Travel Tips

When you study abroad, there will typically be some traveling involved during your semester. Before leaving for Seoul, I had family and friends tell me to travel out of the country as much as I could, but I also had people tell me to explore the country I was staying in. I couldn’t tell who was right and which advice to follow. I wanted to be able to take advantage of where I was living for the next four months and explore more of Asia. But, I also wanted to explore Seoul and see more of South Korea. Now, at the end of my study abroad, I can confidently tell you all that I still don’t know which is the correct option. I was, however, able to do a little bit of both. 

My time in Seoul has allowed me to explore the city and see various neighborhoods that offer so many different things. I have tried restaurants and seen beautiful sights that I otherwise would not have seen if I were traveling to other countries. Some of my favorite moments this semester have been walking around the city with my friends and having my usual spots where the employees know my face. There is something very comforting in having a routine in a foreign country. But, part of studying abroad is seeing and experiencing other cultures, so I decided to travel to Japan and Thailand. 

Going to Japan with my sister was one of my favorite trips I have ever been on. I went to Kyoto and Osaka for four days. Our itinerary consisted of fabulous restaurants and sightseeing. We went to an excellent viewpoint that allowed us to overlook all of Kyoto. And, none of that would have been possible if I weren’t in Seoul. Traveling was so easy and not that big of a financial burden. We were able to find excellent deals and cheap places to stay. Navigating the city was so exciting and even though we weren’t in a big city like Tokyo, I think we still got the Japanese cultural experience.

Thailand was very similar in this way. My friends and I chose to stay in a town a little south of Bangkok called Pattaya City. I think living in Seoul makes it easier to choose to stay in other places outside a big city so we can experience something a little different. My favorite part of the whole trip (besides the food) was our private island tour. We could not have booked our trip at a better time. While everyone in Seoul was bundling up for the snow that was yet to come, we were tanning and laying out in the sun on a beach off the coast of Thailand. For $70 my friends and I got to travel by speedboat to a private island and spend the whole day paddleboarding, snorkeling, fishing, and tubing. We were able to have a complimentary lunch and spent hours relaxing on the gorgeous, white sand beach. The various traveling experiences have made me so grateful for where I am. 

I thought that going out of the country twice was the perfect amount of traveling. I do have friends who have traveled every other weekend. And, while they don’t regret going to these countries, they are a little sad to realize that we only have so many weekends left in Seoul. So, my advice for future travelers out there is this: Don’t be afraid to try something new and visit a new country, but make sure you leave enough time to fully enjoy Seoul. While you do have the rare opportunity to be close to so many different countries, most likely, you also won’t have the chance to live in Seoul for this long ever again. So choose wisely!