The secret to a travel-filled study abroad experience? Try stacking most of your classes in two or three days weekly. With that being said, stacking classes is easier said than done, especially when you’re abroad. Language barriers, difficulty getting into classes, potential class overlaps, and Drexel equivalents are all factors that can make it hard to make an ideal schedule. However, don’t give up! Take me for example. I only have classes 3 days a week: a full Tuesday/Thursday and one early class on Wednesday. The rest of the week can be spent exploring every inch of Seoul. Of course, that does not mean you can neglect your studies! With so much free time, there is plenty of time for both enjoyment and studying using efficient time management skills.
Speaking of traveling, I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite places so far: Myeongdong!
Myeongdong is a metropolis area that has everything you can possibly think of. Shopping? Check. Karaoke? Check. Arcade? Check. Cute character shops? Food? Cafes? Check, check, and check. No matter what time you go, there are an abundance of ways to entertain yourself. If you want to experience Myeongdong at its finest, I suggest visiting at night as this is when it is bustling with activity!
Let’s talk about something everyone enjoys – food! I think something that is pretty unique to this area is the amount of street food it has. And what’s even better? These street carts are only really available at night. Many times, we would be in a store at around 5, and when we exit the shop, there’s about 50 food carts serving its food. I noticed that Korea really love their 순대 (Sundae – pronounced soon-day), which is Korean sausage, and meat kabobs. Of course, there’s other great food choices such as tornado twist potatoes, Japchae (noodles stir fried with vegetables), Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), oreo churros, and twisted ice cream.
As much as I love good food, I have a bigger heart for animals! I think my favorite part of our trips to Myeongdong was the dog cafe we visited. Yes, you read that correctly! A dog cafe. As in, a bunch of adorable dogs running around that you can cuddle and take a million of pictures with. Another interesting aspect: the dog cafe provides a soft blanket that you can put on your lap. When the dogs see it, they will come and sit on your lap! So cute! We do not have dog cafes in the Philadelphia (that I know of), so getting to see and play with a ton of dogs in one place was quite an experience.
Myeongdong has been great, so I cannot wait to see what else Seoul has in store! 🙂