Solo traveling sounds scary, it was for me at least, especially because I have always been comfortable in the space I call home. However, everything changed for me when I gave myself the chance to be independent! I applied for the study abroad program at Yonsei University in South Korea, and it was one of the scariest and most exciting things I’ve ever done. While UW explained the details, essentially, going to Yonsei meant you were completely on your own. There are faculty-led study abroad programs, or cohorts, but doing this program, I had to figure out dorming and all the little details about classes on my own, which was scary, but when you get over the bump, you’re basically all set to start your journey. Yonsei’s application process is easy, and they email back very quickly when I have lots of questions.
While it was a bit scary to travel and go through the process all on my own, it helped me form an identity and helped me use my brain power to make amazing memories. When I first landed, I did cafe hopping, which is when you go to cafes (cakes, desserts, or any sort of themed cafe) and partake in the special sweet treats they have. Besides cafe hopping, I also explored many different parts of the scenery that weren’t tourist attractions.
There are many street markets, parks, and little benches that overlook a view all across the city, and it felt so nice to take a moment and breathe. You may come across stray cats as well, and the locals recommended that I buy cat treats to get the cats’ attention (and it worked!). Speaking of locals, sometimes you will run into grumpy people, but most of the time the people here are ready to help in any way needed (Where is the bathroom? Can I order this one, please?). Even though there was a language barrier, using a translation app like Papago or Google Translate helped me a lot. But I recommended learning common Korean phrases as it is pretty easy to pick up after you practice!
Some more practical tips I suggest using Naver Maps or Kakao Maps as a way to navigate your way around. Naver Maps is foreign-friendly with the addresses being written in English on the app, but Kakao Maps is what I used as it helped specify the direction to go in (Google Maps is not very good in South Korea, so make sure to use one of the apps I listed!). If you’re staying for longer than one month, I recommend getting an eSIM for your phone if you’re able to. I have T-Mobile as my provider, but the e-sim from Korea was cheaper and gave me a temporary Korean number, which you need if you plan to book appointments at a color analysis or spa treatment. Right when you arrive at the airport, I recommend exchanging maybe $100 USD to KRW so that you have a little pocket change. Also, while taxis and Uber can be cheap depending on the distance, everyone mainly uses public transport, whether it be buses or the subway. So, make sure to stop by any convenience store to get a T-MONEY card or a travel pass for your stay (to charge your card, you NEED to do it with cash as they don’t accept cards, so make sure to get the KRW from the airport before you leave!!). For the rest of the US currency, I recommend going to Myongdong to exchange currency as it offers better rates of USD to KRW because there is an embassy nearby.
To wrap up, I am going to talk about my experience studying at Yonsei. Orientation day is so important for you to make a friend to explore with (because yes, it does get a bit lonely as a solo traveler). While it might be scary to approach someone, what helped me is that I might never see them again, so if they say they don’t want to be my friend, or reject, I feel more comfortable knowing that I tried and that I will probably never run into them <3. I can’t teach you how to be perfect at friend-making, but I can reassure genuinely sweet, caring people are all around this campus who might be in the same boat as you. You are already taking a chance by reading this post and debating whether or not you want to trust me. But I promise that taking this opportunity to explore and learn in a country that is not my own helped me develop and see things through a different lens.
Good luck, and remember the world is so much bigger than the bubble you are in. Once you step out, you can see and learn from people who come from a different culture and experiences from your own!
