My Room at the Dormitory

After landing in Seoul, me and two other guys which were on the same flight met our pick-up service, a taxi driver sent to the airport by the university. I can only recommend taking the pick-up service even though you have to pay for it because after the long flight you will be really exhausted and tired, so it's not worth the trouble to find your own way to Hanyang University (which is of course possible). That's why I opted for the pick-up service as well, even though I'm familiar with public transportation in Seoul. And actually, Hanyang University is sooo huge, that finding your way to the main gates does not mean that you found the dormitory. I haven't even dared to walk across the campus yet because I'm scared I will get lost. I will wait for the campus tour on Monday, but I already know that I will have problems orientating in this maze of streets and buildings.


Arriving at the dormitory (adequately called International House) was very surprising for me: compared to my last dormitory room at Ajou university my room is huge! And we even have our own small bathroom with a (!!) shower (last time a whole floor had to share two big bathrooms). It's a Korean style shower, but nevermind. Korean showers are not separated from the rest of the bathroom by a separate basin, which means that the whole bathroom IS the shower. So, after a shower the room is completely wet...and also the fresh clothes you wanted to put on afterwards ;) it's really hard to find a spot which stays dry.

My Room

The left side is mine, the right side belongs a very nice girl from Switzerland, so I'll have someone to talk to in German from time to time. Outside our window is a small balcony...unfortunately there is no door so you have to climb through the window to get there. I'm sure it's a balcony though. It's very dirty but we'll clean it and I think it will be a very nice place in summer. Now we use it as a fridge...couldn't find a kitchen in this building yet.
My dormitory is only for women and there is a guard sitting at the entrance who looks at you and if you are female and he knows you he pushes a button to let you in, otherwise, bad luck ;) ...once you have a student ID card you can open it with that I think. There is a sign which says that between 3-5am you cannot enter the dorm... well, I guess if you stay out until 3am you can also stay out 2 hours longer and come back after that ;)

First thing you have to do when arriving: go out and buy a blanket, pillow and bedsheets. I was so tired but still managed to go to the next E-Mart (15 minutes by bus) and buy some stuff for the bed. The mattress is quite hard and the stuff for the bed I bought feels funny (a little bit like plastic?). But nevertheless, first night was good :)