Final Time in Seoul

Saturday, September 21^st

For our fourth and final full day in Seoul my group planned to meet up with two more Korean friends from school. So once more we hopped onto the now familiar subway system to the appointed place of meeting. It turns out that some wires got crossed which meant we ended up in different places, but after awhile we all managed to get to the right place. It was good to see those friends again because they have been so busy since school started, which makes it difficult to spend time with them.

We headed back to Insadong for a delicious lunch of bibimbap, a Korean dish of rice, vegetables, and various other tasty ingredients.

After filling our stomachs we headed out to fill up on all the sights of the day. We explored a side market in Insadong we had not yet seen, and then we took a bus to a very famous part of Seoul—Gangnam. Many people know about this place because of a famous song, but in Korea it is known as the center of very expensive shopping, high-end businesses and offices, English academies and many hospitals specializing in plastic surgery. Basically, it is a very high end area of Seoul for rich people.

We split up once more and I went along with just my two Korean friends. All the shopping was far out of our price range, so instead we browsed book stores. At that point I was so overwhelmed after the days spent amongst crowds that sticking my nose into a book for awhile was a welcome relief. We decided to move on from Gangnam after the book stores, and my friends ended up taking me to Sinsa-dong. Once there we took a walk down Garosu-gil, which is a tree-lined street, like a boulevard. As usual, there was a lot of shopping and cafes that one could enjoy, though the focus on this area was a bit more artistic and low-key than the other places in Seoul we had been.

At that point every muscle in my legs and feet felt like they were about to snap or burn away, so we decided to take refuge in a coffee shop. We found chairs and ordered some coffee, and had a good time resting and chatting while watching the life of the street below. I think that all of the walking, standing, going up and down stairs, and the lack of rest during the week was what killed my legs, though thankfully it was nothing that time did not heal.

We finished our coffee and caught a bus to meet up with the rest of our group back in the crazy shopping center of Myeong-dong. After just a little while of walking around my legs began to hurt again, so I found a Starbucks on the fourth floor of a building to wait in while the others finished shopping. I tried an espresso frappucino and a mixed bean cake—both were delicious and are treats not found in American Starbucks.

After reconvening, we found supper in another out of the way Korean restaurant. We had to take off our shoes and kneel at one of the super low tables. We ordered a meal where you fry your own meat on a griddle/burner placed in the middle of the table, and then you wrap the meat in lettuce and dip it in sauces. Very tasty.

To end our final day, we took a trip back to a different area of Han river to watch a fountain show that happens at certain times of the night. What they do is shoot water in large quantities from beneath the bridge and shine lights through the spray so that it looks like the water is rainbow coloured. I wish my camera could capture it better, but it was fun to watch and another calm end to a crazy day.

It took forty minutes to return to our guest house on the subways, and we had to do four transfers. Also, a vending machine ate my money and gave me no drink. Just a few more things that made the trip memorable! We all slept as much as possible that night so that we would be ready for our trip back to Pohang the next day.

The morning came and found us packing and checking out of Mr. Kim's Friends guest house. We took one last trip on the trains to arrive at the meeting point for the Handong buses, and then enjoyed an hour or so of quiet in a coffee shop before leaving Seoul. I used that chance to get some homework done.

Also, so you know, in some places in Korea the buzzers they give you to let you know your order is ready have screens on them. Screens, playing commercials, just in case you get bored while you wait. Wow.

I admit, I was very glad to be off my feet and headed back to campus. I enjoyed Seoul and getting to experience so much culture and so many new things, but in the end I am happiest amongst trees, hills, and fields under a giant blue sky. It was also a good trip for getting to know the other international students better and being able to make good memories with them.

As we drove up the hill to the entrance of Handong, I almost had the sense of coming... home. One thing my Chuseok trip accomplished was helping me to realize how much I appreciate the atmosphere here at Handong. I felt much more fond of school and all the things here once I returned. It was a very good realization to have.

To wrap up, it was a good trip, though tiring. My main souvenirs were the good memories, pictures, and many sore muscles. Thanks for reading! Chuseok vacation series is now officially over, so I will be moving on to more current events soon.