The Little Steps To Seoul

When I first committed to studying abroad in Seoul, I imagined the exciting parts first: walking through new neighborhoods, trying local cafés, and finally experiencing a country I had spent months learning about. What I didn't expect was how many small moments leading up to departure would make the experience start to feel real.

One of my biggest milestones was applying for my student visa.

I already had a passport because I visit my family’s home country, Mexico, fairly often. However, getting a visa was a completely new process to me. Since I’m spending the summer living on my own in Boston, applying for the visa required a little extra planning as all my important documents were back home with my parents in Los Angeles. Thus, there were plenty of phone calls, double or even triple checking that I had every required document, and making sure nothing was forgotten before my appointment.

It was also the first time I had ever handled an official government process entirely on my own, without my parents there to guide me. That made it both exciting and a little intimidating.

The morning of my appointment, I took two buses to the Korean Consulate. As someone who grew up in Los Angeles and somehow still doesn't have a driver's license, I have become very thankful for Boston's public transportation. The bus ride actually helped calm my nerves. Instead of worrying about whether I had every document, I found myself looking out the window and thinking, "This is actually happening."

Walking into the consulate made everything feel much more real. Up until then, studying abroad had mostly existed as emails, forms, and checklists. Sitting there with my application in hand, I realized I was taking one of the final steps toward living in South Korea. It was a simple appointment, but it felt like a major milestone.

Outside of the paperwork, one of my favorite ways to prepare has been researching places I want to explore once I arrive.

I have an ever-growing collection of saved cafés, restaurants, viewpoints, bookstores, and neighborhoods that I hope to visit. Social media has actually been incredibly helpful for this. I use TikTok, Pinterest, and Beli to find recommendations from both locals and other travelers. Reading reviews and watching videos has helped me discover places I probably never would have found otherwise.

Of course, I know not everything on social media will become my favorite place, and I'm looking forward to discovering hidden gems on my own. Still, creating this list has made me even more excited because it gives me a glimpse into everyday life in Seoul beyond the typical tourist attractions.

I've also been trying to prepare myself by learning some Korean before I arrive. While I know I won't become fluent in just a few months, I wanted to build a foundation. I picked up a beginner Korean workbook to familiarize myself with Hangul and practice basic phrases. Even learning how to read simple signs or greet someone politely feels like an important step toward being a respectful visitor and making the transition a little less intimidating.

If I could offer one piece of advice to future study abroad students, it would be this: don't underestimate the preparation process. It might seem like paperwork, researching, or language practice are just tasks to complete prior to actually studying abroad, but they're also part of the experience. Every appointment, every saved restaurant, and every new word you learn makes studying abroad feel a little more tangible.