ve been facing is that of loneliness. In the beginning it was very difficult to meet or hang out with anyone at all, much less try to make friends. Everyday became a cycle of anxiety over missing opportunities to connect with people, and fear for a future here without friends. And furthermore, I haven’t explored the city as much as I could have because I started to feel a bit insecure about going out by myself (something that I usually enjoy). Something about being in an entirely new culture with a foreign language makes me crave the comfort of being in a group, but that has been difficult to find. Recently though, despite the struggle, I’ve slowly started to make some connections, and with classes starting up, I have hope that I’ll only make more. I know another part of my adjustment here is due to the culture shock and language barrier. For the most part, I’ve been able to find my way around the city and order food, and I'm very fortunate that many people here speak some English even if it’s not the native language of the country. However, with my limited Korean there have still been many instances where it has been difficult to communicate, but I’ve encountered many people who are patient with me and helpful, which I am very grateful for. Of course, there have also been people who quickly get annoyed with me since I cannot speak the language, but that’s expected, and I don’t blame them. I’m hoping that through more exposure and the Korean language classes I’ll be taking, my speaking skills will improve! Even though I’ve had a hard time adjusting to this new place so far, there have still been many gifts from this experience. Despite the worries and challenges, I’m certain that I made the right choice coming here and I look forward to the subsequent adventures waiting for me just around the corner. Thank you for reading! 감사합니다! 안녕하세요! Hello and welcome to my blog!
Blog #2
I have now been in Korea for a little over a month, and I can say that I feel much more adjusted than when I first arrived. Looking back, it was as if my body and mindset were stuck a bit in fight-or-flight mode. I felt very on edge and anxious about how new everything was and if I would ever find my place here. But after some time, I am starting to find my place and it's a nice feeling. I did finally make some friends, and it has been a relief to have a group to make plans with. I’m also getting a better grip on the city area surrounding my campus; finding my favorite restaurants and cafes, knowing the best places for running errands and buying everyday supplies. I’m slowly learning how to live everyday life in this new country. Since my last post I have attended my first K-pop concert with my roommate (we saw Aespa!), visited Gwangjang market, tried out the clubbing scene in Hongdae, and visited Seoul Forest to see the cherry blossoms. I’ve really enjoyed getting to do all of the activities and visit places I’ve only witnessed through videos online. I will say that Gwangjang market seemed like a very popular spot, but because of that the market was very crowded, and so it was difficult to move around and sit down at food stalls. Nonetheless, I still got to try some great foods with my favorite being Hotteok, a traditional Korean street-food pancake. However, I do want to try out some other food markets here that might be less busy. Going out to clubs in Hongdae was also a super fun experience but one that I recommend only doing every once in a while, mainly due to the fact that a night out in Korea starts at around 11 pm and can last until 5 am. This was another culture shock for me, but I found that once you’re having fun, time starts to pass quickly. I have to stress though, that safety is the most important thing during a night out. I have always gone out in a group, and we’ve made sure to stick together and drink responsibly. You may be met with some uncomfortable realities of Korean party culture when you go out, but if you’re the type of person who likes to party, you can still have a great time. Witnessing the blooming of the cherry blossoms and other flowers here in Korea was one of the main reasons I decided to study during the spring semester. So of course I’ve been anxiously awaiting spring’s arrival. There have been some beautiful magnolia blossoms on my university campus, but seeing the cherry blossoms has specifically been a fantasy of mine. Due to the cold weather many trees are blooming a bit later than usual this year. I also found out that the cherry blossom trees bloom at varying times in different parts of Seoul, so it's a bit of a guessing game to go to the correct areas at the correct times to catch them in bloom. In truth though, spring in Korea is beautiful all around, and I’ve noticed my mood has been lighter just while walking around Ewha’s campus, looking at all the greens, purples, pinks, and whites returning after a colorless winter. However, the cherry blossoms at Seoul forest were especially beautiful because of how the trees are lined up along the walkways. If you ever visit Korea in the spring I highly recommend going to an area where the trees are numerous to see the blossoms. My language skills here have been progressing very slowly, but I will say that learning Korean with other beginners from many different countries has been a joy. In the classroom, some people may only speak the native language of their home country, while others are fluent in three besides Korean. But it feels special to know that all of us, from different backgrounds and experiences with languages, are all trying our best to tackle this new language together. Lastly, I have been sincerely touched by how open and friendly some of the Korean girls I’m meeting are. Even if there is a slight language barrier, I’ve still had fun, engaging conversations and found common interests and fascinating differences between our cultures. I’m really enjoying getting to talk face to face to people from all over the world (but especially from the whole other side of the world), about varying topics, learning about our differences but also how similar we are as young women navigating our education, friendships, and our future dreams and aspirations. I think this social cultural exchange has been one of the most special parts about my experience here so far. 
