By Zoe Yeoh
“Hey, Ellie…didn’t you say it was spring in Korea?” I asked, glancing outside.
“Yeah, why?”
“Then what’s this?”
A thick white blanket covered the once-green park, hiding the ground beneath it and stealing away the warmth of the sun. Kiera Nichols (12), Eleannor Tang (12), Ellie Park (12), and I put on our jackets and rushed outside, unable to contain our excitement.
“I need to collect some snow for my sister,” Eleannor remembered “Someone get me a cup.”
Over the course of a week in Korea, we made a pact to wake up early and stay out late to experience as much as possible. Our first stop was the biggest Olive Young in the area—a massive three-story store. We spent hours inside, filling our baskets to the brim with makeup and skincare, completely starstruck by the variety of products. After that, we wandered down the road to store after store—Fwee, Gentle Monster, Brandy Melville, and countless other small boutiques. Each shop had something different to offer, and it felt like we were in a never-ending fantasy.
Of course, all of this walking and shopping made us hungry. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we committed to only authentic Korean foods. Eleannor was especially adamant about this rule and made sure we didn’t eat any other cuisine. We also tried all kinds of Korean street food, from crunchy tanghulu to hotteok filled with sweet syrup. Every bite was mouth-watering, and we quickly realized that no matter how full we were, there was always room for more food.
Each of us was given a “role” when it came to eating. Kiera was the meat eater, I was the rice eater, Eleannor was the equal portion eater, and Ellie was the money eater. Everyday when we came home, a new package was waiting—with Ellie’s name on it.
In Korea, fashion was like a 1930s television. But Kiera Nichols made sure she would never get lost. She engulfed herself in a luxurious, furry, brown jacket paired with a skirt that was a pink version of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. The embarrassment of standing out was worth it, especially for the laughter we shared.
Beyond shopping and eating, we made sure to capture as many memories as we could. Our camera rolls were full of pictures and videos of each other. We also made sure to stop by every photo booth to bring back as many printed recollections as possible. We made customized keychains and clothes and got matching rings that two of us may or may not have lost already.
Every night on the trip, we stayed up and had a debate session, preparing us to be future lawyers. We debated on the most diabolical topics imaginable, and somehow, it just became an ongoing thing. However, on the last night, Ellie educated us on all her favorite K-pop groups, and we stayed up watching fan cams of New Jeans for at least 7 hours.
When we had to leave Korea, we were exhausted but incredibly thankful. Are we running it back?
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