It’s been about a week so far since I’ve arrived in South Korea and only a few days into my internship at Asia Lab. So, I’m now taking the time to give a little overview of my first experiences after arriving in Seoul.
After a grueling 16 hour flight from Washington D.C to Incheon International Airport, I was glad to be rid of the airplane’s seat that had felt comfortable for the first few hours, but gradually became less so each passing hour. However, as I had woken up quite early for the flight, in addition to not sleeping very well the night before, I found that sleeping on the flight was the best way to try and shorten the 16 hours. Other than that, I found that occupying myself with the movies and shows I had downloaded the night before was the second best way to pass the time.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, I finally landed at Incheon International Airport. Asia Lab was kind enough to provide transportation from the airport to my accommodations so I didn’t have to hassle with trying to get a taxi. On the way to the accommodations, I was able to get a first look at the place I’d be calling home for the next few months; I don’t often times get to visit bustling cities, much less live in one, so the flashing lights of the cityscape and the crowds of people was something that I took in.
After taking the time to settle down in the tiny Villa room I booked on Airbnb, I knew that I had to get prepared for my extended stay in Seoul. So, I checked online and found that there was an e-mart nearby and that it was similar to a grocery store.
The first surprising thing to me was that I was able to use my regular, everyday card that I had used in America. I had the expectation that I would need a separate card or have to use cash but I was pleasantly surprised when I went to the self-checkout, which also surprised me in having an option for English, and found that I was able to use my card.
As I made my way back to the accommodations, something I learned was how close everything was in proximity to where I was staying, allowing me to walk to wherever I needed to such as to the convenience store, shopping mall, or restaurant. This was quite a difference as from where I lived in the U.S, I would have to take a car if I ever needed to get somewhere.
Something unfortunate that I had to get used was the unevenness of the pavement in a lot of places, which had given me a fair share of incidents where I almost accidentally tripped.
After that, I settled in for a couple days, then went to explore the COEX Mall. Whether it was the plethora of branded clothing stores, such as Uniqlo, Nike, or Adidas, or the rows of specialty restaurants that served anything from Vietnamese cuisine, Hawaiian food, to Turkish delicacies, COEX was quite the place to have just about anything you would want to buy.
It was quite understandable to see how one could get lost in what seemed like a maze of restaurants and stores, especially considering that the mall connected to the Hyundai Department Store, which is another story in itself. In addition, the famous Starfield Library was quite the sight to see in person with its unusually tall shelves.
Now, as I get further settled in, I’m preparing to spend the next 4 months in an unfamiliar, but not totally unknown, place. At first, it seemed quite daunting when I first arrived, but after some time, things have started to become evermore familiar with each passing day and I began to shake the feeling of unfamiliarity. And now, as I embark on my internship at Asia Lab, I can only hope that my first experiences in Seoul will help me to further acclimate with the company.
I’m looking forward to what the future holds for me!
Originally published at medium.com
