Bianca In South Korea: Land Of Morning Calm

I hear people wonder, “Why travel to South Korea alone?” As it turns out, more and more women over 45 are choosing to travel alone, leaving their families behind for a while. It’s a sign of the times. Most stay closer to home, but everyone has their own reasons. So, my journey isn’t that unusual. Just don’t let age be an excuse not to go! I’m lucky to be in good physical and mental shape. I’ve never wanted to stand still, stagnation makes me feel old. I get energy from constantly learning, trying new things and challenging myself. I craved creativity, which is why I left my career as a lawyer. Not that my work didn’t require me to find creative solutions from time to time, I longed to see the world with the wonder of a child again. I’m embracing this journey with curiosity and an open heart, making the most of every moment. Even at 60+ it’s never too late, it’s still a time for growth, discovery, and new experiences, and I’m excited for all the possibilities ahead. In doing so, I have ...

Time flies and my enthusiasm grows and grows. My  preparation list have been pretty thorough and thoughtful. And  this  list is ready for action.  First I tackled some practical aspects. For the first 5 weeks in Seoul I have accommodation, just a 15-minute walk from the language institute. This institute is located in the Gangnam district.  When I arrive in Incheon on Saturday afternoon, March 29, I will also be picked up by their pick-up service and taken to my accommodation. My course will start on Monday 31th of March. In the Netherlands I already had my last Korean class with a final test. Apart from a small stupid mistake (I should have checked better, if I wanted to be perfect 🫣), my score was 29 out of 30 points. How to pronounce or write out 14,000 Korean Won? Instead of 만사천 원 [= ten thousand (만) and four ( 사)  thousand (천) Won (원)], I wrote 십사천 원 [= fourteen (십사) thousand (천) Won  (원) ]. I know, sometimes you get stuck in your old familiar ha...