New City, New Goals: My Journey in Seoul Begins

Hi everyone, my name is Judith, and this is my first blog post. I want to start off by introducing myself and sharing a little background about who I am and how I ended up here.

 A Little Background 

This is actually my second study abroad program with CIEE. My first was the Open Campus program in Madrid last year, and now I'm currently living in Seoul, South Korea, through the CIEE Semester in Seoul program at Hanyang University. On top of studying here, I'm also working down in Gangnam, doing an internship with a marketing company — so my days are pretty full. 

Landing in Seoul 

Landing in Seoul felt like stepping into a completely new chapter — fast-paced, a little unpredictable, but exactly what I was looking for. I didn't come here just to see new places; I came to challenge myself. Between adjusting to a new academic environment and stepping into a professional world, every day feels like I'm learning something new. 

Classes at Hanyang

Classes are not what I expected at Hanyang. Honestly, I thought I was going to be completely overwhelmed with the workload, but it's actually pretty manageable — it does, however, require a lot of self-studying outside of class, especially since there's no assigned homework. The real struggle I've found is balancing academic work while still having time to actually explore Seoul and Korea itself. You don't want to spend your whole semester with your nose to a textbook when there's so much to experience outside.

The Internship 

Working in Gangnam has been one of the most eye-opening parts of this experience. Korean work culture is different from what I'm used to — there's a clear sense of hierarchy, a real emphasis on showing up early and staying late, and communication tends to be more formal even in creative spaces like marketing. It's pushed me outside my comfort zone in ways that a classroom simply can't. I'm learning how to navigate a professional environment in a second language, read a room, and adapt quickly. Some days are harder than others, but I keep reminding myself that growth isn't supposed to feel comfortable.

Building a Routine in a New City

 One thing nobody really prepares you for when you study abroad is how much energy goes into the basics — figuring out the subway system, finding grocery stores that carry what you need, and learning when and where to eat on a budget. Seoul is incredibly walkable, and public transit is genuinely one of the best I've ever used, but there's still a learning curve when everything around you is in a different language. I've been leaning a lot on maps, translation apps, and the kindness of strangers. Slowly but surely, Seoul is starting to feel less like a foreign city and more like somewhere I actually live.

What This Blog Is For 

Through this blog, I want to share what this experience is really like — studying at Hanyang University, interning in South Korea, and building a routine while still working toward my long-term goals. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. There are days when everything clicks and days when I miss home and wonder what I got myself into. But that tension is exactly why I'm here. There's still a lot I'm figuring out, and that's what makes this journey worth documenting. 

This is just the start, and I'm genuinely excited to see where it goes. If you're considering a similar path — studying abroad, interning internationally, or just doing something that scares you a little — I hope this blog gives you something real to hold on to. Not the highlight reel, but the whole picture.