Week 3 In Seoul: Dancing, Mountains & a Slight Case of Getting Lost

It all began with a rainy Monday, but as any Dutchie knows: “We are not made of sugar.” So off I went into my third week here in Seoul, a city that continues to surprise and charm me. 

I’m still really enjoying my time at Lexis, learning Korean and discovering new things every day, both in and outside the classroom. One thing I should have known, but didn’t quite expect, is how visible homelessness is in certain parts of the city. Amidst all the sparkling skyscrapers and trendy cafés, you’ll also see people living on the streets. It’s a sobering contrast that reminds me every day how complex big cities can be.

What I still find so special is how easy it is to connect with the younger students. As long as I don’t act like an 이모 (that’s Korean for “auntie”, often used for middle-aged women), I blend in just fine. Some even call me 언니 “older sister”, which secretly makes me smile. We spend quite a lot time together outside of Lexis and it feels like being part of a little international family.

Moments like these remind me why I started this adventure in the first place. Living in Seoul isn’t just about learning a language, it’s also about discovering new pieces of the world and sometimes, new pieces of myself.

A class Shuffle & New Vibes

This Monday brought a small surprise. Just before our afternoon class started, two other students (Jessica and Angelina) and I were moved to a different class. So, after two cozy weeks learning alongside Karin and Christian we suddenly had to split up. 

Luckily, the content remains the same, we’re just learning it with a different teacher.

And honestly? The change wasn’t bad at all. While our morning teacher is full of (sometimes overwhelming) energy, my new afternoon teacher is calm, sweet and wonderfully patient. With fewer students in the class, there’s plenty of time to speak Korean out loud, which is exactly what I need.

Lunch Breaks: Sushi Trains & Korean Fried Chicken

This week also included some fun lunch outings with friends from school.

One afternoon, Karin and I went with a small group to a Japanese-style sushi restaurant where the dishes circle around the restaurant on a rolling conveyor belt. You simply grab whatever looks delicious as it passes by your table. It felt a bit like food carousel, very tempting and slightly dangerous for your wallet.

Here is a little video of the sushi train:

https://youtube.com/shorts/BiVoKXQEcu4?is=UKrVFbM_3nOo2_Bl

And yes, it really is dangerous, because before you know it you’ve taken quite a few plates. At first I even wondered how they would know what everyone had eaten. The answer was simple: each table had a small slide where you had to place your empty plates. The plates disappear into the system and are counted automatically so they know exactly what to charge at the end.

Another day we met up with some other friends for Korean fried chicken, which is practically a national treasure here. Crispy, juicy and often served with different sauces. It’s easy to understand why people love it so much.

These little lunch adventures are becoming some of my favourite moments of the week.

Climbing to the Top: Namsan Tower Adventures

With Tuesday’s forecast promising clear skies, a group of us (Karin, Jessica, Christian, Nicole, Thalia and I) decided to head to Namsan Tower after class. 

It’s only about a 30-minute bus ride from Gangnam… although I should mention that bus drivers in Seoul seem to enjoy testing the speed limits whenever traffic allows it.

Namsan, located in the Jongno district, is 262 meters high. At first, we considered taking the cable car to the top… until we saw the hour-long queue. 

So, what else do you do on a sunny afternoon? You hike. 

The climb was sweaty but beautiful and the views made every step worth it. And then, once we reached the top, proud and slightly exhausted, we discovered that there is, of course, another bus that goes all the way up. 

Typical, right? 

Still, no regrets. The hike became part of the adventure.

Sometimes the best travel memories aren’t the perfectly planned ones, but the slightly chaotic moments in between: the wrong turns, the unexpected climbs and the laughter that follows.

Fun fact: The Namsan Tower was completed in 1971 and originally served as a transmission tower, blocking North Korean radio and TV signals. It opened to the public in 1980 and has since become one of Seoul’s most famous landmark.

Cough Pills & a Day Indoors

Korean spring weather can’t quite make up its mind. By Friday I found myself dealing with a cold, a tickly cough and a runny nose, which meant I had to skip school for the day. 

Luckily, pharmacies seem to exist on nearly every corner in Seoul, so I picked up some cough pills to ease the irritation. Thankfully, I’d already stocked up on fruit for a little vitamin boost. 

I ended up spending the entire day in my room, resting and recharging. Sometimes a quiet day alone is exactly what you need.

While I stayed in my room that day, a couple of friends, Jessica and Karin, sent me a message to ask if I needed anything. I thought that was incredibly sweet and thoughtful of them. Fortunately, I already had everything I needed in my room, but their kindness really meant a lot to me. 💛

Itaewon Nights & Subway Blunders

By Saturday evening, I felt much better and joined friends (Karin, Jessica and Christian) for a night out dancing in Itaewon. 

We planned to meet at exit 4 of the subway station.

Sounds simple, right?

Well… it was my first solo trip on the Seoul subway system and let’s just say: it’s a lot more complex than it looks. The network is clever, layered and massive. I didn’t get lost in Itaewon itself, but a few stops earlier during one of the transfers. 

Some stations feel like underground mazes and figuring out where to go (and which exit to take) can get confusing quickly.

And then came the best part.

When I finally arrived at Itaewon Station… I couldn’t get out. 

Somewhere during the transfers I had apparently missed a check-in, which meant the gates refused to let me check out. There I was, stuck behind the turnstiles, trying to explain what happened to the station staff. 

Thankfully, they were incredibly kind and helpfull and probably used to confused foreigners by now. 

Eventually, I made it to the meeting point, fashionably late and slightly flustered… but still ready to dance the night away. 

And dance we did! 

(Don’t worry, I kept it all pretty goody-goody.)

Here is a little video of our night out:

https://youtube.com/shorts/J9RLjh8qAQU?si=B6P96ZgvdS69SuRk

Sunday Strolls & Sun Umbrellas

After a night out, I had just one lazy Sunday afternoon left. 

I’d planned to visit the National Hangeul Museum, but to my disappointment, it was closed due to construction activities. (Note to self: always check the website first.)

Luckily, the nearby Yongsan Family Park turned out to be a lovely surprise. 

The sun was shining and the park was full of life: families picnicking, kids playing and couples lounging on the grass. 

What really stood out to me was how many people, both young and old, were walking around with open umbrellas, not because of rain, but to protect themselves from the sun. 

Especially the elderly women were dressed from head to toe in full sun protection: long sleeves, gloves and all kind of hats, some with wide sun visors, others with flaps covering their necks. Many also wore face masks or even handkerchiefs over their faces. 

It was fascinating to see such dedication to avoiding sun exposure. It gave the park a unique atmosphere: peaceful, practical and full of quiet routine.

After soaking in the calm park vibes for a while, I decided to walk back… which might have been a bit ambitious. 

My goal was to cross one of the 23 (or so) bridges over the Han River, just for the experience. I didn’t make it all the way home on foot, but I got pretty far before spotting a subway station and hopping on for the last stretch. 

By the end of the day, I had clocked nearly 32,000 steps. 

Not bad for a “lazy” Sunday!

Looking Ahead

This week was a mix of small changes, new discoveries and beautiful moments. 

Little by little, I’m starting to feel like I really live here instead of just visiting. The streets are becoming familiar, the subway system slightly less intimidating and the city slowly reveals its rhythm.

Seoul keeps surprising me in the most unexpected ways and I have a feeling the adventure is only just beginning.

Let’s see what week 4 will bring!