Bianca In South Korea: Land Of Morning Calm

I did it! And yes, I’m incredibly proud of myself. After tons of research, I found an amazing language institute: Lexis Korea in Gangnam Seoul, and today was my very first day.  From the moment I walked in, I knew I had made the right choice. The staff were so warm and welcoming, my teacher was fantastic, and my classmates? Super friendly! The energy in the classroom was great, and I already feel like I’m in the right place to learn and grow.  One thing I was a little nervous about before starting was my level. Would I be placed as a complete beginner, or would my self-study pay off? Luckily, it turned out exactly as I had hoped! I’m not starting from zero, which gives me the confidence boost I needed to dive right in and challenge myself.  To top off an already amazing day, a group of us, along with our teacher, went for a walk around Gangnam. Eventually, we parted ways with the teacher and ended up in a bar for a celebratory beer (맥주) followed by dinner. It was the perf...

The day has finally arrived... departure day! After months of preparation, excitement, and maybe a few nerves, it's time to embark on this incredible journey. My bags are packed, my itinerary is set and I've officially checked in at Schiphol Airport. Saying goodbye to my loved ones was bittersweet, but as I made my way through customs, the reality of this adventure started to sink in.  Next stop: Seoul!  ✈️

My departure date is fast approaching, and I’m still working hard on my Korean before taking the allocation test. I’ll have to take this test just a few days before I leave to South Korea. Oh, how I’d love to avoid starting at level 1! In my Korean lessons, I’ve already covered greetings and introductions, dining out, and -of course- shopping🤭. I know I’ll still be a beginner, but I want to at least handle simple, everyday conversations —asking for the time, checking when an event is, finding a location, and actually understanding directions when I ask for them. Just the absolute basics, but still. My notebook keeps filling up with all the essentials… I need to get through at least three more chapters before taking the pre-test, but life keeps moving. It won’t just pause for me. What keeps me going? In just 3.5 weeks, I’ll be in Seoul, leaving Rotterdam behind for two months. Along with my notebook, I’m bringing my sketchbook and camera, hoping to capture a lot and share it here. ...