Han River, fried chicken & friends
Hello friends, and welcome back! I am really excited to write this blog as I will tell you about how I spent last Sunday.
First of all, let me explain how thanks to the CIEE program, I’m getting to meet Korean people that are our Seoul Mates. They’re students from different schools that speak English and have our age. CIEE creates a small group and matches who have similar interests, so that we can hang out to get to know more about Seoul and Korea.
Last weekend I went to Han River with Yejeong and two over students from the program, Eli and Janice. It was fun, mainly because I got to meet new people and hear about their experiences. Besides, I really like the Han River. I found out that there are different areas where you can go, and people just spend time with their family and friends by doing picnics or going on walks. It was so cute how there were so many kids playing and running around.
We were lucky as the weather was the perfect temperature, even if it got a bit colder later in the evening. We walked around and then decided to get some fried chicken and eat it at the table available for everyone. It was my first time trying Korean fried chicken, and I loved it. We got to know each other during this time and talked about things we wanted to do in Seoul.
It was such a relaxing Sunday, and the atmosphere was fantastic! Sunset time came, and even if the sky was not totally clear, the colors were so pretty, and they reflected against some of the buildings around. After dinner, we kept exploring; there were so many cute lights or seating spots available for everyone. We were also looking for the “I Seoul U” letter that we finally found.
I really like how there are free tables where people can enjoy their food brought from home or prepared in the convenience store. It’s amazing how you can just make ramen at the moment and eat it there. Yejeong also told us that it is possible to borrow a blanket to sit on the ground if you do not have it. But there are a lot of seating spots anyway.
As you can tell, I will definitely go back there, but maybe I’ll try another area next time. I saw a video about a floating Starbucks on Han River, so I’m excited to go there. There are so many things I want to do and see, so I feel like my time here will pass by so fast.
This is all for now! I hope you enjoyed reading about my Sunday. As always, stay tuned for more,
Ica
Related Posts
Living in Korea as a Person of Color & College Student
A firsthand guide for POC and plus-size college students living in Korea. It covers the reality of being visibly different in a largely homogeneous society, how to find community and familiar food in Seoul, what hair and skin products to pack (and why Coupang is your best friend), the truth about clothing sizes and the 10–14 gap nobody warns you about, and why getting a Korean number is a must. The tone is candid and personal — written by someone actively living the experience, not just summarizing it from the outside.
New City, New Goals: My Journey in Seoul Begins
Second-time CIEE study abroad student, now living in Seoul at Hanyang University while simultaneously interning at a marketing company in Gangnam. She reflects on the fast-paced adjustment of settling into a new city, finding Hanyang's workload manageable but self-directed, and navigating Korean professional culture at her internship. The post closes with a promise to document the full, unfiltered experience, not just the highlights, and an encouraging note to anyone considering a similar leap.
❤️ Volunteering in Seoul 🤗💌
Whilst studying abroad in Seoul, traveling around and experiencing new places are all exciting and fun for sure! Immersing yourself in Korean culture can also include hands-on experiences, such as... keep reading