Discovering Seoul.

Annyong haseo from Seoul, South Korea! I'm Vivian from Lost in Translation, and a very excited guest.

I was working behind the scenes of a popular television show in my hometown of Montreal when I suddenly got the urge to leave everything behind for a year of teaching English and some much-needed traveling. This difficult, yet rewarding year is coming to an end in a few weeks, which makes me so sad and scared. So I'm sharing with you the five best things about Seoul, in my experience, and hopefully passing along the urge to work abroad and go a little crazy...

The Food

Surviving on a diet of rice, meats, and spicy everything was not my cup of tea. I made the trek to the other side of the city quite a few times for a single, overpriced box of Mac 'n Cheese. Pathetic. The food was the biggest challenge, but I learned to love it, as I discovered the many options available. Korean meals are colorful and always accompanied by dozens of side dishes. They are meant to be shared with friends, so you can sample a bit of everything: grilled marinated meats, spicy soups, boiled vegetables, and of course, kimchi (fermented cabbage—sounds disgusting, but it's pretty amazing). Going out to restaurants is usually cheaper than cooking at home, and there's nothing better than sitting on a heated floor while sharing food, drinks, and laughs with friends.

The Shopping

Seoul is one of the best places in the world for a fashionista. What you see on the runway is quickly replicated somewhere in China and usually finds its way to various markets in less than a few weeks. Seoul is a mecca of trends and fads, but Korean girls also worship the upscale designers. There must be ten or twelve Chanel stores scattered around Seoul alone, and enough luxury brands to make your head spin. Plus, limited edition items that are only available in Asia (yes!).

For the gal on a budget (ahem, myself), there is a vast array of cheap, trendy items. Just take a stroll at Dongdaemun Market, which is the scariest mall in the world, in my opinion: rows and rows of booths all carrying clothes, clothes, clothes, shoes, and accessories. It's open 24 hours, for the girl who feels like buying a pair of heels at 4am. Everything is there, and it's insanely cheap. I was able to find anything I could dream of in Seoul, from Hermes scarves to 2$ bracelets. And I was grateful for my size 7 feet (practically impossible to find any shoes bigger than a 7 in Asia)!

The Traveling

The main reason I came here was for the traveling. The teaching stint was only a way to finance my trips (though it turned out to be quite amazing, and the kids so attaching). One of my dreams was to go to Japan and oh, did I love it. I fell in love with the country as soon as I set foot there. Despite the high prices, Japan was the highlight of my year. I've been so obsessed with the movie Lost in Translation (hence the name of my blog) and got to create my own version while in Japan: I saw Geishas in dark Kyoto alleys... slept in a capsule hotel... rode the fastest train in the world... attended Summer Sonic music festival... and went to an art gallery opening in Tokyo.

I also had a week in Thailand, complete with scuba diving, cave exploring, and drinks on the beach late at night. And let's not forget Korea itself: it has many beautiful places to discover and is covered with mountains. I got to hike the highest peaks and see all the beaches that line the peninsula. Traveling around Korea is so cheap, efficient, and beautiful.

Modern and Traditional

The city itself is mostly made of gray, sad, concrete buildings, but if you venture around you can always find a hidden gem. Seoul is such a modern, high-tech city, but it's still possible to find various palaces and temples scattered across the city. It's pretty astonishing to walk downtown among the neon lights and video arcades, then turn your head and see a gate built in 1396. I live right next to the Dongdaemun Gate, which is the only gate left in Seoul. It's always a wonderful sight, especially at night; when I come home in a taxi and drive by it, it feels unreal.

One of my favorite neighborhoods is Insadong, an area where you’ll find little teahouses and traditional music and art. You can even play dress up at some of the palaces—sounds like a perfect afternoon to me.

Friendships

Koreans are the most generous and helpful people I know. They're eager to get to know you and enthusiastic about showing you the sights and making sure you're having a great time. Korean friends taught me so much about their culture. I must admit, I got frustrated quite a few times with some cultural differences. But after talking to my Korean friends, I had a new perspective and respect for their way of doing things. These friends completely changed my experience.

I was also lucky to meet some amazing fellow Canadians, Americans, New Zealanders, and Brits. They each brought me something great. Some had been living here for a few years and helped me get through some tough times by giving me advice. Others were also "newbies", or just lost souls in Seoul. I definitely shared quite a few Lost in Translation moments. There's something so special about being abroad and lonely and sharing that experience with someone else.

As I'm writing these lines, I realize this will all be over in two weeks, and I can now only remember the best moments. The year was a real roller coaster, and definitely frustrating and challenging. Was it worth it to quit my job, and leave everything behind? Yes, it was! I'm now faced with the prospect of unemployment back home, but somehow, it's not as scary as I thought it would be, as I feel so motivated and completely changed from Seoul.