Coming to S. Korea for the first time, I understood there would be ways of life to become accustomed to—obvious things, such as the language barrier, transportation, and social norms. Once I arrived, it became clear to me very quickly that I would need to change a lot more than the way I spoke, got around, and made friends. Koreans eat at different times of day and in groups not alone. Restaurants and stores open late in the morning, due to everyone staying out late at night due to long work days or partying in Hongdae or Sicheon. Yes, the language changed, transportation became subways and buses, and café hopping became a regular social activity but not in the ways I had initially expected.

Speaking Korean is an absolute must and easier than trying to use Google Translate or find another English speaker. Koreans use single words or a few words instead of full sentences. Therefore this made learning greetings and the basics very easy to grasp onto quickly. Secondly, transportation is fast! Everyone is always running to and from their destinations and the subways/bus systems are the same. Get on quickly or get left behind! It is the same with socialization. Going out with friends generally means hopping from café to café or club to club. Sometimes it may mean touring an entire borough of Seoul in just a few hours!

It is good to mentally prepare yourself for the inevitable culture shock of language and social immersion, but it will never be a perfectly smooth transition. You may mispronounce words frequently or say the wrong thing by accident. It may take a few missed bus stops to truly explore the city. Lastly, some friends come and go with the different activities you decide to do, but all of this makes your transition into Korean life worthwhile and memorable.