Roommates and Gilman scholars! I truly enjoy getting close to Darlene and learning about her Puerto Rican heritage and culture 🙂
Yeoinaru Han River Park at night. We went on a Friday night because Saturday nights are the most crowded!
I wanted to try the Pop.Container cafe because some YouTubers went there, and I totally forgot about the 13,000won Oreo shaved ice (bingsu) that it’s famous for.
Be Outgoing (even if you have to fake it)
My personality lies somewhere between an extroverted introvert and an introverted extrovert, so it’s still really energy draining for me to constantly socialize. My rule of thumb is to try to say yes to most outing the first week of being in a new environment. You will get the chance to interact with different people and different friend groups to figure out who you click with and who you don’t. By the end of week one, you will probably have an idea of who you will be close to. Note that everyone has their limits; if you said yes to 5 events/hang outs this week, it’s okay to say no. Know your limits and leave some time for yourself.
Conversation starters
Shy? Prep your conversations beforehand! Think about your interests, hometown, academic interests, and other topics to talk about. For example, I intentionally changed my phone’s lock screen to my photo with Eric Nam as a way for others to start a conversation with me.
Gwanghwamun outside of the Gyungbokgung
A separate residence for a queen inside the Gyungbokgung
The infamous statue of King Sejong, the man who invented the Hangeul writing system for Korean.
Bring something that reminds you of home
Think dorm decorations. Some people bring photos of their friends and family to hang up. The best things are small items that can be easier packed and taken anywhere. For me, I have a small light-up owl that I always put on top of my desk. The gift was from an aunt who bought it from Hokkaido, and the item itself now reminds me of my family.
Keeping your routine
Just because you’re not at home or living in a dorm at your home university doesn’t mean that you should throw your routine out the window. Retaining a bit of familiarity by continuing routines help with adjustment a lot. I look forward to having a bit of me time and catching up on YouTube videos every night. I also try to organize my desk at Ewha the same way I organize my desk at home and at Macalester.
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul : Korea Artist Prize 2017 exhibition
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul : Korea Artist Prize 2017 exhibition
