Adjusting to Seoul: Reflections on the First Week

Alright… here we go—my first weekly blog post! I’m not sure how long these should be, so I’ll start by writing what comes to mind, and adjust as the weeks go on. For those of you that are new to my page, please check out the about page using the link at the top. There are links to a few of my socials there and i'll try to share more real time things on Instagram.

I left Minneapolis/St. Paul for Seoul on Sunday, March 2nd, and let me tell you—it’s a very long flight—13.5 hours to be exact. At least it was direct. Thankfully, I managed to score a cheap upgrade to Delta One, so I caught some solid Z’s in the lay-flat seats.

Arrival in Seoul

Landing at Incheon Airport was pretty smooth—no lines at immigration and all my luggage made it. I thought about taking the AREX train into Seoul, but with two big suitcases I decided that was a hard no. I hired a driver instead and I'd say it was definitely worth it.

Before coming, my Korean friends gave me tons of advice on where to stay, but ultimately, I thought it was most important to be near Sogang University. I'm living in an area called Sinchon which has a few universities in the area. My apartment is about a 20-minute walk from campus—perfect!

Moving In

Signing a lease overseas and coordinating furniture/household rentals seemed so intimidating at first, but everyone I worked with made the process easy. (I might write a separate post about how I found my apartment and what renting in Korea is like.)

I won't lie; I wondered what I would actually do if I opened the door and nothing was there. Thankfully, when I arrived, I opened the door to a fully furnished, move-in-ready apartment. Everything was set up and waiting for me—huge relief!

The first few days were all about settling in: unpacking, buying essentials, and figuring out everyday logistics.

The Grocery Store Struggle

This is my first time actually living abroad—not just visiting. That reality hit me hard during my first grocery store trip. I spent an hour and a half wandering around, translating labels, and debating what to buy.

In the end? I left with… laundry detergent, fabric softener, and Kleenex. Not exactly a meal plan, but hey, baby steps.

The Trash Bag Mystery

Ok, so for those of you that don't know, Korea has a pretty complex trash system compared to the US. I had to Google this so I could explain to everyone. Korea's trash system is called jongnyangje, which means trash must be separated into four categories: general waste, food waste, recyclables, and oversized waste. Each one of those categories has to use a specific bag and bin. If you don't follow the rules, you'll get fined... and it's no joke because there is CCTV everywhere!

So where do you buy trash bags? Trash bags aren’t just sitting on the shelves—you have to ask for them at the counter at convenience stores. I didn't know this, and I'm pretty sure I spent two days going to different stores looking for these. Thankfully, my friend Jacob came to the rescue (after I asked him) and sent me a text in Korean to show the cashier. Lifesaver. (And yes, I finally got my trash bags.)

Exploring Seoul

One of my FAVORITE Korean meals is Kalguksu—knife-cut noodle soup. There's this place in Namdaemun Market called Kalguksu Alley, a famous spot known for its handmade knife-cut noodles. I've been there twice so far and will be back many more times :)

Cafes are a major part of Korean culture. There are so many coffee shops here. I'm actually writing this post from A Twosome Place, a popular café chain in Korea. I’ll drop a photo of my coffee and dessert here because… well, it's delicious.

Another adventure? Going to Costco in Seoul.

I knew it was here but hadn't ever been on my previous trips. The in-store experience felt exactly the same as the U.S. The best part? Lots of U.S. products. I was able to buy some of my normal favorites that I get in the U.S.—protein powder, collagen peptides, eggs, protein bars, etc.

Oh! People were buying up the rotisserie chicken just like at home... it's a hot item. Since I don't have a car here, I planned ahead and brought a backpack to get items back to my apartment. I saw people who brought roller bag luggage to transport their items home, which I thought was absolutely genius in a society that heavily relies on public transportation. I'm totally doing that next time!

That’s a Wrap

That’s it for Week One! It’s been a whirlwind of adjusting, exploring, and learning the little things. Stay tuned for next week's updates, including my first Korean language class!