Final Week At Lexis Korea Gangnam: A Farewell Filled with Beauty, Laughter & a Little Fire!

My final week at Lexis Korea was anything but ordinary. It marked the end of an intense, joyful and sometimes chaotic chapter of my life in Seoul. 

I came here to study Korean… and while I’ve only scratched the surface of the language, I’ve gained something far more personal: the confidence that I can navigate life in a foreign country, build genuine connections and stay open to whatever comes my way. 

At the end of the week, I proudly received my Certificate of Achievement, marked with the level: Beginner. A small step perhaps, but a meaningful recognition of the learning journey I’ve started.

This week was filled with moments that were beautiful, hilarious, heartwarming and even a little dramatic (yes, there was actual fire involved). And while my classes may be over, my time in South Korea is not. I’ll spend another week in Seoul seeing friends before Arthur will join me for three more weeks of traveling through this incredible country.

Monday: Nature, Friends and a Surprising Spectacle

Because some students were taking the test in the morning, our class started later than usual. It gave me a quiet morning to myself, something that had become rare during the busy weeks at school. 

In the afternoon, after class, Christian, Karin and I headed out to enjoy the sunshine. We explored Seoul Forest and Saensaeng Park, hoping to grab a drink in the park. To our surprise, there was no beer for sale. It was even prohibited to drink alcohol in the park 🤪. 

So instead, we kept walking along the Han River and eventually crossed the Jungnangcheon Bridge. And that’s where we stumbled upon something magical.

Under the bridge, large fish - most likely Gangjeonchi (강준치) - were leaping upstream. Three stone steps in the water created a small barrier and the fish were jumping with all their might to make it past them. When they failed, they rested for a moment… and then tried again. 

It felt like watching a quiet, persistent dance of nature. 

We sat on stone steps by the riverbank, sipping beer and enjoying snacks while the fish continued their relentless jumps in front of us. One of those simple, unexpected, but beautiful moments that will stay with me. 

Karin left early to have dinner at her guesthouse (her host mother cooks dinner every evening) and Christian and I walked all the way back and grabbed dinner in Gangnam, before we parted ways and I strolled back home completely content.

Here is a little video of the jumping Gangjeonchi fish:

https://youtube.com/shorts/D7GFOHMAJDQ?si=nRaa_P3dCk24GpXT

Wednesday: Lanterns, Temples and Lakeside Walks

Wednesday brought more sunshine and more adventures. 

Together with Jessica, Thalia, Karin and Christian, I visited the serene Bongeunsa Temple. Colorful lanterns were already hanging everywhere in preparation for Saturday’s lantern parade. The temple grounds felt calm and peaceful, a beautiful contrast to the busy streets surrounding it. 

After wandering through the temple complex, we made our way to the iconic Starfield Library, one of Seoul’s most photogenic spots. Rows upon rows of towering bookshelves create an impressive scene inside the COEX Mall.

To end the day, we walked around the calm waters of Seokchon Lake, enjoying the warm weather and relaxed atmosphere. What a difference when we were here last time for the cherry blossoms.

Back at my accommodation, however, things were slightly less peaceful. 

Because of the rising temperatures, the hotel had turned on the central air-conditioning. My room quickly turned into a chilly and noisy 20 degrees Celsius refrigerator and unfortunately the wall control didn’t work.

For two nights I slept under the covers, freezing. 

Thankfully, a helpful staff member managed to turn off the AC inside my room using a remote control. After that, I could finally sleep the way I prefer, with the window open and the sounds of the city drifting in.

Thursday: BBQ, Somaek & a Very Drunk “Christian Shi”

The night before my final day at Lexis turned into another unexpectedly fun evening.

Christian, Angelina and I met up with three new friends from Lexis: two Japanese students and a Dutch student. We decided to have dinner at a Korean BBQ restaurant that we had recently discovered on the lively restaurant street near my hotel, Gangnam-daero 106-gil. By now it already felt a bit like ‘our’ place.

The restaurant is called Hwagiaeae and it quickly proved to be another excellent Korean BBQ spot.

The food was great, but the real entertainment came from one of the Japanese girls, (okay, I won’t mention her name). She didn’t speak much English, but that certainly didn’t stop her from enjoying the evening. After a few drinks she became very cheerful and very drunk, very quickly.