Blog #3
I am now about halfway through my semester at Ewha Womans University. These days I haven’t gone too far from my campus because of all the studying I have to do for midterm exams. But I’m not complaining. I think taking midterms in a foreign country automatically makes the midterm season slightly better. I’ve definitely been taking advantage of all the cute cafes near my campus in Seoul; spending money on pretty pastries and drinks in the name of self-motivation. I wouldn’t say that classes abroad are particularly harder or easier than the classes I’ve taken at UNM. I think your experience depends on your major and how many credits you take. Although, I have noticed a more intense study culture here, in my opinion. Students here in Korea seem to study until the early hours of the morning as if it were perfectly normal – especially during exam season. Maybe this is normal for some students at UNM as well, but it was a bit of a culture shock for me. In honesty it motivated me to follow their drive to study hard– although I still believe that sleep is the most important thing to be prepared for an exam. After midterms finish we have a short break, and I hope to have an overnight stay in Busan and see the ocean. The weather here has been getting warmer as spring runs its course, and I’ve been wanting to visit the ocean for a while. I’ve also been stunned by the beauty of all the different flowers blooming on campus. For the past month here in Seoul, the weather has been quite chaotic. With cold rain, hail, high winds, and hot sunny days alternating daily. I was worried that the crazy weather would kill all the blossoms, but I've heard that it actually had the opposite effect. Currently, flowers that bloom at different times throughout the spring are all blooming right now because they’ve been tricked by the weather. And so, as you walk you see lilac bushes, pink magnolia trees, white pear blossoms, and purple, red, and yellow flowers everywhere. The beauty of blossoming flowers makes spring my favorite season, but I know their beauty only lasts for a short while. So, I’ve been trying to enjoy it as much as I can while it lasts. It keeps reminding me that my time here in Korea won’t last forever either, so I’m also trying my best to soak up all the richness of this experience every day. On another note, I know that the lush greens of summer will also be beautiful, and thus will be my future when I ultimately have to say goodbye. I’ve been enjoying taking many photos lately with my grandmother’s old film camera. I won’t be able to upload them onto this blog because they must be developed and printed first. But something about taking photos with film feels meditative to me. There’s a limited number of frames for each roll and you can’t immediately see the photos you capture. The process feels risky, but the risk forces you to be at peace with what you end up with, because you can’t go back and change it. The moments that you successfully capture and get to keep are a gift and the ones you miss out on must be let go. My grandmother used the camera on her trips around Europe when she was young, so the experience also feels like a sacred continuation of the use of a family heirloom. I’ve loved getting to capture the beauty of this new place. I’ve also attempted to practice my Korean by asking a few strangers to take portraits of them. It’s scary to put myself out there, and there have been awkward moments, but I know what’s most important is that I’m learning and trying. Lastly, I also wanted to mention that I finally got to visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace with a group of friends. We visited a Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) rental store beforehand and were able to enter the palace for free. The price for renting Hanbok for two hours is around 20,000 KRW and entering the palace only costs 3,000 KRW, but it's so much fun to fully embrace the culture and there are so many beautiful Hanbok dresses to choose from, so I highly recommend not missing out! There are a few large, open areas as you enter with stunning architecture from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), but there are also many gardens and pathways with smaller structures if you explore further. My friends and I didn’t discover the gardens until the last thirty minutes we were there, so I recommend exploring further than the areas close to the front entrance– the whole palace is much larger than it seems at first. That’s all for now, but I hope to write again soon about more adventures as the weather continues to get warmer. 읽어줘서 고맙습니다! (Thank you for reading!)
