Getting to my accomodation felt like a long day mainly because of all the standing around it felt like I was doing. I got to the airport about an hour and a half before the flight, but the queue was really long. Luckily on the flight it turned out that I was seated next to another exchange student who was also going to Yonsei! She was from Germany, but had been on Thailand for a holiday. I later learned that there was at least one other exchange student on the flight too.
I flew AirAsia, and I was fine because I had pre-booked my meal and had cash, but it pays to know that you have to pay for bottled water on the flight.
It took a long time for our luggage to arrive and also the other student had trouble using her travel card at ATMS, it seems it’s fine to use at actual stores that take debit though. I’m glad I brought cash all the same! We went to the airport bus counter and I got a T-money card (similar to Snapper, Oyster and other transport and convenience money cards around the world) then headed to catch the 6011 bus.
It was so cold! I went from feeling too hot in the airport to seeing my breath steam once we got outside. Apparently it snowed earlier in the day, but all we saw was drizzly rain. It was really easy to get to my accomodation once I arrived. It’s about 5 mins walk from the Yonsei bus stop. There were a few lost souls who were going to the university accomodation, and should have actually got off at the next stop… which is a bit of an uphill walk. Most of my classes will be up there, so I’m not looking forward to it!
My accomodation is off campus, and is a room in a Goshiwon. These are tiny rooms originally meant for study, but seem to have turned into general accomodation these days. You can find ones that are just beds and a desk with use of shared bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities. Mine is a bit more expensive with it’s own mini fridge, shower and toilet, although I’m still trying to figure out how to get the shower at a consistently nice temperature and you have to put toilet paper into a bin next to the toilet. This can be quite common in some cheaper thai accomodations, so it’s not so bad. The bin has a lid, so it doesn’t smell, and you can empty it out into a larger bin in the stairwell as often as you like. I had the choice of two rooms, and it took me longer than I expected to decide, but I went for one that had a small hallway, which I don’t really use, but makes the room feel a bit bigger.
I have to pay rent in cash every month. It’s 450,000 krw per month for the room I ended up taking.
I got in quite late, so just had time to settle in before going to meet some other exchange students for dinner. We had an awesome first meal, I was trying to take a photo, but more side dishes kept being added just when I thought it was all out!
Then headed to Daiso to get some supplies (toilet paper, cotton buds, toilet brush and cleaner, slippers etc). I was looking forward to shopping there so much, because we don’t have one in Wellington, and it’s so cute! Luckily, at my goshiwon, the owner Mrs Lee provided bedding and a hairdryer. There were also already bathroom slippers in my room.
I slept pretty well, although the noise of the mini fridge tends to wake me up, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.
Took this photo of the main path through Yonsei while waiting to meet up with the other exchange students.