I can't believe this is it. I am actually leaving beautiful Seoul. 4 months flew by so fast. Seoul has been amazing. Just because it's over, doesn't mean there is not more to tell. But what made this whole experience to the level of amazing are the people that I was surrounded with. Korea is great, the culture is so interesting and so present and the city/country looks amazing, but nothing brings it to a better level than having loving people around you.
I can honestly say that I made dear friends for life. Those who are, know it. Thank you all for making this Seoul experience even better. My heart is full, and I am so thankful to have met you guys.  I pray blessings over each and every one of you and I hope that we all will cross paths again in the future. To my dear dear friends, know that you have a home in the Netherlands.

Saying goodbye is so hard. Of course there is social media. Of course we won't talk to each other every day anymore. But for 4 months, these are the people I've spent my days with. You can't describe having to say goodbye to such moments.

A special shout out to my dear roommate, Kookkai. The one who had to put up with me in the smallest dorm of the complex. Bunk beds and too much stuff in an illegal small space, but I couldn't have been more blessed with her as a roommate. Ottokaeyo, Kookkai? Who is going to wake me up with a K-pop alarm clock now, which I ended up singing along to (and downloading on my pc)? From K-pop schooling and singing in Noraebang, sharing irritations about HRM, monday dance classes, hugs whenever someone needs it to contagious laughing: I will miss you incredibly much.
I've said it to most of you: Each year is another chance to see each other again. If it doesn't happen that year, there is another chance in the year after. You guys made Seoul a home for me and I carry each and every one of you in my heart and in my prayers.

Warning: Selfie overload (sorry if I didn't get everyone on it). Credits: Several Selfie kings and queens. Blessings and love,


Nina

P.S. As I said, just because I'll be leaving Seoul, it doesn't mean that there is not a lot to tell you. Past weeks have been crazy busy rounding up finals and having goodbyes. This blog has not reached it end yet when it comes to Seoul articles. There is a whole load of pictures, videos and thoughts laying aroudn to be posted. Bear with me.

P.P.S. Also this blog is not over yet since I'm continuing my adventure.. in JAPAN !

So with less than 2 weeks coming up and finally being done with all the dang projects I've been having the past weeks, I think it's time to introduce you to my university: Kyung Hee University (KHU). Yes, after 3,5 months I think it's time.

Hope you'll enjoy this compilation of some footage from Busan weekend trip in the first weekend of November.

Sightseeing, festivals, old people dancing, little kids playing, breathtaking views and delicious food: Busan had been good to us.

Don't judge the editing haha.



Enjoy my enjoyments,


Nina

We arrived on a friday evening/night that very rainy. Not quite the weather you want to arrive in when you're in a new environment and have no clue where your hotel is, but after a few hours long er than expected, we finally found our Hotel. To still have a feeling of having doine something on the night of our arrival we decided to explore the area around our hotel and eat something. So first that was quite strange is that we felt like there was a zombie invasion right before we arrived. I mean, Busan is supposed to be the second biggest city right? But there we were, walking around in the rain at 22:00/23:00 and only few people were walking on the street and only a few stores and restaurants were open.. Maybe it was because we're used to Seoul (Asian invasion), maybe it was the horrible rain, or maybe there wás a zombie invasion (it was Halloween night).

Yes, I did. I actually performed an Indonesian performance here in Seoul. This is how it happened:

It has already been a few weeks since this was relevant, but I don't want to leave this out. One of my goals was to go to a sports game in Korea. Baseball is the number one sport in Korea, and I think football comes after that. Since Baseball tickets are very hard to get, I still had an opportunity to go to a football game.



I didn't want to start off on a negative tone.. But dang that was one of the worst games I've ever been to. Which says a lot, because I've been only to one other game. It was a friendly match between The Netherlands and Ecuador last World Cup, which basically means that no one tries their best.

Look at us being so excited (Before the game)

Don't ask why they put all the foreigners on one flag. I'm still wondering the same question

So excited, so ignorant - definitely BEFORE the game

The game that I saw here was FC Seoul (yes, there is an FC Seoul) aginst FC Suwon (this place is just outside of Seoul). You'd figure that my lovely city, which I've grown to love and have become a proud citizen of, would kick some ass in their own stadium. Well those are LIES.  If the game wasn't bad enough, the practice before the game was already setting a standard: Shots at the goal and 90% is either missed or stopped. How in the hell are we supposed to cheer for a team that couldn't get their life together in the freakin practice. But ok, no need to be negative in a crowd of Seoul fans. The game was mostly carried by the few foreigners in the teams. There were a lot of gaps, missed opportunities, thus frustrations with me and my friends. Since we all come from either Netherlands or Germany, our standards of football are way too high. That's what we kept saying to ourselves to cut the players some slack. Anyways, even thinking about it wants me to stop talking about it.


The atmosphere however was amazing! Yes, just because the football game itself sucked, doesn't mean I didn't enjoy being there. Seoul was well represented by enthusiastic supporters. And not the violent type. People were dressed in red and black and sang all different kinds of songs. Obviously we shouted along, not knowing what the people said, and maybe even cursed without knowing, but hey, we were in it!



Their team spirit is the best, with drummers in the audience, setting up little concerts for people to sing and cheer along. Cheerleaders who could be living dolls because of the plastic surgery. And 2 mascots that supposed to represent flames (I guess?) that hype up the crowd.

I had a row of little kids in front of me, which was one of the most surprising thing. When we first sat their, there were 4 kids keeping the seats in front of us while their 2 dads were getting food or something. Now bear in mind that we're at a football stadium. Yes, I wasn't kidding about Korea being a safe place. There were so many kids at the stadium, which I thought was really cool. Usually I'd think that's either a waste of money and not to mention, could be very dangerous. But not in Korea.


The 2 kids in front of me had better English skills than the average Korean I've met and they were very nice. Their friends, who represented the shy (because they aren't able to speak English) average Korean were dressed up identically and had team spirit written all over them.
Oh btw in the video, before you wonder why people went crazy in the end. It's because they play this game show during the break and you have to get the camera's attention to win. The thirst was so real. But it was really funny though.

All in all, it was a great experience, just to experience. The football skills itself were disappointing.

I probably felt exactly the same as this little guy

Love and blessings,

Nin

 Midtermweek just ended which means that the half of my study abroad has passed as well. Time is going by so quickly and I really don't feel like going home.. In the beginning I had some days that I really missed home - and I still do - and the end couldn't come any quicker. But now, knowing that the time that has passed is the exact length of time that I still have left.

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My first weekend in Seoul and I was ready to explore.

My heart was full after saying goodbye to my lovely family members at Schiphol Airport. Had the chance to catch up on some girl talk with my 2 bests; received enough cuddles from my little cousins to survive the next 5 months; all in all, yet again moments of gratefulness for so much love in my life.

After months of preparations, countless ‘can't wait’s and heartwarming goodbyes, I'm actually here. Things are actually happening tomorrow!