Blog #4
At this point in time, I only have about a month and a half left of my time here in Korea. And recently, I’ve been reflecting on all the new people I’ve gotten to know here. I think somewhere in my childhood I became very shy and afraid of meeting new people. It was hard to talk to strangers, and I only ever hung out with the people in my close friend group. However, studying abroad has gradually forced me out of that habit, and I began to adopt the attitude of being open and genuinely curious about everyone I met. I started to treat each meeting with someone new as a special opportunity, instead of a scary obstacle. That mindset has brought me many wonderful memories during my time here. Even if I haven’t made tons of super close friends, I’ve experienced bits and pieces of many beautiful people. And while some meetings were awkward at first, by keeping the mindset of being kind, open, and curious, my feelings towards certain people became very fond in a way I didn’t expect. It was almost as if I decided to see these new people through a lens of love and curiosity, instead of a lens of judgment fueled by fear of what they might think of me. This way I got to notice and appreciate new sides of people; little quirks, similarities with myself, and so on. And after most of these meetings, even if I was slightly tired from the social exertion, it felt like there was a little bit of magic inside me– some kind of warm, sparkly joy from discovering a beautiful new human being. I know I couldn’t have experienced these moments if I wasn’t brave enough to step out of my comfort zone. And I also know that it’s important not to get too greedy when making new friends. Some people are meant to be friends you get to know briefly, and then you must let them go. Of course, I’d like to think I’ve made some lifelong friends here, but in reality, life is complex, and it gets hard to keep in touch with people. Thus, I’m trying to appreciate all the little moments of magic that are gifted to me and keep them as fond memories for when I ultimately have to say goodbye to the people here. Another fond memory that I made recently was my trip to Jeju Island! Before I booked the trip, I was close to resigning myself to the fact that I wouldn't be able to see Jeju (it's a bit more expensive/time-consuming than visiting other places in South Korea), but I felt a strong desire to experience the beautiful nature I heard about on the Island –and there were cheap plane tickets available!– so I made the decision to plan a solo trip for myself. It was slightly nerve wracking to think about embarking on a short trip all alone, but I enjoy my own company, and something in me was really craving some time with myself. In the end, I’m very happy I followed that feeling and took the risk, because I had a really amazing time in Jeju. I was only there for two full days, so I only got to explore the most eastern part of the Island, but I thoroughly explored the areas I could. Because I was alone, I was free to go anywhere I wanted, do anything I wanted, and eat anything I wanted! I love taking trips with friends, but there was something so freeing about having a whole trip catered entirely to what I like. I should also note though that there was a downpour of rain for most of the first full day I was there (which turns out, is very common weather for Jeju in late May to July). At first, I was bummed because most of what I had hoped to explore was outdoors, but because of the weather, I took the recommendation of the owner of the guesthouse I was staying at and explored the Haenyeo Museum in Jeju City. There I learned about the women divers of Jeju Island, who dive into the sea to collect shellfish, abalones, and other varieties of seafood without professional diving equipment!! These inspiring women simply hold their breath for long periods of time, and many continue this work until their 70s or even 80s. If you happen to be in Jeju during a rainy day, I highly recommend visiting the museum and learning about these incredibly courageous women. During my stay I also visited Bijarim Forest –which is actually quite beautiful during the rain– , Seongsan Ilchulbong, and the Seopjikoji Coastline. The latter two were better suited for a day with clearer skies, which I thankfully got on my second day there. The pace of life also felt a lot slower in Jeju than Seoul, and the people I met there were friendly and kind. Overall, the trip felt very healing, and I know the memories will stay with me for a long time. I’m grateful for all the little miracles I’ve gotten to experience so far here in South Korea. And looking back at the slightly anxious and lonely girl who arrived here a few months ago, I can see how much I’ve really grown. 
