In my previous blog, “Tripping Across Korea”, I mentioned going to Jeju Island sometime in the future, that future happens to be now! Typically, when researching the things to do in Jeju, the main attractions are the oranges, beaches, Hallasan (The largest volcano/mountain in Korea), and rocks! Hallabong oranges, higher in vitamin C and much sweeter, grow abundantly on the fertile soil Hallasan provides. When asking anyone what the must-haves are for going to Jeju, most of the answers you would get would be along the lines of, Sunglasses, a swimsuit, sunscreen, maybe even a camera. I however would suggest bringing someone with an international driver’s permit or a native Korean… lol
Jeju Air
No, not the airline, but the actual air quality in Jeju! Upon arriving in Jeju, I could smell the salt from the ocean, but moreover… the smell of wet rocks. The best way to describe the semi-tropical Jeju air would be refreshing. After staying in metropolitan Seoul for the past 3 months, Jeju brought a sense of reset, after all, the fiery Hallasan volcanic rocks probably filtered more than just water. On the side note… my favorite brand of water to drink in Korea is SamDaSoo, which is water filtered by the volcanic rocks at Jeju!
Burned out
Going to Jeju towards the end of the spring semester was quite a bold move as final exams crept closer and closer. Given the nature that SNU is the top-ranking university in Korea, these exams were not going to be easy to pass. Keep in mind that by the time you read this blog post, finals would have already passed so I will continue this blog from a retrospective grammatical perspective. Traveling to Jeju amidst the stress-filled atmosphere of potentially failing and not receiving credits for my core classes was quite an experience (as both my Investments and Financial Engineering & Quantitative Analysis classes weighed the final exams at over 50% of the total grade). For the majority of the time in Seoul as finals were approaching, my mind was fixated on test results and barely anything Korea had to offer. Meals became as simple as microwave rice for carbs, canned tuna for protein, and mayonnaise and seaweed for flavor. Of course, this was my feeble attempt to budget better as well. Juggling multiple classes and the pressures of “Making the most of my study abroad” I was very quickly starting to feel burned out.
Jejuvenation
Leaving the busy and rushed mindset that led to burnout, Jeju brought me rejuvenation. The feeling of simply driving around a semi-tropical island felt very relaxing and reminded me of home. Quickly the hyper-fixation on education and academics was kicked away and I saw the grand scheme of things and the importance of building my friendship with those around me. The sights and foods offered at Jeju prompted me to re-evaluate the time I had left in Korea. Rightfully so, considering that I would only be in Korea for another 2 weeks after the Jeju expedition. Driving on the streets of Jeju, I encountered more obstacles than expected… a familiar feeling of studying at SNU. On every small road at every intersection, there were speed bumps littered across the street. On the main streets that resembled highways, traffic speed cameras reigned over the road. Driving in Jeju was truly more of a test of patience than anything else.
Ultimately, going to Jeju was a decision I did not regret. Barbecuing with friends, visiting the beach, biking around the island, and even hiking up cliffs reset my mindset towards school and life. Looking in retrospect, these activities reset my wick and allowed me to really home in on studying and ultimately pass the courses without burning out!
No bonus Korean vocabulary this time 🙁 Look for more next time! 미안해요!
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