For reasons none of us could quite figure out, she kept calling Christian ‘Christian Ssi!’ (크리스티안 씨) every time she addressed Christian. Not just once or twice, but constantly and in such a playful, slightly exaggerated way that it quickly became a running joke at the table.

The whole night we would hear it again:

‘Christian Ssiiii!’

It became funnier every single time.

In Korean, 씨 (ssi) is a polite way to address someone, similar to ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’ It’s typically used for people you’ve only just met or don’t know very well yet.

The moment stuck with me because it was such a funny little cultural and language detail. Later on, when I was talking to Christian again, I only had to say ‘크리스티안 씨’ and he immediately knew exactly who I was referring to. Some moments are funny not because of what happened, but because of how language brings them to life.

At some point Angelina also demonstrated a little Korean drinking trick. Using a small glass of soju, chopsticks and a glass of beer, she showed us how to make somaek: the classic Korean mix of soju and beer. The chopsticks balanced across the glass made the soju drop dramatically into the beer, which made everyone cheer.

Here is a little video with Angelina’s somaek trick:

https://youtube.com/shorts/9l-Ql9RoyqU?is=zZ7VUnx4izzUR60U

Between the food, the drinks and the Japanese girl repeatedly calling out ‘Christian Ssi’, the entire table was laughing most of the evening.

None of us knew yet that the following night, Student Night, would turn out to be even more unforgettable.

Friday: Crêpes, Crafts & an Unexpected Fire

My final day at Lexis started sweetly… quite literally. Angelina, who was also finishing her course, surprised us with a big batch of homemade crêpes. She even brought Nutella and syrup to go with the crêpes; a real treat! Of course, with sticky toppings involved, accidents were bound to happen… and sure enough, our teacher Kim Su Cheon ended up spilling some on his clothes, which had us all laughing. Angelina had even made enough to share with the class next door, where my afternoon teacher, Seo Jeong Min, teaches. It was a lovely, generous gesture that brought a smile to everyone’s face. After the morning session, our teacher Kim Su Cheon pulled out his camera, and we took a few group photos to capture the memories.

In the afternoon, I joined a craft workshop where we created phone grips using traditional Korean mother-of-pearl inlay. I was pretty happy with how mine turned out: a beautiful little item that captures a piece of Korean craftmanship. It’s not currently on my phone, but I’m thinking it might make a nice gift to bring back home to the Netherlands.

Then came the big finale: Student Night. We headed out with a big group - Korean and international students - to a classic Korean BBQ spot. Beer, soju and sizzling meat… Two teachers from Lexis joined us, including my own, which made it feel even more special. The food was delicious, the company even better and the laughter endless. At 8 PM, we left the restaurant and made our way to I Love Pub, our familiar hangout spot with free popcorn and great vibes.

A short video of our Korean BBQ at Student Night:

https://youtube.com/shorts/LFmVslIAYpg?si=d2DVZBbi4K49gHIh

And then… an unforgettable twist. While chatting at the pub, my hair suddenly caught fire from behind. I had no idea until Jessica, sitting across from me, yelled out in alarm. Christian, seated beside me, reacted instantly and put out the fire. I was in shock. Thankfully, the damage was limited to my hair - which was singed and shortened at the back - but nothing else was harmed. The smell, though, was awfull. But in the middle of it all, I was surrounded by kindness. Several female students offered me their perfume to help mask the burnt smell, which was such a thoughtful gesture. One Japanese student, I’ll not mention her name, who had had a bit too much to drink, even started crying when she saw what had happened. I ended up comforting her, assuring her I was okay… a moment that was touching, slightly surreal and very human.

A Bittersweet Goodbye — But Not The End

Although my time at Lexis has officially come to an end, my time in Seoul isn’t over just yet. I’ll still be here for another week… free from classes, but not from connection. I already have plans to see some of my fellow students again, and I’m grateful that the friendships we’ve built don’t end when the school bell stops ringing.

And after that, a new chapter begins: Arthur, my hubby, will join me and together we’ll travel for three more weeks across South Korea.

This final week brought so much: crêpes and laughter, nature and temples, late-night barbecues, and one very unexpected fire. But above all, it reminded me of how deeply people can care… even in fleeting moments. From the classmates who offered their perfume, to the Japanese student who cried and needed comforting, to the teacher with syrup on his shirt… these are the moments that make it all real. I came here te learn Korean, but I’m leaving Lexis with something far more valuable: a sense of connection, resilience and joy that I’ll carry with me wherever I go.