Venturing the Subway System and Shopping!!

With only a couple days left before starting classes, Ivana and I explored different parts of the city via subway. It was my first time riding it! I was quite nervous. With everything moving so quickly, I was afraid I was going to get lost in the hustle and bustle, or possibly miss my stop and end up at the very opposite side of the city. Luckily, Ivana has experience riding and transferring the lines, so we didn't get lost. Now that I've learned to travel using the subway, it will be much easier for me to get around to different places. Can't wait to explore all the different parts of Seoul!

There was so much rain last night/this morning, we just HAD to get rain boots. With the monsoon season upon us, it almost isn't even an option to NOT get rain boots. So, taking the subway, Ivana and I went to 동대문 시장 (Dongdaemun Shopping Center) and bought some rain boots! (There are so many shopping centers there!!)

Look at my new boots!!!! 

At 동대문 there's so much to see and buy. I limited my purchase to the one pair of rain boots, but I am planning on returning, perhaps towards the end of my trip, to do a little bit of shopping ^^

At the top of one of the main shopping center buildings is a movie theatre and a line of restaurants. Ivana and I ate at 봉추찜닭, a delicious chicken place. The food was spicy, but it was soooo good. Ivana and I split a whole chicken together (since on the menu it said that that dish could feed 2 people), only to realize that we would not be able to finish it all in one sitting. So, like good asian children, we sacked it and brought it back with us. We were surprised to see and taste such good food at a restaurant at the top of a shopping center. Next time, we'll have to only order 1/2 a chicken...

Here are some pictures I took from the elevator coming down from the top of the building to the ground level. There's just soo many buildings and so many cars... I felt almost disgusted when looking at all the cars on the street. It was like looking at a group of ants or a flock of pigeons just hanging out at the park...

Day 2... Let's go!

With being jet lag, I went to sleep pretty early the first night, so I was not surprised to find myself wide-eyed and awake by 5:30 this morning. It was so great, because I was able to explore the campus a little more on my own. The sun had not risen and there was a nice morning breeze, so it was quite enjoyable. With the campus so quiet, I was able to enjoy a peaceful time of praying and doing my QT. I think I found a great spot for my mornings to enjoy with just myself and my Lord ^^

For breakfast, Ivana and I visited "cafe #2": Caribou Coffee. This coffee shop is actually in one of the dorm buildings, so we didn't have to walk too far to enjoy a much needed cup of java.

I got myself an iced mocha (I'll have to remember to ask for it "blended" next time, instead of "iced") and a croissant sandwich. I must have been pretty hungry because I devoured that thing ^^

We had orientations all morning. But after that, Ivana and I had the opportunity to explore (aka get lost heehee) the campus perimeters. However, we did manage to find a movie theatre nearby, so we now know the venue of our watching "The Dark Knight Rises" (sssooooo excited for that movie!!!!!). 

During our second orientation of the day, the UC students received their Yonsei International Summer Session IDs. With our new IDs, Ivana and I were able to visit the library. Even though classes have not started, I feel like a student!! 

For dinner, Ivana and I visited another restaurant on-campus:

I actually really enjoyed it. It was small but very cute and for the portion size, the food was so cheap!! My dinner cost me almost half of what my breakfast cost me. It's possible that this place will be a frequent dining facility for me ^^

I don't think I am quite over the jet lag... it's only 9:00 and I feel sooo tired....

Finishing Off My First Day in the Motherland!

No wonder people in Korea are so skinny! With all the walking people do, there is almost no need for extra exercising. After we moved into the dorms, we unpacked, got settled in. Then.....we walked around the campus, inspecting the beautiful Yonsei University.

I think I really enjoyed this campus not only because of the beautiful architecture and the way nature blended with modernism, but also how much the buildings reminded me of Hogwarts!!!

Tran, Ivana, and I were able to explore the U-Plex, a building made up of many floors of shops and eateries. There were so many cute t-shirts, particularly ones with a little cartoon dinosaur or chick printed on bright colored t shirts.
Then came...LUNCH!!! Finally, after a very long morning, we were able to enjoy one of my favorite dishes, 냉면 (cold noodles). Perhaps it was because I was so hungry, or perhaps it's because the portions in Korea are smaller than they are in America, but I felt almost unsatisfied afterwards...

Look who I had the pleasure of meeting in Korea!! Pastor Tim Park!

God always amazes me at how He just makes everything fall into place, exactly where they need to be placed, without my forcing anything or trying too hard. 

It was great catching up, sharing dreams and visions, and eating together in almost 5 years!!

For dinner, we ate 닭갈비 (grilled/marinated chicken). It was some good food. First, they cooked the chicken and the veggies. After we ate our fill of that, the waitress brought out rice and 고추장 (red pepper paste) and made us fried rice. We even got to wear aprons so nothing would spatter on our clothes ^^

After the first day, I am tired and very worn out, but I am so grateful to have been able to experience THIS MUCH in just the span of a day. As I look forward to the rest of the 2 months, I can't help but feel that one rule I am trying to live by plays so well into this: Be prepared for what is to come, but don't expect to know every outcome. Be courageous about facing the unknown and enjoy the outcomes of spontaneity. 

First Day in the Mother Country!

Hello and welcome to "Adventures of a Korean Girl"!!!

I'm very excited to start this blog, writing about the daily adventures in the mother country, about fun interactions, delicious foods, and gorgeous places that I will have the pleasure of experiencing over the next 2 months. 

Tran, Ivana, and I (UCSD Alumni!!) arrived in the wee hours of the morning. We were confused for about a second as to what bus to take to get from Incheon to Seoul, but luckily Tran had all the information needed. We had a peaceful bus ride into Seoul, which took about 40 minutes, much less than I had anticipated. The weather was so nice this morning. Although I could feel the humidity and stickiness, it was relatively cloudy and cool. So grateful for the nice weather! I'm sure if the weather was any worse, I would have been cranky all day long.

When we got off at our bus stop, Tran, Ivana, and I stopped by this quaint coffee/sandwich shop and enjoyed a delicious breakfast. I had a chicken/bulgogi (치킨.불고기) sandwich and an Ice Mocha. While the food tasted good, I think the thing that really made this shop special was the setup and the overall "vibe" of the shop. It is quite cute, something you would expect to see in a Korean drama scene. I'm looking forward to more coffee shops and more delicious food in the weeks to come!