I Found My Seoul While Studying Abroad In South Korea This Summer

This summer, I traveled to Seoul, South Korea with nine students from Miami Dade College’s  graphic design study abroad program that was led by professor Eric Cornish.

We left Miami on May 8 expecting to see stereotypical staples—K-pop, dapper clothes, spicy food, oriental architecture and violent pigeons—but returned with lifelong memories.

With only 20 Korean words in my back pocket, I feared fumbling around Seoul; however I was pleasantly surprised by how many locals carry on conversations in English.

Weekly field trips allowed me to immerse myself in Korean culture. I learned Taekwondo, the history of hangul (the Korean writing system) and how to make kimchi (salt and fermented vegetables).

Our first adventure was visiting the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the city’s largest palace, where I got to wear traditional Korean clothing, hairstyles and accessories. 

I chose to dress in a dark red skirt and a white top with golden accents. My hair was styled in a french braid with pearls and a daenggi—a traditional Korean ribbon.

Although I feared not getting along with my travel buddies, they helped me become comfortable in the unfamiliar.

As the youngest of the group, I quickly became known as the tea forager, pork cutlet enthusiast and bright-eyed cafe hopper with a tendency to dwell when something caught my fancy. 

Our budding friendship was forged by getting lost on public transportation, compiling funds to eat new foods and exchanging clothes to make the best outfits.

The most enjoyable experience we had was attending a K-pop concert, where we saw Le Sserafim, a South Korean girl group, perform and complete a Q&A session. The song Perfect Night became the anthem of the trip. 

Studying abroad also allowed me to live independently for the first time. I learned how to take care of myself, budget, and be organized.

The program culminated in a final project that required students to analyze a singular characteristic of South Korea. 

As I scrolled through my camera, my professor helped me realize a common theme across my photos—Seoul’s convenient user interface—which became the focus of my project. Like an app on your phone, the city is designed to be easy and pleasant to live in.  

Through a video-essay, I highlighted simple, thoughtful features of the city that make life better for people.

Reserved seating is available for pregnant, disabled and elderly people. Crosswalks are lit for people looking down at their phone. Street signs and menus are translated for tourists.

Even the subways are designed with people in mind. Stations are brightly-lit and have shops, vibrant murals and underground gardens, creating a warm atmosphere. 

Traveling to South Korea was an enriching, unforgettable experience. I learned about a new culture and myself.

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