Month one

It is currently winter break in Korea! Winter break in Korea is three months long, and I won’t start class until March, so until then I have a lot of free time. I have taken up a lot of hobbies, including cooking, reading and studying Korean! I’ve started learning how to cook some simple Korean side dishes, and I can’t wait to cook for my family once I get back home!

I’ve been using this time to really relax and decompress, and just enjoy some alone time before the semester starts again. I have even made a few Korean friends, and it’s been really nice to just relax and go to cafes without worrying about school work. I will say, I am starting to miss home, but I am also equally excited for second semester to start. An amazing thing about winter break in Korea is that it is so gorgeous here! From my dorm room, you can see the Gwanak mountain, and when it snows, the mountain looks absolutely beautiful! Even just walking on campus is so pretty, it reminds me why winter is my favorite season.

Month two

Month two of winter break! It’s kind of funny to me that everyone back home at Mizzou has already been one month into the semester while I am still on winter break. This month has been a rather chill month as well, and I’ve spent a lot of time just relaxing and meeting with friends. I’ve tried a few new things, like something called a manhwa room, which is a place where you can just relax and read webtoons/comics and order food and drinks. The one I went to with my friend had a room that you could play switch games in, so that was really fun to do! It is also a good place to just relax and destress by yourself, as sometimes I find the fast paced culture of Korea a little overwhelming. One of my favorite things about Korea is the number of things that you can just do by yourself that is considered socially acceptable! I have spent a lot of time this winter by myself, and honestly, it’s really relaxing! From karaoke to eating and traveling, Seoul is the perfect city to just explore by yourself, and see what the city has to offer! I will say though that I am starting to get homesick.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Seoul National University