Bianca In South Korea: Land Of Morning Calm

First Day Excitement I did it! And yes, I’m incredibly proud of myself. After months of research, I found an amazing language institute: Lexis Korea. And today was my very first day. From the moment I walked in, I knew I had made the right choice. The staff were warm and welcoming, my teacher was fantastic and my classmates? Super friendly! The energy in the classroom was incredible and I could already feel that I was in the perfect place to learn and grow. A Boost of Confidence One thing I had been a little nervous about was my level. Would I be placed as a complete beginner, or would my months of (self-)study pay off? Luckily, it turned out exactly as I hoped… I didn’t start from zero! That little confidence boost made it easier to dive in and embrace the challenges ahead. Celebrating the First Day To top off an already amazing day, a group of us, along with our teacher, took a walk around Gangnam District. My neighborhood. Eventually, we parted ways with the teacher and ended up in ...

The Day Has Finally Arrived The day has finally arrived… 28th of March: departure day. After months of preparation, excitement and perhaps a few quiet moments of nervous anticipation, it was finally time to begin this incredible journey. My bags were packed, my travel itinerary ready and I had officially checked in at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Saying Goodbye and Moving Forward Saying goodbye to loved ones was a bittersweet moment.    As I walked through customs at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, the reality of this adventure slowly began to sink in. The journey I had been preparing for over so many months was finally about to begin. Since my flight was scheduled for nine in the evening, I still had time to wander through the airport, doing a little window-shopping and enjoying a light dinner before boarding. I chose a bowl of Bibimbap, which felt almost like a small preview of the Korean adventure that was waiting for me on the other side of the flight. Next Stop: Seoul ✈️ Next ...

Studying Hard Before the Allocation Test My departure date is getting closer, and I’m still studying hard to prepare for the Korean allocation test. I will have to take this test only a few days before leaving for South Korea  and if I’m honest, I would really love to avoid starting at level 1. During my Korean lessons so far, I’ve already covered greetings and introductions, dining out, and of course shopping 🤭. I know I will still be a beginner, but my goal is to at least manage simple everyday conversations: asking for the time, checking when an event takes place, finding a location, and hopefully understanding directions when someone explains them. Just the absolute basics, but even that feels like a small achievement. Meanwhile, my notebook keeps filling up with new words, phrases and useful expressions.     The Countdown Has Begun Before taking the pre-test, I still need to work through at least three more chapters. But life doesn’t pause simply because I’m prepari...