When I received the news that I would be living in Asan, South Korea, I was, honestly, terrified. I had never heard of Asan, so the first thing I did was run to Google. The first picture made my heart drop. On the top of the Wikipedia page, a single photo– a grey scene of low buildings stretching into the hills, barely visible through a thick coat of smog. My only thought was, “What have I gotten myself into?”. I was resigned to living in a boring, smoggy countryside town. But I have been pleasantly surprised by the small city of Asan. Unlike Seoul, there isn’t an overwhelming amount to do and see. There aren’t dozens of blogs and travel sites listing the best sights, events, restaurants, and cafes. But once you unlock the city, there is so much to appreciate! Now over two years later, I can’t imagine living in any other city in Korea! Asan is my home. Here are some reasons why I love living in Asan, South Korea:
Livability: Even though Asan is a mid-sized city, it’s very walkable. In my neighborhood, I’m within walking distance of several grocery stores, convenience stores, the subway and bus terminals, plenty of other shopping, and more restaurants than I can count. Even my schools, which are rural, are easily accessible by a short city bus ride! Outside my neighborhood, there are many other hubs that my friends and I frequent when we want to shop or go out on the town. With all the different centers for shopping, cafes, restaurants, and nightlife, I’m never at a shortage of new places to try. In Asan, there is Onyang, the city center, by the subway station (which happens to be the second to last stop of Line 2 going all the way to Seoul!). There you can find the traditional market with street food and fresh fruits and vegetables for a quarter of the price of the big marts. Yonghwa, the young party neighborhood of Asan. Where college students and 20-somethings flock to pubs and restaurants, norebangs, and cafes. Or, if café hopping and relaxing strolls are more your speed, Sinjeong Lake is the place to be. The lake is surrounded by huge, pretty cafes. No matter which one you pick, you can’t go wrong. While there isn’t as much to do as in a larger city, there’s plenty to keep busy and happy! Natural Beauty: The Wikipedia picture, as terrifying as it was, was an inaccurate representation of what Asan is like. Apart from a small bustling city center that could be essentially any small city in Korea, nature surrounds Asan. Sinjongho Lake to the west boasts cafes and walking paths. The Ginkgo Tree Road and Goggyocheon Stream at the city’s northern edge offer a great respite from the day-to-day city life. In the fall the yellow color is magnificent to behold and, in the summer, the shady trees are great to escape from the hot sun. Although I joined a gym, I love running outside in the center of Asan. The little neighborhood park is a popular place to walk. On the little, tree-lined path, it’s almost easy to forget you’re in the middle of the city (if not for the subway running directly overhead). Although Chungnam is the flattest region of Korea, the small mountains of Asan are popular places to hike and take in the area’s natural beauty. You can even enjoy the seaside, just a short bus ride away, in the very northern part of Asan County.
Cultural Immersion: Living in Asan has forced me to learn Korean very quickly and become comfortable with food and customs unfamiliar to me. Because the city has a relatively small foreign community, I can go days without seeing another foreigner. I’m immersed in Korean people, the Korean language, and Korean food. In a bigger city, I might have gotten away with little to no Korean. But in Asan, to live the quality of life I want – I felt the need to learn. Simple tasks like going to the convenience store or eating at a restaurant became real-time practice. Now I can speak to my boyfriend entirely in Korean and even take Pilates in Korean. You may have heard that Korea has a very palli-palli culture (fast, fast), but I'm living the slow countryside lifestyle. And while I will always stand out as a “foreigner”, I’ve become a local. I have a repertoire with the ladies who take the bus with me, with my convenience store clerk, my pharmacist, and even the local fried chicken store owner who always tells my friends and me, “It’s been a long time” whenever we enter her store, no matter how long it's been. In Asan, I don’t feel like a traveler or temporary guest. I’ve made the city my home, and slowly but warmly, the people have welcomed me as well. I truly consider Asan to be my second home.
So, if you are planning to do EPIK or any teaching job in Korea, don’t be afraid to branch away from Seoul and the other big cities. You might just find a tiny corner of Korea you can call your very own. A home away from home.
My Placement, My Pride
one year ago