South Korea: Grace Giovingo (Daily Life in Seoul)

Program: Ewha University, Fall

The Ewha Campus Complex, or ECC, is at the center of my study abroad university campus. Not just physically, but also metaphorically, too. At first glance, it doesn’t even look like a traditional building. It presents as an elaborate staircase carved into the ground, leading students up the mountain to the rest of the campus. It is also one of the most popular photo spots at Ewha. At almost any time of day, you can find students posing on the steps while their friends take their pictures. However, the ECC is so much more than a beautiful backdrop. After spending time here almost every day, it has become an integral part of my everyday life at Ewha Womans University.

One of my favorite things about the ECC is how easy it is to spend hours here without realizing how much time has passed. There are a couple of cafes where students can grab a latte, meet friends, or settle into a cozy corner to study. The atmosphere is surprisingly relaxed, considering we’re in one of the world’s most populous cities. You might see students typing away on their laptops, friends talking over coffee, or someone who has become so burned out from studying that they have decided to rest their head on the table. In fact, it is not unusual to see someone curled up on a bench for a quick nap. Surprisingly, nobody seems bothered by it. The ECC feels like a place where students are allowed to simply exist.

Food is another major part of the ECC experience. There is a cafeteria with reduced prices for students, making it an easy place to grab a meal between classes. What I find especially interesting is the variety of people who use it. You will see college students eating with their friends, but you may also see parents having dinner with their elementary-school-aged children after picking them up from Ewha’s elementary school. The cafeteria offers various popular Korean and Japanese dishes, but if none of those options appeal, you’ll find several other options throughout the building, including restaurants ranging from Italian fusion to sandwich shops.

Of course, I cannot forget the convenience store. The ECC has a “Nice to C U” convenience store, which seems fitting because convenience stores are on almost every block in Seoul. However, they are very different from the convenience stores that I am used to in the United States. Instead of simply being a place to grab a drink or bag of chips, Korean convenience stores are like mini grocery stores and restaurants. You can buy everything from Pepero, a popular Korean snack similar to Pocky, to ramen that you can cook and eat right inside the store. One of the most dangerous signs for a student on a budget is “1+1,” which is essentially a buy-one-get-one-free deal. There is a high probability that you are going to leave with your arms full when your intention was to buy a couple of snacks.

The ECC also contains many practical parts of student life. There is a bank, a theater that screens independent and foreign films, a library, a fitness center, a stationery shop, a school store, and even a pharmacy. Of course, there are also classrooms. In fact, I have classes in the ECC, which means that I can spend an entire day in the building without ever really needing to leave.

What makes the ECC special to me, though, is not any one restaurant, cafe, or classroom. It is the people. Every day, I see students of different ages meeting friends for coffee, studying together, rushing to class, eating lunch, or simply taking a break. There is always something happening, just as it’s supposed to be.

When I first arrived at Ewha, the ECC was simply an impressive building that I wanted to photograph. Now, after visiting almost every day, it feels much more familiar. It has become the place where I study, eat, take classes, rest, people-watch, and experience small pieces of everyday Korean university life. The Ewha campus complex has very easily become the center of my life on campus.