Be Prepared!
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 habit. Before taking an online pre-test for my language course in Seoul, I still have a few weeks to practise some Korean lessons myself.
Beyond that, I have prepared myself for everyday life. I have researched the culture and customs. I have downloaded essential apps for navigation and communication and familiarized myself with Korea’s payment and transportation systems.
And for my health and mental preparations, I took a few travel vaccinations that I did not already have or whose expiry date had passed. I was not planning to go camping, but I also took a Rabies vaccination, just to be sure. Knowing me, when I see cute little animals, I just want to pet them, without thinking that they might bite.
I love embracing the unknown and seeing this trip not only as an opportunity to explore South Korea, but also to discover more about myself.
What a great preparation!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alfons! I have done my best. I let the rest depend on the moment!